Confessions of a Weight Loss Counselor

If defining 'normal' for you means simply what the majority of people do / are, than it's now normal to be overweight in America. Obesity isn't too far behind. Many nations on the planet hare rapidly following in this dangerous trend. In the case of X485, his struggle with weight began before he entered school. Started on the path by food obsessed parents, eating became the top interest for the chubby child, overweight teen & obese adult that grew out of that. Diet after diet would be imposed, later half-heartedly attempted to very small, always temporary degrees of success. Predictably followed by re-gains to higher & higher numbers. This became the standard way of life for X485 & many others. Radical & desperate measures were taken in the mid 90s & an epiphany began. Perhaps a cure was taking place. A major back step left X485 despondent that a life of being overweight was his inevitable destiny. A shorter than average much less happy life was what there was to look forward to. From a seemingly minor discussion with X485's mother, a pilot light was ignited & a restart of the transformation began. All in all, 300# came off over a 4 year period & have stayed off since 2000. With no real career to speak of, X485 quit his 15+ year job to redefine his future. A passion to help others with their weight loss became the primary focus of his life & it paid off handsomely. Professional success came teaching classes first in southern Nevada & later in central California. Thousands of people have put their trust in me - a weight loss counselor - & I've been privileged to see so many do what they thought couldn't be done. 40 specific cases are highlighted in this book. Most have happy endings, some do not. But, a whole perspective of the people I've worked for did need to include every kind of outcome. Each story has lessons to be taken from them. They're called 'tips' & 'traps'. Also, theories on how the nation has gotten to this point are discussed. Mostly, they're qualified as the perspective of the people X485 has met. This field test amounts to over 17 years & 50,000+ people & the threads that come up most often. Taken not as scientific facts, but real world observations via interacting with members X485s worked with. Next, a 4 section breakdown of the 1st year common experiences / advice guide. Realistic expectations are invaluable in this & at year one, when everything is happening for the first time, it's even more so. Thus, a detailed observations of the what can / should / will happen at particular junctures & how to manage them. Practical matters regarding cooking, recipe suggestions & grocery store shopping complete this read. A forever work in progress leaves this book open ended, welcoming responses & knowing that the weight loss desired by the reader is possible for them...until their last dying day!
About the Author: X485's life as an overweight / obese child, adolescent & adult can be summarized in one word: struggle. From being mocked & bullied from the beginning of pre-school & on through college, to having my relationships sidelined or limited to those willing to look beyond my size, to shame regarding simple daily tasks such as being comfortable in clothing, driving a car, errands being completed. Physical pain & limitations to what I could do kept my life in a cycle of isolating & masking deep scars to face the world. Despite this, food would remain an obsession with a life choking vice grip on me that stymied my life in every possible way: personally, emotionally, socially, professionally, financially & physically. Diet after diet with temporary successes than evaporated under the strain of the permanent overriding need to gorge was the status quo as decades passed & life experiences common to most passed, as well. In mid life, an epiphany occurred that took 300# off & remained off since 2000. Armed with a passionate desire to dedicate his life to others still suffering lead to a career change & a reinvention of his destiny as a weight loss counselor. X485 never looked back. In addition to his story, here are some selected examples of the thousands of others who've bravely transformed, lost weight & reclaimed their lives.