My moms stories indicated I had a eating thing right from birth.

Food was my primary addiction but alcohol was next to it.

Dieting, overeating, exercizing, all at once getting bigger.

I dieted insanely for my senior picture and became another person in the prom picture.

I eventually called OA and at my first meeting they talked about feelings. First time I was allowed to do that.

Moderation was not good enough for me.

Long time before I did it all. Picking and chosing the parts of the program to work any given day did not lead to solid recovery.

Even after doing the steps I thought I could control what I ate.

It took a relapse for me to completely surrender and follow direction with accountability.

My mother passed in January. this program truly helped me get through it without turning to food.

How it was - Challenging family with vaious addictive behaviors.

Bullied and school and at home - into abusive relatioship and kids.

After 10 years I ened up alone, lost and surrendered to food.

A Bariatric surgeon called me a lost cause and refused me the surgery.

I added drugs and alcohol switching around as I put down one I picked up the others.

I started walking and ruined my feet.

Someone in AA suggested OA. My nearest live meeting was 3 hours away. Thanks for phone/zoom.

If I do the steps I will be fixed. - I was not fixed, but better. Found out I was not nearly as bad as I thought.

I ended loosing 150 LBs by surprise while doing the work.

Michelle v.1

Michelle v.1

Michelle v.1

Large since I can remember.

Joined OA in April 1989 no sugar since 2004

My eating kicked in after childhood trauma which I supressed untill 5 years into recovery

Food was not enough so I included drugs and alcohol as a preteen.

in '89 I got a sponsor, did what she said

I kept my disease alive by overeating vegetables

My last slip in 2004 was small but dramatic for me.

I was a devout athiest but eventually realized I needed some kind of higher power.

Today - no sugar and not compulsive. Speak if asked. sponsor, make gratitudes list, work to keep my heart open

I now ask if an action will aid or hinder my recovery and decide accordingly.

loretta v.1

I topped at 586 on a bariatic scale

Even in high school I 'secretly' went thru drive thrus, order for two and made surer to throw out the trash before I got home.

I grew up in a toxic environment and used foos to handled my emotion.

My involvement in my parents divorce was brutal and after my mom and I became eating buddies.

I was found unreponsive and it frightened me.

After 3 years in a rehab got and apartment for my weight was able to go to OA.

Todat I have a daily ritual which is directly focused toward my recovery and helps support my food neutrality.

Came in over 300 Lbs in 1976

I had been rejected for Gastric surgery.

I was told I needed a support group. OA or WW. One cost money - I went to OA.

I did what I was told, lost 130 lbs and had it goin' on.

I wanted to hold on to what I had gotten so I became a sponsor,

My marriage did not survive my recovery.

Making amends to my dad did not go as expected. Way better than I imagined.

I got great sponsor advice when I was willing to ask AND to listen.

At 9 yrs old I was babysitting and found the joy of other peoples pantries.

Because of pressure from my mom to loose weight I tried exercising- it was always a net gain.

Around 12 I considered there was a pit in me I was trying to fill with food. I program I found it was God sized.

Away from home for the first time in college the freshman 15 turned into my freshman 50.

Feb. 24 My brother entered OA. I knew he was obese but never considered he did what I did with food. He let me listen into a zoom meeting on his phone. How did the speaker know my story?

Little by little I let go of foods and behavior.

Going through the steps led an ongoing series of incremental transformational insights. Exercise is a major miracle.

I went from pre to diabetic. Today I do not have diabetes