Success Story: Jesse G, Age 15

Age: 15
Starting Weight: 322
Height: 5'11
Transition Weight : 234
Height: 6'0
Lost 88 lbs. in 6 months
Current Weight: 230
Current Height: 6'0

Total weight loss (BMI-adjusted): 92 lbs.

Jesse was born and raised in Toronto, Canada.  He grew up in a close-knit family and has traveled around the world.

Weight began to affect Jesse at school, where he was called names and excluded by other kids.  Jesse says he felt powerless to stop the rapid weight gain, and even went for brain imaging to search for the root of the problem, to no avail.  As Jesse's mother had successfully controlled her weight over a long period of time after struggling as a teen, she brought him to a group support weight loss program where he was by far the youngest member.  His mother, who also has a degree in nutrition, suggested a number of diets for him.  None of them worked.  Jesse tried starving himself, and he tried purging.  That didn't work either. 

After years of feeling powerless and many negative experiences with peers, Jesse found himself lacking the confidence to play sports.  So he ate out of boredom and he watched television.  When Jesse's mother suggested a weight loss boarding school, Jesse melted the DVD and threw away the brochure, refusing to consider the program.  However, one day after finding himself out of breath and sweating after climbing a single flight of stairs, Jesse resigned himself to finding a long term solution to his weight problem.

Upon arrival at the school, Jesse experienced a rough adjustment from the comforts at home, but embraced the program after losing 15 lbs in 2 weeks.  "Where else is this possible?" he asked himself.  "There is no doubt this place works."  On his first trip off-campus, Jesse found himself willingly hiking for exercise and ordering wisely in restaurants to stay on program.  Jesse experienced the gratification that comes from being in control of his weight for the first time.  While various experiences at the boarding school were frustrating for Jesse, such as staying on track around pizza, Jesse succeeded because he discovered he could "change his life and keep the change."

Six months after returning home, Jesse describes his journey like this:

From as long as I can remember, I was an overweight kid, and I was always bigger than everybody else.  I just got used to it and I was made fun of a lot, but that was just the way life was.  I was always made fun of and left out of sports, so I just got used to it.

I mostly used food when I was bored.  I think because I was overweight, I didn't have anything to do, didn't have many friends, and wasn't involved in many after school things, so I just ended up watching TV and eating.

I first heard about [Wellspring Academy] when my mom called for information.  I think that alone really angered me because she was trying to make decisions for me.  So, I was just instantly against it.  I ripped up the information.  I melted the DVD and then I took it all and shoved it in the bottom of the garbage can so no one could see it.  Then, one day, I had a big bowl of ice cream.  I ran up into my room, sat down in front of my computer, and I was just panting.  I looked at myself in the mirror and just realized I needed help.  So, I just said to my mom, "I think I should go to [Wellspring]."

Now, six months after leaving , I don't want to set goals for myself that I won't be able to keep.  I may not be losing weight as fast, but I'm not gaining weight and I'm staying with it. Before [attending the weight loss boarding school] I was pretty pessimistic.  Now I'm more optimistic and happier with my life.