In this post, I want to unpack what abstinence truly means in Overeaters Anonymous—and why understanding the difference between a food plan and the daily practice of spiritual recovery matters. Abstinence isn’t just about what we avoid; it’s about how we live, how we connect, and how we heal.
Overeaters Anonymous defines Abstinence as:
“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 living and working the Overeaters Anonymous Twelve Step program on a daily basis.”
(Read more at OA.org)
In simple terms, abstaining means stopping food abuse in all its forms.
Clarifying the Language of Recovery
Within our fellowship, there’s a common habit of saying “my abstinence” when what’s really being described is a personal food plan. I choose not to use that phrase, and I encourage the people I sponsor to do the same. Why? Because language shapes connection. When I label myself as different, I separate myself—and that makes it harder to connect with others. “My abstinence” feels different from “your abstinence.” Unity begins when we speak a common language rooted in shared recovery.
The Role of a Food Plan
A food plan is a practical tool that supports abstinence—but it’s not abstinence itself. It’s personal, because our problem foods and behaviors aren’t all the same. For instance, I often describe myself as a “volume addict.” While two cups of salad satisfy me at home, a restaurant might serve five cups—and I’ll eat it all, not out of hunger, but because I enjoy feeling overly full.
That’s why my food plan includes measuring portions, even when I’m not eating trigger foods. Left unchecked, I can compulsively overeat anything. For a binge eater or someone with restrictive tendencies, a very different food plan would be appropriate—because food and behavior triggers are not one-size-fits-all.
Understanding Step One
Step One says we are powerless over food. I’ve written in previous posts about what that really means: we were powerless to refrain from compulsive eating and food behaviors. We couldn’t stop misusing food, no matter how much we wanted to.
The good news is what the program promises:
“Spiritual, emotional, and physical recovery is the result of living and working the Overeaters Anonymous Twelve Step program on a daily basis.”
(OA.org)
And that recovery is available to all of us, when we walk the path together.
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