106. Never Too Late to Find Freedom

I am 79 years old and have been in recovery for 16 years. At my heaviest, I reached 267 pounds. My journey with food addiction began in childhood when I remember stealing food while my grandmother was cooking and hiding in the closet to eat it. My first binge was at age ten. Throughout my twenties, I developed habits like visiting multiple fast-food restaurants on my way home from work and isolating myself to eat. Extreme measures like having my jaw wired shut didn't stop me from finding ways to consume sugary foods, albeit with a straw. When I was diagnosed as prediabetic, I thought I could outsmart my blood sugar while still indulging in desserts. Even seeing a loved one lose their legs to diabetes didn’t stop me. The turning point came after retirement when my partner introduced me to Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA). Despite my initial skepticism, I persisted in the program and eventually reached 134 pounds. In recovery, the miracles just keep happening. I’ve rebuilt broken relationships, traveled the world abstinently, and maintained my serenity, even through life’s toughest challenges. In FA, I learned to manage my addiction, one day at a time, with the help of a sponsor. Most importantly, I’m free—free from obsession, isolation, and the shame that once consumed me.