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/
Bobby, member since 1986, identifies as a compulsive overeater, century person, and recovering bulimic. Bobby's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting, includes the following themes: "the college years": 9 meetings/week as newcomer • coming to OA to die • anything white, I take to (sugar, rice, bread, cocaine) • 270-280 lbs/bulimia/drinking/doing drugs: a commitment to abuse • practicing the 3rd Tradition perfectly • freedom & humility • no such thing as relapse • stick with the winners/win with the stickers • OCD • fake it 'til you make it • 1st abstinence (1st plan of eating) • acceptance & gratitude • prayer • 20 years bulimia-free • 18 years of abstinence • normal eaters can't do OA perfectly • putting on weight after injury (god's cruel joke) • free of refined carbs • prejudice over being fat • progress IS perfection • Acceptance Prayer A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Michael, member since 2010, identifies as a compulsive overeater, century person, and relapser. Michael's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: yo-yo dieter • doing a food history • losing and gaining 100 pounds 5 times • control • surrender • Steps offering hope to the hopeless • letting go of preferences • god: something greater than myself, my dieting, & my preferences • self-sufficiency didn't work • physical consequences of overeating • Step 1: acknowledging the nature of the problem • Step 2: acknowledging the solution • Step 3 • wearing the embarrassment [of overeating] • Dignity of Choice pamphlet/food plans • "the key of willingness" • being sane brings about eating like a sane person • working with a sponsor • Steps 6 & 7 • Step 12 • keep coming back A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
David, member since 1996, identifies as a compulsive overeater, food addict, and relapser. David's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: family of compulsive overeaters • alcoholism at home • diets • finding OA and leaving • returning to OA • sexual reawakening • coming out • working Steps with sponsor • 2 relapses • physical & emotional cravings • restricting to not feel • feeling feelings: what a gift • broken-hearted but not shattered • I feel my Higher Power • Step 6 • character defects: habits that don’t serve me anymore • perfection • [OA] is a life program • compassion • ask for next right action • partnering with Higher Power for courage • just do what’s in front of me Note: Speaker does not identify as a century person. A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Gini, member since 1978, identifies as a compulsive overeater, a bulimic, and an anorexic. Gini's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: incomprehensible demoralization • middle of the disease: lowest depth of misery • 1st OA meeting • maintaining current weight for over 30 years • eating out of garbage cans, stealing food, hiding food, & washing dish soap off food • dropping out of school & losing jobs • taken out of my life • no reality meter • weighing & measuring • asking for the willingness to be willing • character defects • sponsoring • daily 10th Steps • coasting versus WORKing the Steps • eating problem/living problem • perfectionism & procrastination • AA literature • opportunities to work program • helping others • meditation
Note: Speaker does not identify as a century person.
A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Julie, member since 1981, identifies as a compulsive overeater, century person, and relapser. Julie's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: message to the newcomer • being a fat baby • 1st diet at age 5 • fast food • the Big Book of AA • diets/commercial weight-loss • from 98 to 200 pounds in less than 3 months • keep coming back • an inside job • relapse • couldn't stay stopped • eating out of the garbage can • follow direction • picking up the telephone • if I could be happy overweight, I would be • getting married/staying married • returning to school • retiring • moving • OA has given me a life I didn't know I wanted • I don't hate who I am • 1 day at a time
A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Irene, member since 1972, identifies as a compulsive overeater and century person. Irene's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting, includes the following themes: obese with back problems at 32 • 2 weeks without dieting turning into 2 years • never hungry/full all the time • hunger is a privilege • finding OA • dropping the debating society • going to any lengths for the first time • wanting the cravings to end • cravings caused by high-carbohydrate foods • knowledge of carb addiction giving me my life back • willing to suffer to get better • 45 years of abstinence • atheist by nature giving prayer a shot • pretend there is a god protecting you • 10th Steps giving me the courage to do a 4th Step inventory • Step 7 • humility is the healer of pain A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Margaret, member since 1998, identifies as a compulsive overeater. Margaret's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: childhood • love & unpredictable violence at home • nighttime fear eating • punished for eating too much • alcoholism • AA/sobriety • finding 12 Step help for food issues • finding OA • therapy • "re-entry anxiety" • sugar- and wheat-free • depression-free • using food as a drug • fear & phobias • leaving & returning to OA • life is blossoming • meeting attendance • service • food: the difference between having a whole life & having a half life
A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Note: Speaker does not identify as a century person
Jeri, member since 2011, identifies as a compulsive overeater. Jeri's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: always into the food • lonely kid • family/mother • restricting & over-exercising • food: a life of its own • food while raising children • 1st OA meeting • 1st outreach call received • 1st sponsor • 1st plan of eating • self-hating/shame/demoralization • no god • starting "tomorrow" • the [OA] rooms ruined the binge • keep coming back • slowly the food got easier, quieter, better • wanting the spiritual connection • images of Higher Power • using the phone & meeting attendance • can't do this alone • being willing • eating breakfast earlier in day
A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Note: Speaker does not identify as a Century person.
Ilana, member since 2008, identifies as a compulsive overeater and Century person. Ilana's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: commercial weight-loss • controlling food & body • coping with life without food • discovering 12 Step programs • gas stations • hiding food & garbage • 1st OA meeting • the Big Book of AA • learning to follow direction • diets versus the abstinence model (normal person versus the addict) • chemical dependency • 1st food history • staying stopped thru the Steps • looking at yellow light foods • getting more from 4th Step inventory than 25 years of therapy • weighing & measuring • veggies are not unlimited • the H.O.W. plan [of eating] • either working on recovery or working on relapse A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more. H.O.W. = Honesty, Open-mindedness & Willingness. To learn more about H.O.W., please go here: https://how-oa.org/about/
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
