I struggled with my weight since I was eight years old. There hasn’t been a time that I actually remember being a normal size. Neither of my parents were overweight, but we didn’t eat healthy what so ever. In fact, we had pizza every Friday night, and sometimes Saturday too. Through the week, my mom worked nights, so unless she made something in the crock pot, my dad would take my brother and me to get some form of fast food. That was a terrible habit that continued for a very long time.

Unfortunately, I did not have the same metabolism as the rest of my family. When I started to get self conscious about it in middle school, I wouldn’t eat breakfast or lunch, thinking I would lose weight that way. However, I would go home and binge eat because I was starving by the end of the school day. I ate as much as my stomach could handle before my dad came home so I wouldn’t get yelled at.

My parents tried to help me, but didn’t exactly go about it the best way. I remember on my twelfth birthday, my parents got me workout videos. I was absolutely humiliated. I know they were just trying to help, but I took it so hard. Shortly after that birthday, my dad started portioning my food. I think that was even worse than the present. For example, everyone would get their plates full of food, and I was given one slice of pizza. I would be so hungry at night, as soon as my dad went to bed I was in the fridge. I’m not saying that if they’d gone about it a different way I would have been “cured” but I think I would have has a better chance to succeed.

Through the last 10 years I have never lost more than 20 pounds and kept if off. I tried low fat diets, low carb diets, low calorie diets, you name it! Nothing worked, I just couldn’t stay motivated. In 2017, I decided to try my hand at a vegan diet. I did it for a year and lost 35 pounds. I kept that weight off ever since, but still had a lot to lose.

Finally, with my brother’s wedding coming up, I decided to give this weight loss thing one more try. On August 20th, 2019, I was ready to make a lifestyle change. I looked into, and started a “keto” / low carb plan. As of today, it’s been two months since I’ve started, and I’ve lost 26 pounds already. I haven’t been this weight since either late middle school or early high school! I work out five to six times a week, for at least 30 minutes or more. Mainly cardio, and it gets easier and easier each day. I still have about 50-60 pounds left to lose.

I hope I can inspire and help others with my knowledge and experiences.