lifeline weekly 2012
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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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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
Already a subscriber? Pass
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
2/2
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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