Are you the type of person who eats when youre stressed? I am. I eat when Im stressed, when Im sad, when Im happy, and when Im tired. I believe theres a food for every mood.

I eat for any reason at any time. I eat when Im watching television, I eat while riding in the car, and I even eat while sitting at the computer. There are enough crumbs in my keyboard to feed a troupe of boy scouts. Every once in a while, I just shake it over the table and announce to the husband, Dinners ready!

I eat too much, too often. Since I was a kid, Ive had a weight problem. I could never weight for the next meal. I began wearing a girdle to school in kindergarten, and Ive been on diets for most of my life.

I recently began yet another new eating regimen. Forbidden food groups include appetizers and desserts, anything processed or fried, and anything with meat or dairy products in it. I must also avoid all foods seen on TV commercials or restaurant menus. I cannot eat anything prepared by my grandma, Aunt Hildegard, my third cousin twice removed, or any other member of the family. Its called the Oriental Diet. I can eat all I want from the specified food list (celery, kale, bok choi, and those tiny ears of corn), but I must use only one chopstick.

This week, I've failed miserably at sticking to my eating plan. I've had an insatiable appetite for junk food. In addition to a dumpster load of Hostess Twinkies, Ive devoured roughly eleven cases of raspberry Fig Newtons and eight and a half pounds of extra crunchy Cheetos. I cant be sneaky about it either. When the husband asks if Ive eaten all the Cheetos, how can I look innocent when my fingers and teeth are orange? Wouldnt you think that after stuffing myself with junk food all week I'd be satisfied? Im not. In fact, the more I eat, the more I crave. If I continue this way, I'll need a front end loader to lift my carcass out of the Lazy Boy.

To make matters worse, I dont get enough exercise. But I really cant do much thats physical, because I think I pulled a fat cell. Im barely able to crawl to the kitchen for six square meals a day.

I really need to lose weight. I want to know how it feels to bend over and tie my shoes without cutting off the blood supply above my waist and feeling as if my intestines are being pushed out my ears. It would be great to zip my jeans without fainting from lack of oxygen. So I must get back on track. Ill paste on my refrigerator door that old proverb uttered by some wise sage: If it tastes good, spit it out.

From now on, Ill plan my meals around a main dish of parsley. Only nutritional foods will pass my lips, like rutabagas, spinach, and celery -- stuff that takes half an hour to chew. By the time I swallow them, my aching jaws will be too tired to munch extra-crunchy Cheetos or anything else. Now if I could only figure out a way to make veggies taste like turtle cheesecake.

To keep my weight down and my arteries clean, I must eat health-restoring foods. Similarly, keeping my spiritual arteries open and flowing freely requires health food for my soul. Whoever coined the phrase "Garbage in, garbage out" knew what he was talking about. When I dump into my spirit things that Im better off without, they transform my perceptions, attitude, and actions. The result can be just as shocking as that horror-filled moment when I view my cellulite-riddled body in Wal-marts dressing room mirror.

So, Ive made two resolutions. One is to strengthen my body and fuel it with life-sustaining foods. Also, Ill incorporate into my lifestyle more exercise than just aerobic eating and lifting extra large Hershey bars. I'll start slowly with the goal of working up to three sit ups a day. And instead of walking, Ill jog from my bed to the table. I feel better already.