Keep fighting... you are worth it.

Today, the confluence of personal, family, and business pressures finally got to me. I ate about 1,000 calories over my daily allotment. Some of that was counterbalanced by exercise while umpiring little league this afternoon. But at 10pm, I was still about 550 calories in the red. I thought about going to sleep with it that way, and writing today off as a "cheat day." I thought about some creative accounting in my exercise numbers to turn my day's total from red to green. It was late, and I was ready to snuggle deeply into my warm bed. But I did not.

I realized that there was one thing more important than the rush I get from eating to cram down anxiety, boredom and stress. That is the rush that I get from my successes on here that have motivated other people to successfully battle THEIR own eating demons. I realized that if I went to sleep in the red, or, worse, cheated on my exercise numbers to turn my day falsely green, the only person I would be cheating is me.

I looked down at my watch. Then I looked once more-- longingly, wistfully-- at my bed. Finally, I headed to the closet. Five minutes later, I had my sweatshirt, sweatpants, sweatsocks, walking shoes, and iPod all in place. I trundled my not so little (but smaller than 7 months ago) derriere right out the front door. An hour later, I had sweated, panted, and struggled my way from red numbers to true, honest, legitimate green numbers. But more than that, I regained a little bit of the self-respect that I have tried to build on here over the past 7 plus months. While I walked very briskly (for me), I imagined the anxieties, boredom and stress that caused me to eat 1,000 calories over my daily allotment all pouring out of my body along with the copious amounts of sweat and carbon dioxide... gone forever in the chilly night air.

I have a wish for each and every one of you. I wish you would remember my experience tonight the next time you need to battle your own eating demons. And if you do, please drop me a note. It would absolutely make my day to know that I have helped someone the way others on here have helped me over the past several months.

Scott R. in Houston, Tx.