How I did it: It was a long process. Began in high school, I joined the cross country team and began to run at least three miles a day, a wonderful experience that improved my mental and physical agility. I dropped 15 pounds in a month. When you run that often, you stop wanting to eat awful things because you know you will think about them later when you are pushing up that hill in the end of your afternoon run. To keep it off, I began to just think of myself as a skinny person. When you think of yourself as skinny, you start to eat like a skinny person, not denying yourself little treats, but enjoying life finally, which does wonders for your mental health and I am convinced, for your metabolism and physical health as well. I moved to Boston for school where I walk everywhere, probably a mile a day. This has helped me to maintain my weight despite the lack of exercise now in my life.

Lessons & tips: That is when I would eat and eat crap. Also, don't bring things into the house that you are likely to turn to in dire times--when you only have cheese, carrots, crackers, yogurt, healthy things to eat when you are stressed, emotional, or bored, you will fill your body with good things and vitamins that will benefit you in the long run. Without those Oreos in the house, it's hard to eat the whole sleeve at once . . .

When you are craving something, wanting to fill your bored mind and mouth and hands with something, make tea, or coffee. This will occupy your mind for a while. The warmth fills up your stomach, making you no longer want that candy, and that warm mug in your hands is way more gratifying than something sticky or greasy. I binge eat for comfort in stressful or sad times. This discovery I made actually helps a lot more than any junk food could.

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Jan 18, 2009, 10:57AM PST | 1 comment | 2 cheers