Starting program, need support

[eddie z.]

My compulsive overeating resurfaced recently when I quit smoking and I quickly hit 200 lbs. secondary to succumbing to my sweets cravings. I've been going to OA meetings but I don't have a food sponsor yet. Today I started my abstinence with a diet based on the South Beach Diet.

But I really feel kind of lost! I haven't been in touch with my NA sponsor for a while and I need to talk to her about this. Does anyone have any feedback on working an NA and an OA program or on getting started in OA? Thanks in advance for your input!

Love, Eddie

[Pony]

Well, Eddie, first off congrats on starting on this journey into recovery. I have known many who work both programs....what I mean is that they do go to both meetings and have sponsors in both......mostly because although it is alike in that you are dealing with addiction.......dealing with food issues if different than dealing with drug issues. Both programs use the Twelve Steps and Traditions. OA is a good program for getting at the why's of using food.....rather than just the idea not to use food as a drug. Does that make sense?

Anyway, glad to have hear.....You have our support 100%

[eddie z.]

Thank you so much, Pony!! I sort of figured I needed a "food sponsor" because the concept of abstinence in OA is so different from that in NA. But I'm on my 6th Step in NA. Do people you've known in both programs work two sets of steps? I can see working an OA First Step but the others should be about the same, right? Well, thanks again, but I've got to go to bed; got an OA meeting out-of-town in the morning!

Love, Eddie

[Pony]

Eddie, Well it has been awhile, I must confess, since I've seen some of these people....sorry....but I do believe they did....or maybe to some extent as it pretained to their food issues. Ask someone at the meeting.....and then you can let us know. Then I/we will have some up-to-date info. OK....that would be helping us here also.

Have a great meeting and looking forward to hearing about it!!

[eddie z.]

Well, the meeting consisted of me and the chair, so we got to talk about my situation a bunch. I need to contact my current NA sponsor and read some OA literature on sponsorship now. I may be able to get someone else who's in both programs to sponsor me. I guess that would be the ideal thing, but probably hard to obtain. I'm going to go call my sponsor NOW! I let y'all know how things are going. The diet is going OK.

Love, Eddie