My Name is Kelley. I am 49 years old and if I do not do something to change my life I will be dead in a few short years. My father Died at 52 years old. He smoked and drank regularly. He had diabetes and very poor eating habits that destroyed his health. In his era there were two ways to control your diabetes, food and one type of insulin. He could never stick to the very strict diet he was put on by doctors. Mostly because he and his wife did not understand how to use vegetables.
I am a food addict. I am a artist. I am a dreamer. I have started 3 non profits in my years and I have been a successful grant writer for 18 years volunteering in my community at the local food pantry. I developed a community service center and raised several million dollars in donations and grant funds over the years to help others.
I am blessed to live in a rural farm community where sustainable organic produce is a way of life for those who choose it. I belong to a local sustainable agricultural farm called Deep seeded community farm and I have given up several food related addictions thus far which have helped me loose 71 pound... But I have a long way to go.
I have felt like a failure despite these successes because of my lack of self control and my weight. I surrounded myself with people who enabled my food addiction. In November of 2010 I attended a lecture by Marianne Williamson, a noted spiritual leader and author. After the lecture I had her sign some books and she gave me the first edition hot off the press of her new book A course in Weight loss 21 spiritual lessons to loosing your weight forever. Reading the book stirred up a hornets nest of emotions. I felt more lost than ever.
This summer I did the hardest thing I could ever imagine. I admitted I was powerless over food. One thing was clear for me. I would not have bariatric surgery. I do not believe in it and I am not a candidate for it. I have seen one too many friends and acquaintances have life altering surgery, drop 100 to 150 pounds and within 3 years gain back that and more. I have a few friends who lost their weight only to become alcoholics or anorexics.
After searching through 75 eating disorder treatment facilities I found the one that would accept my insurance and my health situation. In the summer of 2011, I went to treatment 700 miles from home at a facility I had never seen, based completely on the word of strangers. I determined to loose weight the old fashioned way. The facility I went to is a article for another day, I did not find what I was looking for despite toughing it out staying for 34 days. I decided that I must get tough and do this myself. And thus began the journey. Over the next few months I hope to share with you what has worked and what has not. Tips and tricks that work and things I am still struggling with.
I make one commitment to you. I will be honest and I will be real. You may not agree with me, you may not like me. But My prayer is that I will find genuine friends and supporters out there and I will find accountability when I confess my inner most thoughts deeds and action when it comes to food. Welcome to the Journey. Thank you for your support. And for the haters out there. I will pray for you. but please respect my right to speak freely.
My book Recommendation of the day A Course in Weight Loss By Marianne Williamson
