Bouncing Back

I come from a family who always had parties that involved huge amounts of food. I was never addicted to drugs or alcohol, but when it came to food, I could not help consuming it. It was always the same story; I ate until I was sick and about to explode. I would sometimes throw up, and I often had heartburn and headaches.

I tried at least six different diets. I could lose over 80 pounds in four months when I followed these diets, and I always played a lot of sports. Unavoidably, however, after another four months I would gain all the weight back.

In my head, there was always a battle between the food addict in me and the athlete. The food addict always won; I always chose eating food over playing sports. I love to play tennis, and when it got to the point when I could not run because I was too fat, I played doubles. I had everything under control until about two years ago when I started hearing news about friends who were overweight and having cardiac complications. The idea that this could happen to me, and that it could prevent me from getting to play with my grandchildren one day, terrified me. So I chose to stop playing tennis.

One day I received a phone call from my sister. She wanted to lose over a hundred pounds and was going to get gastric bypass surgery. I thought maybe that could be my solution, too. I talked to my doctor, and she said, “Why would you do that if you could have FA?” I wondered what in the world FA was. Was it a new drug?

It took me about three weeks to make the call. At the meeting, it was surprising to see people who spoke about the same things that were happening to me. It really surprised me that they were not embarrassed to be fat. Above all, it impressed me that they could lose so much weight and maintain it. It was remarkable. There were so many tools to choose from, but there was one important condition that was very challenging for me to follow; no sugar or flour. I thought that was impossible!

I started FA last year, when I was over 300 pounds. After almost a year of attending FA, I now realize that this is the place I want to be and the last group I want to be part of. I no longer think it is impossible. I don’t have that desperate feeling to eat uncontrollably anymore. I have lost over 100 pounds and I no longer take high blood pressure pills or any other medications. I went to the doctor to do a general check-up about a month ago, and all my sugar and cholesterol levels were normal. My doctor could not believe this, and she was very happy for me.

Now I buy clothes that I actually like and that fit me. It is incredible. My family is very proud of me. My first son is getting married this week. Hopefully, he and his wife will have children soon and I will be able to enjoy my time with them and spoil them as much as I can.

FA is absolutely amazing and life changing. I had to let go and trust FA until I found the strength inside that allowed me to do great things. Like they always say in FA, “Sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly.” No one can take me away from FA now.

I could lose over 80 pounds in four months when I followed these diets... Unavoidably, however, after another four months I would gain all the weight back.