Before 440lbs After 205lbs
7/2008 5/2009
Ken Roney's
Positive Lifestyle Solutions
Welcome
Welcome to my website.
This website is in development. Here you will find resources for people that are struggling to obtain a healthier lifestyle, through losing weight, or becoming more fit. When completed I hope that the information and tools provided will help you successfully obtain your goal.
My Story
My name is Ken Roney. I have been struggling with my weight for the past forty-five years, beginning in the first grade. During my childhood in southern California, I was the brunt of many hurtful jokes regarding my weight, some self induced. I felt like, if I beat kids to the punch, I would fit in with the crowd. I guess I developed my sense of humor from being heavy. I’ve made fun of myself and continue to make fun of myself to this day. It’s sad to think that jokes at one’s own expense can help you fit in, but for me, it seemed to work. I’m sure some of you out there can relate, or have a similar story.
During my Elementary school days I was made fun of all the time. Becoming the class clown seemed to help me cope. I fit in with the popular kids, but fitting in, didn’t help my grades. Almost every teacher said, “Kenny has a problem with concentration and likes to talk”. I got in trouble a lot for disrupting the class. The pressure to fit in, while struggling with my weight, prevented me from reaching my potential in school.
Another challenge of being overweight is finding clothing, and I was no exception. I was a fat kid, and back then I had to buy from the adult section, which was very limiting. My mother used to bring home pants that were labeled “Husky”. Can you imagine being in elementary school wearing pants with a big label on the back that all your friends can see? My daily food intake back then was probably about 3500-4000 calories daily. It consisted of several sandwiches a day (cracker mayonnaise sandwiches) and lots of candy when possible. I was pushing the scales at 200 lbs.
As I entered the 7th grade my weight was continuing to climb. I was about 230lbs and stood 5’11”. I so wanted to go out for sports, especially football, but I couldn’t bring myself to join. I was afraid of taking showers at the end of practice, or games, because I was so embarrassed by my weight. I received f’s in P.E. because I didn’t take showers at the end of class. Also, around that time, to make matters worse, my face decided it was not going to cooperate and become a pimply mess. I was still on the mayonnaise cracker sandwiches and stopped at the Ice cream truck every school morning. I spent all of my lunch money on ice cream and candy and ate it all by the start of school. I also had several (thin) friends that brought chips for their lunches. I used to be very good at persuading them to hand them over. So by the time I graduated the 8th grade I was earning poor grades and didn’t participate in any sports. My parents tried to help at this point. They basically tried bribery, but nothing seemed to motivate me. They offered me $1.00 for every pound I lost, but I continued to eat, and my weight kept climbing. If I had a nickel for every offer to lose weight, I would be a rich man.
In the summer of 1974, after graduating the 8th grade, my parents decided to move to Portland, Oregon. By that time I needed a change, a fresh start, so I was gung ho to move. Even though it would mean I would have to leave my friends behind.
Starting high school, my weight continued to climb. I was about 245 lbs and about 6’0”. I felt really lucky that the high school I attended only required one year of P.E. Somehow I got through it, without showering, and received a passing grade. I’m sure there were days that I didn’t smell too pleasant. It’s really sad that I never participated in any sports, or any extracurricular activities, because I was embarrassed about my weight. How I felt about my weight continued to affect my success and accomplishments through my high school years. In 1978, I graduated. I was about 265lbs. I went directly into the working world, married at 19, and had a baby girl at 20. I continued to work several jobs and became very depressed with life in general.
In 1988, my weight reached 300 lbs. I was so depressed and worried about my health I decided to take a new approached to my weight loss. I decided to starve myself to lose the pounds. It worked for awhile and I lost about 60 lbs over a 3 month period. When I started to eat again I noticed the weight pounding right back on. I was so scared of returning to 300 + pounds I decided each time I ate I would go into the bathroom and make myself throw up…That’s right! I resorted to binging and purging myself. I did that for about 1 ½ months. I finally woke up and realized what I was doing to my body and how my behavior was worse than being overweight. So, I stopped binging and purging. Within a year, the weight was back on, plus some.
I continued to float through life, gaining additional weight along the way. By the turn of the century, in 2000, my weight was around 340lbs. My wife and I divorced, and though we had four beautiful children, my life felt like it was a mess. I was still going from job to job and still felt like I was in a state of depression about my weight and about my life.
In 2001 I remarried. I was so happy I started to lose weight without even trying! In about 3 months I was back down to 270lbs and my weight continued to drop. My wife and I started a business called All About Seniors, Inc. It is a referral and placement service and is still running today. We help seniors and their families find an appropriate care setting. During this time my weight hovered around 260lbs. I stayed at this weight for about 5 years. Then, our marriage started to have some challenges, and my weight started to climb. By 2008 my weight reached an all time high of 440 lbs. In reality, it may have been more, but the scale only went to 400lbs. I was very depressed. My wife and I were having some big challenges in our marriage and my health was deteriorating. I developed type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and sleep apnea. I was always tired and did not want to participate in life. I had no self esteem and was afraid of going to sleep at night and not waking up. I would pray myself to sleep, asking God to get me through the night.
On the 1st of July, 2008 I decided to change my life forever. I decided to start eating right and started to exercise, taking it one day at a time. I remember when I reached 399lbs. My weight loss motivated me to continue. My goal then was to reach 299lbs. I reached that goal around the 1st of January, 2009. My next goal was 250lbs, which I reached around April 2009. I then wanted to reach the 200 mark by my birthday; May 31st I came close-205lbs. I’ve since maintained my weight between 215-225lbs-for over a year now and I feel great! My goal is 190lbs by the end of the year, which will be a much more comfortable pace.
I am now able to fit in the seats at movie theaters, amusement rides and in smaller cars. I don’t fall asleep in the middle of conversations and no longer have sleep apnea. I am now free of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. And In fact, my doctor said I have lab results like an athlete.
I would have never reached this goal without the help of God, my wife Jennifer, all my kids, my brother Daniel, my parents, my friends, and my nephew, Christian, who despite his youth had the courage to tell me how concerned he was that I would die. Though my wife Jennifer and I divorced in Oct 2009, I am very happy to say we are now reconciling our marriage.
I’m really looking forward to hearing from you. Together with the information and tools we share we can go forward towards our weight loss goals and good health for life. I did it and you can do it too!
Ken Roney
5/27/2010