WHAT IT'S LIKE TODAY.

TODAY!  I have a life next to none.  I am able to be an athlete without triggering my eating disorder by continuing to eat an abstinent sugar, wheat and flour free food plan and staying balanced in my fitness training. I am priviledged to own Cione Productions, a production company that produces and supports independent musicians in recovery and promotes an annual clean & sober event, RecoveryRockFest.

TODAY! I have a relationship with something greater than me. Sometimes that "greater than me" reveals itself  in the love that I have been blessed to receive from those whom I am priviledged to give back to in mind, body and spirit.  TODAY! I feel fit to give on a whole level.  I feel so blessed with the grace and I am so thankful that I get to pass it on.        

WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT IT WAS LIKE.

I was born in Key West, Florida and grew up in Miami.  Both my parents were prominent jazz musicians. 

Growing up I was exposed to the music industry through their careers, meeting many people in the music industry. From very early on I felt different than the other kids.  

I felt very alone and afraid.

My parents divorced when I was 10 and at the age of thirteen, I began junior high school and hung out with the cool crowd.  I smoked cigarettes and also drank alcohol.  My first drunk was when I was 14 years old and I drank MD (Mad Dog) 20/20.  I liked having an outer body experience.  I did this for a while and by the age of 21, I was out of control with my drinking.  I kept drinking until the age of 25ish.

That is when I switched from alcohol and began drinking on the food.

At age 26 I hit my bottom with food addiction.  My highest weight was 170 lbs. BUT it is not about the physical weight.  It is about what the "weight" represented.  I binged on sugar, wheat and flour products and when I hit my bottom, I began to reached out for help.

The first thing I tried was Richard Simmon's Deal-A-Meal.  I believe that was my first experience on accountability. My hats off to Richard.  I would buy workout videos and walked a lot.  Finally, on a serious mission, I dropped quite a bit of weight and ended up a size zero which was a normal size for my 4'9" frame.  By this time I had joined a group for compulsive overeaters and found a book by Kay Sheppard (see Fit2Give Shop) who outlined a plan for eating for people like me with food addiction.  I came to believe I definately had an addiction issue with food.  I further found out what types of food triggered my physical cravings and binges and began a road of recovery for my eating disorder, food addiction. I found a 12 step recovery program that changed my life and continues to teach me how to stay in my heart and not come from my head.

TODAY my life is amazing!  I actually have a life free from addiction and depression.  I am able to get back to music and athletics again while singing and creating programs that help other people. Today, I feel Fit2Give.

One of my favorite quotes is: If nothing changes, nothing changes.