He Chose to Take a Walk on the Thin Side
My weight loss began in the fall semester of my second year of college when I lived in the dorms. I had been overweight since the seventh grade. Since I’d lived with it for such a significant portion of my life, I never really considered myself heavy. I have always been very outgoing and friendly, so no one ever made comments about my being fat. If it had not been for my friend Lisa, I probably never would have taken off the weight.
I met Lisa my freshman year and instantly respected her. She was a resident advisor and a junior. She worked hard and knew who she was and where she was going. Because Lisa was such a go-getter, there wasn’t a lot of free time in her schedule for socializing with new people. I wanted to get to know her, though, so when she began an early morning walking-for-fitness group in the dorms, I was the first to sign up.
The group convened at 7 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and from the beginning it was a small gathering. Eventually the group would dwindle to just Lisa and myself. We took a route around the campus, which was about a half-mile of at least a 45-degree slope. Once we peaked at the top, we headed downhill back to the campus, around the football stadium, along a creek and back to the dorms. We finished each morning with a healthy snack.
After the group had been going for about a month, I stopped by the student health center to inquire about a flu shot and thought that I’d weigh myself just for fun. The health center was set up in eight stations in a circle around the building. I stopped at the first station and stepped on the scale. I simply couldn’t accept this. There was no way I could have dropped almost 50 pounds in a little over a month. I proceeded to visit every station and try every scale in the building. I left in a daze, hardly able to believe what I had just discovered.
That night I went to the mall to try on clothes. I left giddy with laughter with a new pair of size 33 shorts under my arm. Having lost almost 50 pounds and dropping three pant sizes with what seemed like minimal effort, I decided to join Lisa’s gym and continue down my new fitness path. I don’t remember changing what I ate so much during this time, but I certainly remember eating significantly less.
Due to a knee injury, Lisa was able to accompany me to the gym only once before she went in for surgery, but I continued to go to the gym in her spirit and continue to do so. Lisa recently passed the bar exam and got a job in a Los Angeles law firm. I lost the remainder of my weight over the spring semester. By June, I was down to 150 pounds and into size 30 jeans.
In September, I added running to my routine. I run five miles five times a week now.
Everyone asks me what they should do to start on their own weight-loss program. I tell them to take a walk. It’s amazing what can happen just around the block.
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
Vital Statistics
Name: Eric Christianson
Age: 23
Occupation: Student, pastry chef, writer
Height: 5 feet, 8 inches
Old Weight: 248
New Weight: 140
Time to Get There: Nine months
Want to Share Your Success Story?
Losing weight is as individual as gaining weight. Do you have a story on how you got in shape and stayed there? If so, we’d like to hear from you with a 500-word essay listing what worked in terms of diet, exercise, encouragement and support as well as your emotional and physical changes.
We’d also like you to send us full-body color photos of you, before and after.
Send essay and photos to “How I Did It,” Health, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053, and include daytime and evening phone numbers. No phone calls, please. Submissions cannot be returned.
In addition to publication, winners will receive a Los Angeles Times gym bag and a gift certificate for a free pair of athletic shoes of your choice, redeemable at any Big 5 Sporting Goods store.