How I Learned That Food Cannot Control Me

by Brandon
(Canada)

Growing up, I was always a bigger-boned child, and I was often teased because of it. Having said that, it was partially, if not entirely, my fault. I loved to eat, especially fatty junk food that was only making my problem worse, but I never understood what was giving me these unquenchable cravings, or causing me to put my hand in the cookie jar, for lack of a better term.

Throughout my teenage years, I saw my frame getting larger, and could literally feel my health getting worse. I was moving slower, feeling less inspired to get up and move, and becoming sick more frequently. And then one day, I hit rock bottom. I woke up feeling like I was having a heart attack and had a close friend rush me to the hospital. While I don't know the medicinal name for what exactly was happening, my doctor basically told me that my body and heart were sending me warning signals that I had to make changes in my life, particularly to my eating habits and the amount of physical activity I do. Naturally, I listened. I never wanted to experience pain like that again.

I went home, re-focused myself, and had my brother (a more fit version of myself) help me put together an exercise schedule and a diet plan. I stuck to it, and today, I am healthier than ever. I'm getting healthier by the hour, and I could not be more proud of myself. I've slimmed down, and most importantly, I feel better. I'm a little disappointed in myself that I basically let myself reach my breaking point, but everyone needs to learn in some way, and I guess that was mine. I thank my lucky stars daily that I'm still alive to tell the tale, but most importantly, I've realized that food is not the answer.