Overeaters Anonymous - Should I go??

[shanza 685]

That truly makes sense! Just pick the better choices and only that. Jerky, that is my goto if I need to chew. I can even chew gum without it bothering me. Also, I still eat fast. I can't do the chew your food to death. But I know my portions and I stop and wait, which every time, I start feeling the bubbles, and burps-ish things.

[mousecat88 2,280]

He told me to portion out 2 baby carrots to have in between my meals and put them in a filing cabinet away from me so I have to get up if I want to snack on them. He is full of good advice that I never follow. LOL. He also said sugar-free mints (I am a gum swallower). I am just so petrified of *accidentally* snacking on Taco Bell. lolll. I'm going to this OA meeting and I'll see how that goes.

[Wickedwinner 140]

I talked to my dr about snacking because she wants me to increase my calories. She said to figure out everything I need to eat in a day to get the required calories/protein/water, etc and eat on it all day if I have to. If my lunch takes 2 hours to eat then so be it. She doesn’t believe it is “snacking”. I’m just eating what I’m required to eat for the day.


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[FluffyChix 17,415]

3 hours ago, Wickedwinner said:

I talked to my dr about snacking because she wants me to increase my calories. She said to figure out everything I need to eat in a day to get the required calories/protein/water, etc and eat on it all day if I have to. If my lunch takes 2 hours to eat then so be it. She doesn’t believe it is “snacking”. I’m just eating what I’m required to eat for the day.


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Wow. I think that's TERRIBLE advice! Way to reinforce grazing and snacking behavior and keep you insulin elevated all the live long day. *sigh* SMH.

[Wickedwinner 140]

Well I’m not a food addict either. I’ve lost over 60 lbs and still have all my hair. I never go over my set calories or macros. It just takes me all day long to get it in. It’s a struggle to eat this much honestly but it is working. I’m not flabby either, my skin is going back into place (other than boobs but they were drooping before I gained weight). And I’m 51 yo. So I’m pretty pleased. Other than at week 2 I’ve not stalled at all. If this stops working then I’ll try something else.

She is a doctor and has also had the surgery , successfully, so I think I’ll stick to her plan as long as it’s working.

[FluffyChix 17,415]

2 minutes ago, Wickedwinner said:

Well I’m not a food addict either. I’ve lost over 60 lbs and still have all my hair. I never go over my set calories or macros. It just takes me all day long to get it in. It’s a struggle to eat this much honestly but it is working. I’m not flabby either, my skin is going back into place (other than boobs but they were drooping before I gained weight). And I’m 51 yo. So I’m pretty pleased. Other than at week 2 I’ve not stalled at all. If this stops working then I’ll try something else.

She is a doctor and has also had the surgery , successfully, so I think I’ll stick to her plan as long as it’s working.

But you are on a food addiction thread. That advice is NOT the norm. And it's terrible for anyone with a mature pouch--most especially anyone struggling with food addiction, increased hunger, or inappropriate urges to snack.

[froufrou 678]

I went to OA once (years ago) and this poor atheist had no idea what to make of it all. It just wasn't for me. What I wish I could find is a life coach - I too am struggling with the snacking creeping back in.

[chuckwalsh 122]

Has anyone here ever attended an Overeaters Anonymous meeting?
Right after surgery I contacted the local chapter to talk to them about my reservations about the whole "higher power"/religious aspect of OA (I am nonreligious), and the host assured me it wasn't about religion. (The AA meetings I had gone to with a friend, they read from the Bible and prayed). Anyways, she went on to talk about how she became a food addict after SEVERE physical and sexual abuse by her family, and then I felt kinda like "my problems aren't nearly as bad as these people, so I don't think it's right for me to attend". I then mentioned I had WLS and she was kinda' iffy about it - gave me the impression she felt like I took an easy way out instead of working with OA and dieting, etc. I don't know...
Anyways, I am 6 months out now and the feelings of just wanting to nibble all day are coming back. I also have been eating super fast again and I vomit a lot. I don't eat the wrong foods, or too much foods, just too quickly. And I am seriously battling snacking all day, which I haven't.
OA is free and in the evenings, and I can't afford therapy or the time off work to go to it, so I am sort of thinking of going to OA. I just don't know if I will be ironically rejected for "cheating" by having WLS or being a bit thinner now. Anyone familiar with this group???? I have pretty bad anxiety and I am really nervous about the idea.

They read from a bible at an AA meeting? Are you sure? That's not the AA I know. But ya, I've done OA. it's a good program. Instead of sobriety you have abstinence.. for me it was tough to wrap my head around food being a drug.. but I do know people who've really been helped by it. I'm in a 12 step fellowship and can definitely attest to the benefit of having a spiritual (not religious) backing when dealing with life issues. I'd say give it a shot and see if you like it.

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[Aprilgal 91]

I am sort of in the same boat, so thanks for sharing @mousecat88.

I went to OA once; it was okay. I am a Christian, but it wasn't my cup of tea. Perhaps it varies from meeting to meeting (like most things).

I used to see a therapist just for my emotional overeating. My therapist took a sabbatical for six months, and I have been on a lookout for something in the interim.

I read this article on VOX where two people mentioned https://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/what-is-faa

I am not sure if the organization is an offshoot of OA, but they do have meetings in my area, and I think I am going to try one this weekend.

I have also thought about joining Weight Watchers to get some support.

[chuckwalsh 122]

I am sort of in the same boat, so thanks for sharing [mention=350221]mousecat88[/mention].
I went to OA once; it was okay. I am a Christian, but it wasn't my cup of tea. Perhaps it varies from meeting to meeting (like most things).
I used to see a therapist just for my emotional overeating. My therapist took a sabbatical for six months, and I have been on a lookout for something in the interim.
I read this article on VOX where two people mentioned https://www.foodaddictsanonymous.org/what-is-faa
I am not sure if the organization is an offshoot of OA, but they do have meetings in my area, and I think I am going to try one this weekend.
I have also thought about joining Weight Watchers to get some support.

They're not linked.

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[mousecat88 2,280]

Just got back from the OA meeting. It isn't for me. It was completely nonreligious and I gleaned that at least half the group were atheists. BUT, none had had gastric bypass and I did feel judgment. They said that they do not like the surgery because through OA if I had done that first and worked the steps, I wouldn't have needed the surgery and could have conquered the food addiction without medical intervention. They shared stories and talked about their struggles with eating now, but I don't share the same issues because this surgery has forced me into a healthy eating lifestyle. So our issues don't quite mesh. They are working on getting to where I already am by virtue of "cheating" and having surgery. I am looking for one on one advice with maintenance for when I have any weak moments. They do not give advice. They just read from the book (and I can't focus when someone reads) and share what they struggled with recently. But no one responds with advice. It seems kind of useless imo. Anyways, I gave it a shot. Not for me.

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[chuckwalsh 122]

Good on you for checking it out.

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[chuckwalsh 122]

Good on you for checking it out.

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One thing I'll say I've found true through that program.. alot less people are staying abstinent than people stay sober/clean through the other fellowships. food isnt something you can get away from.. it has to be dealt with every day. My guess is 3/4 if not more of the people in that room who are obese/overweight are considering or have considered surgery. I was one. Sorry you had a bad experience but ya as I said a second ago big ups on you being open to trying new things.. I think that's really the key to this.

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[Danny Paul 761]

In May I will have been a member of OA for a year. I find the fellowship and comraderie a great source of support for me. There are people in my meetings that have had WLS. There are others who are working the steps. We don't read from the Bible. We use the AA Big Book. It isn't religious but spiritual and you can believe what you like as far as a higher power guiding and helping you. I have a sponsor who I call everyday and we go over the program and address any food concerns that I might have. I also call or text other members if I need additional support and they call or text me for my support. Together with my therapist, bariatric group sessions and therapist group sessions OA is an internal part of my recovery from my Compulsive Overeating. I had my WLS in August of 2017 by April of 2018 I had reached my goal weight. This April marked one year that I sustained that goal weight. I'm now working on year two of sustaining that goal weight. OA, for me is an important part of that strategy. It isn't for everyone. I attend three meetings a week. Sometimes we have as little as four people show up and there are times when 25 people show up. As long as there are two of us we can conduct a meeting.

Like I tell my friends who have had WLS, if you are looking for a quick fix this is not it. It is a program that you have to work at to gain the benefits. I lived a long time with my compulsive overeating and I didn't know I had such a condition. Now that I know what I'm up against, I'm using as many tools to combat it. OA is one of them. I hope this helps. If you have any questions you can PM me.

[mousecat88 2,280]

On 4/26/2019 at 9:45 PM, Danny Paul said:

In May I will have been a member of OA for a year. I find the fellowship and comraderie a great source of support for me. There are people in my meetings that have had WLS. There are others who are working the steps. We don't read from the Bible. We use the AA Big Book. It isn't religious but spiritual and you can believe what you like as far as a higher power guiding and helping you. I have a sponsor who I call everyday and we go over the program and address any food concerns that I might have. I also call or text other members if I need additional support and they call or text me for my support. Together with my therapist, bariatric group sessions and therapist group sessions OA is an internal part of my recovery from my Compulsive Overeating. I had my WLS in August of 2017 by April of 2018 I had reached my goal weight. This April marked one year that I sustained that goal weight. I'm now working on year two of sustaining that goal weight. OA, for me is an important part of that strategy. It isn't for everyone. I attend three meetings a week. Sometimes we have as little as four people show up and there are times when 25 people show up. As long as there are two of us we can conduct a meeting.

Like I tell my friends who have had WLS, if you are looking for a quick fix this is not it. It is a program that you have to work at to gain the benefits. I lived a long time with my compulsive overeating and I didn't know I had such a condition. Now that I know what I'm up against, I'm using as many tools to combat it. OA is one of them. I hope this helps. If you have any questions you can PM me.

They were judgmental of me having WLS when I went. When my friend who was with me left the room one of the hosts said they discourage members from having WLS because "if I had just used OA I would have never needed surgery". I felt very uncomfortable. I gave my "story" to everyone and openly said I hesitated coming because I figured I would be judged as having "cheated" for having WLS, and the same woman who runs the group shook her head at me. I mentioned I no longer binge eat and the woman clapped, and then I said it's because I am physically incapable of doing so and she frowned at me again and reiterated to the entire group that she doesn't like WLS (in front of my face). There was also a woman there who said she loves OA and says it has helped her a lot and she's gone for 8 years... but has only lost 20lbs???

Also, they said they do not give advice - that's what I want. I don't want to sit there and listen to people read, which is what they did. I can't focus when people are reading; I don't learn well that way. Everyone just went around and read from the AA Book and shared their struggle for that week - and no one was allowed to comment or give advice on it. We just had to sit in silence and then thank them for sharing. It was just bizarre. Like sitting around moping about your weekly failure. I am happy it helps you, though! It's definitely not for me, however.

Edited April 29, 2019 by mousecat88