F2f Oa

[Nina Kay]

Hi Everyone,
I am Linda. I am a compulsive overeater & I am a food addict. I have decided & already confirmed by telling someone, that This Evening, I will be going to my first face-to-face OA Meeting, here in the city I've moved to recently. I have not gone to any f2f meetings in about a year. I am so nervous. I've only been to about 5 or 6 in my whole life. They really helped me those few times that I went. So I'm excited, but nervous. I'm told that it's a very small group of people, so that helps me alot. At least to start off, I'd feel more comfortable with less members, I think. Okay, I'm rambling because I'm nervous, but I wanted to post it here, so that I would feel accountable. Anyway, Thanks for being here & listening.

[Paulie]

That is GREAT!!! I know lots of people only do online and that works for them, but for me in my recovery program, I need both online and f2f support.

Please tell us how it goes, and being nervous is normal, remember everyone in that room was nervous the first time.

[hopealwayz]

That is so great to hear! Let us know how it goes for you!

[wantneeda]

(((hugs))) to you Nina!!!

[Pony]

Yeah, Nina....yes, let us know how it goes. I am so proud of you for taking this step for yourself.

[Nina Kay]

Wow !!!! What a support group !!!! I want to thank each one of you soooo much for showing me your support & encouragement !!!! I really need it !!! I will let you all know how it goes. Today is my 8th day of abstinence from compulsive overeating. I have now lost 11 lbs. from my top weight, although it was over a long stretch of time. That's good though, because the Liver Dr. I am seeing didn't want me to lose more than 20 lbs. in all before September. That would be 6 months since I went to see him on March 15th. Thanks again everyone.
I love you guys, ya know !!!! {{{HUGS}}}

[Pony]

It is better to lose slowly rather fast because it gives your body and mind time to adjust. It is way better for your health to just be at a steady pace. 8 lbs. is great......that's 8 pounds that you do not have to worry about.

Hugs

[Nina Kay]

:back :weh
Well, I went to the meeting & there was only one person there, but I remebered her from a year ago. We had a really good step study meeting. They had just started on step 1 in The Twelve Step Workbook of OverEaters Anonymous, just last week & since no one was there except the two of us, she started over for me, so that I will be up with them next meeting. I think it was better for me this way because we just got to be relaxed & we still followed the format & there was more time for us to talk about things in more detail. So it was great & I'm so glad that I went.
Pony, you're so sweet to encourage me about losing slow, but, Pony, it's aaa.......11 lbs. that I've lost, not 8, thank you Pony. Those other 3 lbs mean an awful lot to me, after all, I just got to add them to the other 8, or oh no, I mean I just got to lose them with the other 8 lbs. Boy, I'm just really confused about how to say this !!!! Oh well, you know what I mean, don't you?! I know that you just got confused 'cause it was 8 & 1/2 lbs, but now it's 8 DAYS of abstin. & 11 lbs. Oh well, I totally understand. It's really okay. Really it is. Really. For real. I really mean it. It's really okay.

[Pony]

OMG....No, it's not OK, I am sorry for that mistake.....you have every right to be very proud of those 11....count them...11 lbs. you have lost and to have that recognized correctly....after all that's ALOT of work...

I'm glad the meeting was good for you. Your HP was looking out for you tonight and kept is small for your comfort. This is totally cool! You go girl!

[Nina Kay]

Thank you Pony,
You are so sweet !!! I was just teasing you about the lbs. I was so glad that you reminded me that it was my God taking care of me with the meeting being just what I needed. It helps me to remember how He is caring for me in every little way that I need Him to. I always know that He takes care of me, but sometimes I forget to credit Him with certain things that He does for me. I feel again so cared for by Him.
How are you doing today with your recovery program? I know that you are so very busy, so it's harder for you to be able to eat right. When I was working daycare in my home before I moved, I would even forget to drink much water & normally, I'm a big water drinker. I know how hard it is, but it's important for your health to be determined to eat healthy. That was a wow, that you chose a healthy snack, when you were in such a hurry. Bravo !!! {{{HUGS}}}

[Nina Kay]

Paulie, AngelHugs, Wendy,
Thank You all so much for your encouragement, also. I would love to hear how each of you are doing with your recover programs. Paulie, you said that you go to f2f meetings & I would love to hear more about your experience with these meetings. Is it a small or a large group? I was wondering if you all are working a step-study program or are you working straight out of the BB? Is anyone else going to any f2f OA Meetings? Thanks again for each of your support & encouragement before I went to the meeting. I was so nervous, but I went with all of you supporting me, knowing that I was going to come back & report it to you. That helped me alot not to back out. {{{{{{{{{Group Hug !!!}}}}}}}}}

[Pony]

Nina, I knew you were just teasing, but let me tell you.....I know how important it is for us to have that recognition for our successes....each and every little step it takes. I would celebrate every ounce if I could...LOL

Anyway, I am doing OK with eating. Today is a very emotional day in a couple of areas of my life. I am a very emotional person....that is I feel for others and what they are going through as well as my own. When I know a friend is hurting I feel it. Right now I have a couple of friends going through some stuff and one co-worker/friend that just lost his son after having lost a daughter 2 yrs. ago do to drugs and stuff.

I know these are all things that I cannot control, it's just that I feel for them.

And now I have to run off to lunch with my dad and then to work. Have a great day and I'll check in over the weekend!

[Nina Kay]

Oh Pony, I can't believe how horrible that is for your co-worker who lost a son & a daughter. That is so much worse than the worst nightmare a parent could go through. My heart really goes out to this family & to you. I know that you really aren't going to believe this, but I am also an extremely emotional person & just like you, in that, I feel for others & what they are going through as well as myself. It's to the extreme that one day, my very non-emotional H. said to me: It's like you REALLY FEEL what other people are going through, like you are going through it with them. That is so interesting to know that you are like that too, but I also feel bad for you because I know what it feels like. We have enough emotional trauma in our own lives & then we feel others' pain, too, and it's just too much. It's so draining, And we can't fix it for them, in fact, we had to admit that we are powerless over alot of people & things in our own personal lives.
I'm so very glad that you are doing good with the food thing today, but please be careful to take special care of yourself during this more emotional time because these emotions have alot to do with our emotional compulsive overeating. Have fun with your Dad today & have a good day & weekend.
I am sending you {{{{{Tight Sqeeze Hugs}}}}} to comfort you.

[wantneeda]

Hi Nina!!
I'm sooo glad you had a good meeting!! When is your next one??
I go to AA, my home group meets once a week, i throw other meetings in when i feel i need them. Right now my goal is to do 2 more meetings a week. I am on step 8. I did up to step 5 in treatment.I got out of treatment in november. I went to detox, and a 28 day program, then immediately to another 3 month treatment facility that took me 3 1/2 months to complete. I believe it's what saved my life.
I am reading more lately out of the BB. Its helped tremendously. I also started an outpatient circle check. I've been to 2 so far. We just discuss our week and set a goal for the next. I tend to isolate alot so thats why i joined this group. SR is a wonderful home for me but i need f2f as well. Thank God for my job or i'd probably never leave the house!! Its become my happy place...which is progress in itself because i prefered to be anywhere but home while i was drinking and drugging.Well, to say the least i lived basically on the streets, out of a bag, for almost 4 years...so just having a home is wonderful!!!!
My home group meeting is on a different step every week, but i've really wanted to join a step study..thanks for the reminder...i think i'll add that to my goal and get the ball rolling in that direction.
I did see in lour local paper the other day a listing for OA in my area..so it's there, that's good to know. No plans at present to go because i have a hard enough time getting to my AA meeting and my sobriety must come first. I'm really glad you gals are here though...you are helping me tremedously!!!
Have a great day!!!
\\//Wendy

[Nina Kay]

Wendy,
My next OA meeting is next Thursday evening. They are once a week. Your sobriety should definitely come first, in my humble opinion. I'm glad that you're going to regular AA meetings. I really wish that my son would before it's too late. He looks horrible. I'm really afraid that he will go to prison, because he keeps breaking his probation, but yes, I know, I'm powerless & it's his choice. Anyway, I'm proud of you for your recovery. I go to Al-anon meetings twice a week again, now that I've gotten moved closer to them. When I went to this OA meeting a couple of times a year ago, they were reading & discussing our addiction to food, out of the BB. I'm so impressed with how far you've come on working the steps. I really need to get busy reading & working the steps. I've only worked up to step 4 & I'm working on that when I take the time to sit down & read & write. Keep up the good work. I'm so happy for you.

[wantneeda]

Thanks Nina
Just a thought here...do you have a sponsor for OA????

[Nina Kay]

Hey Wendy,
That's a yes & no answer, to that question. Ha! Ha! I had one, but I'm not sure that she'll still be my sponsor, since I haven't been keeping in touch. Sticking to & calling in my food plan for the next day really throws me off. So I've contacted her & apoligized & she said she would be there for me, but then I did it again, I didn't stay in touch. I am bad about the isolating & commitments.