MY DIET STORY: 'I could have that beach body for the summer'

Pam Walcott, 21, Framingham, Mass. and Dade City, Fla.

Height: 5-foot-4

Starting weight: 230

Current weight: 145

WHY I DID IT: When I was 2 years old, my mom was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. My dad has always been there, but it's hard when half your support system suffers with a disease. Many people turn to alcohol or drugs to deal with an emotional battle. I turned to food. Food was there when there was no one to turn to.

As a kid in Framingham, I became a "refrigerator sneak" at night. I could quietly get into the kitchen, open the fridge, stuff my face and run back to my room. When I was old enough to drive, I was constantly at fast-food restaurants. Every activity I did with friends revolved around eating. This became a way of not only dealing with my feelings, but a way to bond. I graduated high school weighing 188 pounds.

I went to Florida to study psychology at Saint Leo University. It was scary, and I moved back home after one year. I got my real estate license and took one class at the local college, but I wasn't happy. Reality set in when I hit 230 pounds. I wondered what happened to my dreams.

I looked at my mom and everything she has faced. She manages to smile every day. I thought about all my dad has to deal with every day: his own business, his sick wife and a daughter who wasn't sure of where her life was going.

I knew if they could overcome their battles, I could overcome mine. I re-enrolled at Saint Leo and began to battle my weight.

During a psychology course, I researched eating disorders. I knew about two commonly known disorders, anorexia and bulimia, but there's another: binge-eating disorder involves consuming large quantities of food in a very short time to deal with emotional problems. It is extremely prevalent in college students. A light bulb clicked on: This was the disorder I had my whole life. It felt so good to be able to put a name to it.

HOW I DID IT: I thought of every diet I ever heard of, pulled from each one and combined them. I started keeping a food journal so I could see exactly what and when I was eating. I also eliminated most carbohydrates, except for pretzels.

I eat oatmeal or Egg Beater omelets for breakfast, with a side of turkey bacon. I have two 100-calorie snacks in between meals, either pretzels with hummus, or granola bars. For lunch I normally have chicken and vegetables. For dinner, some fish and a vegetable.

My workouts intensified as I lost weight. When starting, I walked a quarter-mile and ran a quarter-mile until I reached 2-1/2 miles total. I got a lot of exercises from my favorite show, "The Biggest Loser." It helped knowing other people struggled. I also do weight training to build muscle. For the past seven months, I have worked out two hours a night, six or seven days a week. I've lost 85 pounds. My goal is to lose 100! It is amazing to think I could have that beach body for the summer.

HURDLES: It's hard not to get caught up in the weight-loss hype. I fit in with people I never have, and don't always know how to go about it. I should appreciate my new friends since the weight loss, but also longtime friends who have stuck with me. My self-esteem improved, and people see that. I just can't let it get to my head.

Also, it's hard not eating the same foods as my friends. Food has always been a part of my bonding with friends. I need to know what to order and how much to eat. That's been difficult when going out. This whole thing is a learning process.

GOING THE DISTANCE: I heard the last 20 pounds would be hardest to lose, and it has been. I look for new ways to eat to get my body to lose more. I also began participating in 5K races to support various causes. I feel accomplished. It has become my new addiction.

BEST ADVICE: Make yourself better and healthy so you can be there for loved ones and for your future. And don't lose yourself in the battle. People loved you before you lost the weight. They'll love you just the same now.

Copyright (c) 2009, The Tampa Tribune; republished with permission.

DO YOU have a diet story of your own? Send it to nolesin@cnc.com or Nancy Olesin, The MetroWest Daily News, 33 New York Ave., Framingham, MA 01701.