Help Mark Not Be So Fat Anymore

As most of you know, I've lost a little over 100 lbs since June, but I've still got a looong ways to go. I'll just put it out there; when I started I weighed almost 400 lbs, and I just barely broke through the 300 lb barrier about a week ago, so I still have my work cut out for me. After failing on pretty much every other diet out there throughout my entire life, I finally found something that works for me. It's called the HMR Diet, which is a medically supervised program that requires weekly doctor visits, regular bloodwork, group meetings, and prescription meal replacements (I'm literally only allowed to eat the food the doctor gives me each week; I can't even have fruits and veggies at this point!).

Not to toot my own horn too much, but after my last bloodwork results came in, my doctor sat down with me and said he is absolutely amazed at my progress because I am losing weight just as fast (if not faster) than most of his patients that have undergone surgical weight loss procedures, but that my overall health is much better because I am not suffering from malnutrition or other side effects that are common with bypass patients. So in other words, I am absolutely rocking it. 

The only downside is that the program is insanely expensive, and it's not covered by insurance. All told it costs us about $800+ out of pocket per month, and Traci and I are at the breaking point with our finances due to recent unexpected medical expenses from Annika's heart surgery, mysterious car problems that required multiple shops to figure out, along with a number of other unexpected and expensive drains on our accounts. Long story short, we're basically tapped out, to the point where I may have to drop out of my weight loss program because we simply can't afford it anymore. With the HMR Program, it isn't supposed to end once I get to goal weight. There's actually an 18 month maintenance program that teaches me long-term strategies and gives me the support I'll need to keep the weight off. Peer-reviewed research indicates that it has a 71% long-term success rate for those who do the full 18 month maintenance program, but conversely it has a  very poor track record of people who drop out of the program early and try to do it on their own (like pretty much every other diet out there). Despite all the great progress I've made, I know for a fact I'm nowhere near being ready to do it on my own, either physically or mentally.

So I'm asking for your help. The amount I'm trying to raise should be enough to do the full program for another 5 months to get the rest of the weight off, then the maintenance program for the full 18 months (which is much less expensive, fortunately; only about $100 per month). I know there are a lot of great causes out there that you could give money to, but I desperately want to get healthy (and stay that way) for my wife and my daughter (and hopefully more kids in the future!). Anything you can do would help. Just know that if you don't donate anything and I get fat again, it's all your fault and you'll have to live with that (just kidding!).

For anyone that donates and sends us their address, we'll send a handwritten thank  you card that features artwork of a cool Maya enthronement scene that Traci did for one of my recent articles (you can see her drawing below). And even if you don't donate anything, no worries, Traci and I will love you just the same, promise!