[Buster Arbuckle]

Hello,
My name is Dave. I'm a 45 y/o married male We have a school age daughter. I weigh about 340, have treated hypertension, treated sleep apnea, and an anxiety disorder so don't get out much. I'm more a binge eater with a sweet tooth. It’s sometimes hard to believe I weigh as much as I do. I don't eat as much as some would think. I usually eat fairly sensible. I don't drink soda‘s or beer, white bread, milk, typical breakfast foods like bacon or sausage. Still I must be doing something wrong. I know my lack of activity is playing a big factor combined with binge eating.
When I’m depressed about my situation I escape in food. When I'm bored I eat When I’m happy about something I celebrate by eating food, recreation usually involves going out for food, Any type of holiday involves enjoying the special food or treat for that occasion. I watch a lot of TV but it doesn't captivate me enough so I usually snack on some type of junk food. Being a grown man its odd that candy is my snack food of choice. It changes by season. I love those conversation hearts that are around just for valentines. No sodium or fat so I think they are harmless. My wife bought two 1 pound bags of them Sunday. Monday my father in law sent a box filled with valentine/mardis gras treats. One was another 1lb bag of hearts. So its Thursday as I’m writing this and they are all gone. It’s great after the season when they are discounted. We have to buy as many as we can, cant pass up a bargain. Then the next thing is Easter, fat free Jellybean season! And I’m seriously here asking if anyone has any idea on why I’m so obese! When I’m conscious about what I eat I do eat OK, Never been one for vegetables but do eat fruit and drink only water.
My wife also has a weight problem. We certainly enable each other. I worry about our daughter. She is thin now but cant see how she can grow up to be a healthy adult with the eating habits we are teaching her. We had her later in life and I worry we will die early leaving her alone with only the bad eating habits we have taught her.
I was a normal healthy kid. I became a driver for United Parcel service when I was 24. My shirt size was a size medium. This past Christmas my wife bought me a new coat size 4x; it seemed a bit snug so we returned it for a size 5x. I can’t believe it! I worked the UPS job 15 years and maintained a very strong 175lbs I then injured my back. While on workers comp waiting for a settlement I gained about 75 lbs. While off work I developed an anxiety disorder that caused panic attacks in public places. These at times would make me housebound. After I settled with UPS I worked temporary jobs but continued to gain weight. When my daughter was born in 1999 I was up to 300lbs. We moved to Florida in 2001. I started a cleaning company and had a contract with the state of Florida. I did most of the work myself and it was good exercise. When my contract was up I was outbid and out of a job. I haven't worked steady since 2004. My weight kept going up and my anxiety disorder returned this time worse then ever.
We moved back to our home state of Illinois. I went to a doctor for a basic physical and to my surprise was to fat for their scale. I had to go to a different part of the facility to get weighed. I was up to 351lbs My blood pressure was very high 183/108. I was sent to a pulmonary doctor who set me up for a sleep study. I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea. With medication my blood pressure is down. I sleep with a CPAP so the sleep apnea is under control. When I last went to my doctor my weight did drop about 10 ponds. I do look at labels mainly looking for sodium levels because of the B/P I am so wrong to think if it has no or little sodium I can eat myself sick.
I know what I have to do. Eat less calories and exercise. Does anyone have any input or ideas? I'm slowly killing myself here.
Thanks
Dave
Buster Arbuckle