It began as an unheralded coast-to-coast walk designed to help morbidly obese Steve Vaught lose weight.

But some 2,300 miles (3,700 km) into his journey, the former US Marine now has a book deal, a 700,000-hits-a-month website and has been interviewed by Oprah.

Steve Vaught's three miles-per-hour journey through the back roads of this vast and varied country began last April in Southern California, when he weighed almost 30 stone (190kg).

He couldn't walk the length of a supermarket aisle without losing breath and he realised he was on the way to an early death.

So the happily-married father-of-two took the decision to reinvent himself for the sake of his children, to literally walk off the weight by trekking America.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4818036.stm

At least he wasn't protesting on some political agenda.

Setting a good example for all those 'fattys' out there...

But some 2,300 miles (3,700 km) into his journey, the former US Marine now has a book deal, a 700,000-hits-a-month website and has been interviewed by Oprah.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4818036.stm[/url]

Quite the accomplishment already. 2,300 miles ? Wow. And he's lost over 100 pounds which is a good thing.

Still a ways to go (600 miles, and a few more pounds). When he gets to the end, will he walk back ? Will he use a different route ?

I think I would have gotten bored with it all by the 1,500 mile mark

Good link. What an extraordinary story. Will this help make the US a healthier place. Those fast food outlets could easily be transformed into 'healthy' eating outlets... Only time will tell.

Quite a chap! Almost a year on the road..

""Today Steve has lost 114lbs (8 stone, 52kg) and has less than 600 miles - about six weeks - to reach his goal, Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.""

"" His new-found profile has seen him inundated with commercial offers - including a reported $5m to advertise a weight-loss pill, and offers to endorse shampoo, vitamins and smoking patches. ""

does that mean he turned down a $5 Million offer? I wonder if his wife and children are happy with that too But maybe his book-deal brought him more...

LaoPo

Anyone for a Hat Yai - Chiang Mai trip?

Edited March 22, 200620 yr by Thomas_Merton

Anyone for a Hat Yai - Chiang Mai trip?

Ring up p1p and get him to 'walk' down from CM!

Anyone for a Hat Yai - Chiang Mai trip?

Ring up p1p and get him to 'walk' down from CM!

Far b e it from me to insult the man.

I walked home from the pub once....

I walked home from the pub once....

Being a "hooker" between two props, doesn't count as walking.

Anyone for a Hat Yai - Chiang Mai trip?

I would prefer Chang Mai to Hat Yai ! (walking southwards feels like going downhill !)

So this guy is the real Forest Gump then ?

totster

So this guy is the real Forest Gump then ?

totster

Well, Forrest Gump wasn't this obese, but they both appeared to like their chocolates !

Let's see, he left around 11 months ago (April 05), and has lost about 100 pounds so far. Little less than 10 pounds a month (not to mention that he probably added some muscle in that time, which weighs more than fat).

He started out at 410 pounds (about the average weight of most of the ex-pat residents of Pattaya ).

He mentioned in his F.A.Q. (updated on 18 Feb) that he was going to take a 21 day break:

"I'm taking 21 days out of my walk to focus on upper body development, nutrition education and portion control, and better physical conditioning overall. "

Hmmm, only 600 miles to go and suddenly he decides he needs to work on that stuff ? Why not finish the walk and then do the health-nut routine ?

He makes entries into his online journal every 2-8 days, the last one being 23 Feb though

On the 8th of Feb is when he decides to take the 3 week break. He puts it into his FAQ 10 days later, makes a final (?) journal entry 5 days after that and now......nothing.

Sounds like he quit to me. His "21 day" break was up 21 days ago. No new journal entries in 28 days...hmmmmmm.

The BBC article is dated 22 March. Was this a story done before, and just recently published ?

Do all those deals he was offered become void if he doesn't complete the journey ? (Guys who quit part way through things like this aren't likely to get a lot of endorsements or book/movie deals)

Time will tell I suppose......

I walked home from the pub once....

Being a "hooker" between two props, doesn't count as walking.

always under my own steam TM.

BTW, a hooker "just" makes it into the front rowers club......

I walked home from the pub once....

Being a "hooker" between two props, doesn't count as walking.

always under my own steam TM.

BTW, a hooker "just" makes it into the front rowers club......

I know you have never really forgiven us for discovering that when those ballet dancer nr. 9’s started to pat us on the back, saying, “Well done getting the ball against the head” that it really wasn’t anything to do with poofter sex after all.

So this guy is the real Forest Gump then ?

totster

No, Forrest Gump's walk was based on a real guy.

This guy has however been offered to talk at schools with the earlier mentioned guy, that already does.