Helping others change their lifestyles one step at a time
I was an obese teenager!
Along with some of the health complications I bore, one of the hardest things to deal with as an obese teenager were the stigmas that come with being overweight. Children are mean, but teenagers are cruel. I lived with constant ridicule from my peers, overwhelmed with embarrassment when changing for gym class, and dealing with the snickering of children I’d pass in the playground were just a few of the scenes that I replay in my mind when I think back to my early years. I never wore shorts in the summertime and I always wore baggy clothing in an attempt to camouflage my protruding belly. At the age of 14, one Sunday morning, I looked at myself in the mirror. Thoughts of suicide and self-loathing filled me and I broke down sobbing. With blood-shot eyes and a tear-soaked tee-shirt, I thought “enough is enough!” and that was it — and I’ve never looked back. From that point on my life changed forever. The secret was the empowerment in realizing and accepting I was in complete control of me. Through self-education on nutrition, health and fitness I learned what I needed to do; I started to mountain bike daily, joined a gym and did little, daily things that focused on improving my overall health and well-being.
I’ve never gone back to that place, but I don’t forget what it was like to be there. It helps me relate with those people who are faced with weight challenges. I know how it feels to have people stare at you; I know what it’s like having to say “no” to the summer social and pool parties; I know what it’s like to be out of breath after walking up a flight of stairs or the difficulty with simple tasks like tying my shoes – it’s the little things that seem the hardest to do… but never forget, you’re not alone.
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Remember, with every waking moment there exists an opportunity to make a lifelong change that can impact not only your life, but the lives of those around you. It’s with that in mind that I do what I do. Through education and support, I’m committed to helping both the young and old of today learn the benefits of healthy, active living. Together, childhood obesity will no longer be an issue facing our world.
Here’s a snippet from the Shaw TV show, The Express, which shows Fitness Town in action helping kids develop healthy habits:
As Chief Operating Officer and partner of Fitness Town Inc, I oversee the daily operations of 8 retail stores and 2 commercial divisions. Raised in Bowmanville, Ontario, I now live with my 2 children and loving wife, Christie, in Vancouver, B.C. With my spare time, I’m an active member of the Whiterock Early Edition Toastmasters organization and when not honing my public speaking skills, I live out my passion for writing and sharing best health and fitness practices as the editor of the Fitness Town Health & Wellness Blog and The Moose is Loose.
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