My name is Fiona and I am obese. I have been obese for at least four years, according to BMI measures.Like most people who are overweight, I don't consider myself as big as the scales tell me I am. Sometimes photos tell me otherwise. However, like most people who are obese, I avoid being photographed.
Being obese was a wake up call in 2006. I was determined to become healthy again. But in trying to achieve that goal, all I have really done is become a yo-yo dieter.
I also come from a family where many members are obese, or have died from obesity related diseases. This is a bit of a worry as I am now one of those obese family members. Connsequently I am likely to suffer from an obesity related disease in the future.
I am setting out to change that.
But my fat doesn't utterly define me. I live in Brisbane, Australia, and grew up in country Queensland on a small farm. I love travelling with a passion, I have fun painting with oils, and I am a writer who never makes time to write. I am even toying with singing alto in a choir again after giving it away a few years ago now.
Several careers have come and gone - starting with esoteric academia, where I researched the ancient Greek stories of India; then the more pragmatic "I need money for the rent" career, working in university administration; followed by the "I want to use my skills" career where I elbowed my way into professional communications and PR, and then after losing my way into academia again, I fell into my new wonderful career - raising funds for health research at my alma mater.
I am married to a wonderful and talented man, whose only negative relationship with food is his inability to eat enough to keep up with his metabolism. And we have our beloved dog, Dusty, five years old who helps me to walk twice a day. She has been in our life since April 2010, a rescue dog from the local shelter. She is a joy.
