They say the camera can add 10 pounds, making you look heavier than you really are. But for video producer Ammon, it was his position behind the camera that was the catalyst for his weight gain over the years. Like many hard-working small business owners, Ammon prioritized his career and work for years—while putting his health and personal wellness on the back burner.
Ammon’s Early Weight Struggles
The owner of a thriving video production business based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Ammon wasn’t always overweight. Born and raised in North Carolina, and growing up alongside his nine siblings, Ammon spent his childhood exploring the Tarheel State’s southern woods and streams. He discovered his interest for video at a young age while participating in high school theater. At 14, he made the decision to pursue video production as a career, never knowing how the stress of running a small business would affect him physically later on down the road.
“As a young adult, I maintained my weight at a steady 130 pounds,” Ammon says. “But after I got married at age 23, I slowly started to gain. By my early 30s, I was approaching 200 pounds. There was a period of time that I didn’t even really notice the extra weight—I just got used to it. But at some point, I stopped feeling good about myself, and I wasn’t feeling good physically either. That’s when I knew it was time to make a change.”
Due to his career, Ammon spent long hours sitting in front of the computer editing video and managing various aspects of his business, which also played a role in his weight gain. He often used food as a stress management tool, binging on snack foods late at night after a long day. Sleep was challenging, and he felt tired all the time. Although he was never diagnosed, Ammon suspected he had sleep apnea due to symptoms such as snoring and waking with a dry mouth. As his weight increased, Ammon feared he would eventually end up with diabetes, a disease that runs in his family.
