8/3/2019 Lifeline Weekly 2012

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As I write this, I am sitting at a fast-

food restaurant with the sun on my back

and a diet soda at my elbow. There were

many years when just entering a fast-

food joint produced an overwhelming

desire to overeat. I had no freedom. The

habit of surrendering to overeating was

a well-worn groove. Today that groove is

replaced by another one: the hard-wonhabit of abstaining.

But, I am watchful and aware. I

especially keep my eyes sharp for the

old binge attitudes. Since I didnt know

I could get the comfort I craved from any

source other than food, I went on a sugar

high that soothed and insulated me in a

sick, but familiar, way. Going to food for

comfort was a way of escaping my life:

Im just a screw-up; I cant succeed,

so Ill just fall back into this comfortable

chair with some food. I dropped out of

the competition of life any time it got too

uncomfortable. Eventually, compulsive

overeating became too uncomfortable,

and I entered OA. My ego was bruised,

my body was puffy, and I was willing to

give up using food as my fun (ouch!)

and my refuge (ow!).

Well, guess what? Life didnt get

any easier. But, abstaining as well as

I could every day gave me a tiny bit of

condence that grew slowly but surely. A

quiet joy surrounded me . . . Sometimes

its tough. But, I lean into the joy and

condence that abstinence bringslike

the feeling of sun on my backand give

thanks for the miracle of abstinence.

. . . OA recently lost a long-time

abstainer who died. She was an older

woman who faced a tough life with grace,

humor and dignity. She possessed a

youthful attitude of interest in life and a

desire to learn more. The expression on

her face during a meeting was usuallyone of intense interest and humorous

acceptance. She was never impatient

with the wacky gyrations of us younger

OAersor at least she never let on. She

was one of my important role models. Ill

always appreciate what she taught me

about being a beautiful, adult woman.

Lifeline,August 1995

Lifeline Weekly is a weekly publication delivered exclusively to e-Lifeline subscribers. Opinions expressed herein are not attributed to Overeaters Anonymous, Inc.(OA, Inc.). Publication of any material herein does not imply endorsement either by OA, Inc., Lifeline orLifeline Weekly. Material from Lifeline Weeklymay not berevised, recombined or resold. All other uses require written permission of OA, Inc. Misuse of this material constitutes copyright infringement. 2012 OVEREATERSANONYMOUS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Vol. 3, No. 6 Feb 612

InspirationThe miracle of recovery

brought me such joy thatI found it difcult not torun up to obese people. . . and shout to them, I

found the answer!Recovery is mine, and it

can be yours too! Lifeline,

May 2008

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Suscribe to e-Lifeline!

or

A Call To ServiceSome members have served the OA Fellowship and carried the

message by starting a local OA group where none existed before.Find out how to start a new OA group at www.oa.org/

services-for-members/group-support.php#NewGroup .

How will you serve this week?

CHECK OUT theFebruary 2012 issue of

Lifeline for stories about

healthy body weight

Overeaters Anonymouswww.oa.org

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Lifeline Weekly on to OA friends

and encourage them to subscribe!

Leaning Into Joy

The abridgedTools of Recovery

pamphlet can save groups

time during their meetings.

Its included in the Suggested

Meeting Format, or you can

download it at

www.oa.org/news/.

2012

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8/3/2019 Lifeline Weekly 2012

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This morning when I awoke,

I knocked my glasses behind

the night table. I thought, How

am I going to nd them if I

cannot see?

Then I thought about my

recovery in OA. For years I

tried every diet on Gods Earth.

I spent moneyenough to

buy several beautiful homes

on diet aids; therapy; gym

memberships; hypnotherapy;

counseling; anything that

promised release from my

obsession with food, body

image and weight. Nothing

worked.

This morning it occurred to

me I did not have my glasses:the OA program and a proven

method of dealing with my

weight. I could not see that my

obsessions were a disease, not

a lack of willpower or a result

of not wanting it badly enough.

When I learned I had a disease,

I began to make sense of it, and

the obsession lifted.

When I accept that I have

no control over my obsession,

the program works well. But if

I lose my glasses and take my

will back, the demons return.

With the love, support and

unconditional understanding of

my sponsor and the people in

the rooms, I will always have my

glasses in clear sight!

Instead of losing my glasses, I

have lost 44 pounds (20 kg). The

correlation is no accident. OA

gave me back my life, and I will

be forever grateful. Lifeline, July 2007

Lifeline Weekly is a weekly publication delivered exclusively to e-Lifeline subscribers. Opinions expressed herein are not attributed to Overeaters Anonymous, Inc.(OA, Inc.). Publication of any material herein does not imply endorsement either by OA, Inc., Lifeline orLifeline Weekly. Material from Lifeline Weeklymay not berevised, recombined or resold. All other uses require written permission of OA, Inc. Misuse of this material constitutes copyright infringement. 2012 OVEREATERSANONYMOUS, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Vol. 3, No.7 Feb 1319

InspirationI have a path

for my life,and Im thrilled

to be on it. Lifeline,

February

2007

Want to read more?

Suscribe to e-Lifeline!

or

A Call To ServiceDesignated Downloaders serve by downloading information from the

OA and service-body Web sites and passing that info on to members whodo not have computer access. Download a Designated Downloader Flyer

atwww.oa.org/membersgroups/group-support/#Flyers.

How will you serve this week?

CHECK OUT theFebruary 2012 issue of

Lifeline for stories about

maintaining body weight

Overeaters Anonymouswww.oa.org

Already a subscriber? Pass

Lifeline Weekly on to OA friends

and encourage them to subscribe!

Finding Glasses

OA regionchairs presented a

skit at WSBC 2011, which

uses a lighthearted approach

to explore the importance

of rotating service positions.

Download it for free at

www.oa.org/category/whats-new/.

2012

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