You Can't Wish it Away: A Weight Loss Story

Story by Sgt. Connie Jones

184th Sustainment Command

A couple of donuts here, a few late night burgers there, could result in a few extra pounds hanging around. New Year’s resolutions to lose weight or to get back down to a favorite size result in gyms packed from January until around March when the crowd begins to thin and fast food restaurants welcome back their regulars. Children don’t understand the potential health crisis obesity brings. 
All of this was true for 2nd Lt. Anthony Hamilton.
“I started gaining weight when I was between six and eight years old. When you’re young, it doesn’t really matter as much. As you start to get older, that’s when you start to notice it more,” Hamilton said. “I started to really notice my weight when in 5th grade, but I kept eating. I felt no need to change when I was still young.” 
As Hamilton got older he became more aware and he wanted to do something about his weight - but he still had a long way to go with discipline. At his heaviest, he weighed 290.
“I did a lot of yo-yoing with weight. I would lose 20, gain 10, get frustrated then lose another 20 and I would go back and forth. It took me a year to figure out self-control, and the following year I lost 100 pounds.”
He went through a lot of common diets and weight loss methods in order to find what worked for him. 
“Trial and error was the biggest thing.” said Hamilton. “I tried googling different things, low carb, calorie counting, but what I’ve found is the best diet is one you can stick to.”
Although he began his weight loss journey before he joined the military, the discipline the Army teaches is great for fitness. 
“The military is good for providing structure and discipline so that helps with weight loss. They also help by enforcing the routine. The exercise is mandatory, which is good,” said Hamilton.
“I’m very structured; I always do PT to start my day. I go to the gym six out of seven days,” he said. “It’s all about discipline. Making the choice to get up, work out, and start your day early. You carry that discipline into work with you.”
Along with discipline, weight loss has to be fueled by an inner motivation to keep it off. 
“You have to be intrinsically motivated to lose weight. You can want to do it all day but if you’re not motivated, you won’t make any real changes. It starts within.”
Hamilton’s motivation is the fact that he doesn’t want to be obese again. 
“A lot of people who are fitness enthusiasts have been overweight before. I don’t ever want to be overweight again,” he said. “Fitness is important to me because I enjoy being able to run around without being out of breath, I enjoy aspects of longer life, and mainly the perception of the public. People perceive me differently now than they did then. My confidence level is higher.”