Overeaters Anonymous

In this series of workshops, members share on the importance of working ALL 12 Steps and how working the Steps changed their lives physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Introduction/Step Zero This introductory workshop focuses on the nature of the disease of compulsive eating and what it takes to be willing to go to any length to recover. Some call this Step Zero. When examining the essence of compulsive eating/food addiction, literature used includes the book Alcoholics Anonymous, a.k.a. the Big Book (The Doctor’s Opinion; Chapter 5–How it Works; and Chapter 6–Into Action) and Overeaters Anonymous, Third Edition (Foreword; Appendix A–The Role of a Plan of Eating in Recovery from Compulsive Eating; Appendix B–A Disease of the Mind; Appendix C–A Disease of the Body; and Appendix D–A Disease of the Spirit). Members talk about what gave them the gift of desperation, and journal questions are offered to help members prepare to work the 12 Steps as the workshop continues.

OA'S FIRST EVER SPECIAL HOLIDAY PODCAST:  A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS IN 2015! GOT RECOVERY? FIND OUT HOW IT WORKS! DOWNLOAD AND LISTEN TO THE OA HOLIDAY SPECIAL FOR A PREVIEW OF 13 HOURS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE! More virtual workshops will continue in 2015.  Starting with Step Zero and Step One in January and working through all 12 Steps, members will share how working the Steps changed their lives physically, emotionally and spiritually. Check the OA Datebook Calendar for more information.

As this member tells her story of recovery from relapse, she talks about how the kindness and repeated calls from a fellow member when she was isolating brought her back into OA. Pertinent OA literature and the Twelfth on the Twelfth Campaign are described as she shares how they may help members in relapse. Her passion for carrying the message is demonstrated throughout this workshop as she keeps it real about relapse, losing 150 pounds and her 41 years in OA.

What is “Twelfth-Step-Within”? Carrying OA’s message of recovery to those who still suffer within the OA Fellowship and addressing relapse, relapse prevention, and member retention. These topics are addressed in The Twelfth-Step-Within Handbook and by the Conference Twelfth-Step-Within Committee. This member shares how she was a chronic relapser for many years and how the principles discussed in this handbook have helped her get and stay abstinent for more than 10 years. She mentions many of the OA resources in this valuable handbook including ways to carry the message, sponsorship suggestions, ideas for a Twelfth-Step-Within packet, suggestions for workshops and retreats, a suggested Recovery from Relapse meeting format, and talks in detail about using her favorite part of The Twelfth-Step-Within Handbook, the 30 “Slipping and Sliding” questions. This handbook is available at the OA Bookstore.

What is “Twelfth-Step-Within”? Carrying OA’s message of recovery to those who still suffer within the OA Fellowship and addressing relapse, relapse prevention, and member retention. These topics are addressed in The Twelfth-Step-Within Handbook and by the Conference Twelfth-Step-Within Committee. This member shares how she was a chronic relapser for many years and how the principles discussed in this handbook have helped her get and stay abstinent for more than 10 years. She mentions many of the OA resources in this valuable handbook including ways to carry the message, sponsorship suggestions, ideas for a Twelfth-Step-Within packet, suggestions for workshops and retreats, a suggested Recovery from Relapse meeting format, and talks in detail about using her favorite part of The Twelfth-Step-Within Handbook, the 30 “Slipping and Sliding” questions. This handbook is available at the OA Bookstore.

After sharing her story and some of the changes she made to find recovery, this long time member outlines the twelve freedoms she discovered in The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous. Included are freedom from: food obsession, insanity and hopelessness; the bondage of self; dishonesty; isolation; the fear of change; self-reliance; blame; fear of people; complacency; loneliness; and lack of purpose. These freedoms are correlated with pages in this valuable piece of OA literature. Later in the podcast she talks about the personal freedoms she gained from working all Twelve Steps. The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous is available in the OA Bookstore.

After sharing her story and some of the changes she made to find recovery, this long time member outlines the twelve freedoms she discovered in The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous. Included are freedom from: food obsession, insanity and hopelessness; the bondage of self; dishonesty; isolation; the fear of change; self-reliance; blame; fear of people; complacency; loneliness; and lack of purpose. These freedoms are correlated with pages in this valuable piece of OA literature. Later in the podcast she talks about the personal freedoms she gained from working all Twelve Steps. The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous is available in the OA Bookstore.

“In OA you are among people who truly understand you, a part of something special. Welcome to Overeaters Anonymous. Welcome home!” (Before You Take that First Compulsive Bite, Remember.) This member shares how she found a home in Overeaters Anonymous in 1989 and has stayed abstinent by working the Twelve Steps and doing service for OA.The wallet card Think First and pamphlet Before You Take That First Compulsive Bite, Remember are two of her favorite pieces of OA literature. As she discusses the suggestions offered in this literature to avoid eating compulsively, she shares her own experience. “Thought does not have to equal action” is one of the ideas explored. These invaluable, inexpensive pieces of OA literature are available at the OA Bookstore.

The Twelve Steps are our Program of Recovery. In this workshop, two members relate how working the Steps allowed them to turn obstacles into opportunities for growth when life presented them with problems. One OA member shares about how, through working all Twelve Steps, she discovered her Higher Power, rebuilt her relationship with her son, and dealt with surgery on a tumor. Another member relates how she used each step to work through a life problem concerning a relative living in her home and how she made the decision to return the child to her parents. Both powerfully demonstrate how through using the Twelve Steps of Overeaters Anonymous, compulsive eaters can deal with any life issue without turning to food.

The Strong Meeting Checklist, available on the OA website (https://www.oa.org/pdfs/strongmtgchecklist1.pdf), is the focus of this workshop. The speaker shares her story, talks about the practical aspects of the checklist and emphasizes the importance of having strong meetings to effectively carry the message and keep newcomers returning. As she discusses each point of the Strong Meeting Checklist, she details of how these ideas are important to OA's Primary Purpose.

“If you remove your body from the truth, when you are ready the truth is nowhere to be found. But if you continue to bring your body to the truth, then when you are ready the truth is waiting there for you. And that truth—our promise of recovery—is in every OA meeting when we join hands, pray together, and joyously, lovingly encourage one another: Keep coming back!” This quote, from the Pocket Reference for OA Members, is the theme for this member’s story of recovery. She also shares the many ways the Just For Today wallet card encouraged her to move forward in her recovery . . . one day at a time.

After telling her story of losing 140 pounds (63 kg.) and gaining spiritual fitness, this member talks about the many promises described in the OA literature and how they have come true for her. The focus of this workshop is the importance of working and continuing to work the 12 Steps to attain and maintain the Promises of Recovery. What a glorious promise to have the obsession lifted and have freedom from the compulsion to eat compulsively. The 12 Promises of Compulsive Eating are also enumerated.

A great workshop discussing some of OA's most popular books: For Today and Voices of Recovery and the companion workbook for each. Each workbook provides thought-provoking questions for every reading in For Today and Voices of Recovery. The daily readers and workbooks are available at bookstore.oa.org and as e-books.

After telling her story of recovery, this member shares how she is living a principled life as a result of practicing the 12 Steps of Overeaters Anonymous. She talks about how using each of the 12 principles daily (Honesty, Hope, Faith, Courage, Integrity, Willingness, Humility, Self-discipline, Love, Perseverance, Spiritual Awareness and Service) has given her a fulfilling and wonderful life. (The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous, pages 103-106)

This member shares recovery from numerous relapses on the anniversary of her last binge in 1983. “Welcome Back” had special meaning for her as it was the first OA literature addressing recovery from relapse. “Members in Relapse” offers practical suggestions from relapse survivors on what helped them feel supported. Topics: relapse is not a failure; willpower is not enough; a food plan without Steps is a diet; getting past past black and white thinking and perfectionism; abstaining in spite of life challenges; one hour of abstinence a week at the meeting is a start; call even if bingeing; help from reading and writing.