An Overeater’s Guide to Well-Being

This is a personal story about my weight gain and my weight loss. You may be reading this because you may weigh close to 200 or 300 or 400 pounds, or you may be struggling to maintain a healthy weight. You may not know where to begin to lose some weight. You want to take a walk. You yearn to feel good about yourself. Recently I could only wear size 24 clothes and three years ago I wore size 12. It took me two and a half years to accomplish that weight loss. I am suggesting that you, too, can achieve this level of wellbeing. Excess weight simply boils down to overeating both at meals and in-between meals every day of the week! If you make a fist right now, and look at it, THAT is the size of one portion of food. How sad is that for those of us who love to eat? Consider a meal of spaghetti and/or pasta. How much do you eat? A plateful? Yes, it tastes good, but it might be more than your body needs. Changing what and why and how you eat will take courage, honesty, stamina and commitment. It may take writing in a journal, and/or talking to a counselor or therapist. Choose one that specializes in addiction. You see a definition of addiction is: “participating in behavior despite the consequences”. Yes, I am addicted to food and right now weigh more than is healthy for my heart, but not the 285 pounds where my journey started. It will certainly make a difference for you if you are living alone or with your soul mate. I have experienced both conditions. Of course, living alone makes it a whole lot easier to change eating patterns. If you have a family, it will require more skill, but it can be done. You alone can make the decision about where to start. That way, you control your own destiny and wellbeing. Your destiny is why you are reading this. To be able to walk around the block is a normal desire. Your destiny is to take care of your body. It is the only one you will have this time around. You are worth the effort. If you cannot believe in yourself, then believe that I believe in you.