I have been dealing with weight issuesfor my entire life. From the time that I was very young, as young as I can remember, I was an overweight child. In fact, my parents explained to me later that they used to get a lot of dirty looks and judgements from other people. People would ask them what they were feeding me, people would ask them what they were doing to me to make me so big. But no one understood, that's just the way I was. I don't know why though. People say that you get fat because of a poor diet. But I don't think my diet was that bad. There must be some genetic factor as well. Because I was really really young, and my parents fed me well, like any good parent would. But they fed me the same things other parents fed their children.

Growing up I faced the same problems that all misfit kids face -- ridicule from other kids, judgement, discrimination, that kind of thing. I hated it. But I knew I was better than that. I wanted to prove to the world that there was more to me than my size. I wanted to show everyone that I didn't have to take any abuse. I always tried to talk my way out of things, that's just the way I am. I can be pretty pushy sometimes. I found my own kinds of friends all the way through school, and I did well. I was a normal, happy child. I was just overweight. It didn't feel like the end of the world to me that I was a little heavy. I still found a career, love, and a good life.

The trouble was that my health was catching up to me. When I was 27, my doctor told me that I was at high risk for diabetes, heart disease, and all kinds of other nasty things. He told me that I had to do something about it soon or I would be in trouble. I don't know why, but I just didn't want to believe it. I didn't listen. I kept eating fast food, doing no exercise, and neglecting my nutrition. My boyfriend was really worried for me though. He kept telling me that I needed to get healthier, because he wanted me to live a long time. It didn't really sink in for me until the next time I went to the doctor. At the next checkup he told me that things had gotten even worse, and I was far heavier than I should be for my age and height. He said that I was at critical risk for all kinds of health-related problems. That's when I decided it was time to listen.

Getting healthy is never an easy thing. My favourite foods are very important to me, and very therapeutic I feel. I was never going to be able to stick with proper portions and healthy meals if I did it alone. And I wasn't sure if my boyfriend's support was going to be enough. So I decided to take a two-pronged approach to it. I went onto a diet I had heard of, called Nutrisystem, and had my boyfriend take careful watch of what I ate. I made it his job to make sure I was sticking with a healthy diet. But I knew that the moment I convinced myself I was "on a diet" that I was doomed to failure. It was not a diet, just healthy eating.

My boyfriend has been marvellous through this whole thing. But Nutrisystem gave me the extra kick I needed to keep down those cravings. I won't say I've never cheated, but I've been very good with my nutrition up to now. I have managed to lose 17 pounds in just 3 months. I visited the doctor recently, and he told me that I was making great progress and that if I kept going this way, I would eventually reach my ideal weight. That sounds great to my ears, and I'm excited to see what I'm capable of in the future.