It seems like everywhere you turn, there will always be at least one person who wants to lose weight. Whether chosen to be verbalized or not, weight has crossed everyone's mind at some point in time.

Amy Walters/ThinkStock
Amy Walters/ThinkStock
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My struggle with weight began at a young age. I was born a chubby baby. However, I could never seem to outgrow it. Issues with bullying began in elementary school. I didn't look 'thin and pretty' like the cool girls so I was automatically a freak. My mom knew that there was a problem when I began coming home every day crying. I changed schools after 5th grade and nothing changed. In fact, it got worse. What made it hard for me was knowing that not only was I 'not good enough' for my peers, but I didn't feel comfortable in my own skin. I knew something had to change.

Eventually high school came around. On top of my weight issue, I had braces (which can be horrifying for a teenager). Luckily, by 10th grade, I had begun to shed a little bit of my weight. So I decided that in P.E. every day, I would work out as hard as I could. I was determined to shed the weight. By my graduation in May, three years later, I had lost 10 pounds. More weight would eventually come off in the weeks after. Until I fell off of the band wagon. I started eating unhealthy again. This was caused by depression. It can be an ugly thing.

It has been four years since I graduated high school. In the last 6 months I knew that enough was enough. I sought out the help I needed with my depression and made some necessary life changes. I began to eat better and less at a time. I bought a gym membership as well.

Do I always eat healthy things? Not at all. I do not go to the gym every day. I don't push myself past my limit. I also realized that a lot of my issues were mental. I needed to love myself just as I am and know that I was doing this for myself and for no one else.

Sharon Meredith/ThinkStock
Sharon Meredith/ThinkStock
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Just in the last 3 months, I have lost 10 pounds. I feel better about myself and I am happier than I have ever been. Weight has been an issue in my family for some time and with that comes health issues. I wanted to be happy and healthy and I am.

This regimen will not work for everyone. However, there are other weight loss strategies out there. All you have to do is find the right one for you. Here's to being happy Dawgs!

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