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Name: Stephen Pagano

Age: 25

Height: 5'6"

Before Weight: 601.4 pounds


How I Gained It: I have been struggling with my weight most of my life. I ate for comfort as a kid, and continued as I grew older. Kids in school would pick on me and bribe me with food and made me believe they were my friends.


I missed out on graduating high school. I was mocked and bullied and couldn't fit in a normal-sized desk. I felt I had no place being there. I struggled to walk and breathe and lived with daily multiple pains.


Breaking Point: I had just started riding the electric cart at grocery stores. I realized I could not continue existing that way anymore, or eventually I would become completely immobile.


How I Lost It: I've changed the way I approach food. I am open to trying new foods because I realize this is a lifelong process. I still eat what I want, but in much smaller portions. Tracking and measuring food is the key to my weight loss success.


Now, I can walk to the local grocery store and I don't require an electric cart. I can walk the neighborhood without assistance and with less foot and back pain. I don't snore as loudly, and I have fewer pains related to being obese. I realize I have a long way to go, but I am on the right path.


I owe most of my recent success to what I've learned in Weight Watchers meetings. I couldn't have done it without my leader and support from the group and other staff members. I realized through this process that I have an amazing amount of self-determination to succeed. When I set a goal, I accomplish it. Recently, with my newfound confidence, I took the GED exam and passed on the first try.


Current Weight: 337.8 pounds. My ultimate goal is to weigh 180 pounds. I post about my progress on Facebook.

2013-10-04-stephenpagano.jpg

The Huffington Post publishes photographs as they are submitted to us by our readers.[2]


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