I was hospitalized at age 6 from overeating, I was 65 years old when I entered OA.

YoYo was me. I guess I'm not the only one.

I had a lower body aneurysm that brought serious health issues. but I ignored it until I came into OA.

I was known as 'The Sleeper' At Wendy's, at the movies, at the wheel.

Weight training became an important part of my physical recovery.

I committed for one year, After the year I did not want to go back.

I couldn't loose weight, even for $5000 dollars.

Even my therapist convinced me I was different.

I was NOT a dieter.

Once in OA I never left. There really was nowhere else for me to go.

I was full of anger. OA has released me from that aura.

I even want the best for my Ex-husband - BIG Miracle.

Today I can truly look at food as art, and not miss it as food.  Really.

My Life in college was my personal brown out. Everything was dim and half power.

Health issue had me stop sugar, flour etc. It did not go well.

I went to OA because I recognized I had cravings.

Embracing my feelings was a long time coming. I am still working on it.

 I heard about OA from a speaker in another 12 step program.

Surprisingly a boyfriend didn't fix me.

For me, 3 meetings a week are required for my recovery to progress.

Today my daily routine includes morning and evening rituals.

My willingness to make ammends is now, When I get to do it is up to God,

9 years of not quite abstinent = Lying

Change in recovery is not about pain, it's a about growth.

I still don't like hearing "It takes time".

I still send my food in, do service, make a ton of calls. It seems to work

Cheryl B 10 Min
First time in program I got weight loss and little more.

Anne T 20 Min
Several periods of multiple year abstinence.

I learned to binge on food in my food plan. result = 40 lbs.

**There is a missing 65 seconds after 1:30. **

This day 42 years ago was my first OA Meeting.

Top weight over 400 lbs. Came into OA at 380.

I was an Atheist and completely unwilling to be converted.

By 16 years I was deep into relapse and terrified of being seen but went to a convention.

For the last 15 years I continue to work the steps and improve my spiritual life.

Growing up in an abusive home, in college and grad school  my best friend was sugar/candy.

My life was one crisis after another. One is not enough including suicide attempts.

I went from 88 lbs to 223 and everything in between for 40 years.

I was having physical problems, labelled as obese and that got my attention, getting me into OA.

Started out only willing to call my sponsor daily. Eventually I was gifted with abstinence.

I have had the same body for 10 years and today I love it.

I get something new every time I go the the AA Big Book. How could Bill Wilson know how I felt about my hopelessness?

I did food plans like I did diets.

Today I do the program - the steps, writing, meetings, exercise, service, higher power.

Seeing others who have lost 100, 200 300 pounds and more inspired me and helped me believe it was possible for me.

I could still eat compulsively while on my food plan.

My food choices were based on convenience. MY convenience.

The 12 steps clarified my defects which I had overlooked, denied or suppressed.

I switched careers rather than address my overeating.

Planning my food helps me avoid impulse eating.

A single mistake is not a slip. A second time... let's talk.

I have a daily 'quiet time'.

I ate lots but stayed thin through basketball.

Eventually I got married and slowed down playing and slowly moved into obesity. I started the yoyo for years.

There are some gaps in the recording and lost the last minute.

I went to OA for a while. It worked so well I left.

In my 70s I ended up morbidly obese with heart problems. This got my attention.

My wife passed and I was alone and fat.

I am back for 3 years, over 100 lbs lighter and involved.

I am a literature junkie. Even some Non OA approved readings has been inspirational.

The 12 steps exist in many spiritual

At 41 I had a wake up call with way dangerous blood results.

I found I could mess up and if I told the truth you would still allow me at the meetings.

Consistency in my program includes meetings, a food plan, a sponsor, calls and the truth.

I carry food when I travel so I am in charge of what I eat.

Daily basics every day.

Continuous member since Jan 24 1994 Abstinent from Feb 16.

I have written for my sponsor every night over 4300 times.

Resentment, remorse, rebellion, resistance cause me problems

She offered a VERY clear analysis of how she uses the steps consistently.

In NYC following an acting career I was just surviving -

I had to call back to California to find a meeting in New York.

It took me more than a year to really accept the first step.

One moment at a time, one day at a time, one step at a time OA had brought me a life of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual recovery.

Today I have gratitude for all that has happens.

Step 1-12 explained as what they mean to ME.

No matter what happens, how I feel or what I resist I kept coming back

A marriage without ANY recovery was not working.

I heard a speaker I had nothing in common with and identified with everything she said.

Working the steps will GUARANTEE you will change.

I have had the same sponsor for 20 years. AND I work with other members on specific issues.

 **  Due to technical diffuculties there is 7 minutes of sharing  missing starting @ 8:29

Didn't know what eating regularly meant until I was in a foster home.

Ate my way up to 440 Lbs. 

Today I have a routine for my food and my life activities.

Miracles don't hapen without the footwork.

I was a compusve overeater in the fasion industry.

When I got to OA I did what I was told. and it worked as long as I did it.

I keep doing fourth steps (When told to) and they are always transformational.

It is too easy to forget what works. That's why I have a sponsor.

The program keeps me abstinent, the fellowship keeps the rest of me on track ...no matter what.

Abstinent from 10/86

I was 10 when I got on my first diet from my mother worked for 5 days.

Food took me out of where I was, unsafe, and put me in a safe place.

My bravest moment was to stand, Indentify a compulsive overeater and in that moment I became 'a part of'.

It was a shock when I realized the world did not revolve around me.

I continue to improve my conscious contact with 'God'.

1st meeting 1988. 

I knew what was the right way to eat but I could not refrain from binging/eating for any length of time.

Grew up in home with no structure.

Could not imagine talking about my food in front of men.

I  got  a sponsor,what she asked me to do made no sense but I did it anyway.

Discovering a higher power is an ongoing process for me. Recovery is in the seeking.

For me it has been a slow and consistent road of recovery. Like the tortoise.

Used Lunch money to buy candy on the way to school. 

Hit 250 in high school.

Found OA in college, followed the program and.... it worked.

My relapse happens slowly, loosing one peice at at time until I was completely out of the program.

Gastric Bypass seemed like a miracle....  for a while.

The food blocked me from the joy of the American Dream.

From all out to all in was the beginning of my recovery..this time.

In the beginning, feelings seemed like negative byproduts of doing the work.

Really wanting and choosing a salad was a miracle of the program.

Graduated HS @ 270 with 50" waist. It frightened me.

Fear ruled me. I fixed/avoided with food.

I was willing to go to ANY lengths. Alone - Every diet work for a short time... Once.

46 days in OA led to my worst binge ever. It was a turning point.

I discovered a Higher Power of "MY" understanding.

Abstinence gave me lots of extra time to do my program.

Food was my crutch when I was 12.

Even pudgy brought about massive shame.

God was for uneducated, weak- willed people.

I attended meetings without participating until somebody actually talked to me.

Not a program of feeling, thinking, wanting... It is a program of action !

lost 140 lbs first time in OA.

After a major relapse I have 17 years today.

I am a skid row compulsive over eater.

I learned to show up, sit in the front, raise my hand, be of service and tell the truth.

The Doctors Opinion nails it for me.

My program is the infrastructure for my life.

I now have someone who I love and loves me. I never thought it could happen for me.

Abstinent since 9/8/2003

My addictions does not get triggered if I avoid foods I am allergic to.

I knew the foods I was allergic to but kept buying and eating them into oblivion. and wake up with another failed commitment to do it differently.

A friend from another 12 step program mentioned OA. I went but did not work the OA  program.

I was afraid to go shopping at first.

I did all the steps in order out of the big book with a sponsor. It worked.

Today I am dependent on my Higher Power ... in a healthy way,

Growing up I looked good on the outside.  But.....

Everything I did I did compulsively, Food/ Sugar was the major negative one.

I learned to tap dance at as a child and used it  physically and emotionally for years.

I created a seemingly cool life on the outside as a designer in Europe until I can back to US. Not cool = Not OK

Women were meeting is a restaurant I worked at were having an OA meeting. Ding Ding.Ding.

I picked my sponsor because she judged like I did.

I have maintained a healthy body weight for 34 years  always participating in OA, keeping commitments, sponsoring and doing the steps many times.

Stopping my compulsive behaviors is the BEGINNING of my recovery.

I always saw myself as a fat child, but in retrospect is was not always true.

I had heard about stopping hard drugs and it sounded like my trying to stop eating chocolate. Long before I got into OA.

2 weeks into OA I discovered Fear and Resentment were the underlying issue for my compulsive eating and cravings.

Growing up I never learned how to identify and talk about my emotions in realm time.

This is my current work. I can get a resentment when things are not clear and/or consistent and I can eat over it.  The work never ends. Today I write about it rather than eat over it. Yay OA

Lonely kids. I knew all the 'Lonely' songs.

Big in elementary school.

Got sober in '75. 

Introduced to OA in '76. started on to 18 years of abstinence. Was involved, did service. did not stick.

Basic instincts went awry. 

PAGGLES  7 deadly sins On me to make adjustments with God's help

12 steps in 10 words.
1  Give up

2,3 Look up
4-9 Clean up
10, 11  Keep up
12 Show up

9 of 10 Children. Family dinners were always an adventure.

If I excelled in sports I could get Dad's attention. Led to perfectionism and people pleasing and led me to my first 12 steep program.

Sugar got me so high my face would tingle.

Anytime I step on a scale  I feel bad. So i don't step on a scale.

Once I got to  OA I never left. I didn't do the program well but I never left.

I lost my first sponsor - then fake sugar led to weight gain, changing meetings, thinking a nutritionist would be better than getting a new sponsor.

Everything changed when I really started 'Doing the Work'.

This past year has changed everything in my life for the better. 

I no longer manage people except as required at work.

Recovery can bring back memories of how bad it was. A Fat American in France

I ate violently, destructively and disturbingly.

At one point I did a cost-benefit analysis of my addiction...didn't help.

My fancy education made no difference.

Once in the program I became Miss OA. My physicality came back. 

'I got this' led to an 80 lb weight gain

I finally did get this  Nov 3 2008.

Today I have a daily ritual morning and evening which includes reading, writing, step work and A E I O U  Y

I really do have a life beyond my wildest dreams by doing a few things every day.

Grew up thinking I was unwanted as 5th of 5.

Within 3 days of joining the program there was a month long orientation workshop which gave me a deep understand on the program and what I could expect.

Unity between my program, my marriage, my higher power and my life keep all the parts working.

I was a sensitive kid obsessed with my body image. 

At 15 I got diet pills, then speed and was not actually overweight.

I restricted, was an exercise bulimic and tried it all.

I stopped eating sugar because I was a people pleaser. AND just kept coming  back.

Today the program and my higher power have helped me all the challenges life has thrown at me and maintained my abstinence.

The promises have come true

In my youth I got a rush from stealing and an escape with the food.

Long term cycles of feast and famine(excersize, restriction tec.)

I was in OA for 8 years without a sponsor. 'Surprise' I had no recovery.

Today i have a daily ritual for my recovery which has led to my 2.5 years abstinent,

I was given sugar instead of a bottle.

Program worked when I laid down the food and picked up a pen.

Never, Never, Never give up.

my 4th step made me suicidal because I had no God. 

Since I developed a belief and relationship with a Higher Power he has saved me regularly.

Lost 100 lbs and put it back before entering Law School.

Wore Tee shirts until I was 30 because I was afraid of bursting my buttons.

The beginning of my recovery was a spiritual experience that  makes no sense, cannot be explained and has been with me 40 years.

Huge amount of food and huge amount of laxatives.

It took four months after a 3 week relapse to feel sane.

After a long time in the program I had to give up all my sponsees to work on myself.

I am on a spiritual journey. The food blocks me from this process.

All about Step one.

When I came to OA I thought everyone was abstinent, so I did to.

Last Xmas I 12 stepped 2 caregivers.

I will never have a normal relationship with food.

Weight kicked up at puberty

My first OA Meeting the church was locked. There was one other person and I knew I was home.

I lost 100 lbs in 9 months and was rocking in OA until Iost my sponsor and decided to sponsor myself.

160 later I found my way back to OA and was welcomed.

The OA community and service makes me know I am not alone.

Dieted from 7th grade to age 50. yo-yo-yo and the swings got bigger.

I had a plan for my college reunion to loose weight. I did not go to my reunion.

I had a friend who talked about OA. She lost weight while I gained.

Gave up sugar after my first OA Meeting. 

God was the hardest part of OA for me. That is absolutely not the case for me today. 

in my 20s and 30s I was a great dieter as a restrictor leading to being under nourished.

Today I turn to my Higher Power in times of stress instead of the food.

1st OA was just me and the speaker. She spoke and got my attention.

Weighing, recording and reporting honestly is critical for my recovery.

Excellence was expected at home and it separated me from my peers. Food filled my emotional holes.

Eating other's leftover from the trash was a hint something was wrong.

In college my life looked good superficially, but it wasn't.

I completely gave up, was suicidal and my recovery began.

My spiritual awakening was transformational but not the end of my journey with food.

I could rationalize minor incremental moves away from abstinence.

Today my FIRST priority will be my addiction OR my recovery. There can be only one.

Every Diet worked once. I tried them all.

I was 12 stepped by my wife and I didn't even know it was happening.

OA was OK but I had a big problem with the word 'GOD'.

After a substantial relapse I was finally, 'Willing to go to any lengths'.

Today my program affords me an astounding life.

Was living the bedevilements (P.52 BB) when I came to OA

Gained 60 Lbs during first pregnancy which led to marital problems

Used my 3 year old to collect MY Halloween candy

Lived the 301 plan- 3 meals, 0 in between, 1 day at a time.

Downed a bottle of Children's aspirin for the orange flavor.

Being extremely active helped me avoid weight gain.

Sugar free chocolate was a gateway food for me. 

Came back to OA in 2004 letting everyone know I already knew everything about it.

Amazingly when I changed my food plan with anothers help, I lost my weight.

Now miracles happen daily.

Grew up in angry home

By coincidence I found an OA meeting I could walk to right after I had been given I Big Book and identified.

I found a sponsor who took me through the steps after I was abstinent from my alcoholic foods.

Today I am overcoming the bedevilments (Page 52) and experiencing the promises (Page 83-84) one day at a time.

Grew up in overweight family. Food competition was the norm.

Food, Drugs, alcohol became my life, I had no clue. 

12 steps in my first program changed my life but not my food.

I found OA and it worked so well I decided I didn't need it.

Finally got back with new sponsor and took direction.

Now I have added Spirituality into my food plan.

I pulled over an Xmas Tree but held on to the candy cane.

Knowledge of nutrition did not reduce my obsession.

A life change led to isolation, skipping meetings and the thought I can do it myself... It did not go well.

Finally made it back, got a sponsor and followed direction.

Today I have a daily ritual which helps me stay on track keeps the obsession at bay.

Long term over eating eventually getting into program at age 65

Listen and take notes:

A. S. I. S.

4 Cs

3 Ps

T. A. C. T. T.

As a child chubby turned into obese and brough in speed.

I just wanted to be able to pick a dress off the rack.

I had lost weight but was very unhealthy when I was 12 stepped in a hair salon.

Changed from 'What are you going to do about it' to what am I going to do about it.

Binged and purged my way up to over 200 lbs.

If you think you can't do your food plan the rest of your life, it is a diet.

Food helped me feel safe in an unsafe environment growing up.

When binging and restricting failed me I added exercise bulimia to my repertoire of inappropriate tools.

First came to OA in 2003, Did everything I was told except get a sponsor and do the steps.

Once back I came to believe if it worked for others  it could work for me.

Food was not my  problem, it was my solution but it was killing me.

I hid my pain by eating compulsively.

Coming from  my very dark place the light offered by OA was blinding. I need the program and  steps to make the adjustment possible.

Understanding I had a disease and it wasn't my fault was the beginning of my recovery.

My recovery starts in the grocery store.

Teased in school.

Eat in secret.

How OA was 51 years ago. none of our own literature, books etc. Just a higher power.

Working the steps from the big book helped me identify my lcohilic foods and refrain. 

Talking through the steps and the relationships between them weaves the  tapestry for a life of recovery.

Now it is still all about service, sponsoring, and passing it on as directed by God.

I binged and purged while in a treatment center for another issue.

Uing the tools does not equal recovery. I Finally  Did the Work of the 12 steps  for the spiritual recovery offered in  OA.

Truly doing the 3rd steps releicved my pain.

My current hunger is to know God and his will for me, be of service and help others. It is better.

My inability to control my eating and my weight made me hate myself

When I FINALLY got a sponsor I did whatever she said.

Recovery is better than a size 4

I remember the food at weddings I went to when I was 10 years old.

Overweight in school, compensated by being funny.

Success in business allowed to pay for lots of plans, drugs, formulas, They all worked ...for a nano second.

Traded my food for the 12 steps and my life is better.

A Sunday promise led to Monday amnesia.

I did not connect  the quantity component  while eating 'Approved' foods.

Attended OA Meetings for 16 years but did not work until I REALLY embraced step one, got a sponsor and Worked the Steps.

I don't eat anything can't leave on the plate.

Today I remember this disease if permanent, progressive and fatal.

Weight  was a problem in by the time I was 10.

President's fitness challenge was terrifying.

Major weight loss in High School gave me a validation I continue to chase.

My first 12 step program suggested I eat to handle my new feelings. up 30 lbs following direction..

Today my recovery includes how I treat others, how I treat myself, is my recovery work consistent, and am I staying connected.

Started early,manipulating for food in grade school.

Could loose weight for a prize, and get it  Immediately game on bigger and faster.

Just kept going to meeting, no matter what. 

Program first seems to work.

Food handled my emotions right from the  bottle.

20 Years old, functionally illiterate, overweight, and working  up the ladder.

My body started breaking down at 38 years old.

Entered OA. learned the rules, Attended meetings, participated, sponsored, lost 165 LBS  and I was King Sh*t!.... not good.

Now 23 years abstinent, humbly involved in the program, loving and loved. 

Abandonment issues were helped with food.

I always at the charity Candy Bars and Girl Scout cookies.

Stomach Stapling led to binge purge cycle.

OA with Big Book, And Sponsor led to recovery, 

Was not taught any adult skils growing up.

Overachiever AND overweight

In my disease eating utensils were optional.

Can never get back to the feeling of that first bite.

Attacking the steps was the real solution.

In old pictures I looked more normal than I felt.

Meetings alone did not deliver the results I wanted.

I grew up in a small community. Now I have a large OA community.

The only people who really get to act how they feel are 3 years old.

Doing the steps id the best tool for weight loss.

9th step promises are true.

In high school super excited about lots of chinese food.

I can't see God but I CAN see the effects of God.

Completely mind fucked over 3 gum drops..

Having Incremental improvements with my willingness  helps my willingness grow stronger.

Lots of Tequila and lots of Oreos.  But never together.

Gastric bypass, like every other diet, worked.... for a while.

When I finally admitted iI was a compulsive over eater that bell could never be unrung.

5'2" 288, Hmmmm

Lost who I was because of eating.

a meal - ok.    A meal, twice in a row, I qualify.

Stayed in meeting even when I wasn't abstinent. OA meetings were a breath of fresh air. 

Maintaining 150 lb weight loss for overt en years.

Problem with sugar, flour and quantity. Need to handle all 3 to be abstinent.

Came to OA at 66 years old.

Active in sports junior high and high school. College- no sports just food.

Now -Dailey10 steps. makes a difference.

My Higher Power sometimes forces me into better decision than I make on my own.

When YOU feel you have lost something God will replace it with what you need.

I was isolated emotionally 

Weight problem by 8 years old.

Yo Yo - Weight Watchers, Speed, Excersize bulemic, All  worked once.

Even when I finally got a sponsor I had not realized I actually had to work a program.

38  Years abstinent.

Great Dieter. Used grey sheet, lost weight but no steps, thus no recovery.

Recovery compares where we were  to where we are, not where we are to where we want to be.

I do have control over my attitude ans my actions, the rest is up to God

The 3 Parts of the disease need 3 areas of recovery - Pysical, emotional and spiritual.

I had to eat cake every day for my 12 minute ride home.

I had no higher power, I left 'God' off the Serenity Prayer.

Even with drugs and alcohol, food always worked to make me feel better.

Thin did not fix anything.

actually doing the steps works better than just reading them.

Waist 32" to 58" and everything in between.

Over 30 years I would get a little recovery, loose weight and take my will back . 

My abstinence needs to include eating behaivior that seeks to avoid or change me feelings.

1976 - Called OA central office - No answer, 17 hours later Someone suggested OA. Could be she was sent by God.

Pacifier glued to lips. always had to be in my mouth.

Food over alcohol right from the start.

Lying and stealing about foor started in elementary school

Binge, gain weight, program light, loose 100 lbs, good enough. binge, repeat - -  up to about 400 lbs.

Finally it took actually doing the full program. I decided to Mimic the OA Yodas.

I just did it, It didn't make sense, did not want to, didn't understand it but thought I would give it a shot. By George it worked. I still do it today because it works.

First signs of compuliveeating amnifested at age 12.

Active is sports kept it balanced.

In my 20s started dieting and a cycle of yoyo up and down up to 360lbs.

12 steps made sence except foer the God  stuff.

6 years in program before acceptance and surrender took hold and it started working .

Today the compulsion is gone. I live in the present and make better choices.

Top weight 305, now 170.

College was the kick off for unrestrained compulsive overeating.

Getting a job I liked helped my self esteem but not my food

I did my work with my sponsor and the steps like a check list and never waivered. Consistancy trumps perfection.

Big, strong kid, Very active in sports.

Regular activity, withoput change diet ledd to weight gain - Duh!

Acident at work laid me up, topped out over 385.

First astinace - no french fries. 

Certain foods cause certain feelings. Certain feelings call for certain foods. Helps to notice the connections.

We had a family competition to see who could eat the most. I held my own with brothers.

Today weight, Glucose, Triglycerides, Hemoglobin, Cholesterol, LDL, All down in healthy range.

Abstinant 6-8 times over 39 years with 60 Lb average  loss, Every time my life got full so...... stopping meetings was the first step out.

Today I use all the tools AND have a full life.

The weight allowed to be a charcter actor which allowed me to justify the weight.

Lost 100 lbs by running, then stopped running....

2 years into recovery I was terrified of relapse. a 2 lb weight gain led me into my current recovery.

Doing the steps in AA truly kicked in my spiritual awakening.

Childhood anxiety was not understood,.

Thinking 'Thin is good' had me restricting in kindergarten and into anorexia by 4th grade.

The positive aspect of gastric bypass surgey can be overcome with careful compulsive overeating.

I fired a series of sponsors who had really good suggestions.

Fast forward years of up and down weight, in and out of program, loving and hating myself, today I have healthy relationshiops with my husband, my son, my program, my sponosr and my higher power. I follow direction and my life gets better. Rock on OA!

Very active youth but food took oever about age 11. by 16 my weight made me uncomfortable so I solved that feeling with drugs and alcohol and became fat and high.

100 lb swings became common.

I know have my passion back.. for OA.

I always find a way to eat appropriately with the help of God and my sponsor.

Food was my families medicing for everything physical and emothional.

Side effects included weight gain and self loathing.

LAter on I learned eating carbs causes small intestines to releases seretonin. 

If I don't eat my red light foods, there is no struggle.

Added almost 100 lbs from HS Graduation through first semester of college.

Bypass surgery helped me switch from binging to grazing continuously. Not a good switch.

Once I started really working the program with a sponsor I discovered eating healthy foods in moderate quantities, with a little excercize produced weight loss. Who knew?

Grew up on Pot farm. My mother gained weight with organic food.

At times I lost weight but never dealt with underlying isses.

I had two food plans, A local plan when I was home and a travel plan. Not so good.

Today I love the program, I love you guys, I love my family, I love my higher power and at long last I love myself.

Stealing cookies at age 5

Sneaking was it own thrill

Grew up in violent alcoholic household, created the same inmy marriage.

I Overcam gastric bypass by eating small meals all the time.

Finally working with a sponsor and following direction helps me stay sane around food.

Wheels really came off in college.

Binge, purge, depession, suicidal, drink, act out - just spin the wheel, repeat.

Failed the phych eval for stomach staple.

Lost the weight, no need for steps,

Finally got sponsor, then recovery began

1st Meeting at age 12

Mom was my eating buddy and my diet buddy.

Today I want the best for my ex-husband and it not even fake.

Underlying Thought "I am not enough"  food was the only thing that Always helped.

The seed of OA was planted when she was 19, finally germinated 15 years later.

Flour was my Thing.

I relasped without Sugar and flour. 

A spiritual Experince and outlined in the Big Book can happen when you least expected it but always when you need it.

First diet worked for a year - Then a month, Then a week, then maybe days.

I thought alot to avoid my feelings. Problem was this is a program of action, not a program of feelings.

Years of half measures failed me but I kept coming back and once I caught  the disease I ended up with a sponsor, abstinance, and recovey.