Obesity

I've struggled with weight for most of my adult life. I come from a family of big guys... my dad is big, my brother, my uncles, cousins...etc. So when I got out of college and started making a decent paycheque I was able to eat out whenever I wanted, and enjoy junk food if I chose to do so... and I chose to do that a lot.

I work mainly in front of a computer so there'd be times where I'd work throughout the night while snacking, and downing copious amounts of coffee. It didn't take long for my weight to skyrocket. In all honesty I really didn't realize it. I knew I was big but everyone told me I looked fine. In hindsight I really didn't.

My mid twenties - approx 250 lbs

I was snapped out of my high calorie no exercise lifestyle by a huge slap in the face. My dad was diagnosed with Colon Cancer... the same disease that killed his dad when he was 12 years old. After my dad's treatment he recovered fully minus some of his innards, I on the other hand began to look in the mirror.

I started by joining a weight loss forum and sought out advice. I started to go for evening walks, soon that turned into the occasional bike ride. Soon during my walks I'd run a little when nobody was looking.

Calories? I began to understand that calorie counting wasn't just for prissy little Malibu type folks. I educated myself about BMR and began to work on my diet. 

I don't know exactly how long it took, my guess is about a year but my heaviest was a little over 260 lbs. I managed to get myself down to 170 lbs.

I noticed a huge difference in myself. Soon the opposite sex began to take notice too and after a few failed dates I met the woman who would one day become my wife and mother of my child. 

We got married about 15 months after we first met... and then the happy weight came. Since we've been married I've yoyo'd from 190 - 220 until March of this year when I tipped the scale at 230... the heaviest my wife had ever seen me. 

This time around I have an even bigger motivation to stay healthy, he's 6.5 months old right now and I'm the most important male figure in his life. It's a big responsibility, but I plan to be the best role model for my son.