Definitions For OA Newcomers
Abstinence: “Abstinence is the action of refraining from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors while working towards or maintaining a healthy body weight. Spiritual, emotional, and physical recovery is the result of working and living the Overeaters Anonymous Twelve Step program on a daily basis.”
Anonymity: Because of Anonymity, it is safe to share at meetings. This means we honor each other’s privacy by never discussing who we have seen or what has been discussed at a meeting with anyone outside of that meeting.
Big Book: The Big Book refers to Alcoholics Anonymous which also is used in Overeaters Anonymous. It is our basic piece of literature and is used to help us recover from compulsive eating and to stay in recovery.
ESH: This acronym stands for “Experience, Strength & Hope”
Cross Talk: “Feedback, cross talk and advice-giving are discouraged during all Overeaters Anonymous meetings and events. Cross talk during an OA meeting is giving advice to others who have already shared, speaking directly to another person rather than to the group and questioning or interrupting the person speaking/sharing at the time.” (From the OA website at “Suggested Meeting Formats”)
Group Conscience: Group conscience is based on Tradition 2. When a group wishes to determine how best to conduct meetings, spend funds, organize special events, and deal with issues that affect the group or OA as a whole, business meetings are conducted by group conscience. Group conscience is the special way (unique to 12-Step fellowships) in which the individuals in the meetings come to agree on a decision that is best for the whole group.
HOW meeting: This is a type of OA meeting designed for those who would like to have a more structured program to follow regarding such things as Food Plan, use of the Tools, etc.
Newcomer: A person new to OA and/or the 12- Step Program is considered a newcomer. There is no time limit on when someone may be considered a newcomer.
OAers: Those attending and participating in Overeaters Anonymous often are called OAers, members or fellows.
Outreach Calls: These are calls to other OAers between meetings just to check in, to get support, or to discuss aspects of the program. It is suggested that more intense issues be discussed with one’s sponsor.
Sponsee/Sponsoree: A sponsee or sponsoree is a person who is being sponsored/helped through the program. Each person is encouraged to be a sponsoree and to find a sponsor who has what he or she wants.
Twelve and Twelve: OA uses two “Twelve and Twelve” books—The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Twelve Steps: The OA program of recovery for individuals is based on the 12 Steps which are defined and explained in the Big Book and the “Twelve and Twelve” books.
Twelve Traditions: The 12 Traditions are a means by which groups remain unified in a common cause and community. They ensure smooth functioning, survival, and growth of the meetings.
Virtual Region: OA has ten physical regions worldwide and one virtual region that encapsulates all of the virtual intergroups.
Young Person: a person who entered recovery or is in recovery under the age of 30.
Abstinence: “Abstinence is the action of refraining from compulsive eating and compulsive food behaviors while working towards or maintaining a healthy body weight. Spiritual, emotional, and physical recovery is the result of working and living the Overeaters Anonymous Twelve Step program on a daily basis.”
Anonymity: Because of Anonymity, it is safe to share at meetings. This means we honor each other’s privacy by never discussing who we have seen or what has been discussed at a meeting with anyone outside of that meeting.
Big Book: The Big Book refers to Alcoholics Anonymous which also is used in Overeaters Anonymous. It is our basic piece of literature and is used to help us recover from compulsive eating and to stay in recovery.
ESH: This acronym stands for “Experience, Strength & Hope”
Cross Talk: “Feedback, cross talk and advice-giving are discouraged during all Overeaters Anonymous meetings and events. Cross talk during an OA meeting is giving advice to others who have already shared, speaking directly to another person rather than to the group and questioning or interrupting the person speaking/sharing at the time.” (From the OA website at “Suggested Meeting Formats”)
Group Conscience: Group conscience is based on Tradition 2. When a group wishes to determine how best to conduct meetings, spend funds, organize special events, and deal with issues that affect the group or OA as a whole, business meetings are conducted by group conscience. Group conscience is the special way (unique to 12-Step fellowships) in which the individuals in the meetings come to agree on a decision that is best for the whole group.
HOW meeting: This is a type of OA meeting designed for those who would like to have a more structured program to follow regarding such things as Food Plan, use of the Tools, etc.
Newcomer: A person new to OA and/or the 12- Step Program is considered a newcomer. There is no time limit on when someone may be considered a newcomer.
OAers: Those attending and participating in Overeaters Anonymous often are called OAers, members or fellows.
Outreach Calls: These are calls to other OAers between meetings just to check in, to get support, or to discuss aspects of the program. It is suggested that more intense issues be discussed with one’s sponsor.
Sponsee/Sponsoree: A sponsee or sponsoree is a person who is being sponsored/helped through the program. Each person is encouraged to be a sponsoree and to find a sponsor who has what he or she wants.
Twelve and Twelve: OA uses two “Twelve and Twelve” books—The Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Overeaters Anonymous and Twelve Steps and Twelve Traditions of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Twelve Steps: The OA program of recovery for individuals is based on the 12 Steps which are defined and explained in the Big Book and the “Twelve and Twelve” books.
Twelve Traditions: The 12 Traditions are a means by which groups remain unified in a common cause and community. They ensure smooth functioning, survival, and growth of the meetings.
Virtual Region: OA has ten physical regions worldwide and one virtual region that encapsulates all of the virtual intergroups.
Young Person: a person who entered recovery or is in recovery under the age of 30.
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