by Paul Emile:
At the age of eleven, we moved, and I started using “food” to deal with trauma, feelings of loneliness, and boredom. I became a compulsive overeater at that time, and the disease of compulsive overeating continued to get worse, until my Higher Power brought me to Overeaters Anonymous at the age of fifty-one. I simply didn’t know how to deal with life on life’s terms, and I tried to get what I needed by bingeing predominantly on chocolate and ice-cream. It didn’t work! Before I came to Overeaters Anonymous at the beginning of 2014, my life was out of control, and completely unmanageable. I could not stop bingeing on a daily basis. I felt tremendous fear, shame, guilt, and rock bottom self esteem. I isolated myself from others. I was suicidal. I weighed three hundred and thirty five pounds. I was dying. I was experiencing so much pain and suffering, I wanted to die.
Since coming to Overeaters Anonymous, I accept that I am powerless over food and over life in general. I pray each morning, and ask God as I understand Him, to give me the gift of abstinence today. I remain open to receiving this miraculous gift that my Creator wants to give to me. Each night I thank Him for the abstinence I’ve received today, and for all that He’s given me. Through the day, I work the twelve steps and twelve traditions to the best of my ability, go to meetings, follow a meal plan, follow an action plan, read the literature, reach out to others in the program, stay open to what others have to teach me, meditate, exercise, do self care, do service work, and share with others what I’ve been so generously given. I recognize today the purpose of my life is to do God’s Will. Being abstinent is God’s Will for me. God loves and cares for me, and He wants nothing but the best for me.
Abstinence is continuing to bring me health, happiness, peace, and freedom consistently. These abstinent days are the best days of my life! I’m so grateful God brought me to Overeaters Anonymous. It completely changed my life for the better. I’ve been given an amazing life! I am able to feel all of my feelings without wanting to numb them, and I’m generally free of craving and compulsion.
By the Grace of God, I’ve received close to five years of abstinence since coming to Overeaters Anonymous, and also by the Grace of God, I’ve received maintenance of a one hundred and thirty six pound healthy weight release for more than three and half years, one day at a time. I give all the credit to my Higher Power, because I know that I cannot do this. In the past, I lost weight a number of times, but never maintained the weight release. God does for me what I cannot do for myself.
It should be noted that this program is by donation only. If you’re broke like I was when I first came to Overeaters Anonymous, don’t worry about donating anything.
Also, it should be noted that Overeaters Anonymous is not just for people who are overweight, but also for people who suffer with anorexia, bulimia, and any other type of eating disorder.
It is my sincere hope that those who need Overeaters Anonymous will gain hope and strength from this true story, go to Overeaters Anonymous, and receive the help they so desperately need. For a meeting near you, go online to oa.org.