Re: Re: OA's opinion of Obesity Surgery/Joy/Leny

[Guest guest]

Jeannie, thanks for your comments. It is really helpful to get feedback

from others who are or have been active in OA and/or AA, who have also had

or are planning to have this surgery. Comments below...

Re: OA's opinion of Obesity

Surgery/Joy/Leny

> When I first went to OA there was no " fat Serenity " . It was a pick a

> food plan, stick to it, and work the steps mentality back then. The

> thing is, it worked. It worked for me for years and I maintained

> about a 120 lb weight loss. What happened? I think I lost out on the

> program when it got goofy. We were so intent on not offending anyone

> that suddenly it didn't matter if you were abstinent or not. We had

> compulsive shoppers at our meetings, anorexics who weighed 75 lbs

> talking about compulsively overeating because they had a piece of

> lettuce. It basically got to a place which I think just sucked.

>

> The singleness of purpose was gone. No OA is not a diet and calories

> club but compulsive overeaters went there to lose weight first and

> foremost. And some of us in the beginning were willing to go to any

> length to do so.

And ya know, it just doesn't seem like it should have to bee that hard! I

mean, it is damn difficult - planning your meals, counting the calories,

turning your food over daily to your sponsor, praying for help everyday,

reaching out to others, reading the literature, exercising daily, and on and

on... It's just overwhelming how much effort it takes to stay abstinent as

a compulsive overeater. I have only been able to maintain that sort of

abstinence for a month tops and then I cave in and overeat.

> My OA friends were appalled at the idea of weight loss surgery. Some

> of them have started Food Addicts Anonymous groups which are much

> more fashioned the way OA used to be.

I hadn't heard of Food Addicts Anonymous, but I do also attend an Eating

Disorders Anonymous meeting locally. It's hard cause there are people there

who are skinny as they starve or purge. I'm just an old-fashioned

overeater! But the local OA is like a " diet club " . At least at the EDA we

talk about our feelings and relationship with food.

You are supposed to be

> abstinent and get the relief from the compulsion. They are doing

> great with it and most have lost lots of weight. I just didn't have

> it in me to do that again.

It's just terribly difficult, isn't it?

They called me and tried to rescue me from

> the surgery, and not to be mean, they really cared. One of them is

> married to a man who had the original JI bypass surgery from years

> ago and he has suffered ever since. He's thin but looks and feels

> like crap.

Oh no, so that's what they think all the surgeries are like. I feel for the

man. Could he have it reversed?

> The group moderator was being true to the traditions. OA or any

> twelve step program has no opinion on outside issues. Weight loss

> surgery is an outside issue.

But how could doing something to help you stop overeating be an outside

issue in an Overeaters Anonymous meeting? I guess I just don't get it.

Even my friends in AA tried to stop me

> from have my DS. I am a bullheaded addict though and there was no

> stopping me once I made up my mind. I believe that this surgery saved

> my life. I do work the steps, but I also believe on what is on my

> sobriety coin " to thine own self be true. " You don't need others

> approval, just don't take this step lightly. It is a surgery where

> there are complications and it can be dangerous. To me it was and has

> been worth the risk. God bless us all as we find our ways.

Thank you for that perspective.

> Today I eat what ever I want with protein being my first concern. It

> is working for me. I have lost 95 lbs in just under 6 months. I

> started at 288 and am now at 193. I am 5'6 and I feel great. MY

> weight loss has slowed somewhat and that's ok too.It will come off

> when I am ready to let go and face those fears of being thin

> entirely. The steps help me do that.

I'm glad they do. I have wondered how much of my weight is fear of being

thin. I don't consciously think I am afriad of it, but wonder soemtimes if

I am.

> My friends in AA now can't get over how good I look and I hear it all

> the time. I try not to say " told you so " but sometimes I do anyhow LOL

> Take care as you make your way.

Thank you Jeannie!

[Guest guest]

Jeannie, thanks for your comments. It is really helpful to get feedback

from others who are or have been active in OA and/or AA, who have also had

or are planning to have this surgery. Comments below...

Re: OA's opinion of Obesity

Surgery/Joy/Leny

> When I first went to OA there was no " fat Serenity " . It was a pick a

> food plan, stick to it, and work the steps mentality back then. The

> thing is, it worked. It worked for me for years and I maintained

> about a 120 lb weight loss. What happened? I think I lost out on the

> program when it got goofy. We were so intent on not offending anyone

> that suddenly it didn't matter if you were abstinent or not. We had

> compulsive shoppers at our meetings, anorexics who weighed 75 lbs

> talking about compulsively overeating because they had a piece of

> lettuce. It basically got to a place which I think just sucked.

>

> The singleness of purpose was gone. No OA is not a diet and calories

> club but compulsive overeaters went there to lose weight first and

> foremost. And some of us in the beginning were willing to go to any

> length to do so.

And ya know, it just doesn't seem like it should have to bee that hard! I

mean, it is damn difficult - planning your meals, counting the calories,

turning your food over daily to your sponsor, praying for help everyday,

reaching out to others, reading the literature, exercising daily, and on and

on... It's just overwhelming how much effort it takes to stay abstinent as

a compulsive overeater. I have only been able to maintain that sort of

abstinence for a month tops and then I cave in and overeat.

> My OA friends were appalled at the idea of weight loss surgery. Some

> of them have started Food Addicts Anonymous groups which are much

> more fashioned the way OA used to be.

I hadn't heard of Food Addicts Anonymous, but I do also attend an Eating

Disorders Anonymous meeting locally. It's hard cause there are people there

who are skinny as they starve or purge. I'm just an old-fashioned

overeater! But the local OA is like a " diet club " . At least at the EDA we

talk about our feelings and relationship with food.

You are supposed to be

> abstinent and get the relief from the compulsion. They are doing

> great with it and most have lost lots of weight. I just didn't have

> it in me to do that again.

It's just terribly difficult, isn't it?

They called me and tried to rescue me from

> the surgery, and not to be mean, they really cared. One of them is

> married to a man who had the original JI bypass surgery from years

> ago and he has suffered ever since. He's thin but looks and feels

> like crap.

Oh no, so that's what they think all the surgeries are like. I feel for the

man. Could he have it reversed?

> The group moderator was being true to the traditions. OA or any

> twelve step program has no opinion on outside issues. Weight loss

> surgery is an outside issue.

But how could doing something to help you stop overeating be an outside

issue in an Overeaters Anonymous meeting? I guess I just don't get it.

Even my friends in AA tried to stop me

> from have my DS. I am a bullheaded addict though and there was no

> stopping me once I made up my mind. I believe that this surgery saved

> my life. I do work the steps, but I also believe on what is on my

> sobriety coin " to thine own self be true. " You don't need others

> approval, just don't take this step lightly. It is a surgery where

> there are complications and it can be dangerous. To me it was and has

> been worth the risk. God bless us all as we find our ways.

Thank you for that perspective.

> Today I eat what ever I want with protein being my first concern. It

> is working for me. I have lost 95 lbs in just under 6 months. I

> started at 288 and am now at 193. I am 5'6 and I feel great. MY

> weight loss has slowed somewhat and that's ok too.It will come off

> when I am ready to let go and face those fears of being thin

> entirely. The steps help me do that.

I'm glad they do. I have wondered how much of my weight is fear of being

thin. I don't consciously think I am afriad of it, but wonder soemtimes if

I am.

> My friends in AA now can't get over how good I look and I hear it all

> the time. I try not to say " told you so " but sometimes I do anyhow LOL

> Take care as you make your way.

Thank you Jeannie!