The cause of my weight gain is pretty simple -- food! Getting together to have a nice big meal has always been an really big part of my family's life. That's how we relate to one another, over good food. We've always had big meals, big portions, and lots of helpings. That's just the way we do things around here. But, of course, you can't do that forever without eventually feeling the consequences.

I started gaining weight in my early teens. Part of it was puberty, I was growing and developing. But now I was eating more than ever, as any teenage boy would. My parents never paid no mind. They just were happy that I was a normal, growing boy. But I didn't feel so right about it. I didn't feel like it was healthy to carry around all that weight. I talked to my family about it, but they tried to brush it off like it was nothing. I mean, most of my family was as big as I was, and they felt normal. And we were normal, but I just wanted to be healthier. I wasn't going to get any help from my family, so I looked elsewhere.

I didn't want to go to a gym, because my brothers would laugh at me. And I know they would have. I also didn't want to start going to health food stores. I know I'd never hear the end of that one. So I looked around a little, and I heard about this diet called Nutrisystem. It was supposed to cut your cravings for food a little. It wouldn't make me lose the weight, but it would make me want to eat less. That right there was the most important thing I needed at the time. I decided to go ahead and try the Nutrisystem out. I'm glad I did -- I noticed almost immediate results. I would eat what was on my plate if I could, and didn't even want second helpings anymore. I even was able to take smaller helpings to begin with. My family noticed something was going on, and they were a little troubled. My Mom was worried that I didn't like her coooking anymore! But I told her it was just as great as ever. My Dad was worried that I was getting sick or something, and he kept telling me to eat a little something. It actually became somewhat of a family problem. I knew I had to come clean with them.

I explained to my parents that I had gone on a diet that was going to help me with my cravings and that I wanted to eat less and do some exercise. They were not impressed that I went onto a diet without telling them, and that was a problem. But we talked it out, and I think they understood where I was coming from. I was able to explain to them that I was doing this for me and that I wanted to be a healthier person. So from then on they tried harder to help me out and encourage me.

I started doing some jogging around the neighbourhood every couple of nights, and with that I've found the best results so far. I'm losing weight quickly and easily now. But I know I couldn't have done it without Nutrisystem. I have lost over 60 pounds in the past year and 5 months!