Some family was over today. They bring stress with them, and I try to limit my contact because of this. I really wanted to eat. I wanted to escape from the anxious feelings that I was having and dive right into the food.

I stopped, and I thought, "They aren't worth me ruining my abstinence." I stood there in the kitchen and made myself think about the feelings that I was having. I made myself acknowledge that it was these feelings that made me want to eat--not hunger. I wasn't hungry; I had just had lunch. So, I washed dishes and folded clothes to keep busy. I said my abstinence prayer. Just as I was about to pick up the phone to call another OA member for some support, the family left. Almost instantly the urge to eat faded.

That was horrible. I haven't felt driven towards food like that for weeks. It was a good wake up call to remember how I used to feel everyday. I was miserable. My stomach was growling (howling). I couldn't shake the idea of food.

Thank God for the steps and tools.

marny!! good for you!

Oh Marny ~ BIG HUGS! You did wonderfully and I am so proud of you!

You are such an inspiration! I want you to know how much reading about your journey is helping me and giving me hope

Marny, Congratulations on getting to the route of your problems yesterday. I stopped mid binge, but I wish I could get to the point where I stop BEFORE it starts! (I know... someday... it's a slow process...)

Family tends to do that to a lot of us... I just can't be around mine without the urge to eat, so I avoid it at all costs.

Jac--
Wow, stopping mid-binge may even be harder than not starting at all. You are making great progress. Would you have stopped in the middle a month ago? Two weeks ago?

Marny, most definately not! I would have kept going and going! (Just like the energizer bunny!)

Marny, I think that addiction will always be there, but you're certainly learning to deal with it. Good going, hon.

Ellis-
You are right. Thank you for reminding me that the addiction will always be there. When I feel really good for a while, I like to think it's gone. That's a huge mistake, because I've opened myself up to having it bite me on the butt.

Yay! Good for you!

Hey Marny,
I just now found the OA Forum. I'm glad that I did, because I realize that I do have a problem with eating. As I told you before there is no group in my area (that I'm aware of...) so I think that I will hang out here now and again and just soak in information.

Babsy--So glad that you are here! Have you contacted OA to see if there is a meeting near you?
OA World Service Office: 505-891-2664
or
www.overeatersanonymous.org

Local OA groups usually advertise in the local newspapers in the classifieds under "meetings". You could look there too. There may be a meeting in a nearby city that you could get to once a week.

Thanks Marny - I'll check that out today! Hope everyone has a happy and healthy day!

Just checked out the web site. The closest meeting is 2 hours away on Monday nights. A little far to be traveling the roads of Wyoming alone at night. Oh well. I know I can find resources to use.

Babsy, what a bummer

TheRecoveryGroup has online meetings. (They aren't quite like the regular ones, but they are a good resource.)

As well as www.12step.org could be of some help for you. I've also heard of people attending AA meetings since they don't have OA in their area.

And just ordering the books and materials off of www.oa.org or checking them out at the library is a great tool as well!