Hey loves!

I'm sad to report that while I was away (we all know when we disappear we're up to know good) I gained 40 pounds! Its like since my body had been this big before... it just went RIGHT back to being big. I know I ate poorly thats no lie but I wasn't going crazy! I binge ate once or twice MAYBE. I know now that I simply can't eat like everyone else. I decided to wonder back to you all... and my my my are there new faces! Let me introduce myself to people I do not know...I'm Stacy and I'm a food addict lol DUH why else would I be here. I weighed in today at 330. Been on plan all day which is good for me! I have been scared lately b/c I'm having heart palpitations and sometimes I just feel like I'm about to just clock out. I'm only 5'3 and my mom is so small framed so I can only imagine how hard this is on my body! I look just like my mama but I'm ya know 200 pounds more than her! I wake up in the morning and it hurts to walk just from being on my feet. I know this is killing me... I know it is. Its time to turn this around! BTW I still don't have internet but I do have it on my phone. OH won't work on mobile internet which sucks but if yall wanna keep in touch I'm on myspace alot via phone or you can email me. I will check my OH as often as I can but that is only at my moms.
Myspace is- www.myspace.com/bleachedblonde
Email is- [email protected]
Keep in touch you guys.... I need yall in my moments!!

Stac

I know just how you feel!  At one time (2001) I weighed around 306 pounds, and I'm only 5 foot, 1/2 inches tall.  I remember how I felt, too.  I had no endurance for walking at all, and could only walk for short distances without feeling worn out.

When my husband and I went on vacation, I had to ride most of the way, even though there were some very nice sights if I could've walked through them. 

I weighed in the upper 290s for a long time, went down to around 284, then went on LA Weight Loss and lost 52 pounds, before I started bingeing five days a week at work (I'm a home health aide).  I gained most of it back, and more - and was around 297 for quite a while.  I tried different things like Weigh****chers, Bally Fitness and their exercise & diet, etc.  It wasn't until I rejoined Overeaters Anonymous that I started getting my eating under control and started losing again.  I weigh around 262.5 now, maybe less, since I only weigh myself once a month, otherwise, I get obsessed with how much I weigh and the scale.

I've been on 20-25 fast weight loss diets in my adult life time, and just cannot "diet" anymore.  I am losing anywhere from 1 to 5 pounds a month, but I'm eating three moderate meals a day, with nothing in between, and praying everyday to my Higher Power to not only recover from compulsive overeating, but to maintain abstinence, which is defined in OA as refraining from compulsive overeating.  I have a food plan, but it's not as rigid or restrictive as the diets I've been on in the past.  I allow myself three dessert treats a week - two sugar-free, low fat ice cream treats (usually Slim A Bears and ice cream in a cup), and a small box of regular candy once a week (usually chocolate).

If I try to completely give up chocolate or sweets altogether, I tend to end up bingeing because of strong feelings of deprivation.  So I eat them in moderation, and not every night.

My suggestion is to attend OA meetings, or Eating Disorder Anonymous meetings (a newer 12-step group) to get in touch with why you eat, and to get it under control.  If you can afford it, I'd also suggest looking up a good eating disorders therapist, who may help you get to the root of your food addiction.  There are also Food Addicts Anonymous groups, if you feel your food addiction is because of certain foods that create uncontrollable cravings in you.

Good luck to you!

Denise Phares/kitties4

Stacy,  what a beautiful girl you are!   There are so many ways you can approach your eating problem.  If you have access to health care through insurance please try to see a counselor to talk this stuff through.  Sometimes, it's not enough to just lose weight, which is treating the symptoms not the addiction.  You need to get to the bottom of why you're eating and work on that.   Your biggest advantage is your age - you probably haven't done too much damage to yourself yet - just stop gaining any more weight and try to stay focused on a near term goal which is achievable. 

Donna

Oh Stacy....it's good to hear from you again!!  I will definitely email you.  Glad to hear you're climbing back on that wagon...sometimes it takes a good scare.  Your baby boy needs you healthy, Mamma.

Hi Stacyann,

Glad to have you back!  You are among friends.  I been in and out and lurking about more times than I can count!  I am a recovering food addict as well!  I used to have heart palpitations too.  Those can be scary.  Hang in there.  Just get back on the wagon and start moving forward.  We are in this boat together!

 welcome back Stac!
stick around we need your pretty face round here! 

Welcome back. I think most of us share the same story as yours. Don't feel bad, just concentrate on making healthy choices in food.

Skylar

yes, do keep popping back in here! Stace, just keep trying to as well as you can every day.  Try not to think of the rest of your life - that gets overwhelming. 

I know it helps me to survey the day ahead of me and ask myself:  how can I move today, even for 20 minutes? How can i make sure the highest quality food will be with me when i get hungry?

When we know what the next few days may bring, we can then expand the plan, but just a daily plan is very helpful and can be a comfort.  For me, my plan does become automatic when I am confronted with poor food choices.

luvs ya and see you more, I hope!

Hi Stacy!! 
I'm gonna e-mail ya, but just in case you are able to check this...Its good to hear from you again!!  
:-)