jmlongVA

Overweight, sweating, huffing and trying to keep up.  This has been the way I have lived most of my life.  When I was a kid, I had a really great metabolism.  I was skinny, blonde, and quite handsome if I do say so.  What happened?  3 things.....middle school, video games, and food!  From middle school (1990 something) to the current day I have only memories of being overweight; some quite traumatic.  Sure, I was picked on, made fun of, felt worthless, and tagged as being "lazy".  The truth is I wasn't lazy.  Sure I didn't enjoy sports at that age, but I was constantly outside playing (in between video games) and doing all the usual kid stuff.

Looking back I now know that depression also played a key role in my "battle of the bulge".  I never quite felt like I fit in with one "group" of classmates or peers and this perpetuated my depression. Yes, I was happy being around friends, but never really had the feeling like I "belonged".  Through middle school and high school, college and even to this present day I was not exactly what you would call a "chic magnet" (shocking!). There were certainly girls I was interested in, but they never "felt the same way" (or, embarrassingly enough I tried too hard and ended up being a pseudo-stalker; my apologies).  This too fueled my depression.

Enough about the early years.  After college I began a career as a registered nurse.  During the first few years I was able to lose some weight due to the pace of the job.  Needless to say my deep hatred of dieting certainly didn't help with continued weight loss.  As I quickly rose up through management and desk jobs, I started packing on more weight. I recently went through a divorce and packed on the pounds again thanks, in part, to my old friend depression.

So here I am today.  I've tried all the diets; I've counted points, I've counted calories, I've counted fat, I've counted carbs, I tried high protein (which only showed me how much of a carb junkie I am), I tried high carbs, Adkins, South Beach, Advocare, joining a gym, buying a treadmill (which makes for a great coat rack or clothes line)....I've done it all.  Did they help?  Certainly, they are all good tools for change.  However there is one factor that cannot be changed with these tools, genes!  Now I am committed to change.

I am not lazy and I am willing to change.  I am looking forward to a brighter future with my 2 children because I have made the commitment to this life change.  

As of today, November 5th, 2015, I have received insurance approval and a date has been scheduled!  November 19th, 2015 is the day I get my life back.