I had been leading a very active lifestyle, which included helping with my disabled grandson, who is in a wheelchair. Then, ten years ago, I was diagnosed with arthritis in the feet. It appeared like gout, with excessive ankle swelling. At the time, I was approximately 160 pounds on a 5′ 3″ frame.

I became a beached whale, a couch potato. It was extremely challenging for me to walk, but somehow I managed to complete my last five years of work before my planned retirement.

It didn’t take too long before I reached 208 pounds. My eating habits didn’t change, only my life style. Physically, I was very limited. My husband did most of the grocery shopping, and I was unable to go anywhere in the evening because my ankles would always swell up by 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. I tried different weight-reduction plans, and at one time, I lost a great deal of weight, only to put it back on a year later.

In the midst of my frustration and pain, I came down with what I thought was the flu. It turned out that I had pneumonia and was admitted to the hospital, where I ended up discussing my weight challenges with the R.N. She shared information about FA with me; she had lost 82 pounds in the program. I wanted to know more about it, and she said that she would bring me written material at the end of her shift.

Two months later, I joined FA and found a wonderful sponsor at my first meeting. I learned that I am a food addict. This was truly a revelation to my psyche, but none-the-less the truth. I now eat very wholesome foods for each meal and work the tools of Program. What I initially thought was an impossible process turned out to be my lifeline and path to personal pleasure.

Four-and-a-half months later, I was 43 pounds lighter, and a miracle happened for me. I found that I could walk as long and as far as any normal person. Although I still had arthritis in both feet, I had no more swelling of the ankles.

I will be 72 years young this year and truly have a new lease on life. I have come down two sizes and am looking forward to reaching whatever my goal weight might be.  Best of all, I can hardly wait to see what I look like next year. I am now leading a normal walking life without pain. Thank you God.