Chewing the Fat... In My Words... & Theirs
Words impact how people see the world, and themselves.
By definition, most remain innocent but two simple words that do not appear to be threatening or harmful come to mind:
FOOD: something that people eat to keep them alive.
ADDICTION: an inability to stop doing something, especially something harmful.
Both words have twisted my existence from the time I turned eighteen.
Food obsession ruled me for several decades, and tired of the yo-yo compulsive dieting and waves of never-ending guilt, I toyed with losing myself to the will of the addiction.
Now, thirty years later, I reframed my mental game and fought for myself, digging deep into my soul for the strength to take back control over this love-hate addiction to food.
Storm clouds parted, and sunlight brightened my days.
Then, diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, suddenly, the fight to save myself became the toughest battle I have ever faced. Although this conflict differs from my past experiences because I have chosen myself rather than allowing the devils of addiction to further plummet my insecurities. My iron clad will to lose weight, and navigating my declining health, pushed me into unknown territory.
My iron clad will to lose weight, and navigating my declining health pushed me into unknown territory.
Come along for the ride and join me as I journal my way to a happier, healthier lifestyle.
You're Fat, Stop Eating... In My Words... & Theirs
Words shape how we see the world—and ourselves.
Two simple ones defined much of my life:
FOOD: something we need to survive.
ADDICTION: an inability to stop doing something, especially something harmful.
From eighteen years of age, I was trapped in a cycle of obsession, yo-yo dieting, and relentless guilt.
For decades, my relationship with food felt like a battle I couldn’t win. Until everything changed.
After thirty years, I shifted my mindset, fought back, and took control. I reached my target weight—and discovered a healthier, more balanced version of myself.
Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are now part of my life—daily challenges that test me—but I meet them with strength and determination, refusing to be defined by them.
No longer driven by punishment or insecurity, but by resilience and self-worth, this is my journey—through struggle, recovery, and reclaiming my life.
FULL CIRCLE: FINDING ME IN M.E.
By SUE JOHN with MARCO LEWIS
At first, it seemed I was just another busy wife, mother, and nurse.
Until something changed. With my energy levels at an all-time low, the ability to perform tasks I once took for granted became almost impossible.
In crisis, my body decreed it could not and would not continue to support me—it was time to stop.
Then came the diagnosis—Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome—that tilted my world off its axis, leaving me with no other choice but
to accept what fate had thrown at me.
From the frightening loss of strength in my legs, increased pain when walking, and the horror of finding myself bedbound, I became a shadow of my former self.
Too exhausted to speak, feed myself, or find the words hidden in the fog clouding my mind, I clung onto hope—of rediscovering myself, by learning to listen to the wisdom of my body and slowly adopting methods to support my health, desperate to reclaim the ability to love and live life again.
FULL CIRCLE charts my journey from the depths of despair, to recovery, and finally re-discovering who I truly was.
