I was misdiagnosed for quite a few years with symptoms of unbalance, being clumsy, lots of fatigue, and some dizziness. I finally went to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota and received a diagnosis of SCA, Sporadic Spinal Cerebellum Ataxia. My form of SCA is a neurological disease that might be hereditary, but they really do not know. I was told I needed intravenous drugs to stop the progression of this disease. I came home to California, devastated. I was unsure of how my life would be from then on. I did know I wanted to try other alternatives before I committed to taking prescription drugs. My first step was to try a celiac food plan (no gluten). I began to see some results, and then wanted to experiment more with nutrition. Someone told me that when others had eliminated flour, refined sugar, and alcohol from their diet that it helped alleviate symptoms of their disease.... Continue Reading
Recently I had my driveway repaved and had the flagstones of my front walk redone with decorative pebbles. I had wanted to update the curb-appeal of my house for years and was extremely pleased with the results. A few weeks later, the DC area was hit by a series of storms that left many without electricity, and houses were struck with fallen trees. The storm caused devastation for many, while I only lost Internet, phone, and TV. However, the new, decorative pebbles were blown all over my new driveway. I called the contractor a few times and left messages. I felt a righteous indignation that he should fix this mess. I soon realized that my serenity was in jeopardy, as I was having a mental tug-of-war between “getting” the contractor and staying in contented abstinence. I am a food addict who wobbled into FA at 218 pounds, fighting for my... Continue Reading
I’m 24 years old, and when I came into FA I weighed 333 pounds and was miserable. I could hardly do anything to take care of myself. My body was failing me, and I was in pain. My diabetes was out of control, and I didn’t even care. I have always been a happy person, but when I failed my last diet, I was starting to be sad for the first time. I tried to accept the fact that I was going to die at a young age and not see my son grow up. I just figured if something was that hard to do, then maybe I wasn’t meant to do it. I remember years before FA, when my husband, cousins, and I all went to Six Flags in Ohio. I was so excited. One of the first rides I went on was the Texas Twister, which is set... Continue Reading
After months of battling with my parents, trying to “case manage” their health and welfare needs, Adult Protective Services had to be called in. We had begun to notice that my father could not function on his own and my mother was starving because he was not feeding her and was denying her health care. My sick and depressed mother was removed from her home. My stress level was unimaginable, as I tried to work and take care of my parents. My program came first though, even when it seemed like an impossible burden to go to AOWLs and weigh, measure, and pack my food. But Program created a structure, which along with my husband’s help and support carried me through this experience. One day ten months later, after going to bed at 3 a.m., my husband and I were awakened by a 5 a.m. call to hear my sister... Continue Reading
For my whole life I lived in the fairy tale that if only I were thin, my life would be perfect. I have always battled 20 pounds, but those 20 pounds were enough to make me feel separated from the rest of the world. Eventually by my 40s, the battle increased to 40 pounds. After discovering the FA program, the weight came off quickly. Finally I was thin! But life wasn’t perfect. Yes, I was thin, but I still had the same job, the same house, the same husband, and quite frankly, I hated them all. Because I was using the program as a diet rather than a recovery program, I eventually picked up the food. Thus began a viciously chronic cycle of breaks that lasted over three years. Without a doubt, I proved to myself that this disease gets worse, never better. Then things that I always said hadn’t... Continue Reading
