Being an emotional eater, I struggle to balance stress, exercise, and my food

by La Tonya
(Byram, MS USA)

I have been losing weight all my 33 years because I grew up with scorn and degradation that stemmed from being overweight (ex. pokey the pig, big-fat-ox). At age 10, I weighed 165 lbs. and wore a size 10 shoe (Prince's song KISS said to "act your age not your shoe size" and I remember thinking I'm acting both!).

In recent months I had my first visit to the OBGYN in 3-4 yrs and I had a physical and visited my new doctor. My doctor and the OBGYN both want me to lose this "stuff" off of my 5'5" frame. My plight has always been to lose 40 lbs. and gain 15-20 lbs. After the birth of my youngest, 7 yrs. ago, I weighed 265 lbs. The smallest I've been in my adult life is 192 lbs. and that was last year after my husband had come back from Iraq.

He thought I looked great with my small waist and wide apple bottom. It's taken 7 years to gain and lose and gain again through aerobics, weight training, and diet when I could control it.

But recently I've found myself back up to 214. My digression came through a turbulent time in my household. Being an emotional eater, I struggle to balance stress, exercise, and my food because food serves as a succulent comfort in my times of distress.

Here recently I lost 5 lbs. The oh-so-typical beginning to all of my journeys. I'm trying to turn my dependence on food into opportunities to workout or read. I'm thrilled over the tiny victories that this train of thought brings.

I enjoy working out more and more as I tap into this unknown inner strength I'm now discovering and I would love the chance to use your techniques to allow you to inspire me to higher heights and greater appreciation and love for myself.

Thank you

Workout routines
Exercise videos
Diet plans