Ten years ago, I reached a point where I almost gave up ever being able to control my weight. I had struggled with various diets for more than 50 years. I was about ready to say to hell with it and eat what I wanted, when I wanted it. If it killed me, so be it. (My doctor had assured me that it would kill me if I continued on the path I was on.) I had become so nasty, mean, and ugly that I couldn’t stand myself. I was continually angry with myself for failing the diet plans that I had started almost every Monday morning of my life. I was on many prescriptions, which only exacerbated my “don’t give a damn” outlook on life. I had dieted and exercised my way up to 452 pounds.

My nephew, who was a surgeon in the Air Force, came home from Germany, took one look at me, and suggested that I see a gastric bypass surgeon about surgery. I had four appointments with this group and was on the verge of proceeding with the surgery.

During this period, my wife decided that we should go to marital counseling. I had put this poor woman through a lot of trauma with my anger and she was really desperate. The counselor suggested that I go to a meeting of FA. I liked what I heard and was able to lose a few pounds. After a few weeks, I decided to postpone the surgery. Twenty months later, I was down to 200 pounds.

I am really a lucky guy. I live in Florida with my wife, who should get a medal for putting up with me for 34 years. I hunt, fish, and ski seven weeks a year up in New England, where I lived for 70 years. I no longer have sleep apnea, heart arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, or poor cholesterol levels. I recently had a neurosurgeon tell me that I have the blood vessels and arteries of a 30-year-old. He couldn’t believe that I was a smoker for 30 years! My waist is now size 38 instead of 64 inches. My coat size is now 42 long, instead of 58 long/stout. I no longer need a seat belt extender on an aircraft and I can go to restaurants that have chairs with arms. My immune system is now strong; I almost never have colds.

After doing what FA tells me to do every day for nine years, I have maintained my weight. What I do each day is a simple plan and is really a small price to pay for the great life I have today. I eat three meals a day with nothing in between and measure every portion. I go to several meetings a week and talk to people in the organization on the phone each day.

This program has enabled me to conquer myself.  I don’t have all the anger and self-loathing I carried around for so many years. I no longer crave food, and I have peace and serenity in my life, which I never had in the past. My relationship with my wife and other people is much better. My experience has really been a miracle. Living life the FA way is such a small price to pay!