Carrying the Message - Overeaters Anonymous

The Newsletter of
January 2014
www.overeaters.org
Carrying the Message
Now you can read Expressions of Unity online every month at www.overeaters.org.
Step One: We admitted we were powerless over food—
that our lives had become unmanageable.
Accepting My Food Addiction
My experience with Step One began in July of
1974 when I entered the doors of Alcoholics
Anonymous (AA), at the suggestion of my sober
mother. While I didn't like what
happened to me when I drank, I
convinced myself that I wasn't an
alcoholic, and Step One definitely
did not apply to me. I was not
powerless over alcohol, as I quit
frequently, and my life was
definitely not unmanageable - I
was managing just fine, as long as
people, places, and things fell into
my prescribed guidelines.
Fast forward 39 years to June
of 2013 when I entered
Overeaters Anonymous (OA) for
the second time in my life. Still
sober, and humbly assured that I was indeed an
alcoholic, I was becoming more painfully aware of
the importance food had assumed in my life. My
weekly Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings
became points of personal reflection in which I
began to see that my addiction to food paralleled
my addiction to alcohol. This scared me, because I
didn't want to be powerless
over TWO things. But I was. I was in agony with
my food addiction. Admitting that I was powerless
over food was easy - the unmanageability still
eluded me. There were certain foods
that I knew I could not eat one of.
Once I started, I knew I would not
stop until I ran out or numbed out.
My Higher Power had taken away my
desire to drink alcohol. Could my
desire to overeat compulsively be
removed?
I have been surprised to learn that a
peaceful relationship with Step One is
dependent upon my relationship with
my Higher Power. When I maintain
close contact with my Higher Power,
I do not feel the powerlessness about
food, and my life does not feel
unmanageable: food does not have control over me,
and I feel in control of my choices. But when I do
not use the OA program tools that are readily
available to me and I lose contact with my Higher
Power, food regains its control over me, and life
becomes unmanageable, once again.
~Sheri M., Crystal,
Region 4 Fundraiser Items Available Now! See p. 4.
“We Carry the Message” tote bags and “Lighten Up” magnifiers.
Unity Intergroup hotline number: (612) 377-1600
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2013: The Year of Abstinence Awareness
The World Service Board of Trustees voted to declare
2013 “The Year of Abstinence Awareness.” This means there
was a special focus on abstinence during 2013. Stay tuned for
the special focus for 2014.
Abstinence Corner
RECOMMITTING AFTER THE HOLIDAYS
Did you have trouble staying abstinent through the holidays? Do you want
to recommit? To what are you recommitting? As you have probably heard by
now, Overeaters Anonymous (OA) is not a diet and calories club so there are no
New Year’s diets or resolutions, only a new way of life. Are you truly ready to
recommit, and what does that mean exactly?
Recommitting is different for each person of course, but there are some things that are the
same. Do you have a list of binge foods that you do not eat under any circumstances? If yes,
perhaps it needs to be fine-tuned. If not, I highly recommend having a list written down somewhere
and pledging to not eat foods from this list. It may seem daunting to think of it as a forever list, but it
gets easier. You may also want to ask yourself “how are your old ways of eating working for you?”
Are you powerless over food or not? Maybe you’re not a compulsive eater, but if you are, just like
the alcoholic, this has to be a new way of living for you. It is normal to mourn this fact, but you have
to move on and live in the solution. Tough it out! Many people in this world have far worse problems
than just not being able to eat their favorite binge food.
What else is involved in recommitting? A spiritual life including the 12 Steps is essential to
remaining abstinent. Are you working the 12 Steps? Are you working with a sponsor? A sponsor’s
main job is getting you through the 12 Steps. If you are not able to find a sponsor, often a person is
willing to at least temporarily sponsor you to get you through the Steps. Then perhaps if you go
through the Steps with a buddy, you can sponsor each other when you’re done. There are also online
and phone sponsors that are available. If you need a sponsor, there are lists of people willing to
sponsor at the Region and Intergroup level. Contact the Region and Intergroup Chairs for more
information.
The main thing is to get abstinent and work the 12 Steps. There is help available if you need it, and
don’t forget to ask your higher power for strength to make this your new way of life!
~Anonymous
“Many times I have recognized the insanity of my behavior. The
admission that I have a problem with eating is the beginning of my
willingness to recover. I am powerless over food and over my eating habits.
I learn in Overeaters Anonymous that my powerlessness is the bedrock on
which I can build a new life. Weakness is the glue that binds me to others in
this program, and I can accept that I need help even after I have abstained
from compulsive eating for years.”
~Voices of Recovery, September 12
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Finally, I Am Powerless
When I came to Overeaters Anonymous (OA) this
last time – over 26 years ago, Step One felt like a no-brainer;
it was clear that when I started eating, I couldn’t stop and I
only had to look at the state of my home to know that my
life was not only unmanageable; it was downright out of
control. Therefore, I felt like I had taken this Step long ago –
before I had even heard of OA. But the result of this
‘knowledge’ was not recovery. In fact, my weight went up in
OA, not down and the obsession continued. Why was that?
Like many of us, I had to do more research. I did not
leave the rooms of OA, but I did have more to learn about
my disease. In the year 2000, following our MN State
Convention, I went off desserts for good. From this I learned
that sugar wasn’t my only problem because I still overate. At
the same time, I eliminated many other binge foods, only to
take them back one by one. From this I learned that a lot of trouble occurs ‘on account of one thing
leading to another’ or as I put it, when I open the door to one food, it unlocks the door for the next
one.
A couple of times, when I was actually abstinent for what seemed like a significant amount of
time, I would do service beyond the group level. Because of this service, I was blessed to be able to
spend time with abstinent people; people who ate way differently than I did. From them I learned
that a person can plan meals and weigh and measure their portions – and be really happy. (I admit
that I needed to experience this for myself in order to really believe it.)
But during all that time of struggling with on-again-off-again abstinence (nearly 17 years), I
learned that I hated being an example of the program not working and that I really did want
recovery. But the single biggest thing I learned was that I wasn’t willing to do what I needed to do to
be abstinent (or even willing to say what that was) and that I couldn’t make myself be willing. I
determined that if it was going to happen, it was going to have to come from ‘a power greater than
myself.’ In short, I had tapped into a full experience of my own powerlessness. I had finally truly
taken Step One.
Amazingly, within a very short time after arriving at this conclusion, I became abstinent.
When I stopped trying to make it happen, gave it to God (visualize throwing up of hands saying ‘I
give up; you do it!’) and then just did my part (i.e. use the tools) while I was waiting, the willingness
came. It was just that simple and I have been gratefully abstinent since that day nine and a half years
ago.
~Annette P-R
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Region is Rockin’
Chattin’ with the Region 4 Chair
In Overeaters Anonymous (OA) the World level is structured into
ten Regions. The purpose of the Regions is to offer support and
communication to all of the Intergroups and Service Boards (called
Service Bodies). The Service Boards function like Intergroups, but are
outside of the United States. Regions are the communication liaison
between the World Service Office to the Service Bodies. All regions have Business meetings
(Assemblies) several times a year – from one to three due to size of fellowship, funding and ability for
the Reps to meet face-to-face. Most Region Assemblies rotate around their Region. For Region 4 the
Assemblies meet in April and October. The meeting begins on Friday evening and then reconvenes
for all of Saturday. The hosting Intergroup has a Super Saturday, based on the Assembly theme. For
an hour both the Region Reps and the Super Saturday attendees meet for a workshop. This allows
each groups to meet and work together. The business portion of the Assemblies are going over the
running of the region; planning the budget, working on fun ways to engage those Intergroups whose
area and numbers are small and share awesome ideas.
Region 4 has three main service committees: (Check out the Region Overview on p. 5!)
• Region convention – Occurs on the even years and the location rotates around the region.
• Outreach – Focuses on direct support to the Intergroups.
• Ways and Means/Finance Committee – Creates opportunities to raise funds to share the
message to the still suffering compulsive eater and creates the yearly budget for the Assembly
review.
The Board consists of the following positions (all are two year terms, with the exception of the
Region 4 Trustee, which is a three year term):
• Chair – Liaison to the Region Convention (Elected on even years).
• Vice Chair – Liaison to the Outreach Committee (Elected on odd years).
• Secretary – Liaison to the committee of their choice (Elected on even years).
• Treasurer– Liaison to the Ways and Means/Finance Committee (Elected on odd years).
• Trustee – Elected at the World Service Business Conference.
It’s fun to meet other fellows from Region 4. I find that it enlarges my community of members to
hook-up with and work with. I love going to Conventions and Workshops and I get to see my new
friends yet again.
~Meg M.
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OA Region Overview
Region
Region 1:
Region 2:
Region 3:
Region 4:
Region 5:
Region 6:
Region 7:
Region 8:
Region 9:
Region 10:
View a Map of the OA Regions here.
States and Countries
AK, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY
– Canada: Alberta, British
Columbia, NW Territories,
Saskatchewan, Yukon
CA, HI, Mexico
AZ, CO, NM, NV, OK, TX,
UT – a bit of NE and WY
This is us! IA, IL (nonChicago area), KS, MN, MO,
ND, NE, SD- Canada: Manitoba,
NW Ontario, Nunavut
Territories
IL (Chicago area), IN, KY,
MI, OH, WI
CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI,
VT – Canada: New Brunswick,
Newfoundland, Nova Scotia,
Ontario, Prince Edward Island,
Quebec, Bermuda
DC, DE, MN, NJ, PA, VA,
WV
AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS,
NC, SC, TN – Puerto Rico,
Virgin Islands, Central America,
South America
Africa, Europe, Middle East,
Western Asia
Australia, Far East, New
Zealand, Southeast Asia,
Western Pacific Basin
# of Intergroups/
Service Bodies
25
35
25
19
31
40
24
58
60
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New “OA In Action” Meeting in Wayzata beginning January 7
When:
Tuesdays at 7:00 pm
Where:
Wayzata Community Church
125 Wayzata Blvd E
Wayzata, Lower level—Geo Lab
Enter at the circular set of doors on the Ferndale Ave side of the church
For those interested in a
meeting between Traditional
OA & HOW meeting formats.
All Are Invited!
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The Unity of OA
This is my second time around coming
to Overeaters Anonymous (OA). The first
time I found OA was 30 years ago. I knew I
often went a “bit” out of control around
food but the reason I walked away (blind to
or afraid of the real truth) was because I
believed the people in the OA meeting
were crazy! They kept talking about food as
though food was out to destroy them!
What I didn’t know was that they were not
crazy and that their relationship with food
would indeed destroy them and in the
process cause painful, harmful damage to
those around them.
Now some 30 plus years later I’m back.
Today I realize that the people at that first
OA meeting were insane and so was I.
Today I give thanks to God for bringing me
back to OA. Today I know the sisters and
brothers in my groups are probably the
only people on earth who truly understand
my unhealthy, dangerous, insane (yes,
insane) relationship with food. I no longer
feel as though I’m alone in my day by day,
minute by minute journey of recovery from
compulsive eating. Because of the unity in
OA, I never, and I mean never, have to feel
or believe no one understands. I’m grateful
for our unity. Today I see those ahead of
me on the journey and those yet to come
after me and I have hope. Today I know
that this is a lifetime journey with no ending
point but that’s okay. I am not and we are
not traveling this road alone. With a
humble heart, I give thanks for our unity.
~Anonymous
“There is a solution. Almost none of us liked
the self-searching, the leveling of our pride, the
confession of shortcomings which the process
requires for its successful consummation. But
we saw that it really worked in others, and we
had come to believe in the hopelessness and
futility of life as we had been living it. When,
therefore, we were approached by those in
whom the problem had been solved, there was
nothing left for us but to pick up the simple kit
of spiritual tools laid at our feet, We have found
much of heaven and we have been rocketed into
a fourth dimension of existence of which we had
not even dreamed.”
~The Big Book of Alcoholics, P. 25
“In OA we learn that our lack of
willpower isn’t what makes us compulsive
overeaters. In fact, compulsive overeaters
often exhibit an exceptional amount of
willpower. But compulsive eating is an
illness that cannot be controlled by
willpower. None of us decided to have this
disorder, anymore than we would have
decided to have any other disease. We can
now cease blaming ourselves or others for
our compulsive eating.”
~The 12 & 12 of Overeaters Anonymous, p. 1
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Tradition One
Now YOU can Carry the Message!
“Our common welfare should come first;
personal recovery depends upon OA unity.”
I like the part of this tradition that states
‘personal recovery depends upon OA unity.’
This idea is sometimes challenging for me when I
hear how someone is working their program
differently than I am. The old “my way is best”
comes to mind and I may think how can that
person expect to recover doing it that way?
When I take a step back and think about those
thoughts for a minute I realize that my old
enemy pride is trying to get involved in my life
again. What it comes down to is that there are
many different and equally successful ways to
work this program just as there are many
different people in OA. This is where unity
comes in-- we need to accept the variety that
we hear in our meetings and not slip back into
the mindset that kept us in isolation and feeling
miserable for so many years.
Support Region 4 by purchasing a “We
Carry the Message” tote bag for only $7.
Region 4 is also selling “Lighten Up”
magnifiers with a mini flashlight for $5.
Ensure you can
always see your
message to share it
with your fellows!
I left OA a few years back because of a
person that was part of my group. To me this
Contact your
person was really a mess and shouldn’t be a part meeting’s intergroup rep or reach out to
of OA. After spending some time withdrawing
Unity Intergroup to purchase.
into my isolation again and gaining back all the
weight I had lost plus a few extra pounds I came
back to OA and the person I resented for so
long greeted me when I walked in the door. I
knew that my Higher Power had brought me
back and that I needed to put my resentment
behind me if I was to grow and enjoy the
recovery I desired. Not long after coming back
to OA I realized that I was the one with the
problem not the other person and I made
amends so that I could experience unity and the
fullness of love that OA has to offer.
I am so thankful I was able to experience
tradition one first hand and the recovery that
comes from working it to the best of my ability.
~ Anonymous
Unity Intergroup hotline number: (612) 377-1600
Volunteers Needed for Treatment Center
Outreach Committee
Have you ever attended an eating disorders
treatment program in the Twin Cities and have now
found a solution in Overeaters Anonymous? Please
help us by volunteering with the Treatment Center
Outreach committee. We are trying to establish
ongoing partnerships with local facilities and to
provide their participants with post care support
options. We are basing our approach on the
parallel efforts of Alcoholics Anonymous. If you are
interested please contact Howard at 952-930-1212.
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World Service Business
Conference (WSBC)
Intergroup Mentor/
Mentee Program
On November 9, 2013 Unity
Intergroup voted to become a
mentor for World Service. The
WSBC Public Information
Committee started a mentor/
mentee outreach program and
we are in need of volunteers
with experience at the
intergroup level in any area,
including professional outreach,
public information, leading
workshops, and 12 Steps Within.
Our primary purpose is to
reach out to those compulsive
eaters that still suffer. The goal of
this mentor program is to help
other OA intergroups who do
not have experience in these
areas and to reach out to them
to share our experience in any
or all of these areas of service.
Volunteers will work with
another intergroup primarily
through telephone conversations
or e-mail communication to help
them in the particular areas you
have experience in. Traveling to
another intergroup location may
occur, but this would be a very
rare occasion.
If you feel led by your Higher
Power to serve as a mentor for
the Unity Intergroup Mentor
Program, please contact Lance at
763-427-1984 or
[email protected].
Thank you in advance for
your willingness to serve in this
way. With love and in service,
~Lance
The truth shall make you free.
~ The Bible: John
Do I call an addiction, “a little problem with ….” —a
minor inconvenience on par with measles? Addiction can
kill me. Perhaps fast, perhaps slowly, but either way the
trip is hell. I can hang onto old ideas: “This time I’ll do it,”
“It’ll be different,” “I’ll stop for good.” Old ideas shun
words like fat, drunk, obese, compulsive overeaters, alcoholic,
addict, in favor of gentler, easier words. Words do not
change a meaning. I can call the sun and the moon by
other words, but they are still what they are. An
addiction is a fact, like my height and coloring. In
recognizing that truth, I am able to admit I am powerless
over food, give up my will—and become free.
For Today: It is not disgrace or a weakness to admit
my powerlessness over food. That is an idea that has
nothing to do with the truth.
~For Today, July 15
Speakers Needed for Outreach Meetings at the
Anoka Regional Treatment Center
Each speaker will have 15 minutes to share their experience,
strength and hope on the following topics: 1) Abstinence: One Day
at a Time; 2)The Disease Concept; and 3) The 12 Steps: How It
Works. If you are willing and able to serve in this way, (90 days of
abstinence required) please contact Lance at 763-427-1984 or
[email protected]. This is a wonderful way to achieve our primary
purpose of reaching out to those who still suffer. Speakers are
needed for the following dates:
March 4, 2014: Tuesday, 7 PM
-1 speaker; Topic: How It Works-The 12 steps.
May 6, 2014: Tuesday, 7 PM
-1 Speaker; Topic: The Disease Concept.
-1 Speaker: Topic: The 12 Steps: How It Works.
July 8, 2014: Tuesday, 7 PM
-1 Speaker; Topic: Disease Concept.
-1 Speaker; Topic: The 12 Steps: How It Works.
September 2 & November 4, 2014: Tuesday, 7 PM
-Speakers needed for all three topics.
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Unity Intergroup Rocks!
Who is Unity Intergroup? Unity Intergroup (UIG) is a group of
people from the various Overeaters Anonymous meetings in the
Twin Cities and outlying areas who serve our area meetings. We
are working hard to keep your program of recovery strong, and
to reach out to the still suffering compulsive eater.
What does Unity Intergroup do for you?
What can you do for Unity Intergroup?
We need your help! Please consider volunteering
for one of many positions opening up in January.
You will be blessed through growth in your
Communications:
program! Here are some examples:
 Produce Expressions of Unity newsletter
 Emails regarding newsletters, workshops,
 UIG Board members: Chair, Vice Chair,
convention, etc.
Secretary and Treasurer
 Print and mail flyers
 Anoka Treatment Outreach
 Website maintenance
 OA Quick Steps
 Update meeting lists
 Big Book Study
 Buffalo/Spring Retreat
Events for members:
 By Laws Chair
 Big Book Study
 Fall Retreat/Workshop
 Buffalo/Spring Retreat
 Professional Outreach
 Fall Retreat/Workshop
 Public Information
 State Convention
 Registrar
 OA Quick Steps
 Sponsorship Workshop
 Sponsorship Workshop
 State Convention
 Twelve Step Within events
 Treatment Center Outreach
 Twelve Step Within events
Outreach to the still-suffering compulsive eater:
 Email and Event Coordinator
 Newcomer meetings
 Hotline Volunteer Coordinator
 Women’s Expo
 Literature Coordinator
 Pride Festival
 Newcomer Meeting Coordinator
 Diabetes Expo
 Newsletter Editor
 Health Care Professional outreach
 Print Coordinator
 Health fairs
 Teleconference Coordinator
 And more…
 Virtual Speaker Coordinator
 Web Coordinator
Here are a few examples of what we are doing:



Visit Us Online at www.overeaters.org for a full listing of volunteer
opportunities and job descriptions, or contact Julie C at 612-558-3687
or [email protected] for more information. Interested in receiving the
newsletter electronically? Sign up at http://www.overeaters.org/newsletter.html.
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Mark Your Calendar
Expressions of Unity
The February Expressions of Unity will focus
on Step Two: “Came to believe that a Power
greater than ourselves could restore us to
sanity,” and will be sponsored by the Anoka
Monday, 7pm meeting. Although one meeting or
group generally sponsors each newsletter, we
welcome articles from anyone. Please indicate if
it is okay to print your name with your article
and email your contributions to
[email protected] by Saturday,
January 18.
Saturday, January 11
Unity Intergroup Meeting,
Elections for 2014 will be held!
Saturday, January 18
Newcomer Meeting & Newsletter
Articles Due
Saturday, February 1 Website Deadline
Saturday, February 8 Unity Intergroup Meeting
All articles written are the opinion of the
writer and not of OA as a whole or of the
Expressions of Unity newsletter.
Saturday, February
15
Newcomer Meeting & Newsletter
Articles Due
Saturday,
February 22
Unity Day, New Ulm, MN
Fri-Sun
April 4,5, & 6
Spring Retreat, Buffalo Retreat
Center, Buffalo, MN
Fri-Sun, April 11,12,
Big Book Study
& 13
Conference Dial-in Number: (712) 432-0360
UIG Meeting Participant Access Code: 468702#
Details of the telephone system and keypad options;
http://www.overeaters.org/conferencing.html
Intergroup Board
Julie C., Chair
612-558-3687
[email protected]
Cal N., Vice Chair
952-212-7097
[email protected]
Marilyn S., Treasurer
612-578-4627
[email protected]
Amy D., Secretary
952-270-0098
[email protected]
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