Step One?

December 30, 2009

Hi everyone. New Year is a bout to start and I plan to find and keep my ideal

weight healthily. But I'm feeling overwhelmed by all of the different aspects of

journaling, self talk, exercise, listening, food choices, meditation of any

sort, etc. I'm 47 and have been overweight for a long time. My size wasn't an

issue from 16-30, but only because I was a very active bulimic! Since treatment

for that, I have not been able to maintain anything pertaining to a healthy

weight and perspective. At this point, I'm feeling afraid that this is who I am,

and I don't like it one bit! I can't even remember what thin feels like.I know I

use food to hide feelings and I'm afraid of what those feelings might be, other

than lots of anger for everything I can't control in my life. Please help!

January 1, 2010

Hi and Happy New Year!

My name is Astrid, I'm 37, and though not a chubby child I was a chubby

teenager.... I lost the weight in my 20's, but like you it was not in

the healthiest way, and I've binge eaten for as long as I can remember.

I regained all my weight when I had my 2 children (now 5 and 2) and over

the last year I have lost most of the weight (I'm now about 10lbs away

from my pre-children weight), however most of it was lost pre IOWL which

was in a cycle of binge eating and obsessive exercise, leaving me

irritable and exhausted.

Anyway, I just wanted to respond and say that I know what you mean about

the podcasts being overwhelming at first, but I have found that you

actually don't have to put in that much to reap huge benefits. My

advice would be to set yourself a reasonable goal, and I think a journal

is the most achieveable. I will warn you though, when I started with

the " deeper work " I waded through a LOT of ugly stuff that I'd kept

inside, so it wasn't a pleasant few months, BUT I am slowly coming out

the other side feeling better than I ever have!

I started a forum to make a similar group to this, but one where we can

have sections, and refer back to old messages more easily. It would be

great if you wanted to join, as it's only just starting out, and there

more of us there are, the more we can support each other and make this

decade one that is free of struggle!

The forum is at www.iowl.forumotion.com <http://> if you're

interested....

All the best for the new year!

x x x

>

> I thought I posted this yesterday, but must have clicked the wrong

button. Hope I remember all I had written.

>

> I'm feeling overwhelmed with how to start, yet start I must. I am 47.

I was a chubby child, but lost weight as a teenager when I became

bulimic. My disorder was hidden for 13 years. After treatment, I

gradually got control of not purging, but my weight has been an

increasing issue ever since. I've listened to all the podcasts at least

twice. I know steps to take: journal, visualizing, positive intent,

assignments, food, exercise, support. But it feels like this huge thing

descending onto me. How can I approach this without being so overwhelmed

by it that I give up before I even start?

>

> PLEASE help!

>

January 5, 2010

Baby Steps Baby Steps Baby Steps. Don't try to do it all at once you will

be setting yourself up for failure. That is one thing that I have learned.

I have white knuckled it every year for the last 25 years. This year is

different. I have set two weekly goals. Mine are eating 2 veggies at lunch

and dinner and exercising for 30 every day. When those get easy I will add

another maybe two. Like journaling or meditation etc. etc. If it's not

going to be easy you're going to quit. So take your time. It took years to

get this weight on but it doesn't have to take years to take it off. Do

your redo's, accomplish your goals and the weight will come off. Hang in

there.

Sherry

Boise, Idaho

January 5, 2010