About Me Name Rob-101 Location Wisconsin Age 47 Birthday July 2 Start Date Jan 1, 2006 Height 6' 0" Start Weight 355 lbs Current Weight 343.4 lbs Goal Weight 200 lbs BMI 46.6
My Story  My Additional Photos

I was born in Orange, CA totally blind. I had been put up for adoption not because of my blindness but because my parents could not care for me at that time. I was placed in several foster homes while a suitable family could be found for me. It was during my first year of life that it was discovered I was blind.

Bill and Darlene were living in Southern CA and were foster parents while Bill was in medical school. They had taken in several kids before being contacted about me. A good home was needed for me to be in while several surgeries were performed on my eyes. I guess I was too cute to give up because they fell in love with me and just several months before they were to leave for Africa they petitioned for my adoption. The state knew that I would need special medical attention growing up and knew they being in the home of a doctor would be a great thing for me so the adoption was approved.

Growing up on the mission field in Zaire, Africa was an incredible experience for me. My folks taught me that I could do anything I put my mind to even with a disability. It would only be me that would stop myself.

Upon graduation from high school in 1982, I returned to the US for college. My folks were still in Kinshasa. I had a very difficult time adjusting to life in the US. It was severe culture shock for me having lived most of my life in a third world country. Here I was in the US… the land of plenty… and boy did I love to eat. It seemed that food was my source of comfort during those first few years of my life. Mexican food was my favorite and I became an eating machine.

In 1986 I met my wife Patty while attending Trinity College. We fell in love and were married on July 3rd, 1988. Our son Alex was born in July of 89, and our daughter Becca was born in March of 91. As time continued to pass I tried and tried again to loose weight but I always failed. Then, two years ago I got very serious about loosing my weight. I worked out as often as I could at the gym usually for an hour or two at a time. Things seemed to be going in the right direction until I started having knee pain. First the right knee and then the left. It got to the point where I could hardly walk. Once again deep depression set in and all the weight I had worked so hard to shed began to come back. It was total defeat. I know, as a man who loves the Lord Jesus with all my heart that the Bible tells me the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy, and I knew I had to fight with everything I had to keep pushing. I had been reading the book of Hebrews and the passages jumped off the page at me... It says: "Therefore since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and loose heart." This was good medicine for my soul. Jesus knew my struggle but He encouraged me to press on.

Just before Christmas, Lisa, a great friend of ours loaned me a book that I had never seen before… yep, you guessed it, My Big Fat Greek Diet. My initial reaction was “Here we go again… another one of those weight loss books.” I had read so many of them in the past and I have tried so many different diets. But Lisa had read the book and knew that I would appreciate the way it was written so she asked me just to look at it. Well, as soon as I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. Here was a man I could totally and completely relate to. I was absolutely amazed at the way he shared his heart… his struggles, and his temptations. I knew right then and there that if Dr. Nick could do it then so could I. I resolved that 2006 would be my year with the Lord’s help. The other thing that impressed me was the support group established here on HealthSteward.com. What Dr. Nick had was special and I knew I could be a part of it too.

On December 31st Arif and Lisa took my wife Patty and I along with two other couples to an awesome restaurant called Fogo de Chao in downtown Chicago where I enjoyed my “last supper.” I understood the importance of creating accountability around me and I decided that I was determined to make this adventure a fun one. I knew I had two choices: to either do it kicking and screaming, or to do it having fun and knowing that my weight loss in itself will be a ministry to others. Not only am I excited because I know I will make it this year, but I know the Lord has given me a ministry to help others.

I am honored to be apart of this group and I look forward to the support not only that I will receive but that which I can give. To Jesus be all the honor and glory!