Beginning the Journey

It was a warm summer evening and I was hosting a retreat for my knitting group, the Sisterhood of the Stitch. Six wonderful women were gathering to spend a weekend of yarn, gossip, fine food, and drink. Each friend arrived and sat in the “stitch circle,” otherwise known as the living room. The chairs were soft and overstuffed, just as I felt I was.

When one of the members arrived, I knew something about her was different; not wrong, just different. I hadn’t seen her for about a year. The rosacea on her face had diminished. She wasbright-eyed and smiling. She walked with more enthusiasm and purpose. Most of all, she was 50 pounds lighter. On her five-foot tall frame, the weight loss was stunning.

Of course, I asked what she had done. She started to explain her journey in FA. When she got to the part about finding help for her migraines, I realized I wanted what she had. Even hearing her say, “no flour or sugar” didn’t matter at that point. I was very hopeful at the prospect of no longer suffering from the nausea, loss of vision, and facial numbing that migraines brought. She then said, “I brought my food for the weekend and have plenty to share.” She proceeded to create a beautiful, satisfying meal that left me feeling none of the usual bloating, lethargy, and acid reflux. Most of all, I didn’t feel guilty. That’s where my FA journey began.

Who would have thought the outcome of a weekend with friends could have changed my life so completely?