Jim Stoppani, Ph.D. | Using REAL science to design REAL programs for UNREAL RESULTS

The Connection Between Food and My Emotions Started Early

I remember as far back as age 6, living with my father, stepmother and special needs older sister, my stepmother used food—or lack thereof—as a punishment. I spent nights watching my sister eat dinner, with an empty plate in front of me. This went on for years. By age 12 I was only 64 lbs.

One day my stepfather came to visit us unexpectedly and found my sister and I in our room with a lock on the outside of the door. The next day, he and my mother filed for custody. Soon after, my father suffered a traumatic work accident. He was in ICU for 8 months and had 17 reconstructive surgeries. He was never the same again. He wound up addicted to opioids and, eventually, crack cocaine.

Life as a Latchkey Kid and Family Tragedies Led to Worse Eating Habits

My mom and stepdad both had full-time jobs, so I was home alone with my sister most of the time. For dinner, mom would leave $20 in singles for the vending machines in our apartment building, or I'd make pasta 4-5 nights a week. By the time I was a senior in high school, I was 50 lbs overweight. Then, right before graduation, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer for a second time. By the time they'd caught it, it had already spread to her brain. She started chemo immediately, and I watched her fight for her life. I coped by using food as a crutch; My father, by slowly killing himself with his addiction.

My mom passed away when I was 19 years old. At her funeral, I got a call from my father. I could tell he'd been using, and I hung up, knowing it was going to be the last time I spoke to him unless he got clean. I moved into a friend's house and worked two jobs to make ends meet.

I ended up skipping meals, and then binge eating at 2 a.m. after my shift was over. My weight would go up and down 20 lbs about every 4 months. If I was feeling too heavy, I'd eat just one meal a day to lose weight.

Losing My Parents and My Own Health Issues Complicated Everything

Five years later, I was in EMT School, which helped me get into better shape. I'd found something I really enjoyed, too. Near the end of school, I got a call that my father had died.

I was heartbroken that I never got to have closure with him. He didn't have a will, and because I was his oldest capable child I wound up quitting school to take care of his affairs. I was able to get my sister into a group home and try to get my life back on track while doing my best to be there for her.

In 2008, I found a lump in my right breast. I immediately went to the doctor who sent me to a genetic counselor for the BRCA gene tests because of my family history. Two weeks later, it came back positive and I immediately made the decision with my doctor to undergo a bilateral mastectomy with reconstruction. After the surgery, my breast tissue was sent to a lab, which revealed I did, in fact, have breast cancer. I was lucky to have caught it so early. They removed all of it with the surgery, so I didn't need chemo. After a full year and three surgeries, I began my recovery.

With My Health Spinning Out of Control, I Needed to Make a Change

I was still eating one meal a day to maintain my weight. After giving birth to each of my two sons I gained over 70 lbs. Each time, I'd skip meals—getting as little as 800 calories, some days—and do hours of cardio until the weight came off. After a nodule on my thyroid led to a completely thyroidectomy, and a genetic risk of ovarian cancer that resulted in a full radical hysterectomy, I realized I had to stop focusing on weight and start thinking about my overall health.

I'd been struggling to maintain my weight for years, doing the same workouts every day and not making any progress. I'd heard so many horror stories, from older women who'd had the same procedures done, about gaining weight and ending up with "pooch" bellies. I was determined to fight by changing my habits for the better.

I'm Finally Living a Healthy Lifestyle I Can Maintain

I read Jim's Dieting 101. I added Pre JYM, Post JYM, Omega JYM, Vita JYM, and ZMA JYM to my closet of supplements. I ran through a ton of programs: Super-Man, 28 Days to Redemption, 4-Week Full-Body Burn, Tabata Builder. Then, in the beginning of 2019, I entered and won the New Year, New You Challenge!

It's been a dream come true. I found the diet that keeps me healthy, with foods that I love. There isn't just one single workout program or diet plan. There's variety and something for everyone. Find what works for you; I'm so glad I did!

JimStoppani.com Helped Me Reach Goals I Never Thought Possible

If you're looking to make a change in your health, start now. Start with making small changes, and don't give up. Life happens, things may set you back, but never give up on yourself. Days turn into months, months into years—time is going to go by, so don't wait any longer. Start now! In six months, you'll be so happy you did.