As a child my constant discontent was only salved with food.

Joining the service kept in under control . . for a while.

When everything failed even in the program I finally surrendered and got a sponsor and followed direction. and i worked.   Who knew?

I am not an occasional or moderate over eater. I am addict as outlined in the Big Book

My relationship with my higher power mirrors my recovery.

My recovery jumped into high gear when I started working the program as outlined in the Big Book.

We are united by a very personal and individual disease.

well over 300 LBS a number of times was one way my disease manifested in my life.

Rapid weight gain and rapid weight loss was a recurring pattern.

My therapist 'suggested' OA.

I became abstinent immediately. It was a shock. I found I was able to out foods down for one day . . repeatedly.

The Doctor's Opinion in the Big Book meant a lot to me.

I Liked the effect of my reaction to my addictive behavior. As a result of this program I HAVE experienced the psychic change.

I had my stomach pumped at age 5.

I ate over every single feeling. My family tried everything, doctors, bribes etc, some worked . for a second.

Food was my second addiction, Poor me. Joined a very strict  program, Felt great for two years, then back out and plus 100.

Important to trick the fast food clerk that it wasn't all for me.

Found OA in order to work the steps on food through the Big Book.

Honesty was a real problem for me. Or rather lack of honesty.

First miracle was starting on a Thursday. This time through the steps was an eye opener (understatement). Doing what was asked yielded real results.

Zoom is gift of Covid allowing me to sneak back into the rooms before I was perfect.

Today I do morning prayers, text my sponsor, read from the Big Book. commit my recovery to my higher power.

Still working on my honesty.

I had a good childhood. No major drama, church etc.  However Love = Food and I wanted love.

with weight - Loosing =Good, Gaining = Bad.

Only in hindsight do I realize food was my drug even as a child.

I was active which helped keep my weight down but I still used pills.

Left on my own in college - Game on! 

Through marriage, kids the YoYo got bigger, more expensive, and more devastating.

I knew there was a spiritual problem but knowing it didn't work.

I ended up in OA,, surrendered to God, have given up 197 Lbs, and maintain it.

Stats - came in 2011 at 35 years old and 320 Lbs. Now maintaining a 150 lb loss for the last 4 years.

Only one of 5 kids who was overweight.. I was a participant in my life. My weight did not define me but it was always with me.

Lost 90 lbs before getting pregnant, Put on 100 during and after.

I had heard about OA from my mom forever so I knew where to go when I was ready.

3.5 years for physical recovery. Finally hooked up with a sponsor and worked the steps from a phone meeting way before Covid forced it upon us.

Going through the steps and the Big Book transformed my recovery, my relationship with a Higher Power and I achieved food neutrality.

I ended up overeating with fruit which was triggered by dextrose in salt pack at work AND because I did not tell the truth to my sponsor.

Today I maintain my weight and my clothes always fit.

I can be with my family without enjoy them enjoying thier food.

I work the steps every day as need without shame. and wrap my day up with a review of my successes and a ask God to help me get better in other areas.

I put on 250 lbs in high school.

I had success with a soup, Valium and scotch diet, for a minute.

I thought drugs would be my solution. I had highly negative side effects.

I ended up in OA with 3 three meals nothing in between one day at a time and today I have a level of serenity and acceptance beyond anything I could have imagined.

My goal weight is what I weigh today and adjust my food plan  accordingly when it drifts.

I can find an abstinent meal in any restaurant in the world.

My never ending journey through the steps has ups and downs with continuous improvements in my behavior.

My dreams are coming true because of OA.

Young trauma, Covered it up with food. There was a moment when I really did eat a full dinner for 5 by myself.

I used my size and was successful in football and still wanted to avoid the spotlight.

My binge was a cycle. dramatically dropping weight for specific events.

I struggled with letting people in. Good at work but no social skills.

A woman, God and church came into my life and chased the binges away - for a while.

I was sure if anyone knew how I ate they would reject me - horribly.

I had a medical emergency which turned into a miracle. Then  ate up to 670 Lbs

Treatment ended up in white knuckle recovery. worked for a year. Back up and back to treatment where the OA seed was planted.

Miracle after miracle led be into my current successful recovery and a quality life.

I come from an obese family so we were all big boned.

I was able to be a large drug addict.

My 20's and 30's was a series of Pay and Weighs.

I started out as an OA Rockstar led to 'I got this'.  Back up to 300.

I came back and have been weighing and measuring for over 5 years. It works for me.

It took me while to find my spiritual groove for my life and my food. Everyone is different.

I have been in the same weight zone and have been the same size for years. I no longer weigh myself so I am not affected by the number.

I wish I could include my family on me recovery journey but that it is their choice.

I am no longer envious of 'normal' eaters.

I did not realize I was overeating until I found  family photo when I was 9. I was devastated.

I believed I was a hopeless case.

Came to OA at 29 and found my people. Got a sponsor and got up to step 5. Then I met him.

Got to top weight. The was series of OA meetings I didn't go to. Finally back to OA 26 years after the first time.

I have done the steps multiple times; each time different because each time I am different.

I thought nobody did what I did, lied, hid etc

I have had the same food plan for 18 years.

Today food is fuel for my body. I came in just to change my body, what changed was everything.

As I read the big book I identified with so many of the stories.

I have admitted, accepted, surrendered and changed.

My sponsor says "What do you want to talk to me about that you don't want to talk to me about?"

Action is the magic word.

Now my life is the opposite of the Bedevilments (Big Book P. 52)

Geographics, Hair/no hair, nothing helped me stop eating.

Today I have over 15,000 days abstinent.

I thought OA was going to be a cult, I went to a meeting halfway out the door. Instead I heard MY story and had recovered.

I resonated with the term ' Food Addict'.  I Did go through withdrawal. and I only had to do it once.

Aha - If it works for you it might work for me. Worth a try.

Much to my chagrin the day I hit goal weight was just another day.

Our spirituality is based on service.

1st abstinence after my third son for a few years and thought 'I got this' and did not leave meetings.

Thought I couldn't do school and OA, -I Picked school.

Ended up in pain unable to walk much and all the physical stuff. I was scared I would die in my sleep.

Controlling my program got me to 242.

Following a food plan gave me food neutrality.

My life is not perfect but I am not in the Hell I had with the food.

The least of my positive results is my weight loss. My family relationships are so much better. I aspire to behave as a woman in recovery one day at a time.

I know in my heart ' It works if you work it . . with a sponsor.'

Food was my little buddy. Didn't know how to be without it.

In Jr High I controlled my weight but I was an emotional wreck.

I vacillated between managing my food or my emotions but not both.

I had the lap-Band surgery and gained 20 lbs because I was always a grazer, small amounts all the time.

Second surgery for sleeve, same results. just took longer.

Covid was my last food failure but OA on Zoom became my Savior.

I got a sponsor who gently dragged me through the steps and I have some recovery.

My relationships, my finances, my self talk has all improved - ALOT.

Daily 10th step keeps me emotionally present.

Missing First 15 Minutes of the speaker.

Outreach calls are gestures to God that I am willing to participate.

We do not have to face this disease alone.

I was trained to be open and tell the truth.

I got the sponsor and threw myself to the steps. I wanted to make my amends abut my sponsor made me do the steps in order.

Her amends are inspirational.

35 years of service in OA has uplifted my program and my fellowship.

My 27 year amazing marriage was a direct result of OA.

I was obese and active, leave me alone.

My OA Journey started 5 years ago when I was traveling. But I didn't have a problem. Even though 5 doctors had told me to loose weight.

I was already a member of several 12 step programs but OA started to drip into my consciousness opening the door to listen and change.

OA Birthday parties always kicked my program back into gear.

Suddenly 7 months in I am in a hotel with a microwave feeding 2 for months. It wasn't pretty. I did it better each of the next 5 times.

My open heart surgery was a major turning point to make more healthy food choices . .seriously!

I have let some foods go and embraced new foods. Its a healthy adventure.

Begin anytime. and begin again anytime.

Today I am excited to see what my Higher Power has in store for me.

I was an outsider in my own family.

I ate a lot at meals and more is secret.

I discovered I judged others to feel better about myself.

Sometimes I had hard time sleeping so I found meeting for 24 hours a day.

I got recovery when I followed the program suggestions.

I can find an abstinent meal at any restaurant.

Today my life it full of 'Thank You God' moments.

My mom threw lots of money at my weight.

I came into OA for the diet. Today I will never diet again.

At my high weight I was a physical and emotional wreck.

First I wrote everything I ate, then three meals a day, incremental additions became my recovery.

I thought my Higher Power was my servant. Eventually I reversed it.

My weight loss was a by-product of focusing on my recovery.

I no longer steal my children's food.

Today rather than fixing everyone and everything My Higher Power helps me seek to adjust my mind. my attitudes, my behavior,

Three legged program - Physical, Emotional, and spiritual.

Today I am willing to wear red pants.

I went to church and had a relationship with God, Not one I liked.

Growing up I turned to food and as long as I didn't eat the last one,  avoided trouble .

My disease manifested as a single path to isolation.

Today I am surrounded by loving friends and I believe them.

22 years in program.

I am 5' 6" and was a shade under 600 lbs.

I returned after a 6 week relapse with a renewed commitment leading into a spiritual change. . but not right away.

Not only do I have a toolbox of recovery, I have learned how to use the tools and DO.

I know my problems, OA offers me the solutions.

I work the 12 steps AND the 12 traditions.

My first psychic change was in 1973  - Before OA.

I can still be willful, vindictive and have learned to make amends.

There are other weight loss programs. This is a spiritual program.

I eat my entire food plan and no more.

Today I have a conscious and continuous contact with my higher power.

My family relationships are less than perfect. So it goes.

Abstaining member of OA for more than 36 years. and a recovered liar, sneak, cheat and thief.

I was 340 LBS, miserable, my job in jeopardy and I could not stop.

I bought the book so I could find the secret.

OA didn't teach me how to eat. It taught me how to stop. . . for one day.

Little by little I made different choices and avoided certain food. OA was working in my life.

Once I was powerless over my addiction I was able to accept help from a higher power.

I get to practice not eating compulsively all day today.

I use most of the tools every day. (not big on writing)

Don't have any memory before food.

I was over 400 lbs by 14 years old.

This disease stole so much of my life.

I have always felt bodily and mentally different from my fellows.

Fear of what can happen to me only sent me deeper into the food.

Today, working the steps, being free from my food obsession, my life is a constant miracle.

I have lived in the same place long enough to have them raise my rent, What a gift.

I was stealing and lying about food as a young kid.

Supplements, diets, all worked for a short time once.

Got the 15 questions of OA in the military. Did a treatment center, Spiritual retreat and got a sponsor. Ended up more sober than abstinent.

Left military, college on GI Bill - up over 300 lbs.

Got back into OA, 4 years of abstinence but minimal recovery. led to relapse.

Once I got back I got enrolled into Service at the Intergroup level and more but stilled bounced up and down.

Today I have a sponsor, do service, stick to my food plan and am close to my goal weight and just stay here.

Everything hopeful started tomorrow, Monday or 'on the first'

I was my own worst critic.
Lies I told myself about me.  - Fat people are lazy, unlovable, ugly, have no will power, hopeless.

Compulsive overeating is a lonely pass-time.

I always wanted to be thin. I was not willing to do what I needed to do.

2008 I went back to OA through a convention. I surrendered with a prayer 'God, I can't do this alone'. I got a sponsor that weekend.

I got abstinent 4 days before Halloween.

If you are alive you will experience celebration, sorrow, love and loss. It is always easier abstinent.

Today I CAN hear the small voice that tells me 'Kara, you are OK.'

Came in at 16 but not a smooth trajectory.

Food was my solution to escape from my reality.

I would do anything to avoid my body being seen.

I was banned from the Soup Plantation.

I ended up growing up in these rooms which was very uncomfortable.

Today .  Abstinence is my only shot at a big, great life.

I choose feelings over food. I have intimate, honest relationships with other people.

I can get through anything as long as I don't try to do it alone.

Needed a Dr.s note for my first go at Weight Watchers.

I started as a Catholic and learned how to pray . . . for me.

I didn't worship God, I worshipped food.

I became super woman - alone.

Finally a therapist got me to consider I was a compulsive over eater and got to OA. So I wanted to learn the food plan.

The moment I actually said I was willing to go to any length, I had a spiritual experience. and my journey to recovery finally began for real.

I was over AND under-eater.

I noticed odd behavior as a child picking my friends by their snacks.

I only thought about what the food did for me, not what it was doing to me.

I was different Bobs with different people as any good people pleaser. No clue who I really was.

After a health scare I learned how to eat but could not do it. I heard of OA but it took 3 years to hit my bottom.

In program I dieted successfully until one fateful binge night brought the reality of my disease and my need for a sponsor and the steps to the forefront.

A food plan helped me resist the thoughts of 'I need more' 'I am full I should stop', Just stuck to my food plan.

It feels like my service work helps me more than the service I provide helps others.

Entered high school at 350, left over 500.

First OA meeting was not my people, That was not MY problem.

I lost 200 lbs by restricting and self will. That led to my relapse

Upon reentry into OA I still struggled with the steps. Finally had a spiritual experience when I committed to going to my Father's wife's funeral.

I still harbor the thought "I will never be satisfied'  Today it is not as loud and I have tools to work towards an alternative.

* * There are some gaps in the first few minutes of the recording. * *

My first time in I became Miss OA without doing any of the work.

My resentments with my father prevented from embracing a higher power. So I left

During my relapse I had Gastric Bypass AND started putting on weight.  Back to OA. This time with a Higher Power.

Meetings (4 a week), Big Book, I have a sponsor, do the steps and I do service. That is my program today.

Every day I am the best person I can be. Physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally.

* * Missing 4 minutes of recording @ 3 minute mark. * *

When I lost my abstinence I gained the weight.

No amount of food could fill the hole in the center of my being.

My biographical timeline is marked by food.

I was a secret eater until I got found out.

Pay and weigh worked dramatically for the weight but not for the 'me'

I left the dynamics I grew up with when I went to college, But I took me with me. Back to secrets.

College went from 175  to 0ver 300. Now to work.

3 Continuous fears. Not getting what I want, Loosing what I have, or Being found out.

As my fears got bigger, my world got smaller and I was 525 lbs.

It was a year after I asked God for help before I got into the program.

Early on my life I learned how to keep secrets, and how to hate.

Morbid obesity arrived in my 20s.

While over 300 Lbs I was neurotic about what my son ate.

I did not diet. Any weight adjustments were from changes in my activity.

When I joined OA I resisted being told what to do.

I lost 125 Lbs with very little recovery.

Rich honest emotions are a gift of recovery.

Paul D from Seattle

Annual suggestion to diet and exercise got me started, for a minute.

At one time I was taken to the hospital - FOR OVEREATING

4 Cs   crisis, clarity, colliding opportunities, commitment to a spiritual solution,

A multitude of health issues should have given me a clue about my problem with food.

I discovered Buddhism was the religion of moderation - Poof I'm a Buddhist.

I have studied OA, read ALL the literature, completed the steps and got involved in service. 

I have sent a gratitude list to my sponsor for more that 1000 days.

My abstinence is about foods, behaviors and thoughts.

I had a list of things I wanted from my relationship to OA. They have come true.

6 Months before I came into the program due to my health I considered suicide.

Prior to OA I had no idea of how my life had become such a disaster.

Oatmeal chicken chicken was not for me.

My addictive foods became VERY clear to me.

Established my recovery right out of the Big Book of AA.

I have to understand it is not about lunch. It is about a fatal disease.

Today I am a healthy member of OA and society trying to do my best and be of service.

I favor sponsors with AA background and their that approach to the Big Book.

I turn to my higher power in times of stress rather than the food.

If I go back out I really will die due to my chronic health issues.

A consistent food plan is my salvation.

I share about my issues to let others know they are not alone.

I have friends outside of OA and they are Real friends.

Over 350 when I graduated HS.

On going pattern - Loose weight, have emotions, put it back.

Complacency does not support recovery.

When I had emotional pain in any form, food and sex really did help relieve it... for a while

I no longer focus on the food, I focus on my surrender. Seems to work better.

My need for acceptance led me to some REALLY BAD choices.

For me real healing must include abstinence.

Three questions for offering help.

I didn't come to OA to suffer, I came to be free. Today I am.

My process or recovery was SLOWbriety.

My Dad locked food not knowing what to do with me.

In college I had unsupervised access to all the food I wanted.

 * * Missing first 2 minutes of the talk * * *

Diets and drama worked for a minute.

I got to 12 step though my husbands' recovery.

Real recovery is more than meetings and prayer.

Terror, fear and hunger all felt the same in my body.

Yellow light foods are really red light foods I am unwilling to give up.

I was born prematurely. That was the last time I was underweight.

Growing up we showed love with food. I couldn't get enough love or food.

I did lots of diets, They all worked for a while and only once.

Every time I thought I was doing great it led to my doing poorly and then regaining my weight.

I finally surrendered into the program over a can of oysters.

At my highest weight I was using a cane. Any physical activity was a challenge.

I recently played Basketball. Different set of emotional flooded me than I was used to.

My life was finding a way to fill the void which could not even describe.

I fled from people who liked me because something had to be wrong with them.

My eating kicked in when I gave up smoking.

OA was not my first 12 step program. Any 12 step program started improving my life.

Having a structured program works for me. I want freedom of choice but that did not work.

Black was slimming ... I thought

The most important amends that I had to make,  that took the longest, was to myself.

Abstinence did not suddenly give me social skills.

Relapse is part of my story. Acknowledging in allows me to help others who may be struggling and ashamed.

My goals ended up being limiting. God had way better plans for me.

I use tool every day.

Defiance is still one of my character defects.

Today my food plan and my lifestyle activities directly support my health.

Growing up alcohol was just liquid sugar.

I was stealing food in first grade.

As youngest of 11children  I was in the 'who could loose weight' family competition in the third grade.

I failed at anorexia and bulimia.

Sugar was my 'drug' of choice.

By 22 I was over 300 lbs

Gained and lost over 100 lbs at least 6 times.

Nailed the program. Lost weight, spoke, was a super hero for a moment.

The message of OA is welcoming, supportive and available to all who want it. All excuses are accepted.

Black and white abstinence is the only thing the works for me. I don't do well with 'wiggle room'

Nothing changed until I got a sponsor.

HOW had the food plan I rejected/needed/accepted but actually led to weight loss.

I needed the program much longer than I wanted it. Today I want it.

I was told Our built in freezer would kill me. I went in all the time.

I used food to feel better. I used Alcohol to not feel at all.

I would eat as if it was I was in a blackout.

They said it's not about the food but I wasn't buying it.

Even putting down the food did not make my life manageable.

The more I try to control others the more stress I experience.

The disease gripped me in a death grip at age 30.

I would binge on appropriate foods and lots of it.

I came to OA at 33 and the welcoming made it not scary.

I keep coming back, food continues to speak to me. I act on it by making a call.

I lost weight but I also lost most of my crazy thoughts. and I have tools when they come back.

Tonight I will talk about the 12 Traditions And the principles behind each tradition.

'A great set of explanations connecting each tradition with its fundamental Principle'