I wasn’t always overweight. I honestly thought I would never have to worry about it. My legs were always so long and skinny, and I was built just like Gram Perry. She was always so skinny without even trying, and even my mom always said I was like my grandmother.

I never had to worry about what I ate. I was young, active, and could eat whatever without gaining a pound. When I was born, I weighed 7.7lbs. I was a scrawny little thing with not an ounce of baby fat. My Pap Liddick told my mom I was the skinniest baby he ever saw. Up till I was about 16, I was very active.

I mean, I was always riding my bicycle or rollerblading. We lived in a perfect neighborhood to do so in Old Lycoming that took us right to the bike path. Ya know, back in the good old days when you could be gone all day, and your parents told you, “be back by dinnertime.” Now you have to worry about everyone and everything.

As I got older, I got into soccer. I was never big into sports but, for some reason, loved soccer. I played for years and was always front and center, so I literally ran my butt off. I wasn’t interested in baseball or even basketball with how tall I was. Soccer was my jam, and I was good at it.

I liked a kickball game every now and then, but when we played bigger games up at our family cabin, I would rather go ride my dirt bike. Back then, we didn’t have a lot of land to ride my motorcycle on. I would ride circles around our house and shed, so the cabin was the best! I could play kickball in my backyard anytime, but our cabins were a treat when we got to go up to Blossburg or Salladasburg. All my cousins would be back playing sports, and I would be out riding. I didn’t need the exercise, so why not have fun sitting my butt on a seat and given er’ gas baby! Little did I know, that would someday change. I was livin’ the dream of eating what I wanted, when I wanted, with no intended exercise.

When I hit the high school years, I quit soccer. I didn’t want to play for the high school, and I remember my mom being bummed about that. Once I grew out of AYSO, I was done. I was coming into high school, and girls were testy and rude. I was not a fan. (Sorry, but that’s literally why I didn’t want to play.) Yea, I was testy and rude, but not stuck up and mean; there is a difference! I always treated everyone with respect and never bullied. Don’t get me going on that age, and how cruel they can be. I was always the first to protect the underdogs, and thankful I wasn’t overweight through my school years. Kids can be so cruel, and I wouldn’t have taken it. I probably honestly would have decked someone. Kids can’t help it, especially the younger ones.

I was blessed with a momma who made us homecooked meals each night. Always meat, starch, fruit, and veggie. Never too much fast food or processed, boxed foods. We always had snacks and sodas, but my parents weren’t parents who limited stuff like that. My brother and I were healthy, thin, and active. We knew soda was downstairs in the fridge. Dad always had sodas, but I was never a soda person. Mom always had sweet tea made in the upstairs fridge, but I was never a huge tea person. I did drink it, but water was always my favorite, still is. It’s my go-to drink, and I thank God for that! I can’t imagine if I was a huge soda drinker how chunky I would’ve gotten. Guys, I don’t want to drink my calories! I want to eat them! There are 150 calories in a can of soda and 39 grams of sugar. There are 140 calories in a serving of ice cream and 14 grams of sugar. Gimme the ice cream, baby! See what I am saying? Plus, it really helps that I LOVE water. When you drink two or three glasses of soda at a restaurant, there are 450 calories. Not my water. Calorie-free! Which gives me those extra calories to eat something I love. My beverages weren’t my problem, though, and when I graduated, that’s when it all started.

This is a great way to drink water if you can’t hack it plain.

Berry Water
• 2 tablespoons fresh strawberry slices
• 2 tablespoons fresh blueberries
• 8ounces water
• Ice, as desired

Citrus Cucumber Water
• 3 thinly sliced orange rounds
• 3 thinly sliced cucumber rounds
• 2 slices of lemon (optional, but I love lemon in my water!)
• 8 ounces water
• Ice, as desired