Conventional wisdom holds that people who grow up chubby or overweight, but lose the pounds in adulthood, still have "fat kid complex."  The idea, as understand it, is that adults who get in shape and lose weight still see themselves as the "fat" person they were for years in terms of self-esteem and body image.  It's a nasty kind of "baggage."

I come from the opposite direction.  I was a skinny kid who barely had an ounce of fat on him.  That is, until my 20s.

Skinny guy in a giant coat (The College Years) 

12 years later: Hiding my gut under a big t-shirt

The same year that I settled down with my girlfriend (turned wife), graduated from college, starting cooking for myself, started drinking regularly, and began a desk job, I began to gain weight.  Imagine that!

Over several years I went from skin and bones to beer gut.  Because I was a "skinny kid" I barely noticed.  Sure I obviously gained a few pounds, but I never thought of myself as fat and overweight.

During the years I made some half-hearted efforts at getting fit after noticing a little belly.  I joined the Y for a bit.  Jogged briefly.  Biked some.  It didn't make a darn difference and I didn't really care.

I was still a skinny kid, afterall.  A skinny kid with a little bit of a gut.

Finally, I was pressured and agreed to do Weight Watchers with the wife.  Over six frustrating months I lost over 20 pounds.  I felt better.  I had more energy.  I lost 3 inches off my waistline.

Maybe I hadn't been a skinny kid with a little extra weight, but instead your typical overwieght American adult?  No, not me.

After many months of staying trim, I got lazy.  I got stressed.  When I'm stressed, I eat.  A year later, I was nearly back up to my previous peak.  Looking at the mirror closely it was clear: I bore no resemblance to a skinny kid.

Again, along with the wife, I began jogging regularly.  After a few months I began to track my calories more closely.  Six months later, I'm down 15 pounds.  I still have 5 pounds to go before I'm no longer officially overweight.  While I'm feeling pretty good about my progress, I'm still not a skinny kid.

That's OK. Perhaps I will never be a skinny kid.  Maybe I can finally shed that self image and just be me.  The label of being fat or skinny doesn't help.  I just need to focus on being healthy, staying in a healthy weight range, and not stress eating.  I won't be a skinny kid, I'll just be me.