millcreek

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.

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.'

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.