For those who didn’t read my original column, Choose to Lose, I have a confession to make: I’m fat. Not hefty. Not chunky. Not big boned. Not portly. Not plump.
 
F-A-T. Fat.
 
This blog and others to follow will chronicle my experience as well as others who have sought out ways to battle the bulge. This isn’t designed to be an all-knowing weight loss management guide.
 
Far from it. I am not the poster boy for fitness.Mainland editor TJ Aulds once topped the scales at 421 pounds.After undergoing surgery, he hopes to drop to 280 pounds by the end of the year. He'll report on his progress with weekly blog updates. I’m a regular guy who, like you, works long hours, enjoys good food and just plain doesn’t take as good care of myself as I should.
 
It is my hope that from the series of blogs you’ll draw some inspiration and some ideas and will offer your own advice or personal stories of success and challenges.
 
At one point, I weighed in at 421 pounds. I suspect I was at a time heavier than that, but I often shied away from scales.
 
Thanks to a Jan. 9 gastric sleeve procedure at the University of Texas Medical Branch’s Center for Obesity and Metabolic Surgery, I am down to 361 pounds and still dropping.
 
I had been thinking about weight loss surgery for years. Did plenty of research and came close to pulling the trigger several times, but allowed outside circumstances — including money — to force delay after delay.
 
I would have never gotten to the point to the major lifestyle change had it not been for people I have come across in my life who have offered advice, support and, in general, busted my chops a lot.
 
Of course, it goes without saying that my family has played a huge role. Having a strong family support system — even if it is someone to go get you bottled water when you are too sore to get out of bed after surgery — is a huge difference maker.
 
My father, Jerry Aulds, stepped up with a daddy loan to pay for most of the medical costs when insurance said it wouldn’t pay for the procedure.
 
In one way or another, I drew inspiration from other folks and look to them as I take my journey.