YOUR STORIES:  The day I came home from the vet was the day my life changed forever.

I was sitting outside on the deck eating a bag of Cheetos, watching our Jack Russell moving his chubby carcass around the flowerbeds. I heard the vet’s voice in my head, “If you don’t get this dog on a diet, he won’t live past his 7th birthday.”

I gazed deeply into the bag of Cheetos, inhaling its fluorescent, orangey goodness and then gazed up to see Bert, our Jack Russell, struggling to make it up the steps of the deck. I couldn’t remember the last time we’d been for a walk together. It was over a year ago, maybe two. Gosh, he’s fat, I thought. Then, it hit me. If he’s that fat, then how fat must I be?

I looked down at the folds oozing from my belly. I remember when I had a waist. I threw the bag of Cheetos away in disgust and went into the kitchen and grabbed Bert’s leash. When I came back, his face was beaming fluorescent orange from devouring what was left of my Cheetos, and I laughed as I fastened his leash with my fluroescent orange fingers. What a pair we were!

We went for our first walk together in over two years. It was slow and difficult at first, but slowly after a few weeks and a careful diet, we both started to lose weight. Now, I don’t know what I’d do if I didn’t have to get up and walk Bert. I’d just pull the covers over my head and go back to sleep.

He comes and wakes me up and we go for a 40 minute walk in the morning and then again after work. He’s almost 9 now and me, I’ve lost 45 lb and never felt better. He brings me his leash and I can’t resist those puppy-dog eyes. I also do some strength training about 3 times a week and have started jogging a couple of times a week too. Bert loves to go jogging.

So, the next time you need a reason to get off the couch, take the dog for a walk. It will do both of you the world of good.

– Lydia from Connecticut

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Tags: fat loss, Weight Loss

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