I'm a recent college grad (May '09) and a competitive ballroom/Latin dancer. I'm working in a restaurant at the moment as a server and bartender until I can find a job in my field. (Nonprofits aren't hiring much right now. :( )

I was diagnosed with PTSD in December 2008 as a result of an event in June 2009; one of my coping mechanisms, before I was convinced to get help, was emotional overeating, which, combined with no motivation to exercise, made me gain 30 pounds very quickly. I'm only 5'0, so the extra 30 pounds look (and feel!) horrendous on such an otherwise small body.

I'm now a little healthier mentally (though it's a long road ahead of me, I've made the first few steps!), and I'm trying to increase my health physically as well. I want to fit into my Latin costume again--so I'm working on losing that weight once and for all! :)

Working in a restaurant also makes it very difficult to watch what I eat--I'm carrying food around and pouring drinks all day, so the temptation to have unhealthy restaurant food is always there until I can get a new job.

I'd love to connect with anyone on here who has had PTSD or other stress/anxiety disorders that have triggered weight gain; I feel like the mental aspects are so much harder to overcome than the physical. (I can deal with physical hunger, but as soon as my brain goes into anxiety mode, it's so much harder to stop myself from grabbing food.) Feel free to add me as a friend or drop me a line if you're in a similar situation; I often feel really alone in this.