I guess 15 pounds wasn’t all that bad but when I went to college and adopted your average college lifestyle I gained far more than the freshman ten.  Between drinking, sleeping in, and those midnight pizzas, things really started to expand.

Things didn’t get any better once I graduated.  Sure, I tried to diet and exercise but I never did it consistently.  The vicious cycle of gaining weight and then trying to diet and work off the fat became my lifestyle.  It was 30 pounds up and then 30 pounds down.  I’d lose the weight and say “Wow, I’m never going to be fat again” and before I knew it I was fat again.

See those lovely rolls around that big belly up there?  That was me stuffing myself into a pair of jeans until the zipper finally broke.  And that’s probably about the time that I figured it really didn’t matter, that I was going to look like this forever.

I got to the point that I only went out of the house to go to work and do necessary errands.  I didn’t want to see people that I knew socially – I didn’t want them to see had fat I had gotten.  This went on for several more years until I’d finally had enough.

I finally reached the point where I couldn’t stand feeling the rolls of fat around my belly and even around my bra.  I couldn’t stand the feel of my thighs rubbing together and I was sick of getting short of breath from just walking up and down the stairs.

How could I possibly enjoy the rest of my life if I couldn’t get my lazy butt off the couch and change things?

Determination set in and I started making changes in my eating habits, became more active, and the weight started to come off.  In about 6 weeks I was feeling pretty good – over 15 pounds were gone, I had more energy, and I was actually feeling good about myself.

Even though I still had a ways to go, I started getting out of the house, started planning a vacation, and started getting excited about life in general.  It felt so good!

This is actually why I created Weight Loss Reading! I wanted to provide some inspiration, support and knowledge so all of you can take back your lives and start to feel better about yourself.  Congratulations for making it this far and the best of luck with your new and improved lifestyle.

Since you’re from Reading, you may never have heard of Weight Loss Forever, a weight loss center from Virginia Beach.  In their heyday they had 8 locations across the city.  I know this story didn’t happen in our city but it sure could happen at any time.

At the same time, I’d like to make it clear right from the beginning that this particular weight loss establishment was not necessarily a waste of money.  Many people had success stories to tell about the great results that they saw.  However, the catch to fitness centers like this one is that oftentimes they require you to put lots of money upfront.  This money would cover your counseling program, your meal plans, and other promoted products.

So what happened was that hundreds of people trusted this program and gave up their hard earned money for the Weight Loss Forever services that they wanted…and then they lost thousands!  This outfit just up and decided to close shop one day.  Nothing was announced and the worst part was that they keep everyone’s money.  Talk about a consumer rip off!

If you’d like to read about the entire situation,  their local news station did a story about the place:  Weight Loss Forever Story.  Now, you may be thinking that this is an isolated incident, and perhaps this doesn’t happen all that frequently, but the point is that people are willing to spend lots and lots of money to try and lose that awful weight.  This can put you at risk to be scammed if you’re not made aware.

Always keep in mind that a business takes money to run and that money comes from you the consumer.  If you’re serious about your weight loss program and are spending hundreds of dollars then just be careful!

On the upside, going to a weight loss center can be incredibly stimulating.  It’s a great place to develop a support system, a way to stay motivated, and will help you keep up the willpower that is necessary to be successful.

This is the very reason that we created Weight Loss Reading.  We want to try and give you the support you need without spending a fortune and without being taken advantage of.

In my experience if you intend to choose a weight loss center, it is best you stick with national brands like Jenny Craig or Weight Watchers. These are solid companies with centers all across the country so you should be safe when it comes to your investment.

To help you get a little more information here are the addresses of these Reading centers:

Jenny Craig Weight Loss Centres – (610)-376-6442

1139 Berkshire Boulevard, Reading, PA 19610

Weight Watchers Reading Area Center – (610)-376-9053

840 North Park Road, Reading, PA 19610

I’m sure you’ve seen some of the commercials about HFCS.  They’re out there for the general public to see and they begin by telling you that High Fructose Corn Syrup is just like natural sugar because it’s made of corn.

Let’s step back and think about this for a minute.  Even if HFCS is really like sugar then how in the world is this a good thing?  Sugar is not good for us and it’s actually killing people every single day.  You’d think they’d come up with a better comparison than that!

Then this wonderful commercial goes on to tell you that HFCS is natural.  Even if we can buy the fact that it’s just like sugar then how in the world will we process the idea that it’s natural?  The chemical process that is involved to turn corn syrup into HFCS is mind boggling.  In fact, you’d probably need a PhD in chemistry to understand it.

What’s most alarming to us is the fact that tons of different foods and beverages contain this “all natural” and deadly poison.  You’ll be surprised to find out which of your favorite foods is really just a killer in disguise.

Do you love to drink Coke?  Well beware because the second ingredient, right behind carbonated water, is the High Fructose Corn Syrup!  Not a soda drinker?  That doesn’t matter because foods like yogurt, cereal, pizzas, baked beans, candy, baby food and even some whole wheat bread are full of HFCS.  I’m telling you that this stuff is everywhere and then we wonder why we’re fat.

Not that you know all of this, you’ll want to keep in mind that it’s very important to read the ingredients of everything that you buy.  One of the best things you can do for yourself is to cut these harmful chemicals out of your diet.

Here’s a great video that will explain all of the dangers associated with High Fructose Corn Syrup.  It will also help you find HFCS in your foods.  I highly recommend that you take a few minutes to watch it.

Weight loss can be confusing all on its own and talking about all of the terms that go with fat, overweight, and obesity can get overwhelming.  So let’s make some things clear so we’re all talking on the same wavelength.  I actually thought it would be beneficial if I went to the Federal Government to help us out.  They’ve got loads of experts who have spent a lot of time analyzing our weight and here is how they define overweight and obesity for us.

Defining Overweight and Obesity

Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems.

Definitions for Adults

For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the “body mass index” (BMI). BMI is used because, for most people, it correlates with their amount of body fat.

* An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight.
* An adult who has a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

See the following table for an example.

Height….Weight Range………..BMI…………..Considered
5′ 9″            124 lbs or less             Below 18.5          Underweight
5′ 9″              125 lbs to 168 lbs      18.5 to 24.9      Healthy weight
5′ 9″              169 lbs to 202 lbs    25.0 to 29.9        Overweight
5′ 9″              203 lbs or more        30 or higher            Obese

It is important to remember that although BMI correlates with the amount of body fat, BMI does not directly measure body fat. As a result, some people, such as athletes, may have a BMI that identifies them as overweight even though they do not have excess body fat. For more information about BMI, visit Body Mass Index.

Other methods of estimating body fat and body fat distribution include measurements of skinfold thickness and waist circumference, calculation of waist-to-hip circumference ratios, and techniques such as ultrasound, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Definitions for Children and Teens

For children and teens, BMI ranges above a normal weight have different labels (overweight and obese). Additionally, BMI ranges for children and teens are defined so that they take into account normal differences in body fat between boys and girls and differences in body fat at various ages. For more information about BMI for children and teens (also called BMI-for-age), visit BMI for Children and Teens.

Having this general knowledge will be very helpful as you begin your weight loss journey.  Do you need to focus on your BMI?  Absolutely not.  It’s helpful to know about it as a general indication at how much weight you do need to lose and perhaps how long you’re going to have to work to get to your ideal weight.

Knowledge, education, and determination are all part of the key to being successful when it comes to weight loss.  So let’s get to work and learn all we can before starting.