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/
Ron, member since 1988/1989, identifies as a compulsive overeater, century person, and relapser. Ron's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: growing up with alcoholics • childhood: where food addiction began • growing up with a weight-obsessed father • eating to survive • multiple addictions • feeding myself physically & emotionally • shame from father • emotional pain • not trusting others • separating from people • gaining weight • inner-blackhole • depression • loneliness • letting go of untruths • Higher Power • H.O.W. • awakening • becoming a man • having value & worth • gaining humility • freedom from compulsion from sugar & flour • dealing with stuttering issue • HP's will • empowerment A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more. Note: H.O.W. is short for Honesty, Open-mindedness and Willingness. For more information, please go to https://how-oa.org/about/
Joe, member since 2016, identifies as a compulsive overeater, century person, and relapser. Joe's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: being over 450 lbs • morbid obesity • multiple addictions • relapse • feeling awkward • self-hatred • family addiction • dating • food being the solution • cutting out certain foods • taking suggestions • 1st OA meeting • the disease: cunning, baffling, powerful • happiness being the number on the scale • contemplating suicide • physical consequences of overeating • turning life over • ego • self-will • hating god • raised on religion A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Cory, member since 1992, identifies as a compulsive overeater, century person, bulimic, and relapser. Cory's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: H.O.W. • failing at weight loss • bulimia • diets • commercial weight loss programs • 1st OA meeting • 1st OA sponsor • meeting attendance • creating a Higher Power • losing & regaining 100 lbs • relapse • acting as if • leaving OA & returning • feelings • doing 4th Step through the Big Book • H.O.W. 4th Step "173 questions" • being judgmental • dealing with mom • aging while abstinent • program friends • 2018 OA birthday event • meditation A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more. H.O.W. is short for Honesty, Open-mindedness & Willingness. For more information, go to https://how-oa.org/about/
Patricia, returning member since 2015, identifies as a compulsive overeater, century person, and relapser. Patricia's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: coming out of relapse • sponsors • god • food • exercise • clothing • meeting attendance • find someone who has what you want • listening to others • experiencing OA • weighing & measuring • eating out • Steps 1, 2, & 3 A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Jeremiah, member since 2010, identifies as a compulsive overeater and century person. Jeremiah's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: the "Twelve Stepping a Problem" wallet card • avoidance • trust • fast food • vulnerability • consequences of overeating • numbing feelings • attending 1st meeting • sponsorship • abstinence • service • gratitude • fear A century person is an individual who has lost or needs to lose 100 pounds or more.
Alison, member since 1983, identifies as an ABC, a compulsive overeater, and a relapser. Alison's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: bulimia • compulsive overeating • stealing food • competing with siblings • multiple addictions • dieting • written inventories • higher power 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.
Rebecca, member since 1997, identifies as a food addict. Rebecca's share from the Tuesday evening Century Meeting includes the following themes: being of service • Higher Power • dieting • family • safety • secrets • marriage/divorce • guilt • relapse • spiritual awakening • HOW 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. H.O.W. is short for Honesty, Open-mindedness, & Willingness. For more information, check out https://how-oa.org/about/
Sima, member since 1978, identifies as a compulsive overeater, bulimic, and relapser. Sima's share from the 2017 12/12 Day event, includes the following themes: 12th Step Within • relapse • shame • fear • abstinence • bulimia • gifts of the program • love • honesty For more info on Twelfth Step Within, please check out: https://oa.org/groupsservice-bodies/resources/twelfth-step-within/
Chris, member since 2014, identifies as a bulimic, compulsive overeater, compulsive exerciser, and restricter. Chris' share from the 2017 ABC Half-Day includes the following themes: program principles • humility • growing up • family violence • need to be thin & pretty • "get good grades, make a lot of money, & look good" • abusing diets • bulimia • finding OA • 1st OA meeting • taking program more seriously • compassion for self & others • attending meetings • loss • deserving recovery • body image issues • gift of self-respect
Jeremiah, member since 2010, identifies as a compulsive overeater and century person. Jeremiah's share from the Monday evening LGBT meeting includes the following themes: OA podcasts • childhood • trauma • food obsession • service • vulnerability • abstinence
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