| After graduation in 2000, I again lost weight during the summer, getting back to my original weight from the summer before (240 pounds). This time I purchased a Bowflex, using it regularly throughout the summer. My diet was much better, although I was in the same trap of being at home without having to fend for myself. Not surprisingly, life got in the way yet another time. Once I moved back out of the house and into my own place, the eating patterns yet again returned. I will say I resisted a bit longer this time, trying a variety of weight loss tactics including Herbalife, Atkins, Power 90 videos with supplements, and probably several other things I can't even remember. Similar to the experiences of so many of us, the results were temporary. I was unable to maintain the plans due to expense, time, or just disinterest (who wants to eat NO carbs ALL the time?). My weight really got out of control at this point. Over the course of five years, I gained ANOTHER 100 pounds. My weight, by the time I left internship in 2006, was close to 340 pounds. Even after internship, I still ate horribly. I still did exercise at all. I was the poster child for lazy, unmotivated, and depressed people. At the time I didn't recognize how depressed I'd become. Hindsight, as they say, is 20/20. I even applied for The Biggest Loser, receiving an interview but hearing nothing more. I was stuck in a major rut with little motivation to claw my way out. When I finally finished my doctorate in 2007 and moved to Indiana to start my postdoctoral work, I was officially at 341 pounds. The pictures below show these changes from 2001-2007: |
| Dr. Boz's Total Body Wellness Revolution |
| Boz's Weight Loss Journey - Continued |
| Success Story #1 (April 2008) Word PDF Success Story #2 (April 2009) Word PDF Success Story #3 (April 2010) Word PDF |
| Everything changed in 2007. Once I finished with school and began my "life" so to speak, I finally had the opportunity to breathe. A routine checkup with my doctor revealed a cholesterol level of 317. My triglycerides were through the roof as well. While my sugar was fine, my blood pressure was hovering in an area where medication was a distinct possibility. It was around this time I also received an email through work about Weight Watchers. My employer offers the At Work program which allows people to get reimbursed about two-thirds the fee to participate, simply by just weighing in 15/17 weeks. Seemed like a good deal to me, so I decided to sign up. It wasn't this grand "A-Ha" moment for me. Just a matter of the right place and the right time. Some may call it a coincidence. I don't believe in coincidences at all. There was a reason I was in that place at that time. I believe the reason is the website you're on right now and the mission this site holds. At any rate, my "rebirth" started on October 12th, 2007. It's weird how the date sticks with me. I didn't make a note of it at the time, but I can remember it without hesitation. It was at this point I was at my official highest weight of 341 pounds. With the exception of a six month setback in the second half of 2009 (a separate story for another day - probably in my blog), I've never looked back. There are so many positive pieces to my life over the past three years. It's hard to really mention them all here, or even remember them off the top of my head. Before I get to some of the more useful things I've learned in my journey, here's a series of pictures documenting my changes since 2007. I've noticed I actually don't mind having my picture taken anymore. That's why the pictures are so few from before. I hated to have actual evidence of how heavy I'd become. It was bad enough to see it in the mirror. I didn't want any pictures to document it as fact! Now I can't wait to have my picture taken, because I know I actually look - well - GOOD! Or at least I like to this so. Here are my latest round of pictures, again from 2007-2010: |
