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THE TIMES LEADER www.timesleader.com
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TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012 PAGE 7C
Woman is finally free from addictive eating and able to embrace life Dear Abby: I want you to know that you saved my life. I was a lonely, desperate woman, dying a slow and painful death. I had an eating disorder and weighed more than 400 pounds. I was taking many different medications and suffering from depression, high blood pressure and other ailments. Most of them were the result of my addictive eating. I wore a size 52 dress and had 89-inch hips. One day, I saw a letter you had printed from a woman who seemed to know what I was feeling. She had gone to a 12-step program and was happy, successful and free from her addictive eating disorder.
DEAR ABBY ADVICE Seeing her letter gave me a spark of hope. I sought and found a program called Overeaters Anonymous and began attending meetings. I took a sponsor and am in recovery from the food addiction. I lost more than 300 pounds and have lived in a normalsized body for eight years. Thanks to that letter in your column, and your continuing support of the 12-step programs, I am living a life that I never imagined possible. No words can ever express the gratitude I feel for what you have done for me and many others. At our meetings, speakers often share that they
UNIVERSAL SUDOKU
found recovery because of a letter to Dear Abby. Please keep the word going that there is hope for us, no matter how far down we are. — Janet in Orlando, Fla. Dear Janet: It’s gratifying to know you were helped because of something you read in my column. I hope your success will inspire others who suffer from compulsive overeating and are unaware that help is available. Overeaters Anonymous has more than 6,500 groups in more than 80 countries. There are no requirements for membership except a desire to stop eating compulsively. There is no shaming, no weighing and no embarrassment — only a fellowship of compassionate people who share a common problem.
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Chapters are located in almost every city, but anyone who has difficulty locating one should go to www. oa.org, or send a long, self-addressed stamped envelope to Overeaters Anonymous World Service Office, P.O. Box 44020, Rio Rancho, NM 87174-4020. The email address is info@oa.org. Dear Abby: We have a friend who lives in another city and takes a lot of trips. She visits me a couple of times a year. She brings along a large photo album from her most recent vacation and insists we sit down with her so she can give us a running commentary about each snapshot. Abby, her travelogues last an hour or more. We’re pleased that our friend enjoys her trips, but we no longer wish to be
subjected to her “presentations.” We would never expect her — or anyone — to view all the pictures we take on our travels. How can we gently explain this to her? — Weary in the West Dear Weary: The next time your houseguest hauls out her photo album, try this: Tell her you’d love to hear about her trip, but you’d like her to show you only two or three of her “favorite” pictures from her most memorable destination. To receive a collection of Abby’s most memorable — and most frequently requested — poems and essays, send a business-sized, self-addressed envelope, plus check or money order for $3.95 ($4.50 in Canada) to: Dear Abby’s “Keepers,” P.O. Box 447, Mount Morris, IL 61054-0447. (Postage is included.)
HOROSCOPE BY HOLIDAY MATHIS
GOREN BRIDGE WITH OMAR SHARIF & TANNAH HIRSCH PREVIOUS DAY’S SOLUTION
ARIES (March 21-April 19). When you’re willing to explore and experiment, life becomes a big adventure. Try things at least once before making a determination as to whether it’s really for you. TAURUS (April 20-May 20). Things are about to ramp up for you. Accept the challenge. You’ll prove that you can do more than you did before. Soon the production level of yesterday will seem like mere child’s play. GEMINI (May 21-June 21). There’s no shame in your game. You’re willing to lose the ego and put yourself out there just to learn. Because you have no resistance to the new, you’ll quickly gain useful skills. CANCER (June 22-July 22). Excuses are the enemy of positive thinking. Abolish blame (especially self-blame), and you’ll see what’s really going on that needs to be handled. LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). Your mind’s eye is extra powerful today. Use visualization to make something interesting happen in your world. Imagining it won’t make it happen, but it puts the odds in your favor. VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). Your aim is straightforward. There are only a few things that absolutely must be accomplished today, and relaxation is one of them. You’ll be focused, completing one task before moving on to another. LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Flexible thinking helps you finish what you set out to do since you probably won’t be able to accomplish it the way you had planned. Stay open-minded.
CROSSWORD
ON THE WEB For more Sudoku go to www.timesleader.com
MINUTE MAZE JUMBLE BY MICHEAL ARGIRION & JEFF KNUREK
HOW TO CONTACT: Dear Abby: PO Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Admit that you are only human. Sometimes you need a little help, and don’t be afraid to ask for it. A break from the action this afternoon helps you to clear your head. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’re usually sensitive to what others need. Turn those sensors on yourself. Recognize when you are starting to get stressed, and quickly take action to relieve that stress. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). The world hasn’t changed too much from the way it was yesterday, but your perception of it has. This is a temporary state of being. Feelings and thoughts pass. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). You’ll have social choices today. Don’t pay heed to discouraging people who seem to revel in planting doubts. Stay in the company of those whose thoughts and attitudes are generally positive. PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). You’re powerful, but sometimes you forget this. Identify the problems or obstacles that make you feel helpless, and brainstorm possible (and impossible) solutions. TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (July 3). Home is where you live and love; it’s also an investment. You’ll add value to that investment in July. Loved ones will engage in their best behavior to win your affection in August. September brings speedy developments on the career front. There’s a windfall in December. Aries and Scorpio people adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 50, 20, 12, 34 and 6.