Stories from people who went through our program.
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âI Have A Real Sense Of Controlâ - TB shares her story...
“I Have A Real Sense Of Control”
-TB Shares Her Story
Before Recovery:
"Everyday obsessing about food and sugary items, mindless eating,
closet eating, boredom eating, etc."
After Recovery:
"I feel happier and a pep in my step. I have a real sense of control and don't obsess about food or sweets."
"This community has no judgments, the support and care is amazing... Amy's ability to reach out and honestly care about her tribe. She has given us realistic tools to use and her straight
forward approach to this program will work for us all, if we let it."
âGetting Through Very Trying Timesâ - TL Shares Her Story
"Before I started this program, anytime I was in a stressful situation, I would turn to food for comfort. I would literally stuff myself to keep from thinking about my problem I guess. Well I would like to share what has been going on the past two weeks and I will apologize now for the length:
1.My equipment trailer that holds all of my freezers, fryers etc for my concession business was stolen from right in front on my house! This is a source of our income and I had to cancel a Christmas festival I paid to be in because I have no equipment.
2.My [close relative] who is a recovering addict was unable to give probation a urine sample when called in to do so was put in jail two days before Thanksgiving and ordered to stay there until Dec 9th.Now I will say he had been sober for 3 years and had gone for these tests every month. Has been doing wonderful. New probation dept new guy and new way he was asked [to give a sample] in front of this guy made him nervous and he couldn’t. He begged for either a catheter, blood test or hair follicle test that he would pay for but they declined. In the meantime he lost his job, got kicked out of place he was renting, and missed finals in college and got 2 F’s because of this jail time.
3.I had to drive to [another city] Sunday and move his stuff out get a rental truck and put his things in storage with the help of my 82 yr old mother in law. Horrible situation and landlord was being super hateful to us while we were there.
4.My father had Alzheimer’s and my mom is his caregiver. Monday she fell at the courthouse and broke her knee on one leg and tore her Achilles’ tendon and sprained ankle on other leg and can’t walk now.
The point of all of this is during this horrible, horrible stuff going on - I have been totally [free from food addiction]! I can’t believe it honestly. If anyone ever doubts that this works - they need to come spend the day with me. LOL. I have not even thought about food except to just curb my hunger!
Thank you Amy and thank you Jesus for getting me through these very trying times."
âYou Can Find Your Real Selfâ - VS Shares Her Story
“I feel before I started this program that I was at the most dangerous place in my addiction. I was gorging myself and eating whole pies in 2 settings. I would go to bed every night saying tomorrow was going to be different, but nothing would change. I was comforting myself and pushing down all my pain.
I had tried every diet program I have ever heard about. I failed every one, as none of them ever got to the root of the problem, or I would get rebellious and just quit. I never felt understood. I would just continue to think and feel hopeless.
I begged God to show me or lead me to the help I needed. One night while mindlessly scrolling through Facebook I came across Amy's free webinar. I signed up, set my alarm clock to be sure I did not miss the morning webinar.
I wept through the majority of the webinar. The frog story just about did me in. I was like OMG! - someone gets it and understands. I wanted to know more so I signed up for the phone consultation.
I was scared of many things. I had to push my tiny mustard seed of faith to sign up. I had all kinds of ‘what-ifs’ and they were all negative. Today I am so happy and have no regrets for signing up. I also realized God did answer my prayer.
This program has helped me to think clearly, and I feel good. I have never been able to give up [unhealthy] foods before and now I have. This program is so much more than about food. You can find your real self and be happy with that person. I would recommend this program to anyone who is struggling with their relationship with food. I wish I had found this sooner, but I know it was right on time for me now, and that is all that matters.
Amy, I will forever be grateful for you and this program. Thank you.”
âI Feel Healthy And Happyâ - MJ Shares Her Story
"I'm so grateful that I took a chance on this recovery program.
When I started it...it seemed totally impossible long term. But I am doing it and I'm okay with it!
One day at a time, right?
Without the physical cravings, I'm able to make wiser choices in what I eat and focus on what is good for me and my body. Food neutrality is normal!
I have just ended my 7th month in recovery and I had a physical. I have lost 51 pounds, my pre-diabetes condition is gone, my cholesterol has dropped 50 points, and my blood pressure is under 130/80!!
Some other problems such as anemia and asthma have improved. I feel happy and healthy."
âMy Life Has Changed For The Absolute Betterâ - PH Shares Her Story
"Before I was led to this program, I was obsessing about trying to find the perfect formula that would fix me and all my problems. I ran from one diet to another, sometimes mixing diets. So much money spent on pills, books, online plans, whatever toted the newest, fastest weight-loss plan.
After I had an emergency double bypass, I was put on statins. Over 25 years ago, they didn’t provide any education about how to eat. I wasn’t diabetic at that time either. So I felt the pills were permission to go on eating like I had. I just had to keep my cholesterol numbers right.
I would gain and lose weight, always searching to find something that would work. Depressed, with chaos in my head always, miserable, isolating avoiding events.
I saw an advertisement; I have seen a lot and have listened to them before and ended up deleting them. This was different, I agreed to a phone call...So not me; really so out of my norm.
However, I am so glad I signed up and my life has changed for the absolute better. I no longer have cravings; food does not call my name any more. Such freedom I have never experienced before. I am lighter and brighter and happy. Can’t say enough about how this program has changed me and my outlook on the future."
âI Felt Empty And Frustratedâ - DJ Shares Her Story
"I had tried 12-step recovery programs in three different locations, but felt empty and frustrated. Obviously, because of those experiences along with multiple disastrous diets I was nervous to try anything else, but my husband confronted my addiction to food and gave his support to try...I was concerned about my appearance but my husband and I became more concerned about my health...
...I have been surprised about my changed thoughts and emotions about food. While shopping for Thanksgiving, I could look at the bakery pies and be grateful that they were prepared for someone else and also grateful that I had no need for them at my table.
I am able to be abstinent and completely satisfied with the food that is part of my forever plan. I am excited about confronting other problem areas in my life that were able to surface when I did not continually bury them with food."
âI Thought I Was Insane, A Loser, Lazy And A Failureâ - IK Shares Her Story
"Before...my eating was completely out of control. I was either on a strict and inflexible diet or I was binge-ing at fast food restaurants up to 3 times per day. One always led to the other and it was a vicious cycle.
I thought that I was insane, a loser, lazy, and a failure because I’d tried every program out there (HCG shots and eating 500 calories a day to all the commercial weight loss programs to hard-core Keto and everything in between.)
My relationship with my husband was fraught. He was devastated that he was watching me basically slowly kill myself and I was defensive and hurt whenever he tried to talk to me about it.
Every night was a thudding cacophony of shame and self-loathing and every morning was a promise that I wouldn’t be able to keep.
[Now]...the most important part is that my husband and I have a language that we can use to talk about this addiction. It means that we can be on the same team and he can be proud of my efforts as well as being able to talk about his fears and concerns without me shutting down. No more fast food means that I feel in control of my eating and my life. The shame and guilt are virtually gone and I’m slowly learning to trust myself again.
What helped the most:
- The supportive and non-judgmental community of women...They are a gift I was notexpecting.
- The understanding that I have an actual addiction – that I’m not crazy or a failure and thatthere are steps I can take to feel better. Being able to combine a way of managing the physical symptoms of the addiction with the added spiritual and emotional support...has been revolutionary.
- My [spirituality] has improved immeasurably and that has also been an unexpected by-product of the program."
âThis Still Feels Like Such A Miracle To Meâ - DB Shares Her Story
"In 10 days, on May 8, 2020, I will have been in recovery for food addiction for 2 years.
2 years since I’ve controlled my food, instead of food controlling me;
2 years since I’ve woken up in the morning hating myself;
2 years since I’ve felt guilty about what I was eating;
2 years since I’ve dieted (yet now at my lowest weight ever).
I purposely pose these statements as negative tense, because it reminds me of how awful my life was before my recovery.
I know how great things are now, but it’s easy to forget how much misery I was living each day because of food.
This still feels like such a miracle to me. Thank you all for being there right alongside me, your support is a huge part of my personal recovery."
âA Radical Change In Eating Made An Enormous Differenceâ - JR Shares Her Story
"Dr. appt. today. After 7 mo. on program A1C was 6.3, but even better for me, I went from stage 4 rental failure to stage 2.
I have seen a nephrologist and taken medication to affect improvement in this since I got out of the hospital in March 2018.
That's right...2 years with 0 improvement.
And 7 months with a radical change in eating made an enormous difference.
Off medications, others decreased.
And my joint pain is essentially gone.
My focus has been health but I have lost 48 pounds.
Thanks for your program Amy and thanks to the group for your support."
âThis Is The Way To Go!â - JA Shares Her Story
“I have to brag…
When I started the program my lab work showed I was now diabetic. My lipid profile was high, other labs abnormal, blood pressure high also. I asked my Dr. to give me 3 months to change this before making it official in my chart that I was diabetic.
About 2 weeks later I contacted Amy. I had talked to her before and didn’t sign up to the program thinking, I can control this, but I failed.
I came to Amy broken, unhealthy, addicted, tired, in constant pain and self-hating. I did the program, followed it to the letter without much difficulty. Some learning curves for myself but did it. I graduated the program!
This week Monday my Dr. appointment went great. My a1c went to normal at 5.1, my lipid profile all normal…
My blood pressure 123/70, and my body pain is pretty much gone! đ Thank you Amy for your program. This is the way to go!”
âThis Is A Life-Changer For Me!â - EP Shares Her Story
"I have progressed miles...
Before...I was mad and sad, feeling hopeless and desperate. I kept asking myself, “Why can’t you get it together? Why can’t you stop eating? Why do you continually eat when you know that doesn't solve anything? What’s wrong with you? How come I can’t be normal?
I was obese. I obsessed about food. Those close to me could see my unhappiness. My outlook on life was such a challenge.
Since participating...I don’t obsess about food. I’m not mad or sad and I don’t feel hopeless or desperate to lose weight.
In particular, I don’t attack myself for not getting myself together. I don’t blame myself...I’m not wanting to eat all the time. I have peace in my head and in my life. I can eat without feeling guilty. I feel at ease and am mostly peaceful. I can resolve situations in amicable ways.
But by far, the most significant aspect...was to learn the life skill of resolving situations/issues…This is a life-changer for me!"
âI Feel So Much Betterâ â - AB Shares Her Story
"Before I joined this program, I was not comfortable with my body. I
was ashamed that I was not able to lose the weight which held me back with going out and was isolating me to my home, and a source of depression. Also, I need to lose weight to be more healthy and reduce the meds I was on for High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol and Type 2 Diabetes.
Within 3 days of this program...I felt so much better. The chatter in my head that was always focused on what I would eat next or where stopped. I joined at the beginning of December and was
amazed that at Christmas and New Years parties that I had no craving...This was the first holiday season I did not gain weight in at least 24 years. In fact, I’ve lost [weight] with little
effort...
I have loved the coursework and what helped me the most was how Amy provided insight and made everything relevant to life in the coursework, group calls and Facebook posts...It is also beneficial to interact with the others going through the program and the sharing of experiences and overall support."
âI am No Longer Obsessed With Foodâ - AD Shares Her Story
"I was obsessed with food 24 hrs a day. While I was in the middle of one meal, I was thinking about what I was going to eat next.
I was over eating sugar to a dangerous level. I was eating when I was alone, “sneaking” food. I would hide food in places throughout the house and car, so that the second I craved some sugar, I had a couple of places I could sneak off to and eat. How embarrassing!!
My gastrointestinal distress was becoming unbearable. I could hardly leave the house without Gas-x, Imodium, Alka Seltzer, Rolaids. The indigestion, heart burn, diarrhea, nausea was a constant daily companion. I was miserable!
I am no longer taking multiple medications to treat my gastrointestinal distress. I am no longer obsessed with food. I feel full/satiated/satisfied after I eat. I feel more confident, clear-headed, less emotional.
I’ve always slept well, but often did not wake up feeling rested. Feeling far more rested after a good night’s sleep."
âMy Doctor Was Very Happy And So Was Iâ - DB Updates Her Story
"Happy to report from my doctor's appointment today:
•Blood pressure - NORMAL
•Cholesterol - NORMAL
•Triglycerides - NORMAL
•A1C - While not normal (I AM still diabetic, after all), it IS the LOWEST it has ever been
•BEST OF ALL (drumroll, please) I have finally been taken off one of my insulins! Yay!
I am now intermittently taking one type of insulin, so I am more than 50% to my goal of getting off all insulin! My doctor was very happy and so was I!"
âThoughts On Self-Careâ - DB Updates Her Story
“The more I think about the “before” and “after” of my life—my previous life before recovery, and my new life, after recovery—the more I find how…I used to put myself last no matter what, how I made myself “little and worse [than others].”
…In early 2004 I happened to be diagnosed with two separate cancers at the same time, which resulted in several surgeries and many rounds of intense inpatient chemo treatments. While this was going on, my marriage was crumbling and my husband was mostly absent, so I was alone much of the time. My family and friends thought my husband was taking care of me, so did not offer much support, and I was too [lost in my addiction and low-self-esteem] to ask for help.
But I truly didn’t think I needed help. I remember at the time thinking to myself, “What’s the big deal?” When my hair fell out, I shrugged and said, “It’ll grow back.” When I got weird painful blisters all over from the chemo, I said, “It’s not that bad.” When I went without eating because I was too sick or too tired to go shopping and no one was around to do it for me, I said, “That’s ok, because I need to lose weight, anyway.” And when my absentee husband, who reluctantly drove me to treatments, told me that he was sick of having to babysit me, my first thought was, “Geez, this is really screwing up his schedule, maybe I should take a taxi to treatments.”
Wait. What?
It’s actually a little embarrassing to admit all this, I must say. Low self-esteem doesn’t even begin to cover it. And even after that, it took years before I was able to divorce him and that’s a whole other story about co-dependency and low self-esteem!
But the night and day difference of then and now is so incredible to me! Now, I care as much about myself as I do others; I no longer tolerate anything or anyone that isn’t good for me; and I have balance in my life, I can easily see when it is moving out of balance and correct it with the tools Amy has given me. I am so grateful to Amy for teaching me how to take care of myself.
We all have our before stories, and I think it's important to look back and realize how far we have come from then to now. Self-care is not just a buzzword; it is your life…”
âI Feel Full And Satisfiedâ - GA Updates Her Story
"It has just dawned on me for the first time in a long time I feel full and satisfied after I eat. I can’t remember the last time I felt that way."
âI am No Longer Considered Pre-diabetic!â - LH Updates Her Story
"I received a great message from my doctor after doing blood work on Wednesday. My blood sugar level (A1C) is 5.4% which is in the normal range. I am no longer considered pre-diabetic!"
âIâm Looking Forward To Todayâ - RS Shares Her Story
"I woke up today and couldn't wait to get out of bed. I'm looking forward to today. I even feel happy for no reason. I can't remember the last time I felt this way....Yeah! Thank you God (and Amy) for this program."
âI Feel So Healthy!â - RF Shares Her Story
"I feel so healthy today! 5 weeks ago I never could imagine a future without junk food... And here I am today doing it!!"
âWow What An Awakening!!!â - CL SHARES HER STORY
“What my life was like before:
…Turmoil, anger, depression, “It’s not fair,” “I hate you,” “Why does nobody like me??” “What did I do,”…Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, surgeries, Keto, Scarsdale, intermittent fasting, starvation and binging even controlled binging.
I knew deep down there was something wrong with me. Dad was an alcoholic, was there such a thing as a food alcoholic??? Where do I go for help…I can’t ask my 400Lb therapist; I don’t think even she gets it!!!
[Seven weeks later]
Wow what an awakening!!! â
One video at a time, one lesson at a time and I began to hope. I even began to let go of things… and figured why they went sideways…
Food started and continues to take a back seat in my life as never before…
Amy you and your Tribe have been my lifeline to me. What stands out to me is your unfailing knowledge and commitment…"
"I Just Want To Enjoy My New Found SelfâŚIâm At Peaceâ - MJ shares Her Story
“Before joining, I felt like a fish out of water. Flopping all over the place, trying to breathe.
My moods were up and down, I wasn’t able to make decisions, forgetting, feeling useless and not wanting to do much of anything.
Now, I’m in the water and I’m swimming!
I can breathe. I’m more focused, confident, able to do things and wanting to do things.
I’m no longer obsessing over things. I process things more clearly and move on quicker.
I love being free from all that I felt before…I just want to enjoy my new found self…I’m at peace.”
âRecovery Saved My Lifeâ - DB SHARES HER STORY
“This is kinda long, sorry, but you guys know me, I can blah blah on and on when I write LOL
I talk a lot about my food anxiety in my previous life, before recovery. My friend recently asked me what that meant. Here is basically what I told her. Maybe you can relate?
I remember that when anyone talked to me about food and diets, I would get so angry! I felt overwhelmed at the very thought of what to eat: was it right? Was it wrong? What if I wasn’t doing it right?
Everyone else had the answer: eat less calories, measure your food, don’t eat carbs, eat in moderation, exercise more, or no, don’t exercise because you’ll lose muscle, just do this, or just do that…this diet is good, no that diet is better, no combine these two diets, or just eat cabbage, or just eat protein, or just eat raw food, or just take these pills or just go to therapy or, better yet, get hypnotized, no wait, get surgery…. ARRRGGG!! WHAT SHOULD I DO?
This was the food anxiety that kept me paralyzed, and drove me to eat what was easy and didn’t take any brain power…. Junk food. I probably knew somewhere in the back of mind that I was eating in order to get lost in a food coma, not really remembering eating it all (because I ALWAYS ate it all), but just in a kind of stupor where I couldn’t really do anything (read: live my life).
I did look for help. Intensive, in-person diet coaches were expensive and also didn’t work (they mostly just wanted to sell their supplement products); therapy helped for some things in my life, but not the food; my experience with OA was dismal and left me distrusting of them; and none of my doctors offered any help at all, although at the time I was seeing a GP, an endocrinologist, a diabetes educator and a nutritionist! It is interesting to note that it was my gynecologist who suggested bariatric surgery, but even then it was obvious to me that wouldn’t solve my problem.
I lied to myself and tried to believe I was happy and “normal”, while I watched people around me succeed at diets because they were able to count calories, eat in moderation, measure their food, and all the other things that I always failed at. Why? The only answer I could come up with was that I was fundamentally defective in some deep, dark way. And in order to solve my eating problem, I needed to find and eliminate that imperfect thing that was making me defective.
Problem was, I didn’t know what that “thing” was. Was it a repressed memory? Something from my childhood that I never faced? Was it something about my mother? My father? My family? Where or how I grew up? Was it something I saw that traumatized me, or something I went through that I no longer remembered?
So I really approached this as a science experiment. I even discussed it with one of my sisters--who actually IS a scientist--and we had some the greatest conversations about this, really good, deep conversations about life and how to live it, conversations that lasted hours and left us feeling connected and at peace with God and the world.
But as good as these conversations were, we never came up with any answers. And even though we did try--we tried desperately--to invent something that worked, in the end it was fruitless. It all failed, just like everything else. At this point I was 52 years old. When my food problem began I was a senior in high school, working in the local ice cream shop. That was 34 years ago. That meant 34 years of failure under my belt. Who could go on after that?
I have always been a hopeful person, someone who believes anything is possible. So I didn’t want to shut the door on any future possibility, but I pretty much believed that I would go to my grave trying to find an answer to this. Perhaps it was time that I accepted the inevitable truth: I had a problem with food and it would kill me sooner rather than later, and I should just focus my efforts on being ok with that.
This was the notion I was pondering when I came across Amy’s post on Facebook, the post that quickly led me to recovery and which saved my life.
My friend knows me, and she has seen and acknowledged all the changes in me. She often says to me, “I’m so glad you found Amy.” And of course, I always respond, “I am, too.” ”
âMy Life Now Is Exciting, Vibrant And Funâ - MW Shares Her Story
“[Before joining the program], I didn't thrive but I did survive, but barely.
By adulthood I was engaged in many relationships that ended up being brutal. It was what I felt I deserved.
I was treated for depression and PTSD but nothing really worked. I was still depressed and grief stricken. I did not know how to deal with my feelings of not belonging and self-hate. My body started breaking down in 2003 - I had cancer. In 2013 I was unable to move my legs without excruciating pain, I could not get out of a chair. I was falling down stairs and injuring myself. I was fired from several jobs because of my brain fog.
At almost 65 I felt I was physically dying and it would be soon. Fine with me.
After seeing [Amy's video] on Facebook several times, I checked it out. I watched the training video and several people's testimony. I made an appointment for two days following and I signed up...even with knowledge that I didn't really have the time or the money.
I am so glad I did. [In a very short period of time] my priorities had changed. I no longer searched for food to fill my insides until I was sick... [Other] relationships had begun to fill me instead of food. [Shortly thereafter] I was finally on my path. Great joy began filling me, I was opening up my heart and soul to myself and to other safe people. I was enjoying my job, making boundaries and starting to make new connections....I was feeling confident that my roots in recovery were strong and stable.
My life now is exciting, vibrant and fun. I have little to no pain in my legs. I have friends and family that I love [being part of] their lives and I have been welcomed with open arms.”
âFood Does Not Control Me Nowâ - DBR Shares Her Story
“[Before joining Amy's program], I was literally digging my grave with a fork. My food addiction began in 1992 when I was pregnant for the first time. I would eat because I was bored, and whenever I needed comforting. I tried numerous diet plans, even had gastric bypass in 2006. Lost weight each time, and gained it and more back. I would hide food, binge on food when no one was home, and eat other household members’ food.
Food does not control me now. I eat when I am hungry and because I’m hungry. I do not crave sweets. My aches and pains are gone. I have energy to go to more than one store in one day. Previously, just going to the grocery store would cause me so many aches and pains, I was done for the day. I have plenty of energy now, and actually want to do things.
I like that we have a secret Facebook group that is safe, and we can share our thoughts and feelings.
I like the Zooms calls so we can share our progress and problems.... đ
I just think the whole program is great, and am so grateful that I found it.”
âI Look Forward To The Future And I Am Excited About Lifeâ - TN Shares Her Story
“I grew up an over-achiever. My parents had high expectations of me and I strived to please them. It was in my 30’s that I started to turn to food. It gave me the comfort that I needed. Little did I know that I was becoming addicted.
As my weight increased I began to try different diets. I would be successful for a little while but eventually the diet wouldn’t work for me. I felt like such a failure. I was no longer the over-achiever!
I started reading about autoimmune disease and gut health. I learned about food pairings and intermittent fasting. You name it and I researched it. I thought that if I learned as much as I could about nutrition and health, that I would be successful. Nothing helped. I was in a never-ending cycle. Whatever I tried worked for a bit, but then food would grab a hold of me again.
I started having medical issues because of my eating and weight. High blood pressure, cholesterol, fatty liver, etc, etc. I have them all. Even the fear of being on medication for the rest of my life or the many complications from my conditions could not stop me from eating. My brain knew what I should do, but my body couldn’t do it.
Well I thought that my brain was okay. In reality I was living in a fog. I was just going through the motions of life, but I wasn’t really living. There was no enjoyment, no passion and no goals. I was just barely getting through one day at a time.
And that was when I found Amy’s course. It seemed that I had all the characteristics of a food addict. I decided to take her course but I was skeptical at first. Me, a food addict?...I was having mixed feelings but I pushed forward. I came to accept that I have a disease that makes me feel or tells me that I don’t have a disease. I don’t have power over this situation and...I will never be free of this disease. I am a food addict!
Since following Amy’s food guidelines I have started to feel better. The brain fog is gone. My stomach issues have improved…I have more energy, but most of all I have hope. I look forward to the future and I am excited about life. I have hope and I’m excited. And I have more confidence.
I knew that there were several components to my eating issues, but I was never able to understand what they were. Amy’s course opened my eyes. I have learned a lot about myself. [The course] allows you to go deep inside to help you understand who you are and how you relate to others and food.
I highly recommend taking Amy’s course. It is life-changing. I [am thankful] that I came across Amy’s course, and I thank Amy for all she’s done to develop this course.”
âI Feel Motivated To Do What I Need To Do To Be Healthierâ - BK Shares Her Story
“My weight has always been an issue but I managed it fairly well until my late 30's and early 40s, after I had two babies and the removal of my thyroid due to cancer. I always had a sweet tooth and joked that I was a sugar addict. I used sugar to soothe me when I was stressed and reward me at the end of a hard day. I didn't just eat a small dish of ice cream, I'd eat half the carton. I didn't just eat a small bag of M&M's, I'd get the shareable size, but not share.
As my weight grew, my [family] would tell me I needed to stop, but I just started hiding my treats and eating them when [they weren't] around. I would feel guilty about this and feel bad about myself. I tried lots of things to lose the weight, including pills, WW, hypnosis, and Nutri-system. I even attended an Overeaters Anonymous meeting. I would lose some but soon start feeling deprived and would go back to my old eating habits, gaining back the weight I'd lost.
In more recent years, as I have aged, health issues developed. I became pre-diabetic and had a lot of problems with my feet. Pain and poor mobility became my constant companions. I knew I needed to do something, but I was so overwhelmed by the amount of weight I needed to lose, and crisis after crisis in my life, that I couldn't get motivated or find the energy to do the work it would take to lose over 100 pounds. I just didn't care.
But I did. I wanted to live long enough to become a grandmother and watch my grandchildren grow up. I wanted to feel better and look better. I wanted to hike again and take long walks. I didn't want to grow old and fat and be a burden to my family.
Through dealing with my [family member's] drug addiction and participating in the...recovery aspect of [their] treatment program, I came to understand and admit my sugar addiction was not a joke, but a serious problem that I could not manage and that was killing me. It wasn't all my fault; my [other family members] also had/have food addiction issues. I am sure it contributed to my [family member's] death.
I guess by the grace of God, I saw a FB post about [this] food addiction recovery program. I made the call for more information and realized if I didn't sign up, I'd continue on my destructive path.
It's been 6 weeks now and I do not long to see (or taste) that old friend. I feel better with my new friend, [healthy eating]. After going through the lessons..., I feel mentally stronger. I feel motivated to do what I need to do to be healthier and lose the weight. For the first time in a long time I feel hopeful that I can overcome this addiction and take better care of my body. I am more neutral about food and don't get a high from just thinking about going to my favorite ice cream shop.
This program gave a much clearer explanation of [steps I needed to take], along with exercises to begin to learn how to put this into practice in my daily life. I have been able to see the connection of the brain and food and see how my diet was contributing to my mood. The group support has been helpful in keeping me motivated and accountable. The FB group provides an opportunity for daily connection with people who understand my struggle.”
âIâm Learning Self-Careâ - CR Shares Her Story
“Prior to finding this program, I was searching for something that would work to help not only lose weight but improve my health. I had even shared with a friend that I might try some counseling, as the other diet programs hadn't worked for me long-term. I could lose weight on those programs by white knuckling my way through it, but I never committed to a lifestyle change, nor did they help with that process.
My health has significantly declined over the past 3-5 years. I have several autoimmune and inflammatory diseases and couldn't stand or walk well enough to do my own cleaning, grocery shopping, or errands....When I saw Amy's video on FaceBook something clicked. It addressed the thing I believed I needed most - behavior change. I will admit I resisted the term "food addict" initially, but have come to accept that this is exactly who I am, and was the reason that mainstream diet programs didn't work for me.
Within a couple weeks of [healthy] eating I could feel the changes occurring. I wasn't so achy and stiff all the time, I could participate in my life more fully, and that has continued to improve throughout my journey. On Saturday, I even went to a football game, ran errands, and shopped, and was still able to get out of bed and enjoy the day on Sunday. This is a significant change when compared to where I was before beginning this program.
I'm typically very reserved and not willing to share personal struggles or feelings with friends and family, let alone strangers, but I have found the weekly calls to be a place where I receive encouragement and one of the most helpful aspects of the program. I enjoy hearing other's stories of success and growth. They encourage me to continue on my journey.
I'm learning to…work though areas in my life that I previously termed obstacles or roadblocks. I now understand that many of those issues were things I put in my own way or let them detour me because I wasn't willing (or able) to work through the thoughts, feelings…to move forward. I have always given my time, energy, and talents to others (family, work, friends) and ignored or denied myself the care that I needed. I'm learning self-care, and am becoming better at planning and stating what I need.”
