Hi everybody. My mother-in-law told me about this program because a
friend of hers is on it. I've been struggling with my weight for the
last eight years. My body has caused me a great deal of grief
recently. I love clothes and looking good and I used to love shopping.
So many things have changed in my life because of my weight and my
self-consciousness about my body. Also, I've become aware of all the
ways that excess weight can effect you, even "little things:" tight
rings and other ill-fitting jewelry (necklaces, bracelets) and glasses
- as you can see, I am a material girl.

But I also love food so when I heard you could be on a diet and eat
what you were hungry for, I was absolutely fascinated. The fasting
period didn't seem like too big a trade-off for counting points,
bargaining my way through the day for food here and there, complicated
recipes, fatty low carb diets, etc. I love coffee (even w/out cream),
tea and soda (oh, yeah, and I can be induced to drink water - maybe
I'll get inspired), so being allowed to use these things druing the
fast was a relief.

I do have a long way to go, however. My body has jumped a size every
year since having my baby eight years ago, which takes me from a
twelve to a twenty. Uggh and double uggh. Even worse is the scale. At
last weigh in, I was 220 lbs. It is so hard to believe things have
gotten so out of control.

And, I am a writer. I write fiction, which takes a lot of
concentration and energy and sometimes induces binges. I guess I was
worried about not being able to eat as an outlet, but there is
something comforting too about the parameters of the eating window and
maybe I won't think about food so much as time goes on.

This is long, but I wanted to say hi. Sunday, tomorrow, I will attempt
to push breakfast to lunch, which might be fairly easy since church
will be occupying my morning hours and thoughts.

This is long. Sorry. Welcome. And thanks for sharing your stories,
everyone. It gives me courage.

Yours,
Meg