Mel’s story is a powerful testament to transformation. After 57 years of struggle with compulsive eating and life threatening health challenges, she found recovery through Overeaters Anonymous and a deeply lived spiritual program. Today, her life reflects the principles, traditions, and concepts not just in meetings, but in how she lives every day.
Interviewer: What is your story with compulsive eating
Mel:
I was always a compulsive eater as far as I am concerned. I struggled with my weight for 57 years and grew myself to well over 600 pounds. My health was not good. I was on about 170 units of insulin. I had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and my gut was fully outside the abdominal wall from a surgery after my appendix ruptured.
I almost came to death from being septic because of that appendix rupturing, and they did not know how to fix me because I was so big. The nurses thought I was not going to make it. Did that shock me into not compulsive eating? No.
I lost 100 pounds after that surgery, but I gained it all back and then some. Later I was back in the hospital for 15 weeks with a large abscess that they left open to heal.
At that time we were bankrupt and all the money went to food. I worked in a kitchen on my legs for 12 hours a day.
I eventually went to a weight loss surgeon, and it really upset me that he questioned my commitment, because I had already lost almost 200 pounds through what I call exercise bulimia. I was walking 17 to 18 kilometers a day, swimming, dancing, always pushing.
I had weight loss surgery and they took about 80 percent of my stomach. I got down to 205 pounds. I could put my fingers between my rib cage, but my crazy brain said no, not enough.
After one doctor would not listen to me and compared me to his wife, I went straight into a binge that scared the hell out of me. I gained 20 pounds in a couple of days. I sat in front of the computer looking at the insulin needle wondering how I could end it, but I could not do that to my son.
Then I saw a picture of myself at Easter and realized I was going backwards. I was in absolute tears. That was when I realized I was powerless. I went to bed on a wet pillow, and when I woke up, I felt refreshed and I knew exactly what I needed to do.
Interviewer: How did the spiritual program begin to play a role in your life
Mel:
I came to understand that this is a spiritual program. I could not fix this with willpower. I had already tried everything. Nothing worked because the problem was not just the food, it was inside of me.
What I see today is that there is no separation between my program and my life. There is no separation there.
I practice the same principles whether I am giving money, doing service, or helping another person. It is all the same. I do not look at the traditions and concepts as something that is just according to OA. I live them.
I apply them with my family, with my neighbors, in my work. My home is like a miniature OA. I have to work with everyone there using the same spiritual principles I learned in the fellowship.
My Higher Power shows up in what I call God winks.
One time I needed 200 dollars for a retreat. I baked for my niece’s wedding just for the joy of it, just to give. Later I found a card with exactly 200 dollars in it.
Another time our rent was going up by 500 dollars and I was living in fear. I went and served Christmas dinner for the less fortunate. I served a family of five, and they were the same nationality as my new landlord. A month later, that landlord told me, my father remembers you and I remember you, you will always have a place with us.
Those are not coincidences to me. That is my Higher Power working in my life.
Interviewer: What is your service journey
Mel:
I started service probably the first meeting I got up and did service. By the second month I became a representative, and by the third month I was the newsletter editor.
I taught myself web design and built a website. I became the web master for a land based intergroup. I loved doing that.
Then I became a World Service delegate. I went to Region 6 as a visitor to learn how assemblies work and understand the parliamentary process.
I joined the Conference Literature Committee, and that was a lot of work. It was overwhelming at first, but I stayed with it. I became Vice Delegate Co chair and then Delegate Co chair, overseeing subcommittees and acting as a go between for the trustee and the committees.
I also served in the Virtual Region through OA Footsteps for two terms.
Interviewer: What keeps you going in service
Mel:
Not going back to the insanity for God’s sake. Once living that way, I do not want to live that way again.
Service is where I grow the most, if I am willing. There are times when I get stuck in my own character defects, and service brings that up.
If I do not do service, I do not have the opportunity to grow and learn to work with others. I cannot change anybody else. I can only change my reaction to them.
Interviewer: How has service supported your recovery on a deeper level
Mel:
Helping others helps me. I need to remind myself every day that I am a compulsive eater.
Service has taught me integrity and responsibility.
I remember doing my Fifth Step in a house that was falling down. The plumbing was not working and I had to use a bucket. And the world did not come to an end.
That showed me that I do not need perfect conditions to do this work. I just need to be willing.
Interviewer: What is your favorite part of service
Mel:
I love Experience Strength and Hope and I love doing web paging. It fits two things that I love.
I also love to write, even though I grew up hating English. Writing is a time when I connect with my spiritual side. Whatever is inside comes out.
It is also a way to help others because it is documented and passed on.
Interviewer: What inspires you about people
Mel:
People never cease to amaze me. But what I have learned is that what I see in others, especially if I do not like it, is usually what is in me.
It is a mirror reflection.
Whenever I feel disturbed about somebody, it is something about me that needs to change. Maybe I am not patient or I am judging them.
Service forces me to sit back and listen, and that is part of consideration.
Interviewer: What would you say to someone who is struggling today
Mel:
Do not be alone. Reach out to somebody.
We are isolators. I almost believe it is in our DNA. But it is in that isolation that the disease breeds.
You need to be right in the middle of the boat and get involved, even when it feels uncomfortable.
Interviewer: Any final thoughts
Mel:
This is a life to live.
I struggled for 57 years, but I do not look back at my past as a mistake. My Higher Power uses everything.
It happens when it happens, and today I am just grateful.
©2026 Experience Strength & Hope Newsletter,
All rights reserved. Proudly sponsored by OA Foot Steps VIG #09670.
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The experience, strength, and hope expressed in this article, reflect the individual OA members and does not represent OA as a whole. Other OA groups and service bodies are welcome to reprint articles from Experience, Strength & Hope Newsletter without permission. When reprinting from other OA newsletters, be sure to credit the source.
