I have struggled with my weight all my life, but I started taking my health seriously after I developed "cervical pre-cancer." I am extremely sensitive to any foods, medicines or events that change my estrogen levels--especially phytoestrogens in soy, synthetic estrogens in birth control, and the drop in natural estrogen that comes 1-3 days before each period. Keeping a food and mood journal showed me that these things were tied to severe depression episodes, which tied in with overeating. ...

I have struggled with my weight all my life, but I started taking my health seriously after I developed "cervical pre-cancer." I am extremely sensitive to any foods, medicines or events that change my estrogen levels--especially phytoestrogens in soy, synthetic estrogens in birth control, and the drop in natural estrogen that comes 1-3 days before each period. Keeping a food and mood journal showed me that these things were tied to severe depression episodes, which tied in with overeating. Being careful to avoid soy and estrogen disruptors has helped to significantly decrease the frequency of overeating, and thus helped me to almost effortlessly lose 50 lbs. Of course, I still have overeating episodes when I exercise to exhaustion or restrict my calories too much (not always by choice thanks to having stomach problems all my life). My biggest nutritional challenge is drinking less coffee with milk. I hate coffee alone, but I'm so addicted to it. My biggest exercise challenge is doing it each day without over-doing it.

Read More About ASWAMI (Updated November 17)