All my life I have been heavy. As a child my Mom would say “it is just baby FAT.” As a teen I would say “my bones are bigger” and as an adult I would blame it on “my thyroid.” All I wanted was to be “normal”. Two and a half years ago, a dear friend/coworker said, “You are getting too obese.” We deal with addictions here and you are not a good example of someone in recovery.” Well, I was shocked, hurt, and in disbelief, for I was heavy but I could do everything anyone else was doing. It was hard to face the truth.

I figured I would join another “weight group” or take diet pills. Instead, this time, I joined a twelve step program. I got to understand that “I was an addict!” Now, there was a different concept. I also came to realize that food wasn’t my only problem, it was about me. What was the REAL REASON I was so obese or overweight? I did many things to try to answer this question. As time went on and the weight and my thinking changed, I realized what was WEIGHING ME DOWN.

Oh, yes, WHAT we eat is a big problem. WHY we eat is even a bigger problem. I grew to understand my demons, shortcomings, anger, insecurities, trust issues and so on. All this and more was what was WEIGHING ME DOWN. Obese people for the most part are not looked at as having a problem. They just eat too much. Yes, we eat too much to put the ARMOR OF PROTECTION AROUND US so we don’t have to feel. Inside that armor is a person who needs help to learn to like who they are and to understand what is causing them to eat. The next time you see an obese person, they have a disease called “ADDICTION” and with help, it can be controlled.

As a Certified Life and Strategies Coach and Certified Food Psychology Coach , I have developed a process of helping people to address both of these issues with good success. It is a process. As a person takes the steps to change, the effects take place – weight loss, change of attitude, self esteem grows, and life gets better. I am now 153 pounds lighter and still losing, but this time I am liking who I am becoming.