I grew up in El Salvador during a time of economic hardship and civil war. My family immigrated to the U.S. when I was young, and my early years were filled with separation and constant upheaval. My father was an alcoholic, and his drinking left deep scars. What I didn’t realize for a long time was that I had become just like him, not with alcohol, but with food addiction. I was pregnant at 14, a mother of three sons by my early twenties, and stuck in a cycle of diets, pills, and despair. I terrorized my boys the same way my father had terrorized me – through rage-filled outbursts, "the silent treatment," and a lot of chaos. Believing I could never change, I felt utterly hopeless and full of shame. But when I hit rock bottom, Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) became the lifeline I didn't know I needed. With the help of a higher power, a sponsor, and a food plan, I slowly began to let go of my anger, food cravings, and the weight that had weighed me down for so long. In FA, I’ve faced my life’s toughest moments – my son’s motorcycle accident and another son’s early-onset Parkinson’s – without turning to food. Today, I’m 60 years old, celebrating 25 years of marriage and 25 years in recovery. FA didn't just help me lose weight; it is helping me learn how to heal, how to love, and how to rebuild relationships. Something as simple as dancing in the kitchen with my husband is one of so many gifts I never imagined would be mine, and I am forever grateful