Bunee,

Why not contact the Overeater Anonymous about starting a group here instead of starting fresh. This would give you more resources and creditability when starting. Not to mention they could possibly help you get all your ducks in a row for legally and financially.

Hey Bunee, I would def be interested in a support group. My problem is weird. Every diet or eating program I try I am successful at. When the weight comes back however, that's when they don't work. I don't know if it's cuz I'm bored with it and want something new but I can't seem to get back on track with the the ones I've tried and worked. Hmmmm, I think I know what a shrink might say about that...

Email me Bun, I have some neighbors who are also determined to get into healthy habits this year. We could start out with a small group.

I think starting a group is a fantastic idea... go for it.  

btw I have 3 friends who have had the gastric bypass surgery, all 3 said the surgery went well, with little complications and all 3 are VERY happy with the results.  However, I'm like you, I would think that to be a last resort.  I have always been skinny, although I do see the pain my friends go through.  A support group would definitely help.  I think the 12 steps is a building block for all life's disorders.  In fact I made a webpage because I believe this so much. http://wud1.com/steps/Steps...

(looking around for Jewels...whew coast is clear)..  lol

Whatever you do, I hope to see you find and/or create a support group soon. Nothing beats talking to people who are like you in order to gather strength and knowledge.

THE TWELVE STEPS

1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol - that our lives had become unmanageable.

2. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.

4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.

5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.

8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.

9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

11. Sought though prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.

12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

THE TWELVE TRADITIONS

1. Our common welfare should come first; personal recovery depends upon A.A. unity.

2. For our group purpose there is but one ultimate authority - a loving God as He may express Himself in our group conscience. Our leaders are but trusted servants; they do not govern.

3. The only requirement for A.A. membership is a desire to stop drinking.

4. Each group should be autonomous except in matters affecting other groups or A.A. as a whole.

5. Each group has but one primary purpose - to carry its message to the alcoholic who still suffers.

6. An A.A. group ought never endorse, finance or lend the A.A. name to any related facility or outside enterprise, lest problems of money, property and prestige divert us from our primary purpose.

7. Every A.A. group ought to be fully self-supporting, declining outside contributions.

8. Alcoholics Anonymous should remain forever non-professional, but our service centers may employ special workers.

9. A.A., as such, ought never be organized; but we may create service boards or committees directly responsible to those they serve.

10. Alcoholics Anonymous has no opinion on outside issues; hence the A.A. name ought never be drawn into public controversy.

11. Our public relations policy is based on attraction rather than promotion; we need always maintain personal anonymity at the level of press, radio and films.

12. Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions, ever reminding us to place principles before personalities.

Sparks your steps on your web site are not AA steps . Also the use of AA logo on your web site is wrong. Your steps are not AA, What you did by creating your own steps is what we in the program calls working your own program. Bunne just a thought if you do start your own 12 step program wouldn't you want to use the 12 steps that millions of Addicted people use everyday.

bunne the best of luck to you. I am a member of a 12 step group so if you do have any questions feel free to ask.

bunne on more thing about AA ,NA,CA,OA Is that their not a religious organization and they have no ties to any church. The great thing about AA is its not a religious program. There is no preaching and no lectures to be endured. The God that the steps talk about is a god of your understanding. Believe me no one is pushing god down anyone throat. Its more of a personal spiritual program. I urge you to attend some meetings to see for yourself.