My Fat Story in brief.

In 2002, the company I was working for merged with another. The merger was a huge source of stress and I started to put on weight. Add a harassing boss who was angry at having been "displaced" from her cushy job at head office to go to back to a regular office environment, and the pounds started adding up. I went from about 220 lbs to 280 lbs.

With the harassing manager's departure, I decided to re-take control of my health. On May 23, 2004 I quit smoking and started an exercise regime including a 2 hour daily bike ride and some light weight training. I was back in shape within 3 months and remained that way ... for a year and a half.

Unfortunately, I ran across another harasser - he would eventually be fired - and, with the daily abuse, I started to gain. Add to that, some stresses at home and I relinquished control again. To my shame, I went back to 300 and, without addressing the problem, found my weight creeping up over a couple of years of lethargy, to the sad state I'm at now.

I am ready to change this once and for all. Before all the harassing, I wore a size 36 (waist) pant; I'm 6'4" so I wouldn't want to get smaller than that but I'd like to get back to the 36"-38" waist again.

I know what I have to do to reach my goal. I am determined to get there. I recognize that social support is important in this type of endeavour and this site is kind-of social; I guess I'll find out how social in the upcoming months.

This time, I understand why I re-gained the weight and I hope that, with this knowledge, I will be able to avoid the temptation of relapse even when (not if) another high-stress situation comes along.

If you're reading this, wish me good fortune. I wish the same for the rest of you who have taken this brave step to improve your health.