While putting food on the table and keeping the lights on were ongoing challenges at home, my family showed their love through large quantities of food. At school, I was always the biggest person in my class. TV shows and magazines about weight loss only made the cravings worse. I worked hard at the gym and then rewarded myself with food. Once I had my own money and was able to buy what I wanted, my food addiction really took off. At 300 pounds, everything hurt. I had high blood pressure and was pre-diabetic. With heart disease rampant in my family, I knew if I didn’t get into recovery, I’d be dead very soon. I had heard about Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, but - no flour, no sugar? No way! Then I heard a little voice say, “Let’s just go check this out.” My plan was to lose weight, get married, and leave. Long story short, I lost weight, got married, and stayed. What is my life like now? Amazing. I could still be that 300-pound person waking up every day saying, “I don’t want to do this,” shoving myself into my size 24 clothes. Instead, I get to show up for life as my authentic self; asking for help, loving those around me, loving myself, and loving my life.