Introduction
I have had a weight problem since I was about eight years old. At that age I went from a skinny kid to a chubby kid, primarily we surmised, as a result of having my tonsils removed. It may have been coincidental, but soon after the operation, my general health improved and I began gaining weight. Being a "fat kid" can be a real downer. You get teased a lot. I remember as a teenager there was a group of wits that whenever I appeared would chant, "A Neff, enough, too much", and laugh gleefully. That hurt!
I have had a weight problem since I was about eight years old. At that age I went from a skinny kid to a chubby kid, primarily we surmised, as a result of having my tonsils removed. It may have been coincidental, but soon after the operation, my general health improved and I began gaining weight. Being a "fat kid" can be a real downer. You get teased a lot. I remember as a teenager there was a group of wits that whenever I appeared would chant, "A Neff, enough, too much", and laugh gleefully. That hurt!
By the time I was a High School Junior, I had started taking off weight, seemingly naturally. When I was fifteen I weighed 215 pounds ( but I was almost 5’11") Again it may have been coincidence, or it may have been age and hormones, but between my sophomore and junior year I went on a three day fast, ingesting only water and chewing gum during this period. Immediately afterward I started to melt away pounds without changing anything about my lifestyle.
By the time I was a senior I was very fit. After graduation I entered the Army for a six month active duty stint. I came home in great physical shape weighing about 160 pounds and actually looking a little on
the thin side for my 5’11" big boned frame.
the thin side for my 5’11" big boned frame.
I maintained my weight pretty well throughout college, perhaps gaining 10-15 pounds which I could stand to put on. Then, when I got out in the real world, living the good life with expense accounts and cocktails I began my gradual ascent toward obesity. Oh, when I hit certain milestones, like 215, 225, 230, and 250 I would start an effort to lose weight. Yes, it would usually be successful but inevitably I would regain the weight with interest. If you are reading this you have experienced the same phenomenon.
Within the past 3-4 years I have had two success stories, but in each case I regained my hard earned losses with a vengeance. The first success was the Atkins diet. I lost twenty something pounds in a reasonable period of time, then off the wagon. The second was a program called Medi-Fast whereby you purchase certain food items from them and eat one "lean and green" meal per day on your own. At first, I had no problem with either one, but strayed from the flock in both cases for two reasons. One, I got tired of the rigidity of the programs; and when I rebelled, I couldn’t go back. Two both programs required an initial alcohol-free period (or perhaps a total ban on alcohol, I forget right now). I felt the need for a flexible program I could design myself and change as I wanted.
I don’t consider myself an alcoholic, or even a problem drinker; but I enjoy Happy Hour. There may be physiological reasons why alcohol consumption slows weight loss. If so, I will be content to lose a little more slowly and have a better chance of ultimate success.
When I made the decision to go on Medi-fast, I weighed 272 pounds. I lost down to 242 before I went to Spain and off the wagon. For the reasons before mentioned, I have not been able to get back on it. I gained back up to 268 before taking a cruise to Alaska this summer. The motivating factor behind my decision at this time is that a couple of years ago I was diagnosed as diabetic. Until now I have been able to control it with pills. Just before I left for my Alaska adventure, my Doctor told me to enjoy the trip because when I got back I would have to make a decision to either try to control my condition with diet and exercise or go on insulin. So I am calling on my will power to avoid insulin.
One of the ironic things concerning this is that I just knew I would come back from Alaska several pounds heavier than I started since I would be eating three meals a day complete with dessert which I hardly ever do at home. I left home weighing 268. When I got home I was 264 and after 24 hours on my program, I’m 262.5. The only thing I can figure is I was active enough in Alaska to burn off a few pounds despite the fact I was eating more.
So now its time to embark on my journey toward better health. I wish me luck. I plan to take Thanksgiving weekend off. See you next week.
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