Never Too Old

A STORY OF RECOVERY FROM FOOD ADDICTION

Never Too Old

This summer, I went to my first Renaissance fair. My friend and I walked around the booths, admiring everyone’s elaborate […]

This summer, I went to my first Renaissance fair. My friend and I walked around the booths, admiring everyone’s elaborate costumes and the beautiful, handmade wares. We watched jousting matches, a demonstration of trained tigers and leopards, and my friend even played an archery game.

As we walked around, I kept seeing signs for a pony ride. “I’d love to ride a pony!” I joked with her. She said she wouldn’t mind, but I said the ride was probably just for kids.

When we found the pony ride, it was indeed for children, but I looked up and saw a sign that said “Weight limit: 130 pounds.” Not only was I less than 130, I had 12 pounds to spare! My top weight had been 206 pounds, but thanks to FA, these days I weigh in at a slender 118 pounds.

I asked the woman running the pony ride if there was an age limit, or just a weight limit. “You’re never too old to ride a pony!” she replied. I waited in line behind two little girls dressed as princesses, and rode my pony, which was the most fun I’d had all afternoon. Just one more experience I wouldn’t have had without FA!

More Stories

Back to Basics

When I was growing up in California, Mom couldn’t cook meals fast enough and my older brothers sometimes ate food off my plate. It felt to me like there was never enough food. I came to FA for the first time four years ago, after hearing about the program from a friend, who had lost 80 pounds. I raised my hand at a meeting, dutifully identified myself as a food addict (at 235 pounds), worked the food plan faithfully for six months, and lost 72 pounds. I didn’t really believe I was a food addict and ended up leaving FA

Read More »

Mellow Yellow

I have been abstinent for ten-and-and-a-half months and have lost 45 pounds. One evening as I was getting ready to go on a date with my husband, I glanced in the mirror and remarked to him that I thought I looked yellow. My husband, who is color blind, took a quick glance at me and said I looked fine to him, so I let it go. The next day in church I had a friend come up to me, and say, “Did you take up smoking? Your fingers are all stained.” I was appalled and insulted that she would even

Read More »

Night and Day

A few days before I came into FA, I had stayed up yet another long night and consumed an entire family-sized dessert. I then proceeded to empty the garbage can with my bare hands in order to hide the package of the sugar/flour item. It was an out-of-body experience that night, as though I hovered above myself, watching in disbelief what I had become. Food had taken over my nights, and obsession with food and weight had taken over my days. I know now that I have been a food addict since childhood, when I used to stockpile sweets under

Read More »

GET NEW STORIES EVERY MONTH

Get Connection magazine sent to your inbox or mailbox.

Scroll to Top