mel... your story has me almost speechless. my first reaction was that the lady's progress has nothing to do with your eating habits. she's working out of desperation and your 'crappy eating' <which i'm sure is better than some people's best efforts> sounds only human...

but then i kind of hit myself upside the head with a 'jiff... what have you been working for ALL THIS TIME.' kind of realization...

i was bedridden. on oxygen. not able to walk. or breathe. or talk. i was your client. well, even worse in some respects., at least she's not dragging an oxygen tank! i had to learn to walk again. dragging the damn tank and the physical therapist following me with the wheelchair.

and every single day i am grateful that i'm not back there. and it was literally one step at a time. and i'm not going back there..

it's minute to minute some days. tell your client that we're all cheering her on!!!!

and SITC... i remember something about a link between serotonin and migraines. i'll have to go find it. you have my deepest sympathies.

and jack. i've been in your position. very very frustrating. new jersey has several programs for displaced workers... sessions in resume writing, networking, interviewing, and other job hunting skills. i got so much out of this... is there any possibility that pennsylvania offers something along these lines? it'd be in either the unemployment office or the department of labor.

it gave structure to my day [there's that ROUTINE idea again]. and goals to accomplish. even though it took awhile to find a job, i knew i was getting there and i'm telling you, as a professional writer and editor, i learned SO MUCH from the resume writing class... and i still use it!!!

Great link, Ilene! Thanks!

Good point, Mel, about emotions. It's a lot easier to try to program our actions than our emotions. Can't figure out where half those little :devil: come from anyway -- like that stupid little voice that tells me to go on and eat something that I know I'll regret the next day.

Maybe by trying to establish routines we can try to channel or deflect some of the negative/destructive emotions? Don't know what the answer is to that one; it's certainly something we all struggle with.