How I Lost 65 Pounds, & Memoir Excerpt
1989, Dublin, Ireland Airport
It’s 1989; I’m sitting in an airport in Dublin after playing a college football game. I stand, walk into the bathroom, look in the mirror and hate the person I see; not just because I’m 65 pounds overweight. The picture above captures the moment. If you guess which one is me, you win a prize :-) I write about the scene in my upcoming memoir, Perfect Peter (And why I hated him). Here’s an excerpt:
…In less than two months, on December 2nd, 1989, I will take my helmet off in Dublin, Ireland, and never put it on again. I remember that day vividly. Walking off the field after the game, we just lost to the University of Pittsburgh and are mobbed by Irish fans, mostly young pretty girls; blue eyed, red haired, freckled, ruddy skin. They’re enamored by Americans playing American football in their Landsdowne Road soccer stadium. They're swarming us, grabbing what they can; chinstraps, gloves, jerseys, begging us to sign our thigh pads for them. It’s unexpected, and thrilling. A couple hours later, I’m sitting in the Dublin Airport with my teammates; my roommate Kory to my right, Guinness in hand, next to him Chuck Paugh, an upper classsman who has taken us under his wing, and Elizabeth Earl, a member of the Rutgers band who made the trip with us. There is a picture of us; she, a pretty blond, me, tired. I’m wearing one of those ugly 80’s sweaters that I thought looked cool at the time. The next moment changes my life forever. I stand, walk into the bathroom, look in the mirror, and hate the person I see; overweight, bloated. depressed, unhappy, scared, alone. I know then, I will quit my scholarship when we get back to the United States…
I know now, I was depressed because of trauma from my childhood. But back then, I didn’t know what was wrong with me, and to feel better I ate, alot. Since then I realized if I eat and exercise a certain way, I will look and feel good. I observed it wasn’t complicated, but I had to be consistent. When I couldn’t be, I discovered there was something holding me back (childhood issues). What I learned next changed my life forever. That’s what I’d like to share with you. If you’re struggling, I’d like to help you uncover why. You don’t lack will power; you might be like me, being held back by something in your past. If you want to talk about it, I’d like to listen. My contact info is below.
If you can, I’d like you to attend my Free FOOD & FITNESS Demo this Saturday, live or virtually. I’ll share how I lost the weight and kept it off for 31 years. Details below, and I hope to see you there.
With Gratitude,
Peter
844-394-4577
You’re Invited