Hello,There is a daily log as well as photos -- Kudos to Steve for doing this. This is an awesome odyssey. Posted by DaveH at May 29, 2005 10:46 PM
My Name is Steve Vaught, (born Stephen James Liller in Youngstown, Ohio). I am a 39 year old, happily married father of two great kids and I have a pretty good life here in Southern California. You would think that I would be happy because of these things, but I am not. I am not happy because I am fat and being fat makes every day unhappy.
I did not make this website to complain about it however, instead I am doing something about it and this site was made to chronicle my story.
I am going to walk across the United states from San Diego to NYC to lose weight and regain my life!
The rest of the story is that I have not always been fat. I have been many things in my life from a lanky teenager to a muscular Marine and now I am fat. This latest incarnation is without a doubt the worst.
Being fat is physically and emotionally painful. It diminishes the quality of the good things in life and it will ultimately bring about an early demise. So being overweight darkens every good thing that you achieve in your life and even prevents some things from happening at all.
For the last 15 years I have been slowly gaining weight and it seems that whatever I do, it just spirals ever upward. Socially, being fat is hard to deal with because I feel that am looked down upon by people even when they are not doing so maliciously. It may be human nature. You know, "survival of the fittest". Also, I feel as though I am being taken advantage of by companies and people that want fat people to buy their latest "miracle pill" or prepackaged food that will help me lose the weight.
We, as a society, are growing larger and have become a big market for high dollar fast fixes. We are not getting the fix because it is an illusion. Don't get me wrong, if I were given the option I would trade just about anything to be trim and fit again. I have the same excuses, desires and dreams as many others in my position. I know though, that there is no other option but physical exertion to truly get back into shape.
So, after consulting the family and getting their blessing I have made the decision to stop this merry go round and dedicate myself to losing the extra weight. I have an addiction and there needs to be dedication and sacrifice to cure addictions. If I had a drug or alcohol addiction I would go to rehab. Well, what I have in mind is rehab for the fat guy.
I am going to take six months out of my life and walk across the United States from San Diego to NYC. My main purpose in undertaking this journey is losing weight. More importantly though, I need to change the behaviors that have allowed me to be in this situation in the first place. I know that to permanently lose this weight I must learn to be more responsible to myself.
Steve, If I put my name at the top of your letter it would read almost the same. I will print your letter and use it to get my self esteem and direction back on track.
Pain is short lived PRIDE is forever
God's speed All the way
Posted by: Jim M at July 24, 2005 3:56 PMsteve i think it takes a person of big heart to do what you are doing. sacraficing seeing your family to live a better happier healthier life.
i am a mother of three very beautiful girls there are things my children want me to do but i can,t because i am over weight myself and have had 3 hernia surgeries none of wich have helped but i am not giving up i believe we as parents need to set an example to our children that we ourselves control our lives not everyone else and i believe you are setting that example. because of you i have been inspired to keep trying and not to give up i recently started walking again as well as changing my eating habits i now eat off a salad plate instead of a dinner plate (no seconds thanks)i have also started eating out of a cup instead of a bowl and i have also started drinking more water and a lot less soda soon to be none also i have started doing some situps. i won't lie these things are very hard but like you i believe life is too short and to precious to just give up and die. so may god be with you and your family throughout your journey and please stay well hydrated in these blistering hot days.GOD BLESS YOU STEVE.
steve,just hang in there. gods where you all the way. ill have you in my prayers each night. walk saft. god bless you. deb. nashville tenn.
Posted by: deb at July 20, 2005 5:37 PMI'm curious as to why you are so bitter and sit in judgement of Steve? My apologies if you are a family member of the elderly people you refer to but surely, if you were, you would know the relevant facts surrounding that day.
After the accident the Police carried out routine checks and confirmed that Steve wasn't under the influence of drink or drugs, nor was he speeding. The sequence of events that culminated in two people tragically losing their lives that day amount to nothing more than a freak accident.
I for one, can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to live with something so terrible. No matter how sorry you are, no matter how many times you run through it in your head you can never turn the clock back. This walk isn't about money. I know Steve would gladly swap every last cent he has just to change one minute of that fateful day.
Life doesn't always deal us a fair hand and fate can touch your life at any time. Show some compassion and the next time you get behind the wheel of your car you might be able to understand the meaning of "there but for the grace of God go I"
Posted by: An old friend at June 18, 2005 6:02 PMI'm curious as to why you are so bitter and sit in judgement of Steve? My apologies if you are a family member of the elderly people you refer to but surely, if you were, you would know the relevant facts surrounding that day.
After the accident the Police carried out routine checks and confirmed that Steve wasn't under the influence of drink or drugs, nor was he speeding. The sequence of events that culminated in two people tragically losing their lives that day amount to nothing more than a freak accident.
I for one, can't even begin to imagine what it must be like to live with something so terrible. No matter how sorry you are, no matter how many times you run through it in your head you can never turn the clock back. This walk isn't about money. I know Steve would gladly swap every last cent he has just to change one minute of that fateful day.
Life doesn't always deal us a fair hand and fate can touch your life at any time. Show some compassion and the next time you get behind the wheel of your car you might be able to understand the meaning of "there but for the grace of God go I"
Posted by: An old friend at June 18, 2005 5:59 PMmaybe he should give all the proceeds, $$$ to the family of the 2 elderly people he killed. That is the cause for the depression and weight gain.
Posted by: wildflower at June 13, 2005 1:44 PM