Payton’s Hero Experience: Learning To Take Care of Myself Again

There was a time when I was in a pretty bad place, both physically and mentally. I weighed 260 pounds, was pre-diabetic, and was struggling with alcoholism. I was depressed, unhappy with myself, and knew I needed to make some serious changes.

I started going to the gym and trying to lose weight, but I went about it the wrong way. What I thought was discipline was actually starvation.

Most days, I'd go without eating for hours. By 4:00 or 4:30 in the afternoon, my stomach would hurt so badly I'd sometimes double over. But I'd tell myself, "My wife gets home around 5:30. We'll eat around 6:00 or 6:30. I can make it until then."

I kept that routine up for nearly a year. I was losing weight, but I wasn't taking care of myself.

An Opportunity I Wasn't Ready For

A few years ago, Derek, who was participating in The Reboot Project at the time and is now a coach, encouraged me to join.

My drinking was at its worst, and I wasn't in a good place mentally or physically. I knew I wasn't ready, so I passed on the opportunity.

Two years later, Derek reached out again through a mutual friend with the same invitation: join The Reboot Project and take on the challenge of climbing a mountain in Colorado.

This time, I said yes.

Making Changes the Right Way

One of the first things TRP required was completing medical assessments to make sure I was prepared for the program. Through that process, I connected with Nutrition and Wellness services at the VA, something I probably wouldn't have pursued on my own.

That made a big difference.

At my lowest, I weighed 174 pounds, down 86 pounds from where I'd started. But losing that weight hadn't necessarily made me healthy. I'd developed a terrible relationship with food and needed to learn how to eat properly.

With the help of the VA, I started understanding how to fuel my body instead of starving it.

Today, I maintain a weight of around 185 pounds. I'm eating better, taking care of myself, and approaching fitness in a much healthier way.

More Than a Mountain

The culmination of the program was climbing Grays Peak in Colorado, more than 14,000 feet above sea level.

Reaching the summit was an incredible experience, especially considering where I'd been just a few years earlier.

But for me, the biggest accomplishment wasn't standing on top of a mountain. It was finally admitting I needed help and doing something about it.

For years, I'd struggled with my health, my drinking, and how I felt about myself. I thought I could fix everything on my own, but that approach wasn't working.

The Reboot Project gave me the opportunity to make changes, connect with the right resources, and challenge myself in a way that was actually good for me.

I'm grateful Derek reached out a second time and that I finally took him up on the opportunity.

I still have goals I'm working toward, and I know there will be more challenges ahead. But I'm in a much better place today than I was when this started.

I'm healthier, I've learned how to take care of myself, and I'm looking forward to whatever comes next.