Stay ConnectedMembers of OA in San Francisco share what it was like, what happened, and what life is like now.
Overeaters Anonymous (OA) is a community of people who through shared experience, strength and hope are recovering from unhealthy relationships with food and body image. OA’s twelve-step program works like Alcoholics Anonymous except it helps us deal with food.
OA in San Francisco: https://www.oasf.org/
More about Overeaters Anonymous: https://oa.org/
Dan, member since 2015, identifies as an addict, a compulsive overeater, and a century person. Dan's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: we all have to eat • spirituality • it's not about the weight; it's about the hate • growing up • finding ways to prove myself • identifying as an addict & compulsive overeater • sleep apnea, diabetes, anxiety, and depression • what are you really hungry for? • 12 Step program: a way out • Step 2 for a man of science • 1st Higher Power • fear of people and of economic insecurity decreasing • destruction of my self-centeredness • Higher Power will never do for me what I CAN do for myself • prayer & meditation • making an effort to be physically fit • nachos: rest in peace A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Kelley identifies as a compulsive eater, bulimic, and restricter. Kelley's share from the Monday evening LGBT Meeting includes the following themes: co-dependent eater • humility • restrictive behavior • obsession & negotiations • escaping discomfort • most mental energy spent thinking about food • fear of scarcity • relationship to body • sex object • shame living in my body • exercise • trusting my ability • grief, exercise, & loss (relationship to body) • trauma stored in body/belly
Ifafunke, member since 2005, identifies as a compulsive overeater and century person. Ifafunke’s share from the Monday evening Commitment to Abstinence & Literature Meeting includes the following themes: drug-addicted parents • program helps with anxiety • things may work out • sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly • 165-pound weight loss (top weight of 330) • not fitting in • isolated with fear & anger • 5-6 years before I had the willingness • OA won’t work without Steps • sponsor • all the things that food had cost me • creating an HP • newly vegan • Step 3: not working perfectly, but it’s working • G.O.D. = good orderly direction • Step 10 • gratitude • people-pleasing • Step 11: prayer + stopping & breathing A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Anonymous, member since 2001, identifies as a compulsive overeater, century person, and relapser. Anonymous' share from the Saturday morning Step, Speaker, Into Action Meeting includes the following themes: recent weight gain • closing bookend • what I was like: miserable • age 4 to 8: framework for fear, dishonesty, & reliance on manmade junk food • history of employment & rapid weight gain • daily suicidal ideation • OA seed planted • finding 1st OA meeting • on 8 medications when joining OA • newcomer & immediate abstinence via Tools of Recovery • 1st time getting noticed by others • home-free from compulsive overeating (pretending to be powerless) • relapse for 7 years • a history of relying on crutches • letting go of the final crutch • Tradition 7: fully self-supporting declining outside contributions • moving out of San Francisco • facing uncomfortable feelings (there’s a gift on the other side of the uncomfortable feelings) A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Larry, member since 1999, identifies as a compulsive overeater, century person, and relapser. Larry's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: the chubby kid • diet at age 10 • restaurant job at age 13 • alcoholic, food-oholic, and drugs • Vietnam War • over time, weight and drinking went up • life had gotten small • a working alcoholic • arrested after drug purchase • 1st AA meeting & sobriety • discovering OA & 1st food plan • people-pleaser • 1st time working Steps • 140 lbs weight loss in 2 years • perfection around 4th Step • 5th Step process: a spiritual awakening • having a sponsor • 8th Step amends list including self • making financial amends • doing a 2nd 4th Step around nuclear family • forgiveness of parents & self • relapse • life is no longer small • recovery is a journey, not a destination • flexible food plan • fellowship keeps us going A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Sima, member since 1974, identifies as a recovering compulsive overeater, anorexic, and bulimic. Sima's share from the Monday evening LGBT Meeting includes the following themes: knowing who I am before I die • not liking "acting as if" (history of acting) • bingeing and purging 15-16 hours per day • miserable all the time • finding OA & attending 1st meeting • Grey Sheet • never been a normal person • not throwing up was scary • keep coming back (there's nowhere else to go) • sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly • terrified to be who I was • relapse • bulimia kills • dog dying • grieving & not using food or throwing up • god • having a broken heart & an open heart
Anonymous, member since 2001, identifies as a compulsive overeater, relapser, and century person. Anonymous' share from the Sunday morning Relapse & Recovery Meeting includes the following themes: life keeps getting better • preparing for early death at 25 • 315 pounds as newcomer • 135-pound weight loss • 16-pound weight gain during last 24 months (+2/3 of a pound per month) • new sponsor • "home free" from compulsive overeating • 7 years in relapse after experimenting with food • 8 years of current abstinence • what is relapse? • what I was like part 1: misery • pain of suicidal depression is indescribable • formidable 4th year • what happened? part 1: finding & staying in OA • what I was like part 2: relapse • not honest about being in relapse • no humility • relapse: losing winning lottery ticket • what happened part 2: admitting to being in relapse • consequences of relapse • what I'm like now: wonderful • full-time employment • 5 months with new girlfriend • open to having children • moving out of San Francisco • thank you, OA San Francisco
Anonymous, member since 2001, identifies as a compulsive overeater, century person, and relapser. Anonymous' share from the Thursday evening Speaker, Literature, Writing, Step, Tradition Study Meeting includes the following themes: viewing life through the lens of Steps 1, 2 & 3 • Step 1: the problem; Step 2: the solution; Step 3: doing the solution • misusing food at age 4 • developing unhealthy fear of god • learning perfectionism • making money as a teen • hardcore junk food & soda person • consequences of compulsively overeating manmade junk food • health going downhill • accidentally finding OA • 1st OA meeting: most important day of my life • 1st sponsor • learning trust, courage, & responsibility in OA • wonderful life • 9th Step Promises • completing Master's degree • new "big boy" job • having clarity • 7th Tradition (being self-supporting) • loving OA San Francisco A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Dominick, member since 1998, identifies as a compulsive overeater and century person. Dominick's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: 21 years of abstinence • scale displaying 333 or "E" • consequences of overeating didn't matter • overweight kid • ashamed & self-conscious • aware of powerlessness at young age • dieting • food: main addiction • so many things I wanted to do that I didn't • feeling different & not a part of • fantasy life (not connected to others) • others' reactions to weight loss versus weight gain • couldn't stop eating • "sent" to AA & NA • coming to OA • 1 year sober & not wanting to be a newcomer in OA • not having a problem with Step 2 • miracle of not eating between meals • losing weight • terrified of dating & of women • finance & romance • doing what was necessary • the terrified kid • married for 10 years • awareness of the impact of being overweight for so long A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Karen, member since 1985, identifies as a compulsive overeater and bulimic. Karen's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: excited for Overeaters Anonymous • a die-hard, low-bottom compulsive overeater • no bulimia for almost 33 years • 2 parents with eating disorders • drug addiction & violence at home • abnormal eating & purging at 13 • associates among century people • 1st OA meeting • latching onto OA as a newcomer • 33 years in OA & still desperate • 1st sponsor • meeting attendance • keep working the Steps • Higher Power • personal connection to a god (as an agnostic) • I feel different when I pray • nowhere else to go • service commitments • going back to school & getting married • OA allowed me to have a super rich life • life is serene & exciting
A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Speaker does not identify as a century person.
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