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'

Barb 9-9-88. My "in my disease" life was a minimal closed in reality.

*  Polly Q I spent years in 'white knuckle abstinence' It was not fun. and ended in relapse.

Today my abstinence is all about my relationship with my higher power

*  Beth -  Lost 140 LBS, Gained a modicum of sanity.

* Amanda - Escape artist with food as my favorite tool

My behavior was based on my addiction.

I was advised to address 'what was killing me the fastest' It was not food at that time.

*  April In program a long time but in the background. 'I'm good thanks'

Today my journey is about surrender.

In for 12, out for 12, back in 2009 to present.

Clear precise abstinence makes is the only way it is possible for me to stay abstinent.

I had a Loose/tight problem. I had to Loosen up in some areas and tighten up in others.

How I eat today is largely influenced by how I ate yesterday.

80/20 God/me.  In reality my part is much less.

A Clear description of the intention and results from OA in his life.

Could not find clothes in Paris.

I binged because I was ashamed of being fat.

In OA I was a dishonest people pleaser.

After a brief relapse I asked the scariest woman to be my sponsor.

Certain foods became poison to me.

I identified specific 'Alcoholic' behaviors to avoid.

Kimberly goes through her experiences with the steps.

My whole life became about my loosing weight. and my family agreed.

I have certain white powders which are drugs and toxins for me.

When I finally got to OA, I dove right in (meetings, steps service) and my life changed.  Who knew???

We end up lying to ourselves when we remember what food did for us and forget what it did to us.

Heavy as a child, bullied in school.

I was a good dieter but it only lasted a minute.

I actually had a accident while eating.

I knew I was home at my first meeting.

Knowing I was crazy was my first evidence of my recovery.

T. R. U. S.T   Try Really Using Steps and Traditions.

I had the moment when there was nothing but God between me and the next compulsive bite. God was there and I stayed abstinent.

I practice the principles (Steps for me  AND Traditions for my marriage) in all my affairs.

Grew up in alcoholic family. I was paid in candy to keep secrets. By both sides.

My mom took me to Weight Watchers.

The catholic God had nothing to do with my life. I had to figure it out on my own. Food was my God.

Loosing weight did not make my life beautiful.

Tried OA @ 22 for 30 seconds. Got sponsor, she fires me, I fired OA, back to sponsoring myself.

Weight and I ballooned, Health problems came on and I ended up wheelchair bound.

Today I  hear God in my heart louder than the disease in my head. Health stats are mostly back in normal ranges.The rest are getting there.

I know it kicked in around 5 years old.

It was suggested that more will power would help me with my food misuse. Nahhhh

Diet was the next answer.

I went to my first OA meeting when I was 11.

Eating Rehab in high school. Way to much talking talking talking. If you lost weight- you got my attention.

Sponsoring myself led to relapse, weight gain, and more pain.

Got a sponsor, took direction, had great results and took all the credit. . . relapse.

Finally in 2005 I truly connected with the program.