When we make a big change in our lives, it’s easy to forget who we were and how we thought before that change. Russ L’Hommedieu doesn’t have that problem – he’s got a public video record of his old ways of being and thinking: a 2 minute compilation video of his standup routine about the travails of obesity and dieting.

After selling his physical therapy practice, Russ began going to comedy open mics, and achieved some success with his “fat guy bemoaning his attempts at weight loss” routine. He’s funny, no question, but I can’t help but be saddened at the self-defeating attitude of the man in the video.

Then, 15 years ago, he became an accidental vegan and his weight loss accelerated and – for the first time ever – wasn’t reversed.