It seems that your heart & mind are truly in the right place in order to successfully finish your Body-for-Life transformation!

With regards to your eating disorder, what exactly do you mean?  Are you eating the wrong things - junk food?  Are you not eating because of your gas and blotting problems?  Let's start there.

No just the years of fasting and binging did a number on my insides I think.  I had multiple tests and they said it was fine, I dunno.  But no I mean like I have been eating right, I just can't eat a lot and still have a little bit of the gas pressure and bloating in my lower abdomen and sides.  I realize I have to eat a lot to gain weight because I lost a lot of weight but it's hard for me because of that.  I need to put on weight but that is hard to eat a lot and as frequent when I have that pressure gas and bloating still.  Any suggestions?

Protein... Protein... Protein! The Myoplex Original shake has 42 grams of good quality protein and 300 calories, which you need.

The trick is not to gorge yourself and eat everything in sight, but eat those things higher in protein - chicken, fish, lean beef; slow digesting carbs - beans, whole grain pasta and brown rice and good fats like Pistachios, Walnuts and Almonds - and in your case perhaps a extra helping of peanut butter everyday.

Did you know that Michael Phelps (the swimmer) takes in 10,000 calories everyday? It can be done, you just have to "PLAN AHEAD"!!!

Sincerely,

Tim Mardis

2011 Men's Body-for-Life Champion, 46+

Thanks. That actually does help a little and congrats on your success :) I'm trying its just hard. I know one thing I need to start getting my workouts in earlier and eat Godly but I fear eating too much will just cause more gas so its like I'm trapped. That is amazing tho that Michael Phelps takes in that many calories a day in that skinny frame and stomach! But he is kind of taller and has a big frame. I just finished week 1 so all weekend Ive been conjuring up some ideas about what to eat next week and what to work on. Also I wrote down my goals from the crossing the abyss chapter in the book which I have never done. That stuff really works. Almost like transforming dreams into goals. Amazing! But yea gotta take it slow. Ive been living my whole life this way, can't change it in a week and get discouraged if it doesn't.  But thank you for all your support and everybody's on here :)

I think that you'll find that once you begin eating a more balanced, nutritional diet that some, if not most of your discomfort from gas should subside.

I used to get indigestion all of the time, but once I began eating properly it literally stopped.  Well, that is until I choose to cheat and have an entire day of cheating.  Don't get me wrong, I believe everyone not only deserves to cheat on their diet, but I highly recommend it.  It keeps you body and mind in check.  The trick is to reward yourself with a cheat meal or snack one in a while and not a whole day.

Let me know if I can be of further help.

Tim Mardis

2011 Men's Body-for-Life Champion, 46+

hey thanks man :) truly inspiring

keep up the good work

Having a lot of anxiety racing thoughts and trouble sleeping and missed two workouts from feeling overwhelmed and not enough sleep but I can already see and feel the changes approaching.  Just want to keep the changes coming and work harder every week.  Really cleaned up my diet a lot and eating very clean.  Trying not to be so hard on myself and also trying to be too perfect which is a no no.  Very overwhelmed but I see it getting better and getting easier.  Any suggestions with the sleep because I need to get up early and get my workouts in.  Those are when I have the most effective ones but many mornings I can not due to lack of sleep, anxiety, fear or racing thoughts.  Any help with this? I am doing the best I can and trying to take it as slow as  I can but still feel overwhelmed.  Now if I could only sleep :) #SPENT

Make sure you document the changes you are making...b/c as long as you are moving forward, you will get there. May take a little longer to get into the routine of things but make sure you are recording the positive steps you are taking toward the changes you want to see.  

Because you mentioned anxiety, racing thoughts and trouble sleeping... may I suggest some Centering.  If you are not used to meditation, it may sound odd to you...but if you can't fall asleep anyway, what do you have to lose.

There is a great one called Rainbow Centering...where you work through the colors of the rainbow (visualizing) starting with red. When you get to violet, you should be a little more relaxed and it is here you take a few minutes to visualize what you want. (it can be visualizing your day tomorrow ...i.e. getting up and getting your 20 min of cardio done, fb eating a healthy breakfast, etc.  visualize the whole day.  Or it can be to visualize how you see yourself in 12 weeks, etc.)

By doing this, it enables you to relax your mind and you are feeding your mind with positive thoughts vs the thoughts that may be causing you anxiety.  (reality is...we can only think of on thing at a time...so why not make it positive.)

Here is a website with the words:  www.batwinas.com/.../rainbow-centering-exercise-version-1-by-alexander-everett

you may have some music already. Alexander Everett has an audio of this centering. You may be able to get it at the library or listen to anything else that helps you to relax your breathing and focus.

The key here is that you visualize what you want and not what you don't want.

May sound odd...but what have you got to loose.  

peace and good luck!

wow gee thanks Rhonda M. I love all you guys for the support and we are all gonna make it :) but yea its just hard. usually i let the negative ones take over the racing thoughts, anxieties, and fear of dying. its just a lot because i have been thru a lot but i am working hard....could be harder but just doing the best i can so i don't have a fricken heart attack or something with the mind racing and racing around.  Trying to be like the tortoise instead of the hare. What I find works best is positive thoughts like you said and looking forward constantly to tomorrow 12 weeks whatever and happy positive thoughts.  Usually mine is clouded with so much deathly morose images that its sad from what i been through.  But I keep the faith and do the best i can.  And when i do that i can sleep ok. But lately its been so bad and overwhelming that i feel the need to take something so i do. and its nothing new. its been going on for years and i don't expect it to change in 2 weeks.  but by the end of 12 i wana put all the pills down and never look back. seems impossible is it?? and i will have to try that centering thing.  I kind of get the just of what you are saying and what it is going for.  APpreciate you all guys helping me throughout these rough times.  Slowly but surely we'll get there. I know it.  Just like Bill says in the book, hope is not a stron enough emotion. you have to have to have faith and belief also enthusiasm is a big one.  big if i feel depressed and my lifes never gonna change it makes me want to do nothing.  If i can see the goal like literally and know ill be there, Ill work my butt off. But let me know guys. I'm here

edit: thats my problem too. from the pills (medication) my thoughts are all over the place so it is very hard for me to focus on one thing at a time since my mind races but i can do it with lots of work practice exercises and relaxation...wow I needa go pray . so how can i focus on just what i need to do and not think about it so much. tonight i bought two nike shirts saying just do it cus my mom used to tell me that. and its that simple. thats all there is too it :) you realize.  The worrying anxieties fears just hinder our progress and the process. HAte those things. But I find that you can use those time to work for you, not against you which is another battle. so true gotta want something so bad enough to get it and i do i really do. if anyone deserves a second chance at life its me. and part of the answer to that key is this book and program and following it. i always tell people theres so much negativity in this world and it seems it outweighs the positivity because we let it but the good always wins in the end :) it is inevitable wow that is amazing those words. i bet that does work better than any pill cough syrup sleeping aid anything that i have been using for years. i really hate those things and i usually don't hate anything or anyone because it is a weak emotion but I'm gonna print this out tomorrow and start using it.. thanks :D so happy

ok..one more suggestion... b/c it is hard for you to focus or sit still for extended periods of time...start small.  It may be as simple as reading a positive quote.  The more I do this throughout the day, it has a powerful effect.  Something so small may seem like it would not ...but it does.   So, start short meditations and add time when you can.  just a few minutes of quiet music may be helpful.  Many meditation music clips on youtube.  Peace!

don't get me wrong. i do do that a lot of the day and a LOT of the time and i get inspired from YOU. but in the same token those negative demons and thoughts always seem right on my shoulder lurking just waiting to catch me off guard and vulnerable. scary... i see what your saying tho its more like a lifestyle u can't just read one quote u gotta read all day and positive stuff all day its a whole lifestyle thing. just like getting in shape. its not something u do for awhile or a job or a hobby or a passion. you LIVE it

i took today off cus i was so tired and overwhelmed i ate healthy and good for the most part too so i could rest and recuperate but just had some taco bell. first mess up in almost 2 weeks on the program not bad. tomorrow and next week we go hard oVo. i can only do what i can do :D i fathom. this program is like anythgint tho really if you think about it. if you want something bad enough like your life depends on it then you will do whatever it takes to get it. but you gotta want it bad enough and be ready.  I am

thats just it. i was so scared of failure. its all fear. i wana live fear free someday i hate fear so much. but you can harness it to work for you. you are so right tho Oh my God. i HAVE to remember that. to focus on what I want to happen instead of want i don't want so baddddd..... oh my God THANK YOU!!! ;) i will probably sleep like a baby due to your words :)

so i been slacken the past 2 weeks. and still trying to get the eating down clean...but what day is tomorrow if i started feb 13 i think its the 5th week if I'm not mistaken right?? gonna hit it hard this week and try to stick to the script as much as possible. Very hard for me but may 7th comes soon and i cannot live my life this way anymore.  Its just insanity :D