Amanda (Thanksgiving Marathon, Nov 2018)

Amanda, member since 2015, identifies as a compulsive overeater
& sugar addict. Amanda's share from the 2018 Thanksgiving
Marathon includes the following themes: "National Americans Eat
Day" • mom: diet & binge buddy • Slim Fast in lunchbox • lying
& manipulating • 1st time overusing food (daycare) • it always
gets worse • pattern: on diet, slip & slide, justify, back to
drug • substituting program tools for the desire to pick up •
restricted & binged my way up to almost 300 pounds •
consequences of overeating & obesity • finding OA • nobody was
fat at 1st meeting • dis-ease with life • wanting peace • having
g.o.d. (gift of desperation) with physical side • surrendered food
immediately • underneath the food: anxiety & fear • in a prison
of my own making (Step 4 lesson) • character defects & my part
• letting go of outcome as a control freak • dating &
relationships • 10th Step relief (did you bring higher power in?) •
HP: visualization & meditation • 1st meeting: people managing
life with peace • life: an ongoing surrender process • experiencing
grief without picking up • learning grief process in mid-30s • lows
are low but highs are higher