Online Sponsors?

[Mary in SA]

Hi,
I'm new here and to OA. I just want to say that I so appreciate all of you for sharing your time and help with us (me.) I have struggled so much with weight for so long and frankly, the past two years since my Dad died, I had given up any hope. I found this website after my doctor suggested I look into having gastric bypass surgery. I was gung-ho until I began to read on the web about folks who have had terrible complications and regrets after having bariatric surgeries.

At least he got me revved up! I have had my first abstinent week (and didn't know that's what it was) this past week after prayer. I have lost more weight than I could've imagined - almost as though I had a surgical procedure. I've begun walking every day and I can tell, even after only a week, that I'm getting stronger. I'm at peace regarding my eating but there is a nagging in my head that I will fail, fall and be unsuccessful over the long haul. Not really strange since I've failed so many times before, but I really am having to pull myself up after abandoning hope for so long. It feels a little different because I am doing this for me, instead of for someone else and because I asked God to help me and he did. Perhaps He has something that he wants me to do with my life here on earth. (?)

Sorry for the long post. I've located an OA meeting very close to my home and plan to attend. It meets on Sundays (I missed today) so I will go to a newcomer's meeting this week and begin the close by group next Sunday.

I would love to have a place online to "talk" to other folks who are working the steps of OA. If 2FC has a "meeting" for OA, please let me know. I am literally dying from my obesity and I want to recover. I know that I can't do this alone.

Thanks for listening to this really long post,
Mary

[EarthShaker]

Mary:

That's so wonderful. Congratulations!

I'm back at OA after a 2 year hiatus. I first went a couple of years ago and was horrified by the meeting -- it wasn't a good experience for me. I did have a friend who proved that it could work, though, and so I started working the steps even though I didn't get to meetings. It worked for a while. I took the third step, and my life changed completely.

Life happened and I stopped working the steps. I think a bit of ego was involved because I "had it" and "got it" and didn't need to work the steps anymore.

Needless to say, here I am again. I went to another meeting, and it was very, very small. I'm trying to find others to connect with until I can find a meeting that I can attend and has more than two attendees.

I don't have a sponsor yet, but I honestly don't know if I'm ready for one. I want to just get my feet wet again. It's only been a week.