Mill Creek OA 100 Pounder Speaker Meeting

Tarl gives one of the boldest and encouraging stories you'll ever hear about his path to 33 years of abstinence, starting as a small child who ate an unusual food compulsively, discovering that he couldn't choose what feelings were deadened by compulsively eating, overcoming the fantasy of being rescued from his eating compulsion, compulsively over-exercising, discovering OA at 17, discovering how to test whether an overweight person is a compulsive eater, finding how coming out of the closet interacted with compulsively eating, finding that nothing external would stop him from compulsively eating except blindness, and how OA led him to 33 years of abstinence.

Justin shares his journey as a 300 pounder at age 16 growing up on diets and binging while he played football, his realization that relapse is a process as he struggled to admit he had a spiritual problem, eating his way to diabetes and 500 pounds, finding a "safe fifth step space", and how he succeeds at his current abstinance today.

Spencer shared with us his inspirational story of long term recovery. His gratitude and joy really shined through and helps us to remain hopeful in our own recoveries.

Rich shares with us his inspirational journey in recovery over the past 19 years.

Nathan shared with us how his obsession with food led him to some successes in life, but ultimately left him at a bottom until he met his eskimo. He has 3 years of abstinence today and his recovery has been great despite the fine tuning we all make as our time in program progresses. He is more comfortable with himself, he is working a program, and he stays connected through meetings, service, and phone calls to make sure that he continues to stick around.

Adam shares his story of coming in over 300 pounds and how he is now maintaining a normal bodyweight. His recovery in the spiritual, physical and emotional realm has enabled him to have a great life with family, friends and the fellowship of OA.

Jon shared with us tonight about how compulsive overeating affected his life, even as a very young child. When he came to OA, he got the weight loss, but still went back out for research. He is now back in the program with 2 years and is at his lightest weight since 19. He has an inspirational story to open the new year with. Enjoy!

Merry Belated Christmas! Doug shared with us his story of recovery as a young person. He hit his first bottom young at 16 and now has a little under 2.5 years of abstinence with about 150 pound weight loss at 24 years old. There were many struggles, but Doug is recovering and learning how to live life while finding out who he is.

Victor describes to us how from the very first time he had real food, he knew he was a compulsive oereater. Food was always readily available and it wasn't frowned upon. When he hit his bottom and finally came to OA, he realized that he needed to let go of his punishing Higher Power and find one that worked for him if he was to find recovery. He did find that power greater than himself and has found spiritual, physical and emotional recovery. Even with long term abstinence, he still has to work the program just as hard if not harder than when he first came in, but he is willing and does it on a daily basis.

Marla shares with us her story of recovery over the past two years. She realized she had a problem with food from a young age and has finally found her solution.

Ken shares with us his story of recovery over the past 30 years. He came in at over 300 pounds and is now maintaining around a 170 pound weight today. His story is one of isolation, depression and anger, which he says depression is anger without enthusiasm. He was very ambivalent about working the program and only worked it so he could prove it didn't work and move on with his life. The program worked, however, and it got him through some very tough times in his life. He is proof that we can stay in recovery and keep coming back no matter what!

Daniel shares with us his story of long term recovery as a 100 pounder. His humor and wit, combined with the devastating nature of the disease before program puts a nice twist on his message of recovery. Without surrendering completely to step one, he would not be where he is today.

Michael shares his experience with the steps and breaks them down with a fervor and excitement for the way they were outlined by our mother program's founders-Bill and Bob. He struggled with all forms of compulsive eating and finally came to the program after reaching over 300 pounds. He gets to practice these principles in all his affairs, especially work life, and continues to carry the message.

Violet shares with us her journey of recovery through the program. With the help of the fellowship, she has been able to admit powerlessness over the food and has attained long-term abstinence and weigh-loss as a result. She emphasizes that it's not all about the weight, however, and she has been shown how to apply the principles of the steps in her daily affairs.

Robin shares with us his journey in OA as a long-term abstinence maintaining 100 pounder. He has had ups and downs, but with the program he has become spiritually connected and has been able to share that with others.

Bob came into the program after a run in with some other 12 step programs. His sponsor told him that he needed to make amends to himself for the weight he carried his whole life. He came into OA at 340 pounds, and over the years his recovery hasn't been perfect, but he's kept coming back to carry the message and is now maintaining close to a normal body weight.

Elle shared with us her story of recovery. Since she has been abstinent, she has lost 80 pounds and came in willing to work the program as suggested because she had nowhere else to turn for recovery from compulsive overeating. She had ran out of options. Growing up, she used outside issues instead of food, and was even able to keep the weight off due to her active lifestyle after giving up those outside issues. Eventually, she started justifying excess food and couldn't keep up anymore. Her higher power intervened and brought her to program instead of having her get a gastric bypass. She resented being powerless, but kept coming back, and eventually the program worked for her.

Sharon celebrated 4 years of rededicated abstinence with us tonight. She has been around the program for over 35 years which shows her persistence and intent to recover in this program. She struggled with her weight since she was about 5 years old and started going to diet doctors and taking diet pills at a fairly young age. After the diet pills stopped working as a barrier between the food, she tried commercial weight loss programs for many years and never found much success. She always struggled with self-esteem and wanted to be something that she wasn't. Eventually, she came to the program and has not left, even among moving to 3 different states. Over the course of her recovery, she has realized that she has something valuable to offer those around her. In addition, she now knows that the program is about the physical, emotional and spiritual recovery. To this day, she keeps at the forefront of her mind that her 4 priorities are Abstinence, Fellowship, Service, and Faith in her Higher Power.

This past Sunday was really a treat from Nancy J. As of October 5th, she has 38 years abstinent and had a lot of recovery to share with us as a result of that. When she got to program, she weighed 325 pounds and today she is at a normal bodyweight. After growing up in an abusive home where food was her comfort, and after surrendering to her drug and alcohol addiction, she made it to OA. In OA, she became aware that nothing could ever satisfy her and that she had a distorted self perception. After 4 months of coming in and out of program, she finally let go of the punitive God she grew up with and found a Higher Power that worked for her. This concept blossomed out of the simple fact that God existed and she wasn't it. Gradually, by taking the hand of those who came before her in the fellowship, she found her voice and a strong recovery.

Ron shares his journey over the course of the past 9 years of abstinence and his 97 pound weight loss. He had struggled with drugs and compulsive exercise before he came to OA, but once he put both of those down, with some help from another fellowship, he delved really heavily into the food. He now knows that certain foods, like white flour and sugar, cause an allergic reaction in him, and when he starts eating those foods, he cannot stop. When he finally surrendered in OA, his Higher Power put a sponsor in his life and gave him a regimented way of living, so that he could not find the loopholes at first. He reads from the big book, does the steps, and stays committed to the program. Along the road of abstinence, he has had to fine tune his food plan to keep his maintenance, but as long as he is spiritually connected, the physical aspect always seems to work itself out.

Ira shares the recovery he has experienced as a result of his 28 years of abstinence and 140-144 pound weight loss. He tells the group to take what we like and file the rest away for later use, because we will never know when it will come in handy. He struggled with weight his whole life, and knew that he was hurting himself, but continued eating until the pain endured was great enough to spark willingness in him to work the program. In OA, he has never been without a sponsor, and has received a spiritual experience that changed his personality so that he could refrain from compulsive overeating, make amends to those around him, and live a happier life.

Jim shares how the disease crippled his body to the point of heart issues and Type II Diabetes as an adult. He had experience with other programs and luckily his doctor (also his sponsor) encouraged him to come to OA. After 13 years of abstinence, he doesn't struggle with the food like its a tiger 3 times a day. He developed a relationship with his Higher Power and grew to be able to leave the weight in his Higher Power's hands. OA Overhauled Jim's Attitude, and as long as he does the footwork, his Higher Power takes care of the rest of his life.

Steve came from Long Beach tonight to share his story of honesty and self-discovery. His top weight was 335 pounds and in 2.5 years of abstinence, he has lost 115 pounds from that top weight. As a child, he knew he was different from his fellows and had resigned himself to a compulsive overeating death after he got out of high school. His Higher Power stepped in, however, and brought him around Overeaters Anonymous until Steve finally took hold of the program. His abstinence is not strict like a lot of other 100 pounders, but he knows today what does and doesn't work. In addition, the way he works his program helps him to stay out comparison with others and allows him to focus on his program and his spiritual growth.

Domingo has wrestled with Compulsive Overeating since childhood but it wasn't until he joined OA and threw 'all in' that he became a winner in recovery

Long term sobtriety, more than 2 years abstinant, more than 100 lbs down and super grateful. This is a great pitch.

Gary, with 23 months abstinent and 106 pounds of weight loss, shares his lifelong struggle with compulsive overeating, exercise builimia and weight loss and the success he has obtained as a result of working the program. He came to OA many times in the past, but pride and ego led him back out. His final wakeup call before his current abstinence was triggered by the death of his father, kidney cancer, and atrial fibrillation. He recovered from all of these complications and knew that it was only by God that he was still alive. In his current abstinence, he focuses on his spiritual connection and on being of service to others.

Justin, from Santa Monica, CA, shares with us his story of recovery. He first came around in 2006 and is now 13 months abstinent and 140 pounds down from his top weight. He knew that his behavior around food was not normal from the time he was 5 years old. He felt like no one could relate to the experiences he was having, so he hid the behaviors so common among compulsive overeaters and got really active in sports. Eventually, he came into the program and lost weight, but did not focus enough on the spirituality and ended up relapsing. This time around, he worked the program and has been able to build genuine relationships with family and friends while maintaining a sense of sanity around the food.

Thier individual recovery stories are inspiring on their own. Together theyare revealing 'How it works.' A relationship in the program brings a whole new dimension. Tom and Stephanie reveal their personal stories of how they got from Compusive Overeating to a working marriage as they share a life beyond their imagination.

Evelyn came down all the way from the San Fernando Valley to share with us her story of recovery. She is 24 years abstinent and has been maintaining a 115 pound weight loss for 23 of those years. Her story shows the process she went through to learn how to enjoy the world and the relationships around her without being obsessed about the food. She wanted happiness and was determined to work the program and follow direction (out of spite, if necessary) in order to achieve that goal. Today, she is happy and she is comfortable in her own skin.

Joe shares his amazing story of how he got out of the isolation and self-destruction of compulsive overeating. He knew that he was different from his peers with regards to food at an early age and turned to food as comfort. His top weight was 550 pounds and he has an abstinence date of 2/14/2009. Through his recovery, he has given away 225 pounds. He finally found the willingness to embrace OA and follow a sponsor's direction. Although there have been many painful moments, he persevered with the help of the fellowship and his Higher Power.

Alma shares with us her journey of spiritual growth in recovery. 20 years ago, she came in, but her busy life led her back out and the shame kept her from coming back. Today, she is stronger than ever in her recovery, and she is letting her Higher Power lead the way.

Cindy's recovery from the lifelong devesation imposed by her disease has brought a hightened self esteem, a true sense of purpose and a 237 pound weight loss. This is what OA is all about!

Loni G from LA had a deep understanding of HER diesease that allows her to share her very serious commitment to her recovery and OA in a lighthearted and heartfelt manner which touches everone who hears this pitch

Tony P From LA - 24 Years abstinent - wears his recovery like a loose garment. With humor and humility, well actually more humor, he shares his experience so you can believe that the program can work for anyone.

Icomprehensible demoralization to unbeleiveable joy in 24 short years. A heartfelt story of love and recovery which is possible for all of us.

22 years in OA, Carl K from West LA details his daily relationship with his Higher Power, his sponsor, his food and his recovery. He has paid attention to the details one day at a time and it shows.

OA is not just for Jews. This is just one of the tidbits Rochelle has learned on her path to a lighthearted AND rock solid, well rounded recovery. Her example can inspire everyone who hears it.

Marcy came down from LA to inspire and remind us that recovery is available to everyone. We have already paid the price. Recovery is the reward.

The path of recovery is not always smooth OR easy. Susan's journey has now brought her to a renewed gratitude for the program and her life.

Hank from Tarzana shares his story from the deep self destructive pain of compulsive overeating to a life beyond his wildest drerams. Somthing for everyone who wants a deeper connection with thier own recovery.

Shari B from LA reveals with clear precision both the physical and emotional aspects of her struggle with compulsive overeating and her current tools for a strong and lasting recovery.

Ira reveals that his passion for OA has kept him gratefully abstenant one day at a time. The big book holds the same core truths for him today as it did in 1983.

Wanting to die in the disease, desparate to live in recovery, Ben's lighthearted style of story telling underlies a remarkable journey from a seemingly hopeless state of incomprehensible demorlaization to a life beyond his wildest dreams.

Loraine A from San Pedro reveals that for 37 years she has experienced and seen a multitude of miracles. She shares how it has impacted her with an honesty that comes shining through her every word.

24 years abstinent, his message of recovery is an example or how it really can work and reminds us that we can have a life beyond our wildest dreams.

Eda shares 35 years of continuous abstinance offering a wealth of practical experience with clarity, compassion and humor.

Adam, from Sherman Oaks shared the painful feelings of his compulsive overeating and his uplifting feelings for his recovery so we all 'Got it'.

Victor S from Southgate. His softpoken manner underlies a passionate commitment to his program, spirituality, sponsorship and service. It has worked for 16 years and continues strong.

Nathan humbly reveals how a progressive disease was transformed into progressive recovery with his commitment to OA.

San Clemente resident explains in comprehensible detail how the tools offer him a great life on a daily basis.