The Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-03-18, Page 21By Shelley McPhee
She woke up with a headache and had a
tough day at work. She seemed to find
some comfort and 'satisfaction when she
opened the refrigerator door and started
devoring a Swiss chocolate cake.
When it was, over, when the whole large
cake was reduced to only a few crumbs,
the eating binge did not help. It only left
her with feelings of frustration and guilt.
As a last desperate attempt she, went to the
bathroom and forced herself to throw up
the cake she had just consumed.
Compulsive overeating is a sure warning
signal that a far bigger physical or
psychological problem exists and the
organization Overeaters Anonymous (OA)
is attempting to help people overcome
such difficulties.
The American -based group has recently
been introduced to Huron County and
already some nine people are seeking help
in an attempt to control the weakness.
OA meets every Thursday evening at the
Vanastra Recreation Centre and ac-
cording to Judy, one of the organizers, the
no
group follows a similar structure as
Alcoholics Anonymous.
People who come to meetings on a
volunatry basis are given support, per-
sonal hope, power and strength in their
stuggle with the disease. Like Alcoholics
Anonymous, OA stresses that abstinence
from the danger foods is necessary to
combat compulsive overeating.
Certain foods seem to trigger the eating
binges in each individual and OA attempts
to identify these foods, and establish .when
the desire to over -indulge arises. Like the
diabetic who cannot tolerate certain foods,
and like the alcoholic who can never taste
liquor again, the compulsive overeater
must learn to control the obsession.
According to OA, compulsive overeaters
not only use food for nourishment but they
use it as a tonic and pacifier for every
emotional discomfort. However OA claims
that eating binges do not solve the
problems only momentarily dulls the pain.
"Food becomes unmanageable and life
becomes a problem," Judy explained.
That's were OA comes in and Judy
noted, "That's were we can help each
other. We have the same type of problem."
Whether you're 10 pounds or 100 pounds
overweight, you can still belong to OA.The
need for help arises not necessarily when
the person is overweight, but when it is
realized that food is ruling the individual's
life and eating is being used in a futile
attempt to satisfy some emotionathunger.
When, for iristance, you sit at home and
eat a bag of cookies to fight off boredom,
loneliness, depression, or to forget an
emotional hurt, you're abusing food and
using it as a crutch to momentarily nuture
the spirit.
The emotional desire for food can be a
lifetime problem and some claim that it
begins in our earliest days of existence.
Our ' first comfort in life comes from
mother's warm milk and throughout our
childhood we are continually satisfied with .
cookies and food when we scream or cry.
In adulthood, some people are able to
control the desire to eat when stress or
anxiety rack the emotions, but in others
that subconscious need to eat when
distressed prevails and it is used, just as
mother did, to combat emotional
upheave',
OA literature reads, "What we must do
is learn to stop turning to food as a solution
to all our problems. This essentially is an,
immature, childish reaction, like a child
running to Mommy for a cookie or candy to
comfort the pain of a skinned knee."
Compulsive eating is not the remedy to
physical or psychological problems. Like
an Aspirin temporarily dulls a headache,
eating eases the pain, but only for awhile.
OA stresses positive thinking and -spiritual
strength as a possible -cure to help over-
come the obsession with food.
No snacking
Unlike diet elu-bs, OA does not have
weekly weigh -ins or rigid menus to follow.
While they. have determined that foods
with high carbohydrates and 'sugar should
be avoided, OA simply stresses abstinence
from eating too much food,..particularly
the
oderkh
4
s hand
between meals.
Rather than prescribing diet pills or
setting up specific eating plans, OA looks
deeper into the individual's emotional and
physical being in an attempt to find out
what causes the obsession with food and
then in turn try they to prevent it.
"It could take weeks or it could take
years to control," Judy explained watt •
noted, "If you quit going to meetings you'll
probably put the weight back on."
Popular group -
OA is a, n on -p ro fit , volunteer
organization that began in California in
January, 1960. Since then the group has
spread across the country and into
Canada. It has been operating in -Toronto,
Windsor, London and Lucan for the past
few years and Judy hopes that OA will be
well received in Huron County.
Like many members, Judy admits that
she initially was embarrassed about the
group. "I don't want everyone to know is a
common fear," she said.
fif
People usually laugh when they first
hear about OA, she noted, but often this is
used as a defense system, and in fact most
people eat more than they need to. .4.
"You find in societies were money la
prevelant people tend to overeat.
Everywhere you go /here's food a vilable;"
Judy stressed.
Despite -North Artierieatbiaiiith
food, the OA fellowship of men and women
has been successfully in other areas of
Canada and the United States and
organizers hear hope that 40 or 50 people
will join the local group:
Meetings are held each Thursday
evening at 8 pm in the Vanastra
Recreation Centre. There is no mem-
bership of fees involved, only voluntary
donations are collected- to meet costs:At
meetings, discussions take place and guest
speakers are heard. Any further in-
formation on the program can be obtained
by calling Judy at 482-7607 or Sharon at
482-9077.
NAL
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 1981
•
ring fashions
Emma Scott was one of two little girls who modelled in a spring fashion show sponsored by,
the Women of Knox last Thursday. Here she shows off a pinafore -styled dress for the
audience. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan)
1111111001111
SECOND SECTION .
BY JOANNE BUCHANAN
The Women of Knox sponsored the first
fashion, show and luncheon of the spring
season last Thursday in the church hall.
Women; teens- and children from the
.community. modelled clothes sewn on
Pfaff sewing machines. The audiences
were • large for both the afternoon and
evening shows. Those present learned
what most of them already knew: that it is
much cheaper to sew one -'s- own clothes
than to buy them already made.
It was also learned that pastel colors—
especially pinks, yellows and blues—will be
•
big again this spring. The newest colors
though are camouflage shades such as
khaki.
Tailored. suits and quilted jackets are
. again very popular.
Flowing peignoir -styled gowns seem to
be the preferred nightwear.
Pant suits with elasticized waists and
belts as well as sun dresses willphe worn
often this spring and summer. Pants this
year -are straight legged and often tapered
at the ankles.
Evening dresses are daring. Doug Daer,
who styled the models'. hair for the show,
used sprigs of baby's breath in a swept -up
look for evening hair -dos.. .
The perfect accessory appears to be a
bright scarf which can be tied in a variety
of ways either at the neck or around the
waist. Beach bags which convert into
beach blankets make innovative beach
accessories.
Many of the outfits modelled in last
Thursday's,show featured fancy em-
broidery desgns which were created right
on the sewing machine.
Money raised at the fashion show will be
used for church work.
!fair stylist Doug Daer touches up Marie Matthies' hair befOre she models one of the spring
outfits she has sewn for. herself on a Pfaff sewing machine duringa fashion show sponsored
by the Women of Knox last Thursday. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan)
• . •
Cathy Hamilton shows a wet..loak tent -styled spring rath coat and models in the spring fashion show sponsored by the Women of Knox. Peggy Rivers models a pretty spring dress with matching quilted Knox. Those attending the show learned that clothes are cheaper
then reveals' BMW's Underneath' tas she (Photo by Tontine Bnchantan) fiteket during a fashion show hilt Rist Thursday by -llit- wourette: -srewermeittihururbayfisdpiordmothotzutyluaraw4kzetrafam--- -