7 years ago, I was a US Marine weighing in at 200lbs, 6'1". I was a little pudgy, but then, I have always had problems with my weight. My lowest recorded adult weight was 195 in 1997, the day I left bootcamp. In the Marines, anything heavier than 203 at my height was "fat", so I flirted with that weight my entire 5 year career.

After leaving the Marines, my weight jumped up 75 lbs in 2 years. Then crept up another 10 lbs in the next 5. Now, I can barely climb the stairs to my apartment without losing breath. My knees hurt to climb or descend stairs. I have chronic back problems stemming from an injury during my military service. In the morning, I can't find the energy to get out of bed and in the evening, I can't find the energy to do housework or even cook a descent meal.

But all that is about to change, now that I have decided to make this momentous change in my life. :)