Confessions of a Former Fast-Food Fiend

I knew I was fat when I was in high school, but I didn’t care. I played football and was on the track team--I threw the shotput and discus, I didn’t run. My weight, 265 pounds, was part of my persona. I was always the jolly, fat class clown.

My normal diet was three doughnuts and two chocolate milks for breakfast, a six-pack of red burritos, large fries and an extra-large Cherry Coke for lunch and McDonald’s or half an extra-large pizza for dinner with sodas and candy bars for my snacks. Health and fitness were not part of my life. Unfortunately, neither was a girlfriend. I decided I needed to do something.

My mother and brother had recently started to see a nutritionist and had some success, so I decided to see her as well. My life changed for the better the first time I walked into Victoria Hansen’s office. She put me on a low-fat, low-calorie diet. I lost 35 pounds in six months. I was ecstatic. Then, I got a girlfriend, graduated and started working full time. I started eating fast food at work and stopped seeing my nutritionist because I would be embarrassed if my girlfriend found out. I promptly gained back the weight.

I started seeing my nutritionist again. Then, I started taking my lunch to work and eating salads every night for dinner. I lost the 35 pounds again. I was happy, but I wanted to lose more. However, dieting alone wasn’t working. The next thing I did was the best choice I have ever made. I started running.

At first, I couldn’t make it around the block, but eventually I could do the distance. I started to run farther and farther, and the weight was dropping. I also decided to join a gym, and more weight came off. I was finally becoming fit.

I currently weigh 170 pounds and barely have 5% body fat (down from 26%). I am studying to be a registered dietitian and am a three-hour marathoner. I eat six small low-fat meals a day and snack on fruits and vegetables. My meals consist of oatmeal and peanut butter for breakfast, chicken, rice and vegetables for lunch and fish, pasta and vegetables for dinner.

At first, I thought weight loss would be hard, but I was wrong. With determination and dedication, it was easy. Now my life has never been better. I have tons of energy and am never sick. I owe all my success to a nutritionist, a good diet and miles of asphalt.

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Vital Statistics Name: Craig Moss

Age: 25

Occupation: Student

Height: 5 feet, 10 inches

Old Weight: 265

New Weight: 170

Time to Get There: Three years