I honestly could not tell you when I officially became obese. It was some time in my early childhood. I have memories from elementary school and middle school all based around my weight. I was chubby, then husky, then big boned, then just plain fat. I was always the fat kid that was picked last in sports. I was slow. I was bullied in Elementary and middle school. I was always picked on because of my size.
I remember trying out for football in Middle school and was told I had to play Offensive line because of my size. I was never given the option to play anything else. I quit the team. I wanted to be a kicker. I played soccer for AYSO for several years. Of course where did you put the big fat kid? Goalie. I got use to having to settle for certain positions. My size did come with great strength. I remember playing in one game when we were winning, the other team took out their goalie to try to score. Once I got the ball I kicked the daylights out the ball and scored from the goalie box. It was one beautiful kick.
Outside of Soccer, I bowled on leagues as a kid and was on the Bowling team in Middle School and High School. My sports interactions were pretty limited. I did love learning Tae Kwon Do as a kid. I got a Black Belt in 1989. Despite knowing how to fight, I rarely got in trouble and was always trying to help others and make them happy.
The mental conditioning as a child started early and I was completely clueless. The severe lack of self-confidence was forming and would continue to spiral throughout my life. I stayed pretty active as a kid. We did play our share of video games but I loved being outdoors especially in the woods behind our house. I grew up in Rockford, Illinois. I can remember whenever I had money my friends and I would ride our bikes through the back of the subdivision and down the hill to the gas station. The money was all spent on junk food. Slim Jims, Reese Peanut butter cups, 3 Musketeers, kit kat or Hershey bars. Surprisingly I was a picky fat kid. If offered a candy bar, I would be the only one to ask what kind. Never cared for caramel or nuts. I was never a big fan of chocolate cake. I wanted Vanilla with Vanilla frosting. Ice Cream, no Chocolate.