Mill Creek OA 100 Pounder Speaker Meeting

How it was - Challenging family with vaious addictive behaviors. Bullied and school and at home - into abusive relatioship and kids. After 10 years I ened up alone, lost and surrendered to food. A Bariatric surgeon called me a lost cause and refused me the surgery. I added drugs and alcohol switching around as I put down one I picked up the others. I started walking and ruined my feet. Someone in AA suggested OA. My nearest live meeting was 3 hours away. Thanks for phone/zoom. If I do the steps I will be fixed. - I was not fixed, but better. Found out I was not nearly as bad as I thought. I ended loosing 150 LBs by surprise while doing the work.

Large since I can remember. Joined OA in April 1989  no sugar since 2004 My eating kicked in after childhood trauma which I supressed untill 5 years into recovery  Food was not enough so I included drugs and alcohol as a preteen. in '89 I got a sponsor, did what she said  I kept my disease alive by overeating vegetables My last slip in 2004 was small but dramatic for me.  I was a devout athiest but eventually realized I needed some kind of higher power. Today - no sugar and not compulsive. Speak if asked. sponsor, make gratitudes list, work to keep my heart open I now ask if an action will aid or hinder my recovery and decide accordingly.

I topped at 586 on a bariatic scale Even in high school I 'secretly' went thru drive thrus, order for two and made surer to throw out the trash before I got home. I grew up in a toxic environment and used foos to handled my emotion. My involvement in my parents divorce was brutal and after my mom and I became eating buddies. I was found unreponsive and it frightened me. After 3 years in a rehab got and apartment for my weight was able to go to OA.  Todat I have a daily ritual which is directly focused toward my recovery and helps support my food neutrality.

Came in over 300 Lbs in 1976 I had been rejected for Gastric surgery. I was told I needed a support group. OA or WW. One cost money - I went to OA. I did what I was told, lost 130 lbs and had it goin' on. I wanted to hold on to what I had gotten so I became a sponsor,  My marriage did not survive my recovery. Making amends to my dad did not go as expected. Way better than I imagined. I got great sponsor advice when I was willing to ask AND to listen.  

At 9 yrs old I was babysitting and found the joy of other peoples pantries. Because of pressure from my mom to loose weight I tried exercising- it was always a net gain. Around 12 I considered there was a pit in me I was trying to fill with food. I program I found it was God sized. Away from home for the first time in  college the freshman 15 turned into  my freshman 50. Feb. 24 My brother entered OA. I knew he was obese but never considered he did what I did with food. He let me listen into a zoom meeting on his phone. How did the speaker know my story? Little by little I let go of foods and behavior. Going through the steps led an ongoing series of incremental transformational insights.  Exercise is a major miracle.  I went from pre to diabetic. Today I do not have diabetes 

Recording missed 1st 12 minutes, Notes included all talk.   Prior to OA - Lonely and miserable- even in the beginning of OA I used to want to control others and get angry when they didn't want it.  Having done the steps multiple times I am getting less controlling and more loving, realizing most of my problems are of my own making. I complained about my parents and their issues and turned out just like them I found my Higher Power in nature.   - - - [Recording Starting} - - -  Step 10 helped me understand I may be wrong. Who knew???? Walking my do puts me in a better mood.      

I was 5 years sober the Navy sent me to treatment for chronic obesity. First time I lost weight (40 lbs) I fasted - that worked. until. The next time - was for 55 lbs -- Then 67 lbs. My sponsor tricked me into service where I kept moving up really connected with OA as an organization. Roseanne's ability to adjust who OA is for showed me I can adjust what I think as new information comes in. I That helped me be a dad learning as I went on.  OA has helped me kind and loving to myself and others which has allowed other to feel good about themselves and brought them closer  rather than making them feel small, wrong and pushing them away. Today I start every day with gratitude towards my higher power that helps keep my heart open all day long.

I always love to be asked to speak but every time I get nervous because I forget I am not in charge. I had gained and lost 100 lbs 6 times before OA.  First diet at 12. When flying I was always handed a seat extender, Hard to get down the aisle to use the restroom. I was led to OA where I stood outside the closing circle.  I became so involved in OA I did not have time for my Higher Power. I took back my will and my weight. I went from abstinent to obstinate.  I had to give up fighting everyone and everything and surrendered for real, surrendered to the program, did as told and have now been at a healthy weight for 18 years. 1 I have a food plan that works for me.  I have a food behavior plan, no seconds, three times a day etc. 3. I have a spiritual behavior plan witch varies.

GerriBeth_2026_06_21.mp3 Ver 1.1

Opened with 7th step prayer Topped @ 360 lbs At 4 years old I stole dog biscuits and ate them in a trance. My mom hid the sweets from me, I found them. In adolecence, kids teased I developed techniques to defend myself. In my twenties I got on the radio on a dare and it became a career as radio announcer. On the air I was somebody, After I got off I became self destructive AND I ate. I the 80s I came into OA, had some physical success and I was not fixed and got up to the 360. Back into OA after a stroke in 2012 for real. I had to make amends for all the food I stole to my co-workers. It saved my life. I no longer have high blood sugar. Get to stay healthy.  I do my program for me.

The phrase is "we claim spiritual progress" I thought my life would be wonderful if I lost the weight. I did it a bunch of times and my life was never perfect. I was in a car accident where being fat saved me. The whole thing scared me. In my first meeting I heard that there is a solution for way I felt on the inside. Since memorial day weekend 1983 I have had an abstinence of 3 moderate meals and no sugar. I used to eat anytime I had a feeling. I had to learn an alternative way to handle them. I had no social skill when I came into OA. Everything was defensive. I learned in OA in OA how to communicate without being angry. I am only as sick as my secret. something that happened 30 minutes ago. I need to talk with others. I believe acceptance is the key and I still work at it.

I spent years trying to figure out what was wrong with me.  I found that sugar took the edge off my stress.  We were a sugar free household. I went to extreme measure to get my sugar. My mom put me on my first diet at 9 (SEGO) I was so busy trying to be what thought others wanted me to be that I had no idea who I actually was. After 20 years in therapy I was around 300 lbs.  After 2 kids I got up to 400 I have been back in program 24 years with imperfect abstinence. I have an abusive relationship with certain foods. I doesn't cost me anything to bring joy to someone else. One of my tools is to bookend risky tasks by phone.

Graduated HS at 285, but will never get to 300, Then hit 407 and stopped using a scale At a couples event I met a guy who was over 400 but was not now. He got my attention. I have always thought I was just a fat kid. It was not the reality looking at pictures but I thought it was. My goto prayer is -"God, show me what I need to see." I always did well with fasting and/or Keto. The king of short term weight loss.  Until it didn't work. Was on the plan and failed every day. It was the darkest I can imagine. and it got worse. I called a guy I had met - actually called, he called back and I got involved in OA. I I threw myself into following a sponsors  I had the moment where I had a sudden crisis and my first thought was food, but niot my action.\ I used to eat to treat my spiritual malady. Not taday.  

I come from generations of alcoholics and overeaters. I am one of eight and we all have 'issues' I thought we were a close knit family, I was a strong fixer. I later discovered I was a martyr and a victim putting my emotional well being onto my husband. In adolescence I felt 'large' but looking back l it was not the case. It was in marriage I progressed from plump to 280 lbs. I was scared into seeking 'life' one evening in the 90s It was in open AA meetings where I really learned about the 12 steps and all the human drama that work with the 12 steps. I keep my eyes on the prize - being joyous, happy and free.