Mill Creek OA 100 Pounder Speaker Meeting

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...

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...

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 c...

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...

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...

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 te...

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 see...

Today I am maintaining about 90 LBS down from my top. I have been lower but was not sustainable. As a kid I was admitted to a hospital for being too thin. That quickly revered. I was extremely overweight by 3rd grade  and embarrassed by the school nurse. By 11 I went to a doctor and counted calories. It gave me awareness or what was happening. I lost a lot and became a normal weight. From then on...

Topped at 238. My mom said I was 'Big Boned' but the pain of the teasing was very real.  I loved boys but they didn't love me. Big surprise. Been sober for 39 Years. First came to OA in 1990. but no sponsor, no Steps I actually did have a thyroid problem. Even sober I was just existing mishandling my food thinking I could control it only to fail repeatedly. I have been consistent in OA for about 7...

2011 at 365 I wanted to loose weight with a new years resolution. No action until Nov. then went to OA Bay think I would get the plan and leave and be fixed, Got sponsor and had to refrain from 5 alcoholic foods. I was proud of how much I can eat. Never full. Had a watermelon cake with fruit for my wedding. I have a daily ritual including prayers daily readings, my abstinence, regular meetings and...

First time into OA - 1978 They were speaking my language around food. For three weeks I had to hibernate to stay away from sugar. I realized I could be moderate with anything without sugar. I lost weight down to 88 lbs. worked for 3 years For over 40 years I went up and down and kept clothes for every size. I could loose weight, for a minute and never had not worked the steps  At 57 I was raising...

Top weight pregnant 5'3" and 213. Started in OA in 1990. Lasted 5 years, stayed abstinent throguh second pregamancy. I got this... not  - 7 rear relapse. I gave up sugar before I came back - It was my heroin,  Came home from Paris after gaining 7 lbs in a week realizing I had a problem but didn't need a sponsor. Still wanted the diet. I surrendered VERY slowly. I was just fat. I have had one more...

Being a hundred pounder came with the shame that I let it get that bad. Now it is with acceptance of my recovery. Came in OA at 24 years old 375 lbs.  Food was my solution for a dificult childhood. I kept that solution when that danger was no longer there. There were clues along the way which did not work. I wanted to win on my own ...  Got gave me the tools, if I failed it was on me. I was excite...

There are lots of 100 pounders who are not here. Been here since 1988 and got 8 years but no higher power. I went out on 'look alikes' Diet foods etc. Took 5 years to come back. Next time 3 years to gain it back.   Then 1 year. Nothing scared me into recovery, I knew how to be a fat person and it kept calling me. My dad was a bulemic to stay thin for his daughter. What I put in my mouth affects wh...

Getting, Hiding, getting rid of, getting more was what I always did with food I staged a kitchen fire to hide my behavior. I did not want recovery, I just wanted  the consequences to stop.  I loved AA Parties and the food was my best friend. AND I Got credit for staying sober while gaining weight. After failing as my own sponsor I hired and fired a bunch. I eventually understood I needed to listen...

I was an exercise bulemic. I was in many sports and a 'healthy' eater.  I was a 5th degree black belt by 15. I had to go to the hospital to get my stomach pumped 8 times i 2 years. That time the repercussion were laid out. Today I will be there when called. Whatever I can do for you is doing it for me.

 I was always tall/big and felt fat. I always felt different. 1st Diet in 8th grade. thus started the yo-yo of thin and not. Everyone diet worked once. with diminishing results when repeating it. I got to 125 lbs overweight while binging AND purging. I have been in OA for 43 years and never left, but do not have continuous abstinence. I did several OA variations which also worked initially. Finall...

Top Weight 305.   Snacks I picked up at 7-11 were my friends. Coming into OA this time I got a sponsor and got direction which I followed. After a week I noticed a silence in my mind. My psyche is tuned to crave a certain  type of food and MORE of it. Reading the Big Book of AA I discovered an explanation of why I was different that other people. I have an understanding and a relationship the a hi...

Started as obese kid.  At 11 I was in a UCLA program for obese kids. Diagnosed but no solution. 235 @ 13 yrs old My roommate binge buddy went with me to to OA when I was 19, never been on date and just scared. After 16 years I had a single fork of a dessert. I was up 100 Lbs in 6 months. I gained weight on the Weight Watcher's snack bars. No repercussions (medical, emotional or physical) stopped m...

I had to be the grownup during my childhood in a very unsafe environment. I had the illusion I needed to be in control of everything.. I felt I was in control when I had my food. I ran my life using the CK program with disastrous results. After 3 major losses the food was not enough.. Oct 24 I cried out for help. And meant it. Gave up the CK program and started using the OA Program. Gave up illusi...

Maintaining 120 lb weight loss, 36 years abstinent  Born in rural PA. Dad a coal miner. Grew up doing farm work. I was always fat. Gained and lost over 700 lbs prior to QA, down 30 up 50, down 40 up 70 on and on. I had a lucrative job allowing me to seek the answer to my compulsive eating. I could change my food, for a while. size 4 to 22. I was the same miserable woman with my nose in everyone's...

In OA since 1987 I got a sponsor right away. I was happy a higher power worked for them but it couldn't for me. I have lots or sponsors and each gave me something I still carry. My first inventory was through OA HOW. all   170 questions. I Since then I have done the steps lots of times and lots of different ways.  2017 I was sure I had it down and did not need the program so I stopped listening fo...

Grew up where food was love. At 8-9 I was eating noticbley more than others, My being active helped it stay 'manageable' In my teens I thought 'they were out to get me' and rejected any suggestion of moderation. I ended in OA directed from another 12 step program. I got a sponsor but I knew better than him.  I started doing it my way with the expected outcome.  When I came back with more issues I...

I didn't fit in the world or in  my clothes How can I get it, hide it, eat it, get more? Even at 11 I had stretch marks I lost my first 100 in weight watchers became a poster child for the program but my life was  still lacking and finally the yop yo began for the next 20 years. At rock bottom my higher power slipped me into OA and I was relieved of the obsession. I stopped fighting everyone and e...