Overeaters Anonymous is a Fellowship of individuals who, through shared experience and mutual support, are recovering from compulsive overeating. We welcome everyone who wants to stop eating compulsively. There are no dues or fees for membership; we are self-supporting through our own contributions, neither soliciting nor accepting outside donations. OA is not affiliated with any public or private organization, political movement, ideology or religious doctrine; we take no position on outside issues. Our primary purpose is to abstain from compulsive overeating and to carry this message of recovery to those who still suffer.

Steps is published quarterly by Houston Metro Intergroup (HMI) of Overeaters Anonymous, P.O. Box 741836, Houston, Texas 77274-1836, 713-973-6633

Editorial Policy: Opinions expressed herein are those of the writers and not of HMI or OA as a whole, unless otherwise noted. We reserve the right to edit all submissions with the intent of preserving the 12 Steps and 12 Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous

• Food kills the pain....and the mind....and the body....and the spirit....and the joy...and finally, YOU!
• GOD: Good Orderly Directions
• DENIAL: Don’t Even Notice I’m Lying
• ACTION: Any Change To Improve Our Nature
• Expectations are premeditated resentments!
• PROGRAM: People Relying On God Relaying A Message
• EGO: Edging God Out
• BIG BOOK: Believing In God Beats Our Old Knowledge
• SPONSOR: Sober (abstinent) Person Offering Newcomers Suggestions On Recovery
• NUTS: Not Using The Steps
• HOPE: Happy Our Program Exists

It had been a while since I did service by qualifying. I prayed and then dusted off my book of photographs. Idly leafing through the pages, I found images that brought back memories of the years when life was very different. In those days, I described myself as "relentlessly cheerful." If I stopped my daily whirl long enough to contemplate my life, panic would overtake me. My remedy for the fear was food; but the more I ate, the worse I felt. However, I always had a smile on my face, even when my soul was howling in pain.

I am so grateful for the gift of OA. As the holidays approach, I feel real, not feigned, joy. I no longer feel anxiety when I see white space on my schedule. I don't have to fill up every minute of the day simply to justify my existence. I enjoy the food that is part of my plan of eating. I still have a smile on my face, but I also have harmony in my spirit.

Recovery taught me about my value as a person. I thought God would have to make an extra-special effort to salvage me, because I was obviously a lost cause. No matter how much I tried, I always fell short. I couldn't diet well enough to keep the weight off permanently. I couldn't be a good enough wife to hang onto my husband. I had friends, but they were at least as broken as I was, and they couldn't help me find my way. Today I know that I am loved. If I forget, my friends in OA remind me. What a thrill to have healthy friends!

Recovery also taught me about the joy of living a normal life. Where once I couldn't enjoy the delightful sensation of moving my body through space (even slow walking left me breathless), now I'm training as an aerobics instructor. I can go to the theater, because I can sit in the seats now. I can go shopping and buy regular-size clothing. I'd resigned myself to a lonely old age; but every weekend, I do interesting things with interesting people.

Others are also leafing through my photographs. I see them glancing up, startled and disbelieving that the vibrant woman who is speaking could be the same person in the album. That was me...before the joy of recovery.

- A.S., Barrington, Rhode Island USA

Reprinted from Lifeline, December 1999

Abstinence is freedom,

Abstinence is love,

Abstinence is reaching

To the Higher Power above.

No one called it easy,

No one called it fun.

It’s not a bed of roses,

But when the deed is done:

My body feels so good again,

My sleep is warm and sweet,

And morning is serenity

And life is more complete.

A mirror’s not a scary thing,

A scale is just a scale,

A meal is just a meal again

And fat is not a jail!

--From Genesis, Canton, Ohio/Sharing Hugs, Jackson, MI

After sharing her inventory with her sponsor, the willing OA was presented a humiliating list of character defects. Her loving sponsor suggested she make a list of the opposites of these defects and concentrate on the affects. Her only job, done on a moment to moment basis, was to pray for her higher Power to remove these defects, then allow the affects to fill the space created by surrendering the character defects. Her is her list which is provided as a suggestion only. Character Defects Character Affects

Perfectionism becomes Accepting progress

Lying becomes Telling the truth

Stealing becomes Charity

Procrastination becomes Action

Fear acted out becomes Faith

Anger acted out becomes Love and tolerance

Arrogance becomes Humility

Dishonesty becomes Honesty

Self pity becomes Gratitude

Fantasy becomes Reality

Not asking for help becomes Asking for help

Judging becomes Acceptance

Being self-centered becomes Being interested in others

Minimizing my needs becomes Acknowledging and meeting my needs

Control becomes Love and tolerance

Isolation becomes Sharing

Being a victim becomes Taking responsibility for myself

Gossip becomes Anonymity

Criticism becomes Tolerance and acceptance

Selfishness becomes Selflessness and generosity

Pride becomes Humility

Dear God,

So far today, I’ve done all right. I haven’t gossiped. I haven’t lost my temper. I haven’t lied or cheated. I haven’t been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish or overindulgent. I’m very thankful for that.

But in a few minutes, Lord, I’m going to get out of bed, and from then on I’m probably going to need your help!

Reprinted from OA Awareness, AZ/Phoenix Metro Intergroup

I am an overeater and an anorexic. Today I am abstinent by God's grace and the Fellowship of OA. I'm full of gratitude right now and want to share my experience, strength and hope with other recovering compulsive eaters.

To fulfill my service position as my group's translator, I've been reading old Lifelines the group keeps on hand. I feel grateful and privileged to be an OA member after reading stories from members all over the world. Although I may be physically alone in my room, I am never really alone. An OA meeting is going on somewhere right now, and I can share in the recovery just by being abstinent.

My own abstinence is not enough for the long run. This compulsive eater plans to stick around-one day at a time. Service is crucial to my physical, emotional and spiritual health, not to mention the health of OA. In the last city in which I lived, I was able to attend a meeting a day if I wished. I've tried to give back what I have been given by serving on the convention committee and by speaking at and leading meetings.

Now I live in a tiny town that has only one OA meeting a week. Up to nine people sometimes attend, but only five of us are regulars. This is quite a change from my last city. The meeting is in the host country's language, which I speak, although not as well as I speak English. The Steps and Traditions do not change or lose their power to transform lives in the translation! My new OA family has welcomed me with open arms, and I am beginning to feel "at home" in my new home group.

My group is strong and committed to recovery. The secretary receives WSO newsletters and updates. Often someone in Paris translates them for her, but now she has asked me to do it. It is a blessing to give what I can when I can. We won't be planning any conventions here in the near future, and with one meeting a week, I do not have the opportunity to speak or lead meetings all over town. But I can still serve OA and my new meeting.

Today my life is a miracle, thanks to OA. I've been to meetings in several states, countries and languages. I've made friends and created new relationships with OA people of different generations, sexual orientations, religions, genders, races and nationalities. I have taken vacations, graduated from college, moved overseas and started dating. God has blessed me with abstinence and the willingness to live by the Steps and principles one day at a time.

My life is not perfect, but I have too much to be grateful for to focus on what I don't have. I'm abstinent and sober. I have a great apartment. My town has an OA meeting. I am part of a worldwide fellowship that is teaching me how to live. The promises are coming true for me. Miracles are happening "beyond my wildest dreams." Thank you, OA and Lifeline.

B.A., Belfort, France/Lifeline June 2000

Editor’s Corner

It’s hard to believe that another year is coming to an end. Every year prior to program, I have made those dreaded New Year’s resolutions, always including on my list some form of "diet." I would quickly "break" those resolutions. This year is quite different. I can’t help but think back on the past year. But this year, I’m not looking at what I didn’t do. Instead, I am concentrating on the important steps forward I have taken. This year, I have:

Come back to OA

Gotten a sponsor

Gotten abstinent

Attended a lot of meetings

Gone to conventions and retreats

Started going back through the steps

Called people to keep myself honest

Written in my Journal almost every day

What a difference a year makes. This January first, I will eat my "good luck" foods out of tradition. But I will leave my "luck" up to the Steps, OA, and God!