Cindy Burdue

I’m 71 yrs old, retired 2 yrs ago, from a 40 yr career as an attorney and administrative judge. I had to quit my job because of neck pain exacerbated by hanging over a computer and phone all day, 50 hours a week. I have been yo-yo dieting since I was 15 yrs old! Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig (many times over the yrs), low calorie, keto, Atkins, HCG with 500 calories diet, Tirzipatide, and now semaglutide (both compounded as can’t afford real RX - and Medicare pays for about nothing). So, I am ready to try something different that might work. I am 5 ft, 1 inch, about 175 lbs. my ideal weight is 105, but my realistic goal is 130. I finally gave away all my size 6 clothes, from my average adult weight of 110. I’m In a 14-16 now. Want to be a 10, or 8. I gave myself severe nerve pain in both feet 25 yrs ago cross country skiing. I overdid it, both feet hurt after 4 days of that. Was on opioid meds for 26 yrs (I know, ridiculous), it did get me out of the wheelchair I’d had to use 2 yrs. I got a life back. I tapered down the opioid over 3 yrs, finally got off pain meds last January. I still take gabapentin and hope to go off that. In 26 yrs, I’d tried it all - surgeries, Reiki, deep tissue massage of feet which just made them worse and was so painful), several thousand $ in custom orthotics, etc. The only thing that helped the neuropathy was 6 treatments with intravenous ketamine. Since then the pain is much better enabling me to get off the rest of the opioid. That withdrawal was pretty rough, as I guess my body really liked the opioid. Lots of withdrawal symptoms for 3 mos. No sleep, restless leg syndrome I’d never had before. I also went off fake estrogen (Premarin) I’d used for 25 yrs, just a few months prior too - so my body was in rebellion, vicious night sweats. Well, that’s me. Praying I can stick to this type of eating for life and feel better!