---
title: Introduction 1 - Idea for Triumphant Journey Begins
description: Intro to eating disorder recovery workbook including frank radio interviews looking at women's issues and early eating disorder issues.
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In 1991 I was [co-hosting a radio talk show concerning health issues with Tamiko in Beverly Hills, California](http://www.mytamiko.com/radio-files/shows/self-image-pt1-a.wma). She asked me to write "Ten Tips to Stop Overeating" that we could offer our listeners. Her idea was to create a card that people could tack on a refrigerator door. ([Second part of interview](http://www.mytamiko.com/radio-files/shows/self-image-pt2-a.wma).)

I liked the idea of writing something that would help people understand how to stop overeating. It had to be longer than a simple card.

I thought of my own eating disorder history, of bingeing and throwing up for may years in secret, long before bulimia had a name.

I remembered all the useless, self-deceiving and sometimes dangerous devices I used in my attempts to stop. I remembered my guilt, my growing sense of failure and despair, my loneliness and my stalwart attempts to look good. And finally I remember accepting that my behavior would kill me. I lived believing that I would die in six months. I had no visions of any future for me and so never made long range plans that involved years of commitment.

Today I know that bulimia was my greatest teacher. Moving through the despair of my eating disorder into a life of health, freedom and continual opportunity was and continues to be my Triumphant Journey.

I wanted to share the essence of the healing journey with my patients and especially to people still trapped in lonely despairing eating disorders that can erode a soul.

The seeds of this book first sprouted in an article called, "Ten Tips to Stop Overeating," published by Resource Publications in Winter, 1991. Spring of 1992 Resources published my follow-up article, "Triumphant Journey: Understanding the Secrets of Overeating and Binge Behavior."

The many letters of appreciation I received from people struggling alone with their overeating moved and inspired me. I tried again to describe what I find to be the most helpful guidelines in addressing tenacious overeating and other eating disorder behaviors and thought processes. I developed the eating disorder department of [Selfhelp and Psychology Magazine](http://www.shpm.com/articles/eating/index.html) on the internet. SHM was the first to mount the entire first version of Triumphant Journey on the internet.

A refrigerator card that might help would say,

*"Look in the exercise section of Triumphant Journey before you reach for non-essential food. You might find a better way to resolve your feelings and clear up your thinking than eating right now."*

This book continues to grow. I welcome your thoughts, comments, stories and questions.

**[Index of all chapters](https://eatingdisorderrecovery.net/index.php/help-yourself/the-workbook)**

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