The First Twelve Days in OA

Want to Learn More?

If you’re new to OA, you likely have lots of questions – questions like, “Can OA help me? Do I belong here? What do I have to do? What is OA, anyway?”

The First Twelve Days in OA offers a personal, short-term introduction that’s designed to help you take an honest look at your eating (or restricting or over-exercising, or purging), and at your behaviors and habits around food. You’ll learn about OA. By the end of the process, you’ll have a good sense as to whether OA might be able to help you stop hurting yourself with food.

How Does The First Twelve Days in OA Work?

Together, you and a more experienced OA member will go through a series of twelve assignments involving readings from the Where Do I Start? pamphlet. Some assignments ask for written responses to specific questions. You’ll meet together twelve times (phone, Zoom, in-person) to discuss the readings and any questions that were asked in the assignments.

The First Twelve Days in OA process is designed for use by two people together. It is not intended to be done in isolation, for isolation is part of the problem! You may experience a tremendous sense of relief through this connection with another compulsive eater, with someone who really understands! You may come to understand that you are no longer alone.

What’s Next?

If you’re one of us – a person who has a problem with compulsive eating – there is a solution.

We discovered that we can recover by following OA’s Twelve Steps and by reaching out to help others with the same problem. We promise that if you work the Twelve Steps to the best of your ability, regularly attend meetings, and use OA’s Tools, your life will change. You will experience what we have: the miracle of recovery from compulsive eating. (Where Do I Start?, pg 3)

You’ve already made a connection with a more experienced member in working through The First Twelve Days in OA process together. Perhaps that person is willing to sponsor you, or to introduce you to some potential sponsors. Come along with us – and welcome home!

You can download “Where Do I Start? Everything a Newcomer Needs to Know” for free here.