Overeaters Anonymous

[prozacpopsie]

Just posted this in an AIBU thread about Lighter Life. I thought it might also be useful for anyone on the diet threads.

I'm a serial lurker but thought I'd throw in my twopennyworth. I'm a compulsive overeater (it got particularly bad when I was pregnant/post birth because of crippling PND ) and I go to Overeaters Anonymous. I'm a huge fan and it really has changed my life. I've tried every single diet under the sun but always returned to former eating behaviour. OA is the only thing that's ever worked, in the long term, for me.

If you had a problem with alcohol/drugs/gambling, you'd go to the right Anon group for your problem. Overeating (and undereating, for that matter) is a physical/emotional addiction, just as any of these compulsive behaviours are. OA is based on AA and has similarly high success rates.

I'm very anti the diet industry , so I do have my own axe to grind - sorry ! However, I don't blame anyone for wanting to try any diet. I've been there and I know that utter desperation.

My advice, if you've tried everything, would be to give OA a try - www.oagb.org.uk.

Happy to answer any questions, if anyone has any.

[LightShinesInTheDarkness]

I never knew such a thing existed!
When you say that OA has 'worked' for you, what do you mean, exactly?

[prozacpopsie]

Eeeek - sorry I haven't been back to this thread since I posted!

LSITD - OA has helped me 'release' the weight (we don't say lose - cos it's not something we want to find again) that I wanted to release. In fact I've released more pounds that I thought I ever could. I've gone from a size 16/18 to a size 12. Other people in my group have released a lot more, but I didn't have tons to 'lose'.

As a human being, I'm calmer, happier, more tolerant. I'm still a work in progress but I feel SO much better.

I've been a lifelong sufferer of depression and my depression is a lot better since OA - it's the only thing that's worked over such a long period of time.

Things are not perfect but we learn in OA to seek progress, not perfection!

Do email me if you have any other questions, as I forget to check my message!!

PP
xx

[qumquat]

I'm an OA member as well, it's all about tackling the eating problem and what causes it, rather than tackling weight gain, which is just a symptom. Would highly recommend to anyone who struggles with food.

[stressed2007]

looking at the 12 steps it looks like a wierdy cult trying to sell God! Is this really the main thrust of the organisation? I am genuinely interested in what it is all about.

[cheekysealion]

i found it to religous for me.. but each to their own

and whatever works is great... just not for me

[qumquat]

I'm not religous at all. I struggled with the 'God' element at first but it really is just shorthand for whatever 'power' works for you. Mine is a combination of the group itself and my body/nature. It's a bit weird I know but what matters really isthe focus on eating rather than weight.

[stressed2007]

do you go weekly? how long have you been there and what has happened to your weight since joining - do you fel more in control?

[prozacpopsie]

I go weekly but a lot of people go as much as they can (in London there are meetings at least twice daily, somewhere across the capital). I've got DS, sick DH, voluntary work, weekly meeting with my shrink and full time job so can only make one meeting a week.

Control is a funny issue. I always thought I needed to have more control of myself and my life, but actually I've given up my 'control' to someone/thing else. I've admitted that my life wasn't in control. Relinquishing that control has given me the strength to deal with the eating. It's kind of like admitting you have a problem (just like being an alcoholic, I imagine) is the first step towards dealing with the issue.

PP
x