| I'm going to let you in on the big secret of ending | | | | numbers are just numbers, it truly helps me to |
| binge eating and having a healthy relationship with | | | | stay on track and makes me feel good. |
| food... Are you ready? Grab a pen and paper and | | | | After I made a decision to start taking control of |
| prepare to write down the magical formula to | | | | my life, I went to the gym one day and met with |
| being the person that you want to be. Being the | | | | a trainer who weighed me and took my body fat. |
| person that is not consumed with food. | | | | Maybe I wasn't quite prepared for all of that. She |
| The secret is something that we all have within | | | | told me how much I weighed and how much |
| us. What is it, you ask? It's YOUR attitude. | | | | body fat I had and it took all I had not break |
| Attitude. That's all. | | | | down in tears. I went right home after that and |
| It's your attitude on how you feel about yourself. | | | | cried and cried. How did I let myself gain so much |
| It's how you handle your daily activities. It's how | | | | weight? How was almost half of my body fat? It |
| you react to your life. It's being an active | | | | was because I chose not to have a say in my life. |
| participant in your life. | | | | Sadly, I had only sat back and did what was |
| When I struggled with binging, my attitude was | | | | comfortable for me (eating) without searching for |
| simply to turn to food because I didn't care. I | | | | another way out. |
| didn't want to actually try to deal with my life | | | | At this point, I decided that it would be in my |
| (even though it wasn't bad). I didn't want to face | | | | very best interest to start making some big |
| up to something not being right with me and my | | | | changes in my life. I knew that it would be hard, |
| relationship with food. I simply wanted to live an | | | | but I also knew that it was going to be the best |
| existence with food as my best friend... and I was | | | | thing in the world for me! Here's where my |
| successful in living that kind of life for about 8 | | | | attitude played a very vital role... |
| years. | | | | Of course when you are used to binging for so |
| Something shifted for me one day though. I | | | | many months or years, it becomes a habit. |
| realized "Hey, I don't have to live this way. I don't | | | | Almost without knowing what you are doing, you |
| have to feel absolutely consumed with food 24/7. | | | | find yourself reaching for food. I found that it was |
| I bet there is a way out." But what was this way | | | | incredibly hard to try to change these patterns. |
| out that was going to help me gain control? It | | | | Many times I felt like two different people: one |
| was ME. | | | | telling me to binge because it would make me feel |
| It was me deciding that I wanted to change. Me | | | | better and another one telling me not to binge. |
| deciding to gain control and deal with | | | | There were times when I would drive to Taco |
| circumstances and emotions when they happened | | | | Bell, circle the parking lot without getting anything, |
| instead of drowning myself with Taco Bell, | | | | leave, and find myself going to another place only |
| McDonald's, Arby's, and whatever else I could find | | | | to do the same thing. I wasn't hungry, but it was |
| (in one binge, mind you). Me making the decision | | | | what I was used to doing when I was in the car |
| to tell someone about my deep, dark secret so | | | | and had a rough day. It had been my way out |
| that I could move one step forward to making | | | | for so many years. Finally I learned to just drive |
| progress. Me realizing that I didn't want to be | | | | home without stopping anywhere. I would say 9 |
| overweight in my twenties. Me realizing all of the | | | | times out of 10 that I would be in a horrible mood |
| health problems that could arise due to binging and | | | | when I got home. I was forced to handle my |
| gaining weight. Me realizing that I wanted to fit | | | | rough day without food and it was hard. |
| into many of the clothes that I had in my closet, | | | | Striving to have a healthy relationship with food all |
| even though most of my pants couldn't even fit | | | | boils down to a person's attitude. It is completely |
| up one of my legs, let alone both legs and up to | | | | unnatural to expect that our problem with food |
| my waist. Me realizing how nice it would be to | | | | will be fixed overnight. In the times when you fall, |
| keep a doctor appointment instead of canceling | | | | but pick yourself right back up, get back on track, |
| because I knew they would weigh me and I didn't | | | | eat healthy, exercise, and do whatever makes |
| want to have to deal with the scale and numbers, | | | | you feel good about yourself - those are the |
| let alone any comments about my weight from | | | | most important times. |
| the doctor. Me realizing that I wanted to hang out | | | | Really, that is all my success is. I was determined |
| with my friends and family without having to | | | | to not let food control me and my thoughts |
| worry about them commenting on my weight. Me | | | | anymore. I was determined to become a healthier |
| realizing that I only wanted one life - not a secret | | | | person. So, naturally, I had to start taking action. |
| life that no one else knew about. | | | | After all, aren't we all responsible for our own |
| Do you want to change? If you do, stop living in | | | | lives and well-being? I'm not going to lie, there |
| the reality you've known for so long and being OK | | | | were times when it was really hard. Times when I |
| with your situation. Open your eyes and face up | | | | wanted to drown myself in food. But, I was |
| to the things that binging has limited you to doing. | | | | making progress even if I binged only 10% in the |
| What would you like to be able to do? | | | | beginning because that still meant that there was |
| With me, it was just so easy for my weight to | | | | 90% of me that was still working towards my |
| be out of my mind. I'm a very good pretender | | | | goal. If I did give in, I learned to pick myself up |
| (liar) to myself. If I didn't know how much I | | | | and move on. No dwelling on anything that wasn't |
| weighed, then I didn't have to face up to how it | | | | going to get me closer to my goal |
| would feel to know the numbers. Of course I | | | | In time, I got better and better. All of the small |
| knew that I gained weight - all of my clothes | | | | times when I noticed myself moving forward |
| were tighter. Being oblivious to the numbers also | | | | began adding up until I was finally healed. Totally |
| provided some consolation to me, as silly as that | | | | recovered. Every single person is capable of |
| sounds. I didn't have to know if I was close to | | | | having a success story like me, and I truly wish |
| 200 pounds or not. Instead, I had a number in my | | | | that for all of you. |
| head (the last time I weighed myself) and I | | | | Notice to publishers: you have rights to republish |
| convinced myself I wasn't too far from that. | | | | this article on your website as long as you keep all |
| Now, as you know, I weigh myself daily. While | | | | links in tact and clickable. Thank you. |