Every person has a story to tell. No two are alike. But we can all learn something from the stories of others. So here's mine.
When I was a little kid, I was very thin. I was active and played outside all the time. But as I got older I began to spend less time outside and more time inside. I'd watch TV or play computer games, usually while snacking on something. The weight began to come on when I was about 10 years old.
By the time I got to high school I was wearing a size 18 and weighed 180 pounds. Due to marching band, I maintained that weight and size throughout high school. But once I got into college, my weight started going up again. When I hit 260 pounds, I looked at the scale in disbelief. There was no way I was this big! But the numbers didn't lie. Neither did the fact that I wore a size 22/24 pants. So I decided to try to lose weight.
I began eating healthy, cutting out sodas and sweets and trying to eat more veggies and normal sized portions of food. It worked. From November 2005 to February 2006 I lost 30 pounds, dropping me down to 230 pounds. Then I got a promotion at work to assistant manager. And one of the perks is that managers get all the free food they want. So I began eating at McDonald's all the time because it was cheap and I was broke. And I gained back 11 pounds. Not good at all!
So, I decided that I could no longer keep eating like that and ever lose the weight I want to lose. So I have cut out eating at work and decided to go vegan, for several reasons. One is the health benefits of a vegan diet. And after reading "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser, I found out what really goes into our nation's meat. It's not pretty. And it's not just fast food meat but ALL meat. It's just really bad! And the conditions in slaughterhouses are appalling for animals as well as workers. I can't support that any longer. I have also begun exercising. Our apartment has a heated indoor pool, which is great! I can swim year round! I also bike and walk and am working on running as well.
So, this is my tale of how I got to where I am now. Stay tuned for the journey to a slimmer me!