newbie!

[Guest guest]

Hello All--

I am one of the newbies. My name is Cheryl, I am 45 yrs old, I live in CA with my dh (our 25th is on the 25th!)

I started the non-dieting journey six years ago (the year I was going to turn 40) In Jan of that year I decided I was going to do three things before I turned 40 on my birthday (8/22)--I was going to FINALLY get fit AND lose the 20 or so lbs that are always there, and I was going to read the bible. I started eating healthfully and exercising and by March hadn't lost any weight. At the end of the month I heard about Gwen Shamblin and the Weigh Down diet. By my birthday I'd lost 20 lbs and then added a few more to it after that.

As much as I loved being thinner, I loved having peace with food more. Now when I look back on it, I don't think I really had peace with food. I did have lots of faith though--and that has stuck with me.

Unfortunately, some of the weight has come back on--and I am about 14 lbs above where I'd like to be. More than the extra weight though--I have been consumed with thoughts about food, eating, weighing, etc. It drives me crazy.

I've tried to get back into this by myself and have had mild success. About six months ago I bought Koenig's book, "The Rules of Normal Eating" and I also did a stint on Moran's list--Diet Survivors.

I got out Ms. Koenig's book this week and started reading it again--it's amazing what I am reading this time around--I must not have been ready to really do any work last time I read it. I am determined to stick with this and get to a point where I have true peace with food. I'm hoping you can all help me with that.

I'm off to make a list of my irrational beliefs concering food, weight and my body--can't change them until I can name them!

Cheryl