By: Becky Fulton

I remember it like it was yesterday. I had just got the notice that my divorce was final and I knew I was ready for change. I don’t remember if I saw a picture of myself, heard a comment from someone, or what exactly “clicked," but Gary (my new personal trainer) must have noticed something.

By: Tracey Byrd

366 days ago, I began a mission to reverse the damage I'd been inflicting on my body for 29 years. From as far back as my childhood —a sedentary lifestyle, and poor eating habits had defined my life. I was always waiting to be "rescued," never realizing that the only person who could truly save me, was myself.

Today marks my 367th consecutive day of working out. Here's my story....

I think I give people the wrong idea.

I always talk about how hard it was to put on a seat belt and wipe my butt when I was obese.

Did you watch the President’s State of the Union Address? The speech offered a blueprint for moving our country forward – on issues such as jobs, foreign policy, immigration, and education. But, the greatest threat to our nation was NEVER mentioned…until now.

The Starting Line

It’s was the end of September in 2011. I sat in a crowded room, wearing a size 60-suit coat, dress pants with a 58-inch waste. I sat around my peers, who had all made fitness a priority. Together, we listened to stories of others' successes. I thought to myself, why not me?

You’ve seen it, right? The new “Coming Together” ad by the soft drink giant that’s designed to highlight their efforts to help curb the obesity epidemic. If there’s one thing Coca-Cola knows how to do well, it’s market their brand, and this 2-minute commercial proves that without a shadow of a doubt.

What happens when a nation loses its health? Should we even care about the choices our fellow citizens make? After all, obesity is just a personal responsibility issue, right? Wrong.