By Moses Leos III.
Like many people in this country of ours, I likewise have battled the ever difficult fight to control my weight.
Though, if you look at me today, you probably would not correlate my current stature with someone who has tried to become healthy.
It was not too long ago that I was in a position which threatened my very livelihood.
Two years ago, I weighed close to 340 pounds, wearing size 48 pants and 3XL t-shirts. I was considerably obese, suffering from chronic asthma, acute sleep apnea and was borderline diabetic. To put it bluntly, I was essentially placing myself into an early grave.
People do not truly realize just how damaging obesity can be. It is not limited to physical problems; the issues extend to the emotional level as well.
Photo by David White | Photo courtesy of Moses Leos III |
Many do not realize how something as simple as shopping for clothes can turn into a surrealistic nightmare. Often times, I found that I could not shop in the popular stores, as they did not extend to the sizes necessary for obese people. Instead, I had to frequent obesity “specialty stores” to obtain even the simplest of clothing essentials. There is nothing more mind numbing than going to a place where the sizes cater to a select group of people. It is soul crushing.
Perhaps the most damaging aspect of obesity is the way it affects people’s social lives. As an obese person, it was tremendously difficult for me to engage others in a social setting. I was always conscious of the fact that I was very, very big. At that size, talking to the opposite gender was also a difficult prospect. The sad truth is, a good majority of people often disdain and ridicule those who are different. As a result, rejection is something that arrives early and often for the obese person.
But the way I ate may have proven to be the biggest obstacle to overcome in my fight with obesity. I will admit, I was a big slob in my younger days. From high school and well into college, I would consistently graze on Cheetos, Doritos, pizza, doughnuts and other junk foods. Sodas also were my vice, as I at one point could eliminate half of a twelve pack of soft-drinks in one day.
Being lazy certainly did not help with overeating junk food. I did not care to make an effort to work out, or try to work out. My goal was to sit around, play X-Box and watch television all day long.
However, stress and family issues also contributed to my eating issues. I am a person who uses food as a coping mechanism. Whether with stress, fear, excitement, what-have-you, I ate my feelings. People assume that one can stop such habits. That is not the case.
From my middle school years, to high school, all the way through college and beyond, my weight continued to balloon and balloon. Things needed to change.
Two events in my life finally helped me see the light. The first happened in 2010, when my gall bladder stopped working. The organ failed because of the overconsumption of greasy, fatty foods, which essentially solidified the organ to the point of its demise. After the organ was removed, eating greasy, fatty foods was no longer an option, as they made me exceptionally sick. I had to stop the frequent consumption of potato chips, doughnuts, pizza; I could not function if my diet solely consisted of that.
The second event became the health of my mother. She likewise was obese, and at one point, she weighed over 350 pounds. The list of ailments she had was extensive: diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, sleep apnea, a bout with congestive heart failure, among other things.
Our family needed to change; it had to start with our matriarch. On August 18th, 2010, my mother underwent gastric bypass surgery. She no longer could eat the same way again.
This is where I knew I had to change; I had to do it for my mom. I could not let her be the only person that changed lifestyles in our home. We as a family had to do it together.
And it was a lifestyle change. It was not a diet, not a simple tweak—it was a full out lifestyle change. Instead of eating ground beef, our family switched to ground turkey. Everything food related we have purchased is either low sodium or sugar free. We could no longer buy carnitas and fat based pork products. Everything had to be lean; everything had to be salt and sugar free.
Granted, it was not an easy change. Going from beef to turkey in our main entrees was a big switch. However, we made it happen.
The biggest improvement made was the limitation of soda intake. Gradually, I weened off of the sugary drink, going from five cans a day, to three, to one, to now abstaining from drinking soda entirely. Just limiting soda helped me lose nearly 50 pounds.
The rest of the weight was shed with sheer, hard work. I would begin a strenuous regiment of three workout sessions a week. During which, I spent at least an hour working out. My workouts consisted of a three-quarter mile jog/walk, followed by 10 minutes on the elliptical. After, I would weight train, going from chest to arm, or leg to midsection workouts, alternating the workouts between the days.
Eventually, I built up my stamina to run. I went from barely jogging for 20 second intervals, to now jogging for a mile straight. Slowly, I would train my body to increase my weightlifting limits to heights I have not reached since my football playing days.
Looking back, it is hard for me to fathom just how unhealthy I really was. I feel so much better now; going up stairs no longer is a struggle, nor is talking to people. My confidence level has risen quite considerably.
However, I am always concerned that I could revert to my old ways. I must continue my new lifestyle change to avoid that issue.
If there is a message I could give to those who are battling obesity, it’s to never, ever give up.
Battling this affliction should never be seen as a sprint; it should be approached as a marathon. Those fighting obesity should know that failures will occur; there were points where I saw little to no progress in my weight loss. The thing is to keep going. Never stop, no matter what anyone thinks or says.
Those fighting obesity owe it to themselves to earn a better life. All you have to do is to just believe in yourself.
