Absolutely. My MIL can't quite get that one. She is forever pointing out someone she thinks looks great that is just unhealthy. Her examples include a relative that has alligator skin from years of sun abuse and is way too skinny. I want to lose weight because my size keeps me from doing stuff I enjoy, but having energy and feeling better is way more important.

Oy. Tell me about it. I'm about to give an update in Apocalypse on Step Mom but I'll probably leave this part out... My Dad keeps going on and on about "but she takes such good care of herself..." and its true that she's skinny as a rail and works out 3+ times a week -- but she lives on carbs largely in vodka form.

Which feels petty at the moment, but, hey, we all have feels.

Laura, what's the name of your program? I'm sure you've mentioned it but I can't remember. I've gotten into some bad habits and I think jump-starting myself out of them is worth considering. That and you are (or sometimes are) pescetarian too so that's a plus.

I would definitely like to have more energy. And also to be as active as I used to be, back in the day. That feels like a daunting goal a lot of the time, though. I need to have "every little bit helps" tattooed on my arm.

I think I just talked myself out of going to work. Because I have lots of volunteer stuff to do.

Thanks for the validation, guys.

Making changes to what one eats and drinks for health reasons and to feel better is awesome. Doing so exclusively for weight loss can be fraught though.

Exactly this. I know what "diet" - as in, way of eating, not restricting eating - makes me FEEL best, and I think I'll soon start to move back towards that. But I think I needed an undefined period of unrestricted eating to sort-of hit a reset button.

But I think I needed an undefined period of unrestricted eating to sort-of hit a reset button.

This is totally me. Grief, loss, illness, disappointment...the emotions most likely to send me to the cupcake store were just _rife_ for a couple of years in my life.

I decided, without really having a conversation with myself about it to pretty much do my worst eating-wise. I think it actually helped me both through distraction and dopamine surges.

Since I can't bring myself to drink or do drugs...areas where my control issues are incontrovertible...food just seemed the best choice.

I guess I should be grateful that I didn't have to work very hard to do it. Temptation is just a few doors down.

Trudy, I'm so glad to hear your stepmother is awake. I hope they can figure out what happened and prevent it from happening again.

I really could use to both eat differently and lose some weight for health reasons, but knowing that has not helped me make any significant, lasting changes

In more meme news, I just had a very difficult therapy session, and I'm in my car trying to pull myself together before going anywhere.

Definitely keep yourself safe, sj.

Bless your heart. I hope you find, if not balance, at least feeling more together as quickly as you need.

I've never let a client leave my office either angry or crying. It's just not a good idea.

My therapist is definitely not you, Bonny because I am both angry and crying, but time was up.

Definitely not me. I'm sorry that is the case.

It's tough when you have someone else coming in right away, but I have definitely been known to ask for a minute or two.

More than anything, I work to make sure we come to balance a good 10 minutes before the end of session.

I may not be a mother, but the idea of one of my people being out on the street feeling vulnerable, brings out the maternal NO in me.

What would help you now, sj?

Is there anything we can say?