Gerry Juarez

It took me about an hour to find a picture I was willing to put up on this forum.  Like many people who are large, or "obese" (such an ugly sounding word), I don't like getting my picture taken.  In fact, I don't really like being in social situations at all; any platform that requires me to be in view of normal sized people is uncomfortable.  The problem with living life in this manner (being afraid to get out there because of my size) is that I don't get to experience things that I really want, or even love to do.  I have two amazing sons, who play baseball and participate in cub scouts.  Most of the time I watch them from the bleachers or from afar.  This past fall I went on a camping trip with my son and his scout troop and could barely keep up on the hike. I have an amazing wife of 8 years who loves to laugh and dance and be around people.  I rarely am in the mood to do things like this with her and am more content to stay home, or if venturing out, making sure it is somewhere that I am "supposed" to be at (like the movie theater/restaurant in our town).

About six months ago, I decided that I couldnt keep putting food before my family and my life.  I wasn't always big... there was a time when I was a Marine, a happy, fit person who loved to be outdoors and enjoyed life.  I would really like to find that peron inside and awake him.