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Radio Rookies:
My Struggle With Obesity
Produced by Samr “Rocky” Tayeh w/ Czerina Patel
Edited by Karen Michel
 Rocky |
About the Story
Fifteen-year old Rocky, a Palestinian American, lives with his parents and siblings in Brooklyn. Rocky’s story is about his emotional struggle with obesity. Three times the size of his twin sister, Rocky is the target of many of his siblings’ jokes and insults. When they’re not ridiculing him, his family tries to entice him to lose weight by offering him incentives like a laptop computer or $1,000 if he loses 30 pounds. Rocky earnestly wants to slim down but doesn’t know how to control his eating. Rocky adores his family and would love the $1,000, but he thinks his siblings have no idea how much their jokes hurt him and how they’re actually causing him to eat more, not less.
Notes from Rocky
This story is about my struggle with obesity. Both myself and my family seem to be struggling with it. My story [what now is a public issue], I kept secret from everyone who knew me. It wasn’t a comfortable issue to talk about at all.
Using and recording with a microphone helped me express {to everyone} my struggle with trying to lose weight.
“When I heard the completed version of my story in front of an audience , my head was down and I emerged myself in embarrassment. Suddenly, a spark hit me and I rose my head in pride saying in my mind, it’s me – like it or not!”
 Czerina & Rocky (center) w/ The Kitchen Sisters, Davia Nelson (L) & Nikki Silva (R) |
About Radio Rookies
Radio Rookies is a WNYC program that trains young people to use words and sounds to tell true stories about themselves, their community and the world. Through a series of workshops, each held in a new neighborhood, Radio Rookies gives teenagers the tools to become radio journalists.
Check out Transom’s previous feature on the Radio
Rookies project.
More information about Radio Rookies can be found at their Website and discussion
boards.
Tech Info
As a part of the Radio Rookies workshop the Rookies learn how to use
recording equipment, and how to edit sound using Pro Tools. Rocky used a
Sony Mini Disc Walkman MZ-R700, a Shock Mounted Dynamic Omnidirectional
RE50B Microphone and Sony headphones. He had his own kit throughout the
workshop, and recorded consistently and continuously. He recorded on nearly
20 minidisks (not all full).
We brought two Apple Imac computers (using OS 9) to the workshop, and Rocky
loaded in most of his audio there, using Protools LE 5.2.1 and an Mbox.
Rocky inputted and cut down much of his tape in Pro Tools, but final mixing
was done by the Radio Rookies producer, with assistance from WNYC engineers,
using both Pro Tools LE 5.2.1 and Pro Tools 5.1.1.
Rocky was extremely active throughout the mixing and production of his
piece, even staying late at the station the night before his story first
aired on WNYC, and going over final mix tweaks that were still being made.
He has a strong sense of sound, and tremendous producer instincts.
 Czerina Patel |
PRODUCER
Czerina Patel is the producer of WNYC’s award-winning Radio Rookies,
considered a model for youth media initiatives nationwide. She has been
involved with the program since its inception and through Radio Rookies, has
mentored and nurtured dozens of teens from all over New York City. Besides
radio and youth, Czerina —a native South African— loves travel and
photography. In addition to running Radio Rookies, teaching the workshops,
and producing the stories, she is available to the students at all times.
 Samr “Rocky” Tayeh |
REPORTER
Samr “Rocky” Tayeh is a fifteen year old Palestinian American who lives in
Park Slope, Brooklyn. Rocky is in the tenth grade and involved in many
school activities, but the one he likes the most is peer mediation where he
has the chance to solve problems for other people. Rocky wants to be a
multi-billionaire when he grows up, and also wants to be an entertainer or
lawyer, with radio as a side job. Earlier this year, Rocky also completed a
commentary about life in America as a Muslim teen. “There are no better
storytellers than teenage storytellers” Rocky says.
EDITOR
Karen Michel is an upstate New York- based independent radio producer who
got her start in media as a guest on Art Linkletter’s “Kids Say the Darndest
Things.” She’s lived and worked in Alaska, Mexico, Japan, Greenland, India,
Canada, Kenya, Nepal, Madagascar and other geographies real and imagined.
Her academic training is in visual arts and cross-cultural education; she’s
been an exhibiting artist (jewelry, photography, drawing, and holography),
and a teacher. Since falling into a job in public radio, in Fairbanks,
Alaska long ago, she’s been committed to sound, as an audio artist and as a
journalist. There’ve been many awards and fellowships : Peabody, Robert Wood
Johnson, NEA, CPB, NFCB, the Japan Foundation and the Fulbright/Indo-U.S.
Subcommission among them. Perhaps radio is a calling, maybe it’s craziness
or compulsion; maybe there’s no difference.
Your honesty made me like you. Interesting story well-told. I just got product called CortiSlim 800.901.8232; don’t know if it works but the idea is that stress hormone cortisol causes carbo craving and fat buildup. Cortisol is present in massive amounts in suicides. Some antidepressants also supposedly reduce cravings, probably by same mechanism – just a thought. Also 12 step programs may be helpful as one addiction works just like another. You can make sense of your suffering – see Victor Frankel’s book – if you work this out and pass on your knowledge. Your Dad is great, listen only to him; you will know exactly how he feels when you have your own kids. Good luck young man. 56 years old, 5’9" 151 pounds fat-for-me man.
Too-big goals means setup for failure. Try small goals which are easily attainable but a bit of stretch. Five steps five times a day, then six steps and so on. Get some momentum. Stay away from the scale except once every six weeks. One bite at a time got you where you are, one step at a time will get you where you want to go. Have fun while you’re getting there. The good people are on your side, the others aren’t worth your attention. Good luck Bud. – Old Man.
Hey Rocky,
I’m a 25-year-old female. I’m not overweight, but I’m just not a body type that will ever be skinny–if I never ate again, I’d still have a bit of a stomach and big hips. So while my case is not as extreme as yours, I do know what it’s like to struggle with your weight, to deal with the self-esteem problems, and to compare yourself to everyone else. I know what that shame is like. I was simply stunned at your honestly and your ability to be vulnerable on the air. You talked openly about things that I would never say out loud to anyone.
You have incredible talent, Rocky–and you also have incredible insight about yourself. You know that you eat when you are sad. You know that depression is playing a role. You know that you are struggling with self-esteem problems. I know you are getting tons of advice from everyone here, and maybe that’s not what you need…but to throw my 2 cents in, I would really encourage you to do some counseling. I have done extensive work for my panic attacks, and they have completely stopped. I went from not being able to do 20 minutes of homework a day in graduate school to not having any problems at all within a year and a half. Especially for people like you, who have such wonderful insight into their own psyches, counseling can do unbelievable things. I think it would help you a lot more to do counseling than just to work with a nutritionist. They will help you get your depression under control, and help you deal with the ups and downs of losing weight, the times when you "fail" on a diet. Yo-yo dieting is really unhealthy, and going on fad diets won’t really address your underlying problems. You need to work with someone who can help you disconnect your self-esteem with your weight, give you guidance and support while you work at losing weight, and help you to love yourself at whatever your target weight is–the weight that is healthy for YOUR body.
Again, I was just floored by your incredible intelligence, honesty, and insight. I really hope you’ll consider talking to someone who is trained to help people fight their inner demons, and not just their outer ones. You deserve to live peacefully. That doesn’t just mean not being overweight–it also means loving yourself and honoring your worth. Learn that now, Rocky–don’t spent another day doubting whether you are a worthwhile person.
Rocky, you piece was truely amazing. I could NOT turn the radio off- the whole family had to wait to leave the house so I wouldn’t miss a word!
I have gone thru some of what you deal with, and I wonder why you don’t get bariatric surgery? You are a perfect candidate and it would help you so very much. It is SO unrealistic to think that you can lose 200 pounds, and also, about your family- tell them when you see THEM totally give up ice cream, chips, cookies, fast food, soda pops, then you will too. If it’s in the house, you will think about it.
You have a gift, a talent. You have your youth, your brains, your wonderful personality. I was unable to turn the radio off listening to you.
Please go see a physician who can help you, you are WORTH IT!
No amount of nagging or meanness by your family will take off 200 pounds, it will only damage your relationship with them over the long term. I do not speak to my family now, they hurt me too long, even though I am non obese weight now.
Lots of love, hang in there!!
I listened to your radio piece with interest and although I have not personally experienced what you are going through, I have helped many people with their nutritional issues. In my experience, success is often to do with how you mentally approach the task. In you piece I heard a lot of negative reinforcements like "I am not going to eat this" or "lose weight" and "try to lose weight". My experience tells me that by just changing the way yuo think about the process will help enormously. Sub-consciously, i repeat, Sub-consciously, no-one likes to "lose" anything. Also the idea of "trying" involves struggle and lack of success . For example, try picking up a glass of water and you ‘ll find that you either pick it up or you don’t. Trying is when you attempt to but don’t succeed. make sense? Also be aware that your subconscious tends to not hear the "not" in your internal conversation. for example, "do not think of a pink elephant" – bet you saw a pink elephant in your mind straight away!
So, the way forward….. Focus on becoming Lean & Strong………"Do" things instead of trying…….make all internal speak about what you want instead of what you want to avoid. Most importantly, surround yourself with people who support you and those who laugh or put you down avoid immediately. Share your goals only with someone who will support you.
hope that helps. gareth
This was a captivating story that kept me sitting in my car for 5 minutes after arriving home so I could hear the end of Rocky’s tale. What a talented young man he is and what an incredible opportunity for everyone to hear his story. Thank you for sharing, Rocky and thanks to WNYC for bringing this to listeners across the country. Rocky, please don’t let the physical nature of your health get in the way of becoming a great man.
Hey Rocky,
This is Denise. I listened to your story last night on NPR and sat in the garage to finish it. I have so many things I’d like to share with you, I’m not quite sure how or where to begin.
First of all, I think your father is loving and kind-hearted and well-meaning; I’m so glad he is in your life.
I’d like to tell you that being fat is not the end of the world. Being obese is not the end of the world. Your story brought back so many painful memories of what is was like to be a fat kid, and teenager, and I want to tell you that even though you believe (partly because everyone is telling you this) that being "skinny" would make you so happy, make everyone else happy, and solve all your problems, it just ain’t so, my friend.
I’d also like to tell you that everytime I hear some sad sack story of a fat person (not yours!) I want to scream: it’s as if being fat impairs every aspect of your life. It doesn’t.
I want to tell you that you are more than what you weigh. I want to tell you that fat people accomplish all sorts of ordinary and extraordinary tasks like everyone else, but it doesn’t make for entertainment.
I am now forty years old (I know, how ancient that must seem to you!) and am a midwife (I deliver babies), have a loving, handsome boyfriend, great friends, good health, and I’m 5’5" and weigh 300 pounds. I’ve always been employed, I worked and went to school to follow my dream of being a midwife, I’ve had lovers who adored me, and I’m fine.
I want to tell the world, as well as the rest of your family, that if shaming and punishing people made them lose weight, trust me, I’d have weighed 98 pounds sinde I was fifteen years old.
So thanks for your story. I want to wish you well in your journey.
Dear Rocky,
I know you’ve gotten a lot of response to your remarkable NPR piece. When I heard it, like others, I wanted to respond immediately, but it’s taken me a couple of days. Since you revealed yourself so deeply in public, you now have total strangers like me trying to give you advice and talking to you about very personal things. Please forgive me if this feels intrusive.
First I want to tell you that your radio journal is beautiful work and it shows what a deep, thoughtful, sensitive, strong, funny, honest and courageous person you are. That’s what you are right now. Never mind those two lists that you put up on your wall — one with the horrible monster description, one with the dream of what you could be if you just didn’t keep failing. Between those two fantasies, dream and nightmare, hope and despair, you are setting yourself up to fail (including the hurt of having others come along and ridicule you for both the dream and the nightmare–but even if your sister hadn’t done that, you would probably have done it to yourself).
I’m a lot older than you, but I also had a compulsive eating problem starting when I was about your age and getting worse throughout my 20s and 30s. Nobody understood eating disorders at that time, in the ’60s and ’70s. Now there are a lot of people who understand a lot about eating addiction, how it works, and how to help people get free of it. Some of them may have already come forward and offered to help you.
The kind of journal of your experience that you kept with your tape recorder (including the great conversations with your family) is a powerful tool for liberating you, though it takes a long time–at least it did with me. When I was lost in my eating addiction, I thought I was just going to die. I felt I had no power to change, though I had tried many things. Then I decided to start writing what I called "The Eating Notebooks." Since I couldn’t change, I would just record what was going on. I started describing everything, just as you have done. I felt so close to you at the end of the piece when you were talking in the middle of the night. You didn’t expect to pick up the recorder then, but you did. Who knows why? That was the most intimate and transparent moment in the program. You honestly spoke about your feelings, then the ice cream in the refrigerator–in a kind of non-judgmental voice, you said "I’ll probably go down and eat it before the night is over. I’ll try not to, but I probably will." I think you said "I’ll try not to" several times. In my years of struggle, I finally learned to value those moments when I stopped even for a moment, didn’t eat, and observed what I was feeling, even if a little later I gave in. It wasn’t a failure. It was 5 minutes, 5 seconds, of affirming life.
To honestly observe what is happening–behavior, feelings, everything–without judging or expecting that you will get a certain result from it–gradually becomes liberating. It takes you deeper and deeper into your actual experience. It opens the possibility for compassion for yourself. Often while writing I was hating myself for my terrible failures, but still the long-term process of observing gradually opened up the possibility of having compassion for myself, which is not self-pity, it’s just knowing and accepting who you really are. No matter what you are doing, the person you really are is not the self-destructive one. If you find that you’re having thoughts of hating yourself (or other things that you wish you didn’t feel), don’t condemn or try to kill those thoughts. Just observe that you’re having them, and at the same time observe what’s happening in your body. (I saw a bumper sticker the other day that said, "Don’t believe everything you think.")
The other thing I did besides the journal (which went on for five years) was to start practicing a simple kind of mindful awareness meditation. That also helped a lot over the long run. In the 70s when I was in the thick of this problem, psychotherapists didn’t really understand eating disorders or addiction well. But later I benefited from therapy too.
Rocky, you’ve shown what a great capacity you have for creativity and love. Your honesty will take you to freedom. I hope you’re ready to cry a lot as well as laugh a lot. In that process you’ll need support from some person or persons who will accept you even when you can’t accept yourself, who you can trust never to attack or hurt you when you reveal yourself. It’s beautiful that you love your family and they love you, and you have such vigorous and strong relationships. Your mom’s intentions are absolutely good, and she is suffering and doing her very best. But I don’t think the carrot and stick approach (rewarding you with money for success and punishing you with harsh words for failure) will really help.
One thing that will emerge from your willingness to go through this struggle and keep your eyes on the prize (life) is that you will be able to help people. Knowing what you know, having been through what you’ve been through, you’ll be able to help people a lot.
I’m a college teacher now and have an 18-year-old son and 22-year-old daughter. A short piece about my eating addiction and how I survived was just published in "Turning Wheel," the magazine of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. If you ever want to write or talk to me, feel free.
yours,
Linda
That was a wise posting from Linda.
Rocky, I hope all this wonderful response gives you strength.
As you Can see I am trying to find any time possible to respond to all your wonderful and caring messages that really does mean so much to me. (Typed at 6:10am)
Thank You, so much for your advice and I totally agree small steps lead to big achievements. One thing that you wrote that stuck out uncomfortable for me was the part were you said listen ONLY to your dad: well here’s the case my dad is always pushing me to lose weight as well as everyone in my family my mom has a more forward approach that actually makes me want to lose weight as well as my dad’s method. But if everybody I knew was as my dad I wouldn’t be prepared for the negative stuff that world great fully has to offer my mom and dad both love me very much and my mom’s ways and my siblings ways are ways they feel will push me to lose weight. I really cant imagine if I had a perfect proper family my world would be more crazy I wouldn’t be prepared for half the discrimination that comes with this weight. do I want to be fat No WAY do I want all the name calling to stop NO then I would feel comfortable with my weight and just gain more. sorry if this is confusing but I really hope you understand the complicity and emotion that is involve with me and my wonderful family as a whole." we all get along well they just want me to Live Life.
Truly: Samr Rocky Tayeh
Hey Rocky,
Happy New Year. The good thing about advice is you get to choose what to take in and what to put aside. You are a wise young man, you are talented and loving and it’s an honor to have heard this piece. I hope to hear more of your work. Meanwhile, just wanted to send a big e-mail hug your way. Stay in touch.
Love to you,
Sydney
Hi Rocky,
I was blown away by your terrific radio journal about your struggles with your weight. You really captured a complicated and multifaceted issue in an accessible and fascinating way. It was wonderful to hear your conversations with your family and your inner thoughts as well. You did a great job and should be very proud.
I lost 55 lbs. two years ago so I especially empathized with the issue. I just want to tell you – you can get a handle on the weight thing. It isn’t as hard a is making a radio piece, I’m sure. Find some knowledgeable support, your Doctor or Weight Watchers. You just need some tools, just like you needed your recorder and a plan to make your story. Anyway, all the best and congratulations to you!
Hey-
I am a teen too and I know how being overweight feels. It is always great to find things you like to do that involve expressing emotion without just diving into a bowl of ice cream and etc for comfort. I think that creating this was great for you. Perhaps you can continue to log your progress and really learn to channel your feelings out in writing. Maybe you can even try a few new hobbies. I like to play clarinet, violin, sing, dance, and play piano it helps me not eat as much just for comfort and gives me a place to express emotions I maybe feeling.
Also it is important that what ever diet you go on includes excersie. I think that because of health reasons it would be best to try and loose a little weight and I think you really can! I know that excersie sounds like a swear word but really it can be as easy as taking a dog for a walk every day or volunteering at the humane society to walk animals. It doesn’t have to really painful you can gradually progress to higher levels if you would like to. I like to swim and bike.
I would really like to help you personally however I am from Michigan but if you care to write me a letter or two I would love the mail- I listed my email address for contact so email me and I will give it to you if you like!
Well no matter what the best of luck and all it takes is a little belief in yourself. Don’t look at the big picture only- remember the small steps as others have listed above count for a lot.
kate
Rocky,
I was moved to tears by your story. You have captured the trials of obesity with much grace. You have stories to tell and I’ll look for you in the future.
You’ve probably received more advice than you’d ever care to acknowledge, but I’d like to share an adage that helped me to lose weight–one pound at a time. I stopped looking at the vastness of the number and more on those smaller things I could do. You’ve already begun that. I wish you much success and good luck!
luv you all
I want to Thank you All again And again for your wonderful advice and comments you all posted on this site and the radio rookies site. I just wanted to let you all know that my family has started the running machine routine again, where I run (or walk really slow) on the machine every night for about 45 minutes. It has been working out really good for the past six days, so far. I still hate getting on but I love the feeling when I get off. Just wanted you all to know my situation. much love Rocky Samr Tayeh. P.S. I really want to Thank My Literacy Teacher Ms.Marcus for all the wonder full support and motivation, and for making me a better person.
I thought this piece was brilliant. Jane
I THOUGHT THIS STORY WAS BEYOND GREAT, BEYOND GOOD. THE BEST PIECE I EVER HERD. BEST OF LUCK AND MUCH LOVE
Rocky, you are so brave to put yourself, your REAL self, out in the open like you did. Not many people can be so honest.I was awed.
I am wondering, if your family wants to help you lose weight, why do they have ice cream and other high-calorie junk food in the house? Out of sight, out of mind–or at least out of reach, more willpower.
Good luck to you. You have far to go.
the best piece of radio i have ever heard.
thank you.
I’m thinking of doing another story, I cant tell you the story now because it has many emotional factors for both me and my future,(I hope you understand). So Be on The Look OUt For Me And My mIc (lol). Again i wanna thank you all for your wonderfull advice and concerns.
Keep us in touch, Rocky. We’re eager to hear what you do.
H
A
P
P
Y
BIRTHDAY CZERINA,
GO TO RADIO ROOKIES OPEN-MIC COMMENTS TO SEE LATER FROM ROCKY TO MY CZERINA (YES MY),LOL.Y
As an "obese" guy, I can relate. If I can offer some advice, don’t exercise to lose weight, but exercise to enjoy yourself and be healthy. Losing weight takes *so* long that it’s easy to get discouraged if you’re doing it for that reason. I started walking in local parks and graduated to hiking.
Hey CZ, (Czerina)
This is Rocky A.K.A. Obesity, I just wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Also to thank you for everything you’ve done for me, from teaching me the skills of radio producing to teaching me how to be a better person. You have been like a second mother to me, seriously. Now that the work shops are over I can admit to constantly saying in mind that the only reason I came day after day was to be in your company, you have that special something. We have been through A LOT, at times I wanted to accidentally punch and trip you, and at times you wanted to strangle me with the microphone wire (at least were implying the tools of radio producing to act out our hatful actions.).We managed and to me built an un breakable relationship. You have always been there for us (radio rookies), for my down times and for my good times. Anytime we need you we can call, when you’re at the gym, work, vacation, meetings, dinners with Lucan and sleeping, ANYWHERE, your always there. I swear I really cant say this enough you are the best!!! Now at school I know how to give better presentations, “be real”, “take it easy”, and not to try to sound over prepared. Whenever I am nervous about presenting my story I always look at you and you’re always giving your support from constant eye winks to whispers in my ears. I can go on and on to say how much you and the workshop greatly impacted my life but I have homework. I guess writing is better, because my ideal was to leave this message on every phone that you use cell, work, home, my SideKick, but I types it instead, saves us all time (LOL). I love you Czerina Happy Birthday again and best of luck.
Sincerely All Yours: Rocky Samr Tayeh
OH MY GOD!, THAT IS SUCH GREAT ADVICE, I AM NOTICING NOW THAT, THAT IS THE REASON I CAN NEVER DO CONSTANT EXERCISE DAY AFTER DAY, BECAUSE IN MY MIND I HAVE THE REASON OF LOSING WEIGHT BUT, THAT’S SO LONG…(FOR ME TO LOSE ALL THIS WEIGHT) BUT TO HAVE FUN WITH EXERCISE IS ANOTHER THING I GUESS I HAVE TO FIRST FIND OUT WHICH MACHINE IS FUN TO USE AND WHICH IS NOT, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR ALL YOU’RE GREAT AND WONDERFUL ADVICE.
hey …just gotta say that size dont got nuthin to do with talent…you got a job and a life…good for you! instead of like others who dont do nuthin just sitting around moaning…i guess it the palestinianess
Rocky, thanks for such a great message. It means so much to me. I want you to know that I love watching you grow/develop/mature, and see you starting to realize your potential…You are going to achieve wonderful things -That, we all know!
I see you becoming more responsible (way to go on being on time!), and I am so excited that you want to do more radio, and take your experience even further. You have a special voice, and it’s going to be wonderful as you keep sharing it with the world.
Also, I am so proud that you are now going on regular walks with Kaari and Kathleen (your Rookie mentor-buddies)…I’m going to see you tomorrow when you guys walk to meet me in the park, and we’re all going to have a fun picnic…keep up walking, and all the good work!
You’re awesome Rocky. I love you lots, and by the way, you WISH it was YOUR sidekick
Lots of love, Cz
Rocky I just met you a couple weeks ago at Seedtime in KY. I’m your Transom companera so am here to write in just like you told me to.
1. How much have you thought about doing a sequel or a series about your struggle with obesity? Or hosting an obesity/health-focused radio show? (You would be terrific at this.) Maybe one for youth? In other words, continuing to devote your expertise & skill to this topic?
2. What did it feel like to be in Eastern Kentucky, where people are heavier than people in NYC? And what ideas for radio did this setting/dynamic give you?
Answer these. Seriously I’m interested.
And then it’s your turn, right?
*Julia
Hi Julia,
Yes, we meet at Kentucky, I had an awesome time there meet really wonderful people like yourself, in response to your question, my story has been heard by millions of people an for that I’m truly grateful beyond words, it’s one of those once in a life time first experience thing. From the wonderful advise posted above to the emotional letters, it’s just been so much. The people are really nice and there advise is like a gift. I’ve been questioning my weight issue constantly and more specifically. I tried more diets and strategies, and considering surgery, But that’s a big step so I’m still trying. Me and my producer Czerina Patel, are on the McDonald “Step-Ometer” were having weekly competition on who has the most steps. The Step-Ometer, is a device you clip on your waist and it counts how many steps you take. So it’s been working so far, and I’m officially on Atkins’s for about a week, with some mess-up’s. I’ve been thinking about doing another story, it’s again another personal story, and I don’t think I have the strength to come out with this issue, at least not yet. It focuses on the issue of school (not teasing or jokes). I don’t wanna do another story about my weight because I see no purpose, unless something really different happens, but it hasn’t come to that point yet. Hosting a show about health and weight issues seems really cool, I would have allot of fun with that because I can relate to people whom are struggle with weight and going through health issues. Yea, thinking about it makes me happy, but I don’t think it will ever happen I don’t think the show would be approved or I would be hired, who know’s, but im clueless on how to get started. But again it seems really cool. Yes I see myself continuing to devote myself to health issues, it’s a hard topic and if reported with the right “Eye” (perspective), it would be great, but I just don’t wanna bore people to death with the same thing.
Being in Eastern Kentucky was great, yes thinking about it I did notice that allot of people were over weight, it didn’t feel any different, then being in New York, except the people in Kentucky are more nicer, and were we stayed was surrounded by trees, and little mountains. But it was really nice, I couldn’t believe that there was teens our age whom hosted their OWN, show on the local radio station. As I sat down as a guest speaker for their show, I was saying in my mind I can sooooooo do this. But I guess its allot more harder to be able to do that in New York, and some girl there told me how that the Apple Shop community was considered separate from the Kentucky community, because in the Apple Shop , ideals are expressed freely and so is music selections, stories, etc. which is not considered appropriate by the bigger community. But that didn’t stop us from hosting a wonderful show. Again it was an inspiring experience that taught me that you can do anything you put your mind to. Maybe it’s a long anything but you can always some how do it.
P.S. It was really nice to meet you I hope we keep in touch.
Okay Sincerely: Your Transom Companion Rocky..:-)
hi Rocky
How are you good i hop. i like to no same more a but you i no some people ho are biger then you.
i hop we can talk some more soon so see you soon dude frome Luke
Rocky -
I just found this site and it has been a few years since you have published your story. I am wondering how you are doing? Your honesty was impressive. Hope all is well.
My huband is about 450LB, and is 25 Years old, I love him, he has lost about45LB by just getting up and getting a fast pace job, he drinks water 1 to 2litter a week and we go out to eat i time a week. he works a 12 HR, 40 to 56 HR a week his motivation is that his faily has to eat, he prayes when it gets hard and sings worship, at work.
We will pray for you and with God you can do it.
ask him and he will help you!!!!!!!!
I belove you can do it
I don’t know if you remember me but my name is Ann. I saw you a couple of days ago in Chicago and you looked amazing… CONGRATS ON YOUR SUCCESS.
You can do it I lost 20 stones after hard work. Stay on it mate