For about a year after the show I did pretty good. I was traveling a lot, making appearances and doing events. It was still pretty easy for me to stay on track. Suzy and I got married September 19th, 2006. After the wedding we were so excited about all of the things we were going to do. We planned to travel, Suzy was being asked to act as a guest correspondent for Access Hollywood, I had more speaking events than I could do, we were ready to enjoy our married life as a “celebrity” couple. It was so much fun.
As I said, we got married on the 19th of September and made all our plans. On November 1st, Suzy was getting ready to go to New York to do a photo shoot and interview. Before she left she went to the store and got a pregnancy test. I thought she was joking. She wasn’t! Less than a month after gettting married, Suzy was pregnant!
Plans changed. Suzy got on a plane and flew to New York. I was at home to think about what we had just found out. I’ll be honest, kids were the last thing on my mind this early into our marriage. Here we had all these big plans and now we had to make some serious adjustments.
I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to be a good and supportive husband but I didn’t know what would be the best way for me to do that. Suzy didn’t really enjoy being pregnant. Knowing that she was uncomfortable most of the time, I did what I thought would be the easiest for her. “Oh Honey, you’re not feeling very good? Let me go get you something. What do you want? Tacos, ice cream, want to just go out?”
I turned to food, my lifelong coping mechanism. I was freaking out and I turned to food! Suzy started gaining weight and so did I. The thing is, she was pregnant I was not. It just seemed like the thing to do. Sympathy weight, right? I didn’t even realize that I was beginning to pack on the pounds. My clothes still fit and I was still getting compliments at all of my events. I was oblivious.
It wasn’t until we were on Larry King after Rex was born and then were cut out of a Biggest Loser piece that we did that I realized how big I had gotten. When I saw myself on television again I was shocked. What on earth was I doing? How am I suppose to talk to others about being healthy when I looked like I did. I panicked.
It was time to go back to work. Suzy took some time after Rex was born and then we both started to get back to work. One of our biggest goals as parents is to ensure that out children do not have to struggle like we have with weight. We don’t want them to ever see us on a “diet”. That meant that we had to get things under control immediately.
We bought an amazing stroller and Rex got his first workout, a stroller ride, when he was about a week old. He has been active ever since. We both lost weight and were feeling good. We were adjusting to our new life with baby. When Rex was about 5 months old our lives were about to change yet again. Suzy was pregnant again!
See you tomorrow!
#1 by Sarah - February 2nd, 2010 at 06:50
Matt, although I have never been on national TV to lose weight, I really can identify with a lot of what you’re saying. I too have used food as a crutch to hide my feelings, celebrate, and just deal with life — and it is so hard to unlearn many of those old habits. I was in Seattle for a conference in October 2007, shortly after the birth of your first son, and I briefly met you at Pike’s Place market when you were grocery shopping. Although I was surprised to see you had gained some of the weight back (and so it took me a second to recognize you), you were so kind and it was some sort of an odd consolation to see that you had gained this weight. Not in an “Haha, I knew he’d fail!” way, but in an “OMG, losing weight on TV is not a magic bullet just like bariatric surgery or some of the things I’ve tried are not.” I asked you about your son (I had read he arrived in People), and it seemed like you were over the moon about his arrival. It was so great to see, and I asked you to say hi to Suzy for me
The truth is life is hard. Healing a dysfunctional relationship with food is hard too. I am impressed with the fortitude that you and Suzy show, and really appreciate you sharing your struggles with us (even though they are none of our business!). It is nice to know that even people who have gained notoriety by losing weight struggle with it. It is a tough nut to crack. Stay strong and we can (and will!!!) handle this challenge of getting healthy.
#2 by Marcelle - February 2nd, 2010 at 07:06
You two are sooooooooo fertile!!!
#3 by Lori - February 2nd, 2010 at 15:34
Matt, I applauded you, Suzy and Andrea during your season on the BL and having struggled with getting my own weight back in control, I found myself inspired and encouraged simply seeing that there were others who I could relate so much to, even though you were all perfect strangers.
I’d love to say that I became so inspired that I dropped all the weight then and there, but I’d be lying.
It took me a while to finally say enough, and to date I’ve lost around 100 pounds. After a year of not staying as comitted as I should have been, I only lost about 10 pounds and this year am ready to lose the last 40-50 pounds so I can reach my goal.
I”ve enjoyed reading your blogs, and what you share about your life with the boys and with Suzy. Thank you for the insight and also the inspirtation.
I love the analogy of the seed. It was a great one and one that is so very true. It’s amazing how much damage those seeds can do if we allow them to take root and grow.
Thank you!