Hi, I'm Nancy.

I'm a food addict and compulsive overeater and I have known that, and attended OA for 19 years. I have a sponsor, who has been my partner in recovery for 7 years, and many, many friends in this program who have seen me through thick and thin. I have learned a lot about myself and my disease by going to meetings, listening to sharing which sounds like my own story, reading literature and doing many fourth step inventories. These are some things that are true for me. These are things that have been precious gifts from doing the 12 steps to the best of my ability.

First, it is not about the weight or the numbers. If you are grossly obese, that might sound like something hard to accept. But for me, it is about peace of mind, freedom from compulsion and a relationship with a power greater than myself.

With all that I have learned, and all that I know about the disease, the program and myself...it is not what I know that saves me, one day at a time, from compulsive overeating. What works for me is complete surrender to a higher power, which I call God.

I know I can't do this alone. I need the group at meetings, I need people I can call whenever I need to, I need a sponsor who is committed to my recovery as well as hers and knows me inside and out and most of all, I need God. I'll say it again. I can't do this alone.

I have only today. I dont count days of abstinence, or plan my food a week ahead, I try not to worry about the future or regret the past. I do this one day at a time and today is all I have, so I give that day, and my food, to my higher power because I cant do it and God can.

When I am able to do this program in a way thar puts God in charge of my will, my life and my food, the miracle happens. I have peace and serenity and sanity. I am emotionally available to people who I love and life is good. Oh by the way...a side effect of that is that I stop eating compulsively and a side effect of THAT is that I lose weight.

I am so greatful for my life in this program. I could never have figured out how to do life without it. Even though I dont do it perfectly...just to the best of my ability...and even though I have struggles from day to day, and ups and downs like anybody else, I also have a way to approach life and deal with the crappy stuff as it shows up.

So for those of you who have gone to a few meetings, or looked into OA as a help for out-of-control food life, "keep coming back, it works."