I am not an official member of OA, but as a part of my struggle with compulsive overeating, everyday I read "Food for Thought: Daily Meditations for Overeaters" which supports the principles and practices of OA. It's been a great resource for me as I continue my journey to a healthier lifestyle. I've been using MFP for almost a year and it's a wonderful tool for planning and keeping track, but the most difficult thing for me continues to be understanding WHY I overeat. I've been on so many diets in my life and I must have lost and gained hundreds of pounds over the years. I understand nutrition and I know the right things to do - it's making myself do those things - that's the constant battle. 88 pounds down this time and quite a few more to go, so I am always looking for friends for mutual motivation!

Hi and welcome!
The literature is quite helpful in understanding the disease of compulsive overheating. However, understanding WHY is your own personal journey, and can be revealed to you by working the steps, which goes beyond just reading them. You don't necessarily have to seek a sponsor, but working with an OA'er who has worked the steps and has some abstinence under her belt can help you in self discovery. My first time working the steps led me to working with a therapist, which was something that I didn't think I could do because of my"pride." I've grown since and continue to progress.
Best of luck to you!!

I am not an official member of OA, but as a part of my struggle with compulsive overeating, everyday I read "Food for Thought: Daily Meditations for Overeaters" which supports the principles and practices of OA. It's been a great resource for me as I continue my journey to a healthier lifestyle. I've been using MFP for almost a year and it's a wonderful tool for planning and keeping track, but the most difficult thing for me continues to be understanding WHY I overeat. I've been on so many diets in my life and I must have lost and gained hundreds of pounds over the years. I understand nutrition and I know the right things to do - it's making myself do those things - that's the constant battle. 88 pounds down this time and quite a few more to go, so I am always looking for friends for mutual motivation!

I hear you on that. While others disagree, I believe the "why" is just as important. While I still go to OA meetings I've been looking for other answers as well. Feel free to friend me if you like.

Welcome to the group!!! I can relate to the losing/gaining battle. Before my wedding in 2009 I lost almost 80 pounds, and then after slowly put all of it +10 back on. Talk about frustration. I hit rock bottom, started meeting with a counselor, and started attending meetings. I knew that there was a problem with someone who could work so hard for over a year to lose the weight, and then just stand by and watch it all come back on. That's why I started going to the meetings. And it's been incredible. I have met people who GET IT. They understand that I'm not lazy, I'm not pathetic, I don't lack willpower. I have a disease. A cunning, baffling disease. Alcoholics can stop drinking alcohol, although it's definitely challenging. But we cannot stop eating. We can try to determine our trigger foods and abstain from them, but it's such a process. I have been attending meetings for over a year, and while I am still not 100% abstinant and still have a LONG way to go in recovery, I feel like I am on the right path. And I now have a support group that loves me no matter what, and I can turn to whenever I need, without fearing judgement or humiliation. If there is a meeting in your area, I suggest checking it out, at least once or twice. It may change your life.

In the meantime, feel free to friend me. And you are in a good place!!!