For those that don’t know me personally, I’ve been a Pharmacist since 1993.  I went to the University of Rhode Island to get my Pharmacy degree, I got decent grades, nothing to write home about, but I hope that I’ve done my professors proud since graduation.  My time at URI was a bit troubling, as my parents were going through a divorce, and I was fiscally emancipated.  I worked pretty much 30 hours a week in addition to attending classes for most of my years of college.  It seemed I was always busy, either studying, working, sometimes both simultaneously.  I didn’t take much time for me.

Prior to my college years, I was an avid cyclist, riding at least 4-5 days a week. I did it for fun, and sometimes for transportation purposes,  but with all of my commitments at college, the old bike started to be much more of a rust bucket than a speed racer.  Coincidentally, my body started down the same path.  Dining Hall food options were limited, but the portions rarely were.  I developed some pretty bad food habits, and “pretty bad” is being rather generous.  What college/university student didn’t indulge in more than a few late night pizza runs?  For me, however, the late night pizza delivery guy knew me on a first name basis.   Oh Kingston Pizza how I loved thee, let me count the ways… 

“I’ll have a small pepperoni and mushroom with extra cheese, delivered to Weldin Hall please?” 

“Sure Todd, we’ll see you on the 11:30 run.” 

The freedom of living on your own led to the freedom to make decisions which turn out to not be so good.  I ordered a small, because it was just for me…  Maybe a slice for the security guy Steve who I hung out with on my nights on-call as an RA at Weldin Hall, the dorm I lived in for 3+ years.

The Freshman 15 turned into the Sophomore 25, then the Junior 35, Senior 40 (it was a good year!), and since Pharmacy was a 5 year program, the bonus year 50…  I started college at about 195-200lbs, in semi-decent shape, still slightly overweight,  but graduated around 250lbs, firmly into the obese category.  Twenty-three years old, starting a new career, finally making decent money after squeaking by having to pay for my last semester of college with a Credit Card, and about 50-60lbs overweight.  I was also a card carrying Carb Addict.

Yup, I was certainly off to a great start in my newly minted adult life. 

-Todd

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