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I came to OA to lose weight. I had been in recovery in a different program and released over 100 pounds, but my weight was creeping upward, and my eating was out of control. Since I had tried everything else, I decided to try OA. I was relieved to be finally free from dieting and as I worked the program, eventually (thought much longer than I wanted) I released another 80 pounds.

Years later my abstinence was good and my food plan moderate enough for me to continue losing weight. But one summer changed all that. I remember looking down at the scale in shock. How could I have gained 16 pounds in a month? I was confused and frightened. I talked with my sponsor, and she assured me that my eating plan was good and there must be something else happening in my body that was making me gain weight. Over the next few months, I went on to gain a total of 39 pounds. I had to buy larger clothes, and I struggled with feeling frumpy and ugly. I had a number of medical tests, all of which came up negative. It was finally decided that I would see an endocrinologist, but it would be another three months before I could get in for an appointment.

I was increasingly frustrated. “Why bother being abstinent when I’m getting nothing out of it?” I often thought. Over time, I began to think about the many gifts I was receiving by being abstinent that had nothing to do with losing weight. My relationship with God was better than it had ever been; I was learning to give and receive love; my shame was falling away; I was enjoying being me; my head was clear and I was making better, wiser decisions; I enjoyed eating because I wasn’t making myself sick by eating too much; my spirit felt free; and I was pursuing my dreams. There were a lot more benefits to abstinence than simply losing weight.

By practicing Step 11 on a regular basis, I was leaning on God more and myself less. I enjoy my times with God each morning and I love hearing His voice and receiving good, orderly, direction from Him. By seeking to do God’s will, I can stop relentlessly pushing myself in a misguided attempt to earn God’s favor or the approval of others. When I ask God to help me and listen for His answer, He always shows up. I do not need to figure out everything myself.

Attending meetings and being honest there has helped me to get the support I need, and also to see that other people need support that I can give. I no longer hide when I am troubled. I reach out to my fellows and find the love, acceptance, and support I need. When my love tank is full, I can reach out to others who are struggling and support them.

By accepting myself as I am instead of looking for perfection, my shame began to leave me.  I grew more confident that I was a unique, beautiful woman. I see my purpose in life and have come to realize my worth. I no longer feel bad about myself when my quirky, silly side comes out. I enjoy laughing, especially when others are laughing, too.

Food fog is no more. I can think rationally and make wise decisions. I make wiser decisions in my relationships and in my finances.

Not spending all of my time, energy, and money on food freed me to pursue my dreams. I love to write and always wanted to write a book. I self-published my first book in 2023. That would not have happened if I were not abstinent.

Best of all, I am able to stand up after a meal without the guilt or shame that comes from eating too much. The feeling of going to bed after an abstinent day fills me with contentment and satisfaction.

I do not know why I gained so much weight while abstinent. I am grateful for this experience because, if for no other reason, I found joy in being abstinent, whatever happens with my weight. When I came to OA, all I cared about was losing weight. I was obsessed with the number on the scale, trying everything I could think of to break the obsession. My motivation for abstinence has changed. Do I still want to reach a healthy body weight? Of course I do. For now, all I can do now is remain abstinent each day, wait for my test results, and enjoy the emotional and spiritual benefits of abstinence. Whatever happens, I am confident (most of the time) that abstinence is worth the work whether I lose the rest of my excess weight or not.

–Cindy H.

In the past I have had difficulty with the phrase “defects of character”. I interpreted it as fatal flaws, validating my belief of a core deflective self. Then I read the definition of Character Defect in the Twelve Step Workshop and Study Guide. On page 52 the Step Four glossary defines Character Defect as “exact nature of our wrongs: Ways of handling life that interfere with our happiness, good relations with others, and conscious contact with our Higher Power.”

It is not me, my soul that is defective, but my “ways of handling life” that have been the root of my problem. Am I willing to let my Higher Power show me more effective and loving ways of handling life? Do I want to grow toward having happiness, good relations with others and conscious contact with my Higher Power? Yes!

“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us.” Helen Keller as quoted in For Today, September 6.
How many times have I not only looked at closed doors in my life but stared at those doors, waiting, wishing, hoping that they would open again? There is a door that has been opened for me. The door to recovery, and, for today, I want to keep choosing that door.

NEW ARTICLE!

I served as outgoing CHI-WIF intergroup delegate to this Assembly and here are some highlights.

Friday Evening 10-31-25
1) Workshop – our new WSO Trustee liaison Juliette R. of Ohio gave an excellent talk about dealing with disruptive OA members. Some ideas shared were: Explain traditions & breaks to member; have a one-on-one with disruptive member; form committee to deal with problem; deregister group w/WSO & IG.
2) Intergroup Sharing Session – Discussion on 2 main topics: Getting more members to step up for service, especially at IG, Region & WSO levels; How to get the word out to the public about OA.  Some suggestions: Ask someone personally to serve; encourage sponsees; Lower or readjust abstinence requirements & bylaws; be a mentor; job share.
3) State Meetings – Our Illinois group discussed upcoming state events: Unity Day 2026 – Sat. 2-21-26; In-person Retreat – Jan. 30-31-Feb.1, 2026 in Woodstock IL “Abstinence during Difficult Times”; Workshop “Don’t Isolate, Congregate” Sat. Dec. 13, 2025. Illinois reps are also planning an all-Illinois in-person workshop in May/June in the Decatur or Springfield area; more details forthcoming.

Saturday 11-1-25  Morning
1) Roll Call of Attendees – 19 reps from Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin; 4 officers, 1 parliamentarian, 1 Trustee Liaison. 2) Agenda reviewed/accepted. 3)Mini Abstinence Countdown (longest was 48 years!). 4) Executive Committee Reports presented – Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Trustee Liaison.  5)Committee Meetings conducted– Bylaws; Convention; Finance; Media.
Afternoon
1) Parliamentarian Gerri M. gave short talk on proper meeting/voting procedures; 2) Candidates for election to new Vice chair & Secretary positions gave short pitch of their qualifications.  3) Sub-committees for Outreach Committee of the Whole – Intergroup 2 Intergroup; PIPO; 12 Step Within.
4) Discussion on next annual Region 5 Conventions: 2026 in Indianapolis on Labor Day Weekend; 2027 possibly in St. Louis Bi-State IG (will finalize in Jan. 2026; dates TBD). 5) 7^th Tradition – collected $275 from all attendees & delegates.

Sunday 11-2-25   Morning
1) Committee & Sub-committee Reports from Saturday sessions – A) Bylaws;  B)2025 Convention;
C) Finance;  D) Media; E) Intergroup 2 Intergroup; F)  PIPO; G)  12 Step Within;  2) Election of New Vice Chair (Kevin F.- Indiana) & New Secretary (Kerry M.- Turning Point IG Chicago).  3) Approval of 2026 Budget; 4) Motions voted on & adopted: A) Spring Assemblies meet virtually & Fall Assemblies in Person; B) Dissolution of inactive Greater Canton & Central IL IG’s & all funds distributed 4) Recognition of New & Outgoing Reps.

– Evelyn S.

NEW ARTICLE!

It always begins with a plan. A plan of eating, a plan for service, and a plan of recovery.

If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail.

However, in this day and age and based on my age and shoe size, I quote “failure is not an option”. Having made a decision to turn my life and will over to the care of God, as I understood God, and having made a firm resolve to do just that. As a result of this decision, I launched a long and sometimes treacherous and precarious journey of abstinence and slips.

Many intensive 12 Step studies later and freedom of 60 excess pounds, I still “trudge the road of happy destiny”. Some days are smoot sailing on a sea of glass, some days are like a hurricane. Most days are just live and let live, one day at a time, and stick to the plan. If you absolutely need to change the plan, don’t do it alone! Don’t do it hungry! Do change your plan with your Sponsor.

– Thomas M.

NEW ARTICLE!

This past weekend I attended our Region 5 2025 Fall Assembly. In addition to conducting our business with kindness and respect, we had  5 minute pop up shares throughout the weekend. In that short,condensed time, I heard the amazing power of this program. Over and over people shared how the addiction was arrested, lives were transformed, relationships healed, and difficult life situations were being handled with faith and grace with OA. Do miracles abound in this program? Without a doubt!

– Carol Ann M.

I heard a speaker recently at my home meeting that talked about how he was led to OA. His mother has been a member in recovery for over 40 years, and he recalled how, when he was younger, his mom would get and make phone calls early in the morning with fellow OA members and was always talking to these strangers. He also shared about this large wicker basket filled with various OA books and pamphlets that had a prominent place in their home.  He met and got to know so many of his Mom’s OA friends and how nice and kind they were.  And he talked about how peaceful and  happy and more loving his Mom became as she continued to work this “strange and wonderful” OA program that he didn’t really understand.

But over the years, as his own compulsive eating got worse and worse, and he got bigger and bigger and more miserable and out of control with his eating, he remembered how the program changed his mom for the better.  So, when he hit his own bottom, he plunged in and gave OA a try. He struggled in the beginning, but the modeling that his mom provided for him all those years and how it worked for her, he was able to keep going. And he recently celebrated one year of abstinence for himself.  He’s now more peaceful himself and has been able to get through some difficult life situations so much better.

As I listened to him tell his story that night, it helped me again realize how important it is to just keep working our program and keep our commitment to our own recovery, because others are watching and listening. And we never know how our actions can impact a fellow compulsive overeater. So keep on keeping on!

– Evelyn S.

So much has changed, there is so much more work and so few people are willing to do the work.

I’m grateful to those who have stayed and kept this life-saving fellowship alive.  It is so saving my life.  How soon I forgot what this OA fellowship has done for me personally, not to mention those in the family who might need it too.  It is so true that many hands make light work.  I have to admit that I have not done anything to help other than 7^th tradition above the local level in over 10 years.  I owe this fellowship and 12 Step program.

Nothing else has ever worked for me and I treat this like I’m doing OA a favor.  I got it twisted.

Thanks for allowing me to serve this weekend!

In Unity.

– Anonymous

Click the link below to check out the March Edition of  the CSSI Bulletin from the Chicago area in IL.

https://www.region5oa.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/CSSI-BULLETIN-MARCH-9f57621418c9edf17d5a2a906e91b46e.pdf