Lumpy's story

Hey. My name is Lumpy and I am new here. I wanted to share with you my story. Now when you look at me you might say “Ah his name fits” and well truth be told it does but it didn’t always. When I was younger, I am 7 now (49 in people years) I was slim and sleek and fast as the wind. But somehow somewhere along the way my name started to fit me more and more.
I have the best two legged Mom in the whole world but lately, in the last year and half, things have changed around my house. You see my Mom and I used to hang out on the couch and she would share treats with me like bites of ice cream and potato chips and lots of other yummy things. We had a good life chillin on the couch.

One day, Nov 28, 2011 to be exact, is when things started to change. Mom started leaving me every morning to go someplace new. When she came home she had lots of strange smells on her. It didn’t take long to learn it was a sweat smell. This went on for a while. Last spring Mom started taking me out for walks. In those days we barely walked a mile and Mom and I were breathing heavy and struggling to make it back to the car. I started noticing that Mom didn’t give me ice cream and potato chips much anymore. Suddenly my treats were bites of yummy chicken, steak, or lean pork chops. Sometimes Mom would toss me broccoli or some other veggie, I’d eat it to make her happy but I didn’t really like it.

In the fall Mom took me to a brand new place out in the woods with hills, and trees, and lots of interesting things to see and smell. It was a long walk!! Three and half miles she told me. We made that first time but my tail was drooping and I thought Mom and I might have a heart attack right then. But you know what? Mom and I kept at it. Each time we would go out it would get a little easier. During the winter this year Mom stepped up our game and took me on several longer hikes, 5-7 miles!!! Over time Mom and I have started going three or four times a week. Sometimes now Mom and I actually RUN when we are outside. It feels to go to be able to do that again. I am not as fast as I once was but that’s ok. We don’t get ice cream or potato chips but on special occasions now. We don’t sit and snuggle on the couch as much anymore either. But you know what? Mom is happier, healthier (she lost 46 lbs), and so am I (I lost a whole 5 lbs!!) I wouldn’t go back for anything.