i am in deep mourning

It has finally come to me after all of the wonderful responses I received from my last post. I am in deep mourning. I have loss my best friend. FOOD. It never dawned on me before that I abused food the way I did. I never realized how much I depended on food until now. I find that as soon as I am stressed good or bad I am ready to reach for something to shove in my mouth. So I had to find something else. It is still hard no matter how much I try and divert my attention to something else,but at least it is a start. I bought the Gazelle Elite by Tony Little and now when I am stressed good or bad I HOP on Tony and ride into the sunset. I just wanted to say thank you all so much for your kind words and heartfelt emails. I know this is just the begining for me and that things will get better. I am slowly but surely learning the meaning "Patience is a Virtue". Adrienne

i am so happy for you. so many of us never realized that we can mourn our friend food. i'm also very proud of you. it takes alot of guts to admit what is really bothering us deep down in the pit of our soul. i hope you update often because i know you are going to do great. i have a stationary bike that i love, but i did try the gazella and i really liked that too...plus it's alot of fun. i also hope you realized after having a really hard time that you are a much stronger woman than you thought. your friend fran

Hi Adrienne, Ya know, I went through the exact same mourning process with my cigarettes! I felt like I lost my best friend. Some friend huh....c'mere and smoke me baby and I'll kill ya! lol It was a strong feeling which over time finally passed. Every now and then I will get those I miss you thoughts but they don't last. I'm glad you brought this up because I'm trying to prepare myself for when it happens with food. ( lol notice I say when not if ) I think that's so cool you are using the Gazelle to help manage that! I want one of those. Right now I have a recumbant bike but am hoping to get the gazelle in the future. Take care, Linda

Awww, man! You guys are KILLING me with emotions this morning! Or maybe it's just my weepy time?? I am SO proud of each and every one of us!!! It takes great strength to do what we have done and continue to do! It's a life-long journey and I'm so proud to be on it with all of you. YES, I mourn food, too! All my comfort food! But that's what got me here in the first place. For instance, I thought I was 'strong' enough to bake Christmas cookies for the kids the other day...WRONG! I didn't take any, but there is an inordinate amount of warm, chewy, oatmeal-raisin cookies left that apparently nobody likes. You know why??? 'Cause, uh, those were MY favorite!!! And now they're just sitting there...will have to give them away rather than look at them all day. I am trying desperately to find the healthy varieties instead. I know I can still have that same warm, chewy oatmeal cookie...made with Splenda and w/o the raisins. Just have to remember that...and have the ingredients on hand for those special times. Have a great day everybody!!! And thank-you for being my sisters! You're the greatest!!!! (((hugs))) -Karen

This is one of the things that I fear the most. How will I deal with the mourning of my friend, food. I think this feeling must be normal for a lot of us. Keep us posted, your experiences can help me along the way. You will see just how strong you are when you overcome this feeling and I am sure you will (I read your profile).

Adrienne, Your heading in the right direction. Keep up the good work!

Thanks for the support Debbie. Adrienne

Adrienne, Thanks so much for sharing your journey! I have a couple of months to go till surgery..and have now began realizing the same thing...I need to find alternatives to going to food. My hope is that I can start before the surgery. I was talking to CJ and we discussed maybe taking on new projects like knitting..painting etc. Something that is relaxing and in its own "healthy way" a good alternative. If you know how to knit...we want to learn! Take care of yourself, and congrats on your recent surgery and success! Hugs, Kimberly