I have been a yoyo dieter most of my adult life. I have been either restricting to lose or thrown in the towel and given up most the time. I was miserable, depressed, had high anxiety with frequent bouts of panic disorder to the point of resisting going out of my home (my safe environment) for several months. I had numerous health problems including terrible reflux, joint pain from arthritis in my foot, knees and thumbs. I am 5' 6" and in the low 170's right now. I have been posting to the msn weight loss message boards for many months. I hit a "bottom" last year after Halloween when I discovered I could not stay away from the candy that I was giving out to the children. Then again at Thanksgiving and around Christmas and after when all the goodies were delivered to the company where I worked, I just could not keep my hands out of them. I guess you can say I was blessed to have a body that tells me when things are not right. I was introduced to FA through one of the MSN posts. I was somewhat resistant at first and still not perfect but following the plan (especially the food plan) very closely. It is a very simple program that is very difficult to follow. I am doing very well, the reflux is gone, my panic disorder has almost completely vanished as well as the pain in my knees. My foot is much better and so is my thumb joint. I can again use my hands to open jars etc. I hope everyone finds what works for them. I think this site is awesome and hope to take advantage of all that is offered. Update 11/15/2007: I am at 142.5 just 10 lbs. from my goal. I am so excited. I feel fantastic, had a terrible fall and am bouncing back like a 20 year old would. My weight loss has slowed quite a bit but I know that it would have continued at the same pace if I wouldn't be messing with my plan all the time. I am a true food addict, always trying to squeeze something in here or there. Not being true and honest with myself is my bigest downfall. It doesn't really matter though because I am still going in the right direction so even if it takes me til the beginning of 2008 to get to my goal I am fine with that. I have developed an overall healthy eating habit so if I have a little too much dressing or a slight extra amount of sweet potato then, oh well. My panic disorder is TOTALLY GONE and my arthritis is mostly gone but about 95% gone in my right thumb. NO MORE REFLUX, EVER! My blood pressure is always great about 115/65! (it was at like 150/85) It is now 4/8/2011. I ended up leaving the FA program not long after I wrote this last update in November 2007. I was out almost 3 years. The first year or so I kept my weight off pretty well although I never made it to my goal weight of 132.5. I started to go up immediately but I didn't go past 155 for a very long time. I told my husband if I get to 155 I will go back to FA. I hit 155+ after a year and a half and I decided I was going to go back but I could not do it. I don't know why, I just couldn't. In my head I thought the program was just too hard, that it asked too much of me. Once I ended up gaining 55 of the 65 lbs. I had lost I was finally desperate enough to go back to FA. It took me another year and a half to walk through the door. I walked back through the doors of FA at the end of September and actually re-joined FA in early October 2010. I was able to get my abstinence back immediately once I got a sponsor and started weighing and measuring my food once again. I am back down almost 50 lbs. I am nearing my goal weight again and I plan to stay in the FA program for ever! I never want to lose my abstinence again. All my health problems I had mentioned above had returned and they are again leaving. Most are gone already. There is a saying in FA it is "It is much easier to stay abstinent then to get abstinent". This is very true. Why I was never able to do it on my own I do not know. I believe the fellowship of the program is one of the keys to success.

My goal is to be healthy, to be able to keep up with my grandchildren, have fun with them and then be dancing at their weddings. I want to travel in our retirement and be able to climb hills, and do whatever we want to do and enjoy it.

I am following a food plan designed for diabetics through FA (Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous).

My name is Cecilia, I am from a small town east of Sacramento, CA. I was born and raised across the street from where I live right now. My mom gave me a lot on her land and I built a home on it for my family. My husband helped too.

I love to read, especialy about health, gardening and crafts. My all time FAVORITE movie is "The Jerk". I can watch it over and over and laugh through it every time. I love to laugh. (I don't watch very many movies so I am sure there are many more out there that I would love too). I thought "Vacation" was pretty funny too. I get a kick out of the Monty Python flicks also. My humor tends to be pretty sadistic so sometimes I find humor in things that shouldn't really be funny (but I never mean to be mean or inconsiderate). I believe I am a great person and a good friend.

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