I began my journey onto my food addiction at 18 years old

I always felt different and like I didn't fit in.  Food was my friend.

My pattern was binge and purge

I left home at 20.

I married my 'project' to change my behavior.

Each of my pregnent was a major weight gain followed by dramatic  weight loss.

Started OA in '88 but abstinence didn't start until I did treatment in '90

Multiple long term relapses became my story. driven by My Will.

When I finally connected with my higher power my life really got better.

Free from binging and purging from Nov 1986 thanks to God

I did all the nasty things overeaters do. No normal suggestions helped at all.

When I am talking, I am not learning.

I have fallen in love with my Higher Power. and I believe he returns the favor.

My God was big enough to help me with the IRS.

Not all my dramas have happy endings but I do get through them and stay abstinent.

i had to take the first step before I joined OA. I knew I had a problem.

I have a daily reprieve. I wake up and the work starts. Te 12 steps are about Ego reduction.

Self help books, workshops or pictures did not help.

I went to my first meeting,saw God on the wall and walked out. I did not come back for a year.

I had amazing weight loss in the first 9 months. and realized I was on my way out without the steps.

Through grace I surrendered and became teachable.

The ones who helped me the most in the  beginning have passed on. I am their legacy and carry their message.

I experienced a great deal of challenges in my 1st 37 years. I now believe I was born an addict, regardless of my traumas.

Life has thrown me a bunch of more challenges. The steps help me survive  and flourish in the face of new adversity that I face.

I was pretty normal as a child, athletic 6'4". 
Eating did not kick until my thirties going up to 360.

I had a family and kids, seemingly normal, however on my way home for a family dinner I would stop at multiple drive-thrus to pre-binge before going home to eat another dinner with dessert.  I could hide the nags but not the smell.

A diagnosis of diabetes and a need to  inject insulin sent me to a drive in.  Another 4 years before getting to OA.

When I left my job for a 'Sabbatical' to focus on my heath the reality was my overeating became my full time job.

Jan 1999  admitted my addiction and my recovery in OA began at 400 LBS

I eventually got a letter from my doctor indicating I was diabetes free.

Today I have a sponsor and I am a sponsor.

I put bows in my hair to keep focus on my head and not my body.

I did well with pay and weigh programs, therapies, diets, everyone worked once. I wanted to have my jaw wired shut.

I got up over 300 lbs after grey sheet helped me loose 40  lbs.

I did not understand the concept of alcoholic foods.

I bounced in and out of multiple 12 steps programs searching for the perfect program, the perfect sponsor etc. I would not surrender to anything completely. I manipulated everybody and everything to do it my way.

God is definitely doing for me what I will not do for myself. Ordering from a fast food the machine is broken. lots of times.

Today I am willing to look in a mirror and say 'Judy- I love you"  and mean it.

Today I have daily rituals for my recovery which keep me emotionally and physically stable.