A Few Tips I Learned While Being A FAT KID Growing Up

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Have you ever struggled with weight gain or maybe know someone who has? What about trying to stay on a strict diet or regiment to lose weight? Man I can tell you, it’s not easy.

As far back as I can remember, I used to be overweight. When I was  in elementary and middle school I remember vividly how kids used to make fun of and tease me because of my weight. And when you end up hearing it enough times your mind begins to think you really are fat. I had low self confidence and used to dread going to school.

And you think it got any better?

I would say that kids are even more unrelenting once you get into middle school and high school. There was one group of friends that I used to hangout with that to be honest, I have no idea why I really hung out with.

One guy in particular, I knew since 5th grade was a complete jackass to me. He used to taught and tease me about my belly all the time. It got so bad that I started to really get self conscious about my appearance.

And why did I take it? I was a wuss. I couldn’t stand up for myself. I was always passive and just let the beating come. There were days where I just felt like giving up and not wanting to go to school.

I felt lost, dejected, and alone. 

But then I got to college. I saw that people came in all shapes and sizes. No one was as slender and thin as they were back in high school. When you ate junk food all day, played video games, and studied, there wasn’t much room for exercise.

So somehow, I was able to blend in a little easier. But at that time I also started to realize that I needed to get in shape. I needed to exercise. And thing was it’s often harder to get started than it is to continue.

Also there was one thing that always used to hold me back: I had a disease. I had asthma. I used this as a crutch and made myself THINK that I couldn’t exercise because I would get an attack.

I would say to myself, “it’s okay. You don’t need to push yourself today. You don’t want to get over exerted. Just sit back and relax. Take it easy.” Little did I know I was sowing the seeds of my own self destruction.

And the other problem was that I loved to eat. I mean I could REALLY eat. I could literally out eat anyone. I used to be conscious of eating in front of others but I would typically tell myself that I had a healthy appetite. The problem was when all you do is sit, you lose stamina, energy, and feel a lot more groggy.

Plus, I probably gained close to 25 lbs. my junior year in college because I moved off campus to live on my own. There I started to eat out more and cook my own meals.

And man did I cook. Not the healthy stuff you’re suppose to be eating but heavy and rich pastas and meat dishes that filled you up but left you bloaded. Top that off with heavy drinking (I was a college kid) and you have a formula for a true gut bomb.

…My Come Back, My Realization

But eventually well after college I started to actively reexamine my performance at work, at home, and my relationships with others. I realized that my energy was so low that often times I didn’t feel like doing anything but sleep.

I came to a point in my life that I said enough is enough. I need to get in shape. Now the thing was I used to exercise for periods of time doing the elliptical at the gym or home dvd programs but the problem was I would end up eating more than I worked off. And then I eventually quit my workouts. It became a really vicious cycle.

But then finally I said to myself let’s take things seriously. Let’s really see what I’m made of and see if it makes a difference. And within a period of about 6 months I started to shed the pounds! I started to drink at least 8-9 glasses of water a day. I started to exercise 5-6 days a week.

I Found My Why

What was the difference? I didn’t want to go back to the way I was. I would repeat the nasty voices in my head from kids I grew up with taunting me, teasing me and it would give me even more fuel to prove them wrong.

And the reality was, it was hard to start at first but once I kept going I started to stick with it. It really was harder to quit once I started.

Why Do I Tell You This?

Simple. Because I know you’ve probably experienced something similar. Maybe not necessarily weight gain or exercise but maybe another addiction you wanted to quit like smoking or drinking.

Maybe you just wanted to be a better role model for your friends and significant others. What I’ve learned is that the biggest win you can have is to show people your consistency and prove that you’re man enough not to quit.

It’s just like our business, right? Be man enough not to throw in the towel when things get especially difficult. Just continue and keep at it. And you know what also helped? Seeing others be the example in my life. Watching others succeed in business and in life.

A good example is when I saw this video, and decided to get started. I wanted to commit to the process and the goal.

I discovered that I could achieve my health goals and my business goals. Who said I couldn’t have both? Those who say you can’t are just trying to fuel your own self limiting beliefs because they’re too afraid to do it.

So do this now…come to the realization that wherever you are, whatever goal or issue you want to solve. Believe that you can do it.

Believe that you have enough fight to make it happen to make that mental shift in your life. I promise it’s so worth it. And within 12 months, you’ll barely be able to recognize yourself.

So make a decision and just do it. And like David Wood says, don’t be a wuss and get all in.