Dance Lessons

I have 15 years of dance experience.  My mother put me in classes at the age of 5.   I was on the dance team/colorguard in high school. I continued with dance in college.  I have video of all my recitals and talent shows, pictures of contests, and playbills of the performances. When I look at my treasures of life, my focus isn't on my accomplishments but on my roundness.  I was a rather round child which travelled into my teen years.  I can see the pooch in my leotards and costumes.  My mother never told me I was "chunky".  In her eyes, I was perfect.  

I was active but I had poor eating habits. I remember getting up with my mother on Saturday mornings and going yard sale hunting.  I would eat a pack of Peanut Butter Nabs before we headed out with a coke.  We would then stop at Hardee's to get breakfast for everyone.  I would eat a fried steak biscuit with hashbrowns and another soda.  Lunch was probably a sandwich or a hot dog from the local hamburger joint with dinner being from Ryan's Buffet Bar. 

I continued to eat like this until high school. The first day of 9th grade I knew that something had to change.  It was a conscious decision, I just knew that if I continued then I was going to be as big as my dad.  Fear set in.