My Goal: To walk across the United States,
lose weight, regain my health and bring
national attention to Obesity in America.
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(I wrote this before and just after I started the walk, details of the walk
are in the journals posted by dates just to the left.)
My name is Gary Long and I live in St. Louis, Missouri. I am a 51 year old
380 lb man that is suffering from diabetes, congestive heart failure,
enlarged heart, high blood pressure and acid reflux.
I became inspired to walk across America after learning about a 410 lb
man Named Steve Vaught from California that was walking across
America to lose weight and regain his life. His website is:
www.thefatmanwalking.com. Also because of previous attempts I have
made to lose weight have all failed.
I got out of the Army in 1994 and was a slender man until then.
11 years later I find myself 380 lbs and 51 years of age. I will probably
not live long if I don't do something about my weight.
My wife Cheryl supports me 100% because she agrees that if I
don't do something, I will probably not live much longer anyway.
On 2-15-06 at 10 am I left St. Louis, Mo, in front of the Arch
and am walking to New York. Then I will fly to California and walk back
to St.Louis . I don't have a time line, only a goal to lose
weight and become healthier.
I will be looking forward to hearing from everyone. Feel free to
email me anytime I will try and answer all emails. My email
address is: gary@afatmansjourney.com. I have started my journal
and you can read my entries by clicking it on at the top of this web
page. I Hope you will visit my journal and keep up with my
progress.
Sponsors
My Journal
Gary at 380 lbs with wife Cheryl
This is me at 400 lbs, the heaviest I have ever been. I am
standing next to my Mother Evelyn Phelps, younger
brother Danny and two older brothers Bill and Mike all of
Doniphan, Missouri. Photo taken about mid 2004
2-15-06
11-1-06
The picture on the left was taken the day I left at
close to 380 lbs. On the right is me at 239 lbs
close to the Oklahoma state line.
