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 By: Charles D'Angelo
I was an overweight teen. By the time I was 17 years old, my weight had topped 340 lbs! Academically, I was at the top of my class with a 4.0 GPA, but I was crumbling on the inside hitting rock bottom. I was tired all the time, I didn't eat right, I had very low self-esteem and I wanted nothing more than to be of normal size. My father and his entire side of the family were overweight. Most of the family members on his side had already died or were suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer and heart disease.
At 17, weighing in at over 340lbs, some fifty pounds heavier than my own overweight dad, I knew that I would end up dying before my parents if I continued on my path of eating whatever I wanted. Family, doctors, and counselors had actually said this to me directly!! Despite that, I still continued my unhealthy eating-actually eating more on those days than on a "typical" day! I had no confidence in approaching females and I was constantly bullied and ridiculed because of my weight. In high school, fearing the humiliation I had experienced in grade school, I was excused from PE class thanks to a compassionate doctor who wrote me a note out of it. Luckily, the guys in high school were totally accepting of my size which just promoted my over-eating. I was totally ashamed of myself despite their acceptance. Self hatred had grown inside of me. I had no social life, and every time I saw a guy with a pretty girl, I wanted to be just like him. Sadly, my weight held me back in many ways. I had never attended a school dance nor did I participate in any of the social or sporting events.
  Click To Enlarge.Before My Transformation. I buried myself in studying, playing the piano, and most of all eating fast, tasty, and convenient foods-as much and as often as possible! These things seemed to insulate me from life that was going on around me. One day in school, I was asked to help the Dean of my high school, Ray Bahr, to clean out a closet. Mr. Bahr showed me what to do and then left the room. I bent over to pick up a box off of the floor only to hear the "rrrriiiiipppping" of my pants-straight down the back. I edged my way out of that closet with my back to the wall to his office totally embarrassed. I actually had to leave school to go home to change my pants! I couldn't even get up a flight of stairs without being totally out of breath. I would start sweating for no reason, even while sitting in a 60 degree air conditioned classroom. I was scared to death to be put on the scale by the nurse and I wouldn't ever allow her to take my blood pressure despite her pleas. After many painful and tearful days, I decided to do something about my weight. I realized how much my life was at risk by being so overweight. I knew I had to do something if I wanted to be alive a year later.
 Click To Enlarge.Hangin' With The Snoop Dizzle.
With my last year of high school approaching, I wanted to make the most of it-whatever that could be I thought. In the spring of my Junior year of high school, I was in the worst health condition I had ever been in-I could barely move without panting and perspiring. I joined a gym and spoke to a nutritionist about how I was eating. Through a balanced diet, a strict exercise regime, and support from my family and friends, I slowly worked off the weight. Within 15 months, I had lost 120 lbs! No, that is not a typo - I lost 120 lbs.! My confidence soared! I started dating and even had a date to my Senior prom! I was invited to more parties and social events then I had ever imagined and felt better than I ever thought I could. I could even shop at the stores I had always wanted to shop at! Being a piano player, I saw an increase in my energy during my performances and in the response from my audiences-probably due to the rise of confidence in my stage presence.
 Click To Enlarge.After the initial 120lbs weight loss I decided to bulk up to add some additional muscle tissue onto my frame since I'm a pretty tall guy. I went from 220lbs up to about 245lbs in six months time. Satisfied with the additional mass, I decided it was time to lean out again and see how much muscle tissue I had to work with. In just over three months I trimmed down to my current weight of 198lbs. Today, I am enjoying life as a college student at Saint Louis University. My weight is still down, and now I am working on building muscle mass and strength while helping others achieve their own goals. My phone rings off the hook on the weekends now- I never have one that I have to spend alone anymore! I have been lucky enough to meet and go out with some of the most physically and spiritually beautiful girls since I have transformed.
 Click To Enlarge.With Some New Friends. It pains me so much to see so many teens suffering alone when I know that they can change just as I did. I try to read a book each week on nutrition. I am absolutely fascinated by the science behind it. I have learned first hand that managing your diet and exercise level can get you unbelievable results-naturally. I truly believe that nothing is impossible if you stay focused and dedicated to what you want-no matter what that goal is! You can do it!! I did!!
Breakfast:
2 Servings of Quaker Oatmeal (Fruit Flavored Box) Lunch:
1 Bag of BBQ Baked Lays 1 Diet Soda Mid Afternoon:
Dinner:
2 Boneless Skinless Tyson chicken Breasts grilled on a George Foreman Grill at home. After Dinner:
Around the sixth month, I hired one of the trainers at the gym to help me break my workouts up to target more specific body parts. I still workout three days a week, but my days change week to week I try to do three to four sets of each exercise. I constantly change my rep pattern. Sometimes I will do the typical 15, 12, 10, 8 pattern but occasionally I'll throw in drop sets. My workouts now consist of: 1st Chest, Shoulders, & Bi's
2nd Back & Tri's
3rd Legs
I would suggest to anyone who's reading this thinking, "Wow! I could never do that!" to instead say out loud right now, "Wow! I can definitely do that!" You can do it!! I did!! I would have never imagined I would look and feel how I look and feel today when I first started. Keep your eyes on your goal. There is never failure along the way-even if you find yourself cheating-only temporary setbacks. Never be happy with how you're looking-always know that you can improve in anything.
 Click To Enlarge.When you become happy with yourself in any aspect of life you become stagnant. If you wake up and say, "Hey, I look great" it's highly doubtful you'll end up in the gym that day or be eating the right foods. By always thinking that there's room for improvement, you put the sky as the limit as to what you'll accomplish!
Charles D'Angelo Recommend this article to a friend by e-mail here! Visitor Reviews Of This Article!
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