How do I keep my abstinence when everyone around me is eating so many things I’m “not suppose” to eat?  What about those food pushers?  “I made this just for you.  You have to try a little bit.” 
 
The Twelve Step Program of Overeaters Anonymous tells me that my compulsion will be removed if I work the Steps and have a spiritual awaking which is sufficient to change me so that I no longer crave foods which are not good for me.  I have experienced this removal of the compulsion.  And the last several Holiday seasons I have had no compulsions and no temptations.  Of course, over the years I have trained my family, so they don’t expect me to eat those things and they don’t push them on me.  I am grateful.
 
However, the first few holiday seasons I was in Overeaters Anonymous I was not free of the compulsion.  And sometimes it was very hard to stay out of the food.  I have found several things that work for me to help me keep my abstinence.  
 
First, I try to remember that my abstinence and my OA program are the things that help me have sanity and peace in my life.  I remind myself that really spending time with the people I love is much more important than the temporary high I get from the food.  I discovered that when I tell people I am allergic to certain foods they want to know more about that and try to help by offering solutions to those things.  They keep asking questions and trying to talk me unto things I know don’t work for me to eat.  I finally decided that simply saying one thing over and over works as well as anything.  I say “No, thank you” and indicate that I am full.  I can just keep saying - “NO thank you” over and over. 
 
Sometimes I just find some little kids and play with them; I can go for a walk and invite others to go; I can call someone – from the bathroom works well.  Sometimes I just pray or help with the dishes.  Another great trick is to help by passing out plates of the dessert – no one notices that I didn’t eat any when they see me with a plate of it in my hands. 
 
I read something this week that made lots of sense to me.  Someone shared that she tells people that she doesn’t eat foods that cause her to feel bad physically.  And she has found no one urging her to eat foods which make her feel sick.  (Those aren’t exactly the words she used but that was the idea). 
 
I need to remember how important my abstinence and sanity are to me every day one day at a time. 
Happy Holidays to all,
Margie

Thankfully Abstinent
Each holiday season I am abstinent is sacred for me.  When I used to focus on the food, Food, FOOD, I never had time to really connect with my family & friends.  Since OA and an abstinent way of life, I have much more time to devote to making connections that enrich my life in a deeper way. Even family who may like to "talk about others" gives me a chance to let them know how much I appreciate them and move conversation into a healthier topic.  Lessons I've learned in Program about listening instead of being so ready to give advice (or my opinion) have supported my effort to have deeper friendships...even within my family. 
 
I usually try to book-end (calling an OA buddy before/after the event) holidays so I have a quick connect with OA buddies too, this reminds me why an abstinent way of life is so important every day of the year.
 
So as you head into the holiday season I encourage you to focus on the people at the event and listen to them as they speak from the heart.  It will warm their heart as well as your own.
 
In OA Service,
Sue B, Region One Chair    
​

​ASK IT:    I'm a little confused. You say that "It is not a religious organization" But when I read your 12 steps, it sure sounds like you are. I could use some help with my over eating. But I just can't do the religious thing. Do you have any ideas for me?  I have known people that go to rehab and then come out acting like god just saved their lives. I can not do that to my self. I don't need god to save me, I should be able to do it myself. I do need help, but I do not want to have religion be apart of it.     *************
 
ANSWER:     I can certainly understand your confusion.  When I first came to OA I bristled at the word God, especially when I heard people refer to anything more specific. But I also felt that I really was a compulsive overeater, these people seemed to have an answer and nobody tried to get me to go to any church.   Then I realized that the Steps said things like "Power greater than ourselves", well that was OK.  And they said "God as we understood Him".  I did not like the "Him" part but it really did not tell me what I had to believe.
      
So I started to think about what it really was that I did believe and I knew that there was power or spirit at the beach and in the mountains that I felt close to when I was near those places.  I found that no one tried to make me believe anything; they really only talked about their experience and that felt just fine.  Once in awhile there are some people who do try to push their religious beliefs onto others in OA but most of the time they do not.  I know that sometimes when I tried to explain some of my "nature" ideas to others who were Christians they got kind of uncomfortable around me.
      
To me a religious program is something that sets forth a specific set of beliefs and there is NO where in OA that does that.  OA has some practices which are similar to some religious practices, such as confusion.  But therapy might be like that too.  But nowhere does OA try to make me belief anything really specific about God.  I personally know Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists and believers in the power of the universe who work a 12 Step program.  So by my definition OA is spiritual rather than religious. I have a much closer connection with God of my understanding today than when I first came into OA.
 
My main suggestion to you would be to give it a try - what do you have to loose?  I know that no one could convert you to any thing you don't want to believe so it should not hurt you to go and see if it makes sense for you. More than anything I hope that you can find a way to have peace with your food and your weight.
Margie 

Anonymity has two separate meanings in Overeaters Anonymous. First is protecting those in OA from being known as OA members – either ourselves or others – at the Public level. Second it has the spiritual meaning of remembering that we are all the same in OA – no one has greater worth than others.
Today I wish to talk about Anonymity at the level of Public Media or Social Media – ie; Facebook.  On the Region 1 webpage when Board members write an opinion piece call a blog – I can post that Blog without including their last name or their email address.  I can also post that same Blog on Facebook since I am the administrator of the Region I Facebook page.  When people respond to the Blog on the Region 1 website, they can put their first name and last initial.  Or a fake name if they want to do so. They do have to include their email address, but it does not get published. Therefore, they remain anonymous. 
However, when anyone posts a comment in response to a posting on the Facebook page – Facebook does not allow the person posting the comment to remain anonymous.  They include the person’s first and last name and, as in my case, my maiden name – since that’s the way I signed up for Facebook. 
Because Facebook’s whole purpose is to connect people with each other by name and they do not allow comments or even “Likes” without full names, thus Region 1 has an obligation to protect OA member’s anonymity.  That is the reason Region 1 will not allow any responses to Blog posts or events which are on the Region 1 Facebook page.
If you have a comment about a Blog post I encourage you to visit the www.oaregion1.org website.    Check out the whole website and the Blog postings are on the Board Blog page.
Margie G
Technology Coordinator

​We Are Never Alone
 
This weekend I’ve had the chance to spend some time with trusted servants from all eleven regions gathering to share our wins and enlist support for our challenges.  I watched my fellows with complex service responsibilities actively applying the steps to the work they do and taking care of themselves in the process.  I definitely wanted what they had, and boy did they spend a lot of time laughing at themselves!
 
In between the business discussions there was spontaneous sharing around personal recovery and the expression of strong support for each other.  When I look back at my service journey I’ve never stepped into a new service position without the reassurance that I would not be in it alone; that those who have gone before me would be there to answer my questions and support me.  It just seems natural for those of us in recovery to want to be helpful and pass on what we’ve learned.
 
Just as I discovered that I was not alone in my disease of compulsive overeating when I joined OA,  I am not alone in any service that I do.  It’s also my job to be available to anyone stepping into a role I’ve held. 
 
We are Never Alone!
 
Cindy C.
R1 secretary

​​“Meetings give us an opportunity to identify our common problem, confirm our common solution through the Twelve Steps and share the gifts we receive through this program.  In addition to face-to-face meetings, OA offers telephone and online meetings.”  Overeaters Anonymous – The Tools of Recovery (abridged).

I’ve been “stuck” at home lately while work is being done on my house.  I’m used to being able to go to local OA meetings pretty much any day I want to, but right now I’m almost three weeks into a stay- at-home experience filled with the sounds of noisy tools:  hammers, power saws, nail guns…. 
It took me a full week to realize that I could pick up an OA tool I rarely use—phone meetings.  When I finally dialed in, I lucked into a really good speaker meeting and heard an inspiring story of recovery – an OA member sharing “what it was like, what happened to change that, and what it’s like now.”  I was filled with gratitude for the ability to join a meeting right from my home, and for a fellow OA member willing to share her story of HOPE.  It turned my noisy day right around!
On another phone meeting, there were 25 people on the line, but the moderator had to ask several times for someone to give service by reading the 12 Steps.  Everyone stayed silent.  This is something I’ve not experienced in my face-to-face meetings, so I was surprised.  I felt like a “visitor” to the meeting, and waited, assuming a “regular” would jump in to do service.  Then I realized that perhaps others were multi-tasking (as was I) and could not unmute to read.  I quickly dried my hands on a dishtowel, rushed upstairs to get an OA book, and was back in time to read the 12 Traditions for the meeting.  Magically, that very small act of service (another OA Tool) made me feel useful and changed  my day for the better.
After the workers left today, I noticed a nail in the driveway.  Then another, and another…  My story of hope is this:  In the “old days” I would have called the contractor and demanded they return immediately.  Then, because this was what I always had to do with anger, I would have gotten something to eat.  But the 12 Steps have taught me a better way of living…one that allows me to give myself and others a break.  I went into the house, got a small bowl, and spent the next thirty minutes outside in a light rain, carefully scanning the ground.  I filled the little bowl with nails, feeling a small sense of satisfaction as I spotted each one.  Somehow, I actually enjoyed the task!  J
So grateful for OA!
Beverly M. – Region One Chair