[Princess Sara]

Well hey there and Happy Independence Day. This is a great 4th for me. I FEEL free. Here is a little background info on me. I am 48. Have had type 1 diabetes for 26 years. Been a fat girl for most of my life and even when I wasn't technically fat, I felt fat. Three years ago I was in horrible shape. I weighed 210 pounds, out of shape, my diabetes was completely out of control, and.....I was an alcoholic. I had tried EVERY diet on the planet and nothing worked.

I had a terrible fall up a flight of stairs. Yep, I fell UP the stairs. It was a metaphor for my life...I was climbing my heart out but no matter how hard I tried, I could not achieve any of my goals. The fall was a bad one---210 pounds hitting concrete! I fractured a bone inside my left knee and in my right wrist. I was a mess. That turned out to be my turning point.

I began Atkins. Surprisingly I was able to stick with the plan, my blood sugar improved, and my weight actually began going down. My momentum began to build. Six months into what I now see was abstinence, I reached bottom in regards to my drinking. I walked into AA. That is when I resurfaced from my ****.

It took me two years to reach my goal weight. (Along the way I found Dr. Bernstein's Diabetic Solution and have discovered that eating according to his recommended very low carb (VLC) is giving me diabetes control that I never believed possible.) That is totally okay with me because my recovery from obesity/food addiction/alcoholism has been a rewarding journey. I am thin and sober!!! I have not had a drink in 2 1/2 years. I have maintained my weight loss for a year. AND...5 weeks ago I had a belt lipectomy (lower body lift) to remove my loose skin and repair my stomach muscles.

I am a BIG reader....love, love, love to read. Recently I picked up the Beck Diet Solution book and am interested in a book study. I googled this morning and found that this forum has one going. I will be looking into that! I have read about 3fatchicks but never joined. So here I am. I gotta say the control panel is the EASIEST one I have ever worked with. Love that!!!

I look forward to getting to know the forum and making new friends.
Oh, and about my name....somewhere along this journey I have turned into an absolute princess! Who would have ever thought such a thing could happen!

[CousinRockingChair]

My goodness...thats a pretty incredible story of self transformation, much respect to you.

welcome and good luck
emily
xxx

[makemethin]

Hey there :] I'm new as well, and I'm probably one of the very few adolescents who've joined this site. Anyway, that's quite an amazing and inspirational story. My father is a recovering alcoholic as well. I, too, have been going through a rough patch...This past year and a half has been utter **** for me, to say the least. I was just recently hospitalized for my eating disorder, sever depression, OCD, bi-polar disorder and self-injurous behavior (cutting). While it was an eye-opening experience, I truly believe it was the best decision I've ever made. It really helped me to realize how truly lucky I am in comparison to so many other individuals my age. Thus, I've begun my road to recovery, and as of 4 days ago, I've been self-injury-free for one month! Quite an accomplishment for me, seeing as how I was cutting multiple times a day, making absolutely no effort whatsoever to quit. Anywho, enough of my jabbering, haha, I wish you the best of luck! Stay strong! :]

[Princess Sara]

Thanks, Emily! I think I will enjoy this forum.

Brianna, good for you on reaching for recovery. Take it easy---one day at a time. Those days will mount up and you too will have an amazing and inspirational story. Best wishes!
Sara<><