Thur» Moy 31. 1979 (Sec 3) SANDY (Ore ) POST
3
It’s not how you play but whether you lose
by K AYE HAKTON HAKKK
"Welcome to the Boring meeting of
Overeater's Anonymous My name is
Jean, and I am a compulsive overeater
91
Jean is a fictitious name, but the
statement above is one which opens
every local chapter meeting of the
national weight loss group known as
Overeaters Anonymous. It also sum
marizes the philosophy upon which the
organization operates
Overeaters Anonymous is one of the
leading weight loss groups in this
country, along with Weight Watchers
and Tt )PS < Take Off Pounds Sensibly).
The three groups function along
similar
lines, offering emotional
support to overweight persons and
Incentive for them to control their
obesity.
None of the three operates as a club
they view themselves rather as self-
lielp organizations But in two of the
groups dues are charged regularly, and
one elects officers and holds con*
ventions just as any civic organization
does
FIRST NAMESONLY
Overeaters Anonymous is based on
the
philosophy
of
Alcoholics
Anonymous, and uses the AA format for
Its meetings
Mem bers identify
themselves by first name only, and
freely admit their "addiction" to food
during group discussions
OA also teaches participants to rely
upon the "higher power” which is so
much a part of AA therapy But local
adherents emphasize that OA does not
promote religion
” OA philosophy says we can gain
control of our eating habits only when
we turn ourselves over to God, and rely
on the Higher Power as we see it,”
explained Marilyn, a member of the
newly formed Estacada OA group.
"Nobody tells us we have to humbly
ask (i<xl for help
it isn't that kind of
concept,” she said "OA isn't for
everybody, but it helps those who
realize they can’t control their ob
session for food on their own strength
ALMOST K FIJG IO l'K E X P E R IE N C E
In spite of her disclaimer, Marilyn
described an almost-religious ex
perience she has gained in the few
months she has participated in the OA
program.
"A t last Tuesday's meeting. I spoke
up and stated my opinion," she said " I
have always gone to church I don't
know if I u ent out nt habit or cuMtom. or
Pat Goodwin
what my reason was
"But there's always been something I
haven't found in church,” she con
tinued "And I realized last week that
I've gotten more insight into God and
how He helps us at OA than I ever got at
church I Just tingled when I realized
how much I've learned about God ”
Each of the three groups has mem
hers who have "shopped around” and
belonged
to
other
weight loss
organizations Marilyn said she at
tended both Weight Watchers and
TOPS meetings in the past
" I lost weight with both groups." she
said But she expects OA to have
longer-term effects on her life and
eating habits. She found the fees
charged by the other groups a
drawback, she said.
EEE SERVES PURPOSE
But Pat Goodwin of Weight Watchers
says the weekly fee of approximately $4
serves a sound psychological purpose
for the dieter in addition to sigiporting
Weight Watchers, International.
"Some people ask, Why should I pay
money when I can lose weight on my
own?” Goodwin commented "But
many of them find that when they're
committed to attend every week, it
provides incentive That membership
fee is an investment which gives them
resolve."
She explained the organizations
policy which allows members to attend
as many sessions per week as they like
for paying the single weekly fee Most
attend only once, but if they feel a need
for the group's support they do not pay
for additional sessions
Goodwin said Weight Watchers class
sessions are "very much on a first
name basis
we don't call out a per
son's last name and announce to the
group he or she is there, ”
Another statistic which is carefully
guarded in WW is the weight figure
itself, Goodwin said The weighing
sessions are private, and any group
comments
m ight
run,
"Con
gratulations, Mary, I see you’ve lost m
pounds ” The lecturer would never say,
"M ary is down from 187 to 185*4,”
Goodwin emphasized
She has been a lecturer for Weight
Watchers for five years, the last two in
the Gresham area She teaches six
classes per week on an average,
presenting a topic to each groi<> which
is relevant to the weight loss ex
perience
W EIG H IN FIRST
TOPS meetings also begin with a
weigh in, according to Ginny Rada and
Shirley Reed, leaders of Sandy groups.
The group's goal is to adjust members
eating habits to their lifestyle, Rada
said
"TOPS doesn’t tell you what to eat or
when to eat.” she explained. "New
members must go to their doctors and
get a weight goal and a sensible diet to
follow The group doesn’t try to do that
for them ”
What the group does try to provide is
encouragement and support, Reed said
"It's so important to have others who
understand the frustrations of being
overweight," she said "Sometimes
someone in the group will express a
thought just the way I ’ve experienced
Shirley Reed
tablespoon of fat per day and recom
mends that five fish servings per week
be eaten.
Goodwin
said
the
stringent
requirem ents
discourage
some
potential members - "those who aren't
interested in exercising self denial ”
She recalled one couple who heard of
the prohibition against alcholic
beverages on the WW program.
One of them said,"No booze9 I^et’s
get the hell out of here!” she said The
other one answered, "No, we’ve signed
up. we re going to stay.”
Overeaters Anonymous provides a
diet similar to the WW version with
members choosing from lists of the
basic food groups OA meetings are
likely to be built around the "twelve
steps” which originated with Alcoholics
Anonymous
FOLLOWING THE STEPS
The twelve steps treat food addiction
and alcohol abuse as similar problems
Members often study the steps one by
one. and talk about a progression from
one to another.
it."
One of the strongest motivating
factors Reed cited was "being ap
plauded when you lose " Rada said she
hasn’t had a gain in weight since she
became group leader. " I don’t want to
let my group down,” she explained
EM PATH Y ESSENTIAL
Goodwin of Weight Watchers also
mentioned the importance of empathy
to the success of her program. "A ll WW
staff members must have been through
the class, and knov the joys and
tragedies of the problem,” she said. " If
they’ve never been fat persons, it’s
hard for them to have compassion
That ’s what the members need "
Unlike TOPS Weight Watchers does
provide a diet for its members one
which Goodwin term ed " fa irly
structured ” A food chart is given
members, listing allowable food and
strictly measured quantities
For
example, the diet allows only one
aerial stoops and was now
having trouble becoming air
borne again.
This went on for what
seemed a long time but was
probably only moments I
was Just beginning to con-
OREGON
By Ken
D urbin
Fish ft Wildlife
sider paddling over for a
rescue attempt when the bird
finally broke free from the
water and began a laborious
ascent.
In its talons was a fish
which must have been very
close to that particular bird’s
total load capacity. The bird
began a series of broad, flat
circles, each one lifting it
only a few feet in elevation.
Occasionally the still-living
fish would flip and several
times it seemed the captor
would lose control
Finally, the circling flight
reached air currents above
the shelter of the surroun
ding trees and hills and the
bird lined out for the south, I
presumed heading for a rest
or perch
Enter the eagle It was a
mature bald eagle and its
white head and tail gleamed
in the alpine sun It came
boring in from the north on a
direct interception path with
the osprey, s till visibly
laboring under its heavy
load
The osprey, I suspect, had
been through this routine
before because it
un
ceremoniously dropped its
prey and launched into a
series of evasive maneuvers
It needn’t have. The eagle
was only interested in fish,
and in a spectacular dive
caught this one before it hit
the water. Then it headed
back in the direction from
which it had come com
pleting what may have been
a daily heist.
Hunting has its fine
moments, too. I have a thing
about swans and dearly love
to watch them I also like
them because they’ll talk to
me, a trait I learned from
Del Sanford, when the ducks
and geese may be giving the
cold shoulder.
Del and I stood in the rain
amongst the com rows at
Sauvie Island one day last
fall. We were waiting, with
mixed success, for passing
ducks to come to a huge raft
of decoys we had set out. As I
rem em ber,
the wigeon
favored
us
with
fa ir
regularity but the pintails
and mallards stayed away in
droves We shot birds, but I
don’t remember how many.
This swan came winging
past on a path well to one side
of our blind Del gave it a
"Wos" and it "wowed” back.
It also altered course and
came swinging toward our
decoys In addition to the
duck decoys we had some
goose shells set out. The
white snow goose shells could
conceivably be taken for
swans at a distance and it
looked for a moment like our
visitor might drop right in.
What I do remember is the
swan that came to visit.
Swans like to talk In flight,
it seems they're talking all
the tim e in a strange
assortm ent
of
whoops,
scrapes and whistles And
they’ll talk to you if you can
produce even a rough
imitation of their call.
As long as Del and I con
tinued to call the swan talked
back and continued to circle.
I don't remember now what
finally brought the episode to
an end. but it was probably a
flock of ducks
Hunting and fishing are
like that, full of these little
incidents.
It didn’t. But it circled,
losing elevation with each
pass, its beautiful long neck
craning this way the that,
surveying the situation and
looking, no doubt, for its
strange-sounding
brethren
down there in the com.
A
Mt.
Hood
intramurai
dincti.t
Bill Wilde will
coordinate the program
Hood basketball coach
Herb Booth will head a pair
of basketball camps to be run
concurrently June 11-15,
The morning session of the
camps will be devoted to
girls aged 11-16 with boys in
the same age group taking
the floor in the afternoon
The camps will feature
instruction in both individual
skills and team play
Abo during the week of
June 11-15, the college will
host camps in tennis and
baseball
Running daily from 9 a m.
to noon, the tennis camp is
designed for boys and girls
aged 11-16 It is under the
direction of Bob Fowler,
head men's tennis coach at
Martin named all-star
Sandy High senior shortstop Mike
Martin has been named to the first
team of the All-Valley division squad as
an infielder
Martin was a unanimous choice for
the honor. He hit 400 in league play,
collecting 18 hits in 45 at bats. Martin
also scored 13 runs in the 14 games and
stole 12 bases in 13 attempts His 18 hits
included a home run
Beginning
and
in
termediate soccer players
aged 8-16 may attend the
MHCC soccer camp headed
by Werner Quies, head coach
at Pacific University. The
camp will run Aug 15-17
from 9 a m to noon
Rick Martin and Royal Proctor were
named to the honorable mention team
The junior Martin was also named as
an infielder after compiling an ex
cellent *978 fielding average He hit .244
and stole four bases in five attempts
Proctor received his honors as cat
cher. The Sandy senior hit only .224 but
clubbed three home runs, including a
grand slam.
Pool to close
The Sandy Swimming Pool
will be closed from 1-4 p.m.
June 2 for an AAU meet
hosted by the Blue Marlins
NOW IN SANDY, OREGON
Buckboard
Their Latest “IF I LOVED
YOU TONIGHT' played on
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Deserves a
CITATION
KRDR
- Chevy
Citation
DANCE CONTEST EVERY WED. N IG H T
State Farm
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is there_______
For help with all your
family insurance needs
See Ron Norquist
38720 Proctor. Pioneer Square
Sondy 668 4327
MHCC
Dale
Stebbins,
the
college's
head
baseball
coach, will direct the camp in
that sport
The baseball
camp is designed for boys
aged 8-12 and will run from 9
a m to noon
weight again.”
Some of the women, former members
of Weight Watchers, said that WW was
very "food-oriented” and they found it
had a negative effect on their weight
loss attempts
NEW EATING PATTERNS
"But we re a food-onented culture,”
Goodwin pointed out She said WW
members have to learn new eating
patterns, which differ from the habits
of a lifetime
"Essentially, most of what we all do
boils back down to food,” she said. "But
I wouldn't say Weight Watchers is
centered around food Many of the
lectures bring out different aspects of
the person, such as how to deal with
emotions and how to manage blues,
boredom and tension.”
Essentially the choice of a weight loss
group appears to rest on personal style.
Marilyn of Estacada’s OA said she
especially appreciated the group’s
sharing time. " I was a person who
never shared my feelings, and I ’m
learning how important it is to do so.”
But Shirley Reed objected to the
groups intimate atmosphere " I at
tended two meetings,” she said. "And I
didn’t like it. They didn’t weigh you in,
and the discussion got very personal
and very emotional I didn’t care for
that.”
N O T E : M a rily n of E s ta c a d a ’s
O v e re a te r’s Anonymous may be
reached at 630-835«. For information on
forming a new chapter of OA. call
Michelle at 637-3851.
Representatives of Sandy’s morning
and evening TOPS clubs can be con
tacted at 668-7348 and 668-458».
In Valley Division
Sports camps set
A number of sports camps
and
summer
recreation
programs
have
been
scheduled b y ‘ Mt. Hood
Community
College’s
Athletic Department.
The college will offer a
community
recreation
program for boys and girls
aged 8-14. Participants will
learn the fundamentals of
such sports as archery,
badminton,
racquetball,
volleyball, track, basketball,
soccer,
tumbling
and
swimming
The program will be
divided into three sessions
The first runs June 18 28, the
second July 8-19 and the third
July30-Aug 9
Ginny Rada
apparent reason? • Is your weight affecting the way you Mwe your life?
Sometimes it's just the little things ,
Sometimes it’s the little
things that leave the deepest
m ark on your m em ory.
Nowhere is this more true
than in hunbng and fishing,
and many of these moments
have little to do with the
particular sport involved
It is no secret to those who
know me that there is a
certain central Oregon lake
where I would rather be
during the early months of
summer than any place in
the world The fishing can be
spectacularly good at times,
but one of my moat vivid re
collections has nothing to do
with the fishing . . not with
my fishing at least
I had been casting flies and
maybe catching fish, maybe
not — I don’t remember
What I do remember is
hearing a splash and looking
around to see a great
thrashing on the water a
hundred yards away.
After watching awhile it
dawned on me I was seeing
an osprey that had com
pleted one of its spectacular
The steps for members include acL
mitting they are powerless over food
and that their lives had become un
manageable, believing that a Power
greater than themselves could restore
them to sanity, making a decision to
turn their will and their lives over to the
care of God as they understand Him
and making a searching and fearless
moral inventory of themselves.
Step four, the self inventory, is the
one which gives many OA members
pause, Marilyn said "Although you
can’t be in OA very long before you
start taking inventory of yourself," she
pointed out
Like many OA members, she had
been intimidated at the thought of a
written tally of her strengths and
weakness. But she recently read, for
the first time, a journal she had been
keeping since before she joined OA
" I was amazed at the change that has
taken place in my life,” she said. " I ’m a
different person. Before, I never
smiled, even though I didn't know what
I was unhappy about.”
GRADUALCHANGE
both Weight Watchers and TOPS are
goal-oriented, with members setting a
weight objective and charting their
progress toward it. Successful mem
bers of TOPS are called KOPS (for
Keep Off Pounds Sensibly). Goodwin
pointed out that there are lifetime
members of Weight Watchers who are
using the weekly meetings to aid their
weight maintenance program.
Each woman referred to an earlier
unsatisfactory experience with a dif
ferent weight loss group, and each
expressed firm
loyalty to the
organization she currently belongs to.
"The other groups I belonged to were
such a drastic change from my normal
lifestyle,” said Ginny Rada of TOPS. " I
knew I couldn't stay with the programs
for the long term, and I ’d get
discouraged and quit. Then I ’d gain
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