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Meet Our Participants
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Clicking a link will scroll this page down to the selected participant:
Jacob Desiree Bryan Abbie Israel Morales Israel Estrada
Aaron Alejandra Art Lisa Arnold Dalila Priscilla Ally Yorda
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Jacob
Hear from Jacob!
“Hi my name is Jacob. I live in southern California. I run a film company and also do graphic design. I love to write music, work on film projects, and generally anything that involves artistic design. I also love spending time with friends, family, and loved ones. I also love serving at my church. I started this project as a personal challenge to lose weight for good. None of this diet stuff here. I’ve gone on several diets before and lost a handful of lbs. and gained them back as soon as it was over.
I’ve finally came to the conclusion that there must be a better, more permanent solution. The solution as I see it is a grassroots movement toward better health. For me, this means going back to the basics and essentials in human health. i.e., exercising, eating healthy organic food, reducing stress and anger, and just learning how to enjoy life again. This year will most definitely be one of those landmark moments in my life when the I know, I will finally get it. With support of all of you out there, we’re going to “Make Diet History by Making Diets History!”
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Desiree
Hear from Desiree!
“Hello Everyone, My name is Desiree I am 32 years young. I am a mother, a girlfriend, part-time student, and I also help in Children’s ministry at church. I am kind of dork, I enjoy being silly and having fun. I enjoy photography and planning!”
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Bryan aka “Moose”
Hear from Bryan!
“So I am Moose, actually my name is Bryan McCuen. Moose was the nickname given to me when I started this downward spiral of becoming unhealthy in college. I was into everything to the excess, drinking, partying, drugs, and of course my favorite crutch of all time….food. So now I have finally come to realize that I am not 18 anymore and that the idea of me being able to change my habits as quick as I got them is well kind of a pipe dream.(Excuse the pun) So at the ripe old age of 32 I am exactly 161 pounds heavier then when I graduated high school. I was really happy with the high school Bryan and I am going to take the right steps to make this change, not only for the weight but to live a healthy life. So I have made some major changes in my life in the last few years. The first thing I worked on was the drugs and alcohol. I am an addict, this is something I can face now. I have been clean for over a year. Now it is time to get rid of the other drug in my life food. The difference between food and drugs is that you need to have food to live, therefore it is a little bit trickier to kick this habit. So just like everyone else at this site I am not trying a new diet, I am changing my habits and the way I live.”
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Abbie
Hear from Abbie!
“Hi my name is Abbie. I live in southern California. I’m part of this great rat race in socal! I’m a mother of 4 who through the years, has developed an unhealthy lifestyle. Through our project “This Is Not a Diet” I wish to turn my health around and my overall feeling of helplessness for a better, and healthier future.”
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Israel
Hear from Israel Morales!
“HI gang my name is Israel Morales im 25 years of age and lovin it except for the weight thing, I’m just a small town boy from Southern California who’s not so small time I live where I grew up for 25 years, I’m a broadband techinition for a very big cable company, but dont like to be called cable guy cause I hear it every day. I’m married to my long time friend of 16 plus years, heather morales, she has been my rock and place of comfort for 5 long years, and have been married for about a year and 7 months. I grew up a skinny little thing till I hit the eighth grade, that’s when I noticed my pansa (That’s Spanish for, “The Gut”) showed through the buttons of my shirt, but thought nothing of it.
I went on into high school where my weight wasnt a big deal to me I guess, junk food, friends, and hanging out were my thing, by the end of my high school days my weight was like a famous person, rising to the top. I was about 21 years old and applyed for a job where I had to take a drug test which resulted in me finding out I was a type 1 diabetic, the worst kind, I weighed 287 pounds and found out I was a diabetic, man “I’m pissed”. Unhealthy, fat and diabetic very depressing I know, trust me I know, i started going to the gym like every day then started shedding those pounds, i have become a happier person in life. They say when you get married you gain lots of weight, i dont want to become part of those statistics which is why “this is not a diet” has to work for me and all of us.”
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Israel aka “Israel #2 or “Izra”
Hear from Israel Estrada!
“Wassup Gente,
My name is Israel Estrada, commonly known as Izra. Even though I was born in Anaheim CA I lived more than half my life in Mazatlan Sin Mexico. Growing up in Mexico created the foundations for a very unhealthy diet, in fact you only worry about eating because sometimes that can be a luxury. Once I moved back to the states I unleashed the beast and discovered that I just love food.
I have been the fat kid all my life so I always been comfortable with my overweight, after all I don’t know any different. A couple of weeks ago I just turned 30 and decided it’s a good time to start working on improving my health and habits. I have always neglected that aspect in my life but would rather start now than to regret it later. I want to enjoy life, my family and live my dreams and if I plan to do that I have to make sure I have the health and energy to do so. It’s the right time and the right place to make a change on my habits, so I’ll be looking forward to the challenges.”
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Aaron
Hear from Aaron!
“Hello, My name is Aaron and I am married and have one little boy and another little child on the way. My path to unhealthy-ness started when I started to work in the fast food and restaurant industry after high school, Hey you never know, I was probably your waiter! Anyways, I passed that phase of my life but kept the bad habits and now I am looking to be more energetic and healthy, I am pretty much “Aaron on demand” for my little boy, which as any of you with kids know how much fun and energy that takes. So I am looking forward to this healthy approach to my eating lifestyle change over the course of the next year so that my whole family can benefit from a healthier and more energetic me.”
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Alejandra
Hear from Alejandra!
“Hi my name is Alejandra, I am married to the guy next to me in the picture and I have one son and a baby on the way. I am very excited to be part “This is not a diet”, I am ready for a change. Up until after high school I was considerably thin but with the passing years I slowly gained weight, especially after my 1st pregnancy, all this thanks to poor eating habits and little to none exercise. No longer do I want to say “I wish to be healthier” without the actions to back that up. The change begins now.”
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Art
Hear from Art!
“Hi, my name is Art I’m an electrician from southern california I’m 27 years old, married with five kids and they all drive me crazy! If you have kids you know what I’m talking about,but really with out them i wouldn’t have much of a drive at all so I’m grateful for all of them. I love spending time with my family, friends.”
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Lisa
Hear from Lisa!
“Hello, my name is Lisa, I’m 30 years young, married, mother of 5 and a nurse. I’m also part of the prayer team at my church. My favorite color is pink and I love sweets! I like playing sports when I have time which is not very often, and I also enjoy spending time with my family laughing, joking around, and having a good time!”
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Arnold
Hear from Arnold!
“Hi my name is Arnold, I hope this blog will help me stay focused and on track to reaching my goals. I know this will not be easy but I know I can do it. I would like to lose the weight and tone up in a steady healthy way. Together with my wife, we will help each other and stay on our program together.”
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Dalila
Hear from Dalila!
“I am a 33 year old mother of 4. I have been married for 16 years and love my life. But somewhere along the way, I loved a little too much. So here we go, time to lose a little weight, get healthy and take control of my life again.”
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Priscilla aka “Silla”
Hear from Priscilla!
“Hi Ya’ll my name is Priscilla and I’m 24 years of age. I currently work at an adult day center for the disabled which I love oh so much and I’m also going to school to become a RN and somehow in the process of my life’s agendas I gained weight. Hmm i wonder how that happen. I never saw it coming. Growing up with 3 older brothers didn’t help either because I wanted to be like them and prove I can eat what they eat and at the same late hours too just so I can be “cool” and pretty soon I was able to eat just like them and it eventually became a habit and thus I became a TINAD groupie. So this is my story and if anyone has any advice for me please feel free to visit my page and send it my way!”
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Hear from Ally!
Hello, my name is Ally and I’m a 26 year old graduate student studying Organizational Development. When you first meet me, I am reserved and quiet. Once I warm up to my surroundings, you will find that one my greatest joys in life is to be a goof-ball. I love spending time with my family, friends and of course, my amazing fiancé. About six months ago I became an aunt for the first time. I spend a lot of my free time doting on the little guy.
Since childhood, my weight has been a struggle and a source heartache. For the first time in my life, I feel I have enough control to make changes happen. I used to think that I was destined to be fat and I could not do anything about it. About 2 years ago I reached my breaking point and lost 30lbs over the course of a year. Exciting! But I still need to lose about 20lbs more to reach my desired(dream) weight.
A few months ago I got engaged to the love of my life. *blush* The wedding will be in March or February of 2009 so I am more motivated than ever before to be at my healthiest for the big day. While I was losing the 30lbs, my fiancé was an integral part of keeping me on track in positive and loving ways. Yes, he’s awesome : ) Therefore, I realize the impact positive support can have on someone. I’m excited to be able to offer and receive that kind of support through ThisIsNotaDiet.
-Ally
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Hear from Yorda!
“I try to be as in it as possible. Some things are very new to me, and I get the joy of learning a new appreciation. I have a long hike ahead of me but I have done hard trails before, so I feel more prepared.”
Filed under: Aaron's Posts, Abbie's Posts, Alex's Post's, Ally, Arnold's Post's, Art's Post's, Audio Post's, Bryan's Post's, Dalilah's Post's, Desiree's Post's, Excercise, Health, Israel Estrada's Post's, Israel Morales's Post's, Jacob's Post's, Lisa's Post's, Participants, Priscilla's Post's, Yorda's Posts | Tagged: Audio Post's, Health
