On my visit to my first meeting, my weight was 330 pounds and I was desperate to lose weight primarily because of the physical effects that obesity was having on my body and the mental anguish I was experiencing being overweight. At 55 years of age, my body was no longer able to cope with or buffer the long-term effects of daily binging and food abuse. These included dangerous hypertension—my blood pressure was 240 over 120, sleep apnoea, arthralgia, pre-diabetes, incipient heart failure, and renal failure secondary to the hypertension. These diagnoses manifest as swollen legs, shortness of breath on exertion, tiredness, insomnia, and fatigue. I have lost 160 pounds through working the programme. Since Day One, I had been journaling my food and keeping a daily diary, and there had been not one day that I have missed speaking and talking to God and writing my food in my... Continue Reading
I recently drove to visit with family and friends and to attend my high school reunion. I enjoy the privilege of having both Canadian and American citizenship and carry passports issued by both countries. When I arrived at the border, I was lucky enough to drive directly up to the booth. This is a rare occurrence. Usually there is a long line of waiting cars. I was very excited thinking I was going to zip right through and be on my way. I handed the customs officer my American passport and that’s when my plans of zipping right through the border came to a halt. I haven’t had a passport photo taken since I came into FA four-and-a-half years ago. In that time, I have lost 250 pounds. He looked at my photo; looked at me; looked at my photo; looked at me and asked, “Is this your passport?” I... Continue Reading
At 58 years old, I believed I had no choice but to die of obesity. I knew I would have a heart attack or a stroke and, if I were lucky, it would be fatal. Or I would eat until I exploded. There was no other way out. I walked into an FA meeting late and sat in the last row, nervous and hopeless. As I sat in my seat the woman next to me gave me a smile. I don’t remember a lot that was said at the meeting but I remember that smile. I felt welcome and at home. I might not remember what was said, but I know I heard hope in that meeting, hope that I didn’t have to die from food addiction, that I had another choice. I learned of another meeting the next night and I committed to someone that I would go. That... Continue Reading
I was terrified to walk through the doors of FA, even though I was with a friend who invited me. I wasn’t sure what I would find. I have been to so many different types of “weight loss” meetings, from large groups to individual sessions. I was always looking for the solution to my weight problem. It wasn’t that I only had 20 pounds to lose. I was only 5 foot 2 inches tall but weighed in at 287 pounds. I had tried counting calories, counting points, cutting out sugar and flour, and exercising but nothing was able to help me lose the weight or take away the obsession that I had with food. The longest I had been able to be successful was six weeks and got down to around 232 pounds. My birthday came around and I thought I would just have one piece of cake to celebrate.... Continue Reading
I was a nervous wreck standing in line waiting to ride the Iron Rattler at Six Flags. There were many sounds around me: screaming, laughter, talking, and music. In the background I could hear noises of the many rollercoasters all over the park as they mechanically moved throughout the duration of the ride, twisting, turning, slowing down and speeding up, going in circles and flipping upside down. It had been 10 years since I last attempted to ride a rollercoaster. I will never forget that day as long as I live. I was with my family at an amusement park called Carowinds; it is similar to Six Flags. My children and I were in line. Our turn came up and we scrambled to find or seats. My son and daughter strapped themselves in and anxiously awaited the start of the ride. As for myself, I had difficulty buckling the harness... Continue Reading
