The author, Sean McBride, at Stella Point, Mount Kilimanjaro I was panting, heart pounding after my slow, steady climb when a dream occurred to me: I could climb Everest. Surely that would have to be far more exciting than my life of weekly weigh-ins and tearful confessions about fish suppers and chocolate. And, after all, massive challenges, far-flung travels and adventure is everything I love in life. Then, the reality of the moment interrupted my dream. The climb I had just completed was the two flights of stairs to my front door. The reason I was panting? Because I was obese, nearly 50 and had hardly been off the couch in weeks.