Overeaters Anonymous and MFP

I've been thinking about attending an OA meeting. I spoke on the phone with the rep of my local meetings, and she seemed really nice. I was worried about the same things as you, that most of it would be about a higher power being able to help you to stop bingeing. I think I will be able to attend a meeting in December and I'm kind of looking forward to it. Thanks for your post, it helped me get the nerve up to decide to go.

The churches usually rent the spaces but that's it. The OA folks just use the room. No preaching etc. Often no one from the church is even in the building. OA members are not supposed to mention specific religions during the meeting. Although someone may mention their church affiliation when talking about themselves they do not try to convert. The do quote OA and AA literature which deals with addiction and belief from a self- defined higher power.

I've also heard if there is no convenient OA meeting, go to AA. Recovery from food addiction is the most important goal.

I actually attended a meeting about a week ago, but things got real busy at school and I haven't been since. I am going to make an effort to go on a regular basis since I do have a problem with food and could use time to reflect with other individuals with similar problems.

I went to my first OA meeting out of desperation and depression. I've spent 5+decades obsessed with weight and food. I've been successful many times - but still with obsession about food and weight. My first OA meeting was late April 2014. I left feeling sure that this was not for me- i did not like the approach of having a disease. For two weeks I went back into the food- slowly gaining....again. At the end of those two weeks, I got on the scale, in my clothes, at night - and decided to go to the OA meeting first thing next morning, The name of that meeting was 'Promises'. I had already been studying food plans and lots of other information about OA. on the Internet during those 2 weeks. That day, May 4 - was my first abstinent day - dropping a list of foods I'd created that caused me to overeat and binge - including all sugar, flour,-establishing a healthy pattern of 3 meals a day with no snacks. EVERYONE'S FOOD PLAN IS DIFFERENT. It has been 1.4 years (513 days) of abstinence without a break. I have maintained a 23 pound loss for almost one year. I am a healthy body weight in size 8. I weigh myself once a month, attend meetings, am using all the tools, working the steps. They say if you're going to try OA - don't form an opinion until after 6 meetings. Most people do not think its for them. I was certainly one of those people. More than my maintaining a healthy body weight, I have not had the roller coaster of obsession with weight and food that has plagued me and caused a lot of self loathing, isolating , guilt etc. I don't think I ever thought I'd lose that obsession during my lifetime. I have had a very productive life in spite of this problem- I have been in a loving marriage for 40 years, raised 3 kids, have 3 grandkids, have a bunch of degrees, and had several fascinating careers - but underneath the success has always been this very roller coaster self defeating part of me - always believing that if my weight were right, I would have perfect happiness. I apologize for going on so long. I adore this program - it is full of continual discoveries and doesn't hold a candle to the myriad programs of weight loss. I wish Id found it many decades ago. Of course it isn't for everyone.

Haha you have lots of OA meetings in the UK. Www.oa.org. One of my favorite meetings ever was in Norwich while visiting my sister at Lakenheath. It's nice to meet you!