That demon must have a twin.....it's at my place frequently. Even today at work, it reared it's ugle head!!!!! I've fought the urge to stuff my faceso far today but can't wait till 5 so I can get to the gym (my demon doesn't like exercise)! I lost 25 lbs on the Atkins last year and promptly gained it back. I've now read a book called No Fad Diet by the American Heart Association that totally makes sense to me. I've lost 10 lbs this month. I know 4 weeks does not make a lifetime committment but it's a start!!!

Jonathan,
I can emphathize with you on the ability to control your urge. I'm happy that you have lost weight and I encourage you to continue to try to control your urge. I work very early in the mornings, so I miss seeing your segment which always made my day!

GRAET JOB JONATHAN!!! U LOOK AWESOME!! IM PROUD OF YOU AND I WISH I HAD UR WILL POWER!! ALWAYS AND BEST OF WISHES FROM THE FIRECRACKER MOMMA :)

Its hard and for some what may seem like a small step is like a marathon for others. Having finally lost all my weight I know what it is like to look a a bag of choco chip cookies and KNOW I can't eat just one. Having teens in the house doesn't help!! Those kids can eat anything! My kids love your show! Which by the way WHY am I seeing The Early Show instead of you guys?This is why I got rid of cable. You have lots of support here in Anahuac!! Yes, it is a town. Everyone in town was laughing over your Anahuac comments.

I too can relate to this dilemma, it's one of the hardest things to do...rewire the way you react to something so strong. I haven't done as well as I'd like lately, but am still 73 lbs down (used to be 95). I know I can do it and reading this post gives me some hope. Good luck and congrats!

Walton, how did you lose the weight? You may have already addressed this, but if you don't mind doing so again I'd be curious to know how you did it.
-Fan from Dallas

Bravo, Johnathon. You're a ray of sunshine in our morning every day. Keep up the good work with fighting demons and making our day.
Thanks.

Basically... I diet and exercise hard 6 days a week and then every Saturday... I pig out!!!! Eating whatever I want... with the understanding that on Sunday... I'm back on the plan. It makes the weight loss slow... but consistent... and I can live this way for the rest of my life... I just can't wait for Saturday every week!!!!!!

At leaset you do not have someone bringing into the house chocolate cake or chocolate creame pies. They SCREAM my name.

Congratulations Jonathan! I am right about 400# and anyone that has the willpower and strength to lose 82# in 2 years on your own is a great accomplishment. You are inspiring. Thank you.

Thanks Amber. It's one day at a time. You don't have to win every battle... just the war.
~Johnathan

A true inspiration you are my friend. it is so much easier to eat than not to eat. I too am a recovering over eater, under exerciser and have gone from 320lbs of big fat guy to 220 lbs of very competitive triathlete. I say hang in there to all who are working to get the weight off. If you will stay committed to a plan and change some bad habits you will find yourself in a much better place. No majic pills...just eat less & exercise more!!! Good luck!

I'm proud of you Walton!

I'm a LOT older than you and I wish I could tell you that the "demon" leaves at some point for younger bodies - but alas, it stays until the bitter end! I fight but the flesh is so weak that even heart surgery with my very own stent implacement and the threat of diabetes cannot keep the desire from consuming my consciousness. I watch Seinfield reruns plus old game shows on GSN but the ominous presence of the food monster is always hanging over my head. HELP!

Walton's last post!

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…

Thank you KHOU for 5 of the most educational, enriching, challenging and creatively
rewarding years of my life.

I had a blast.

Then a nervous breakdown.

Then a blast again... after the Zanex kicked in.

First off...

I’d like to thank Mike Devlin.

Mikey Mike Devlin.

Words can’t describe the tremendous respect, appreciation and gratitude I have for you. I’ve missed you more than you’d be comfortable knowing.

Thank you Mike for plucking me from mid-market obscurity, for believing in me, for defending me... but mostly for enjoying my work.

One of the Devlin rituals I grew intensely addicted to, was when every morning he’d swing by my desk and tell me what I did that made him laugh that morning... or what I did that really pissed him off. It was always an unpredictably entertaining, nurturing, passionately honest exchange.

Until the shouting started.

But that’s another story.

And at least a couple of lawsuits.

My favorite Devlin moment though... was the time he was trying to make me take the word "mo-fo" out of a script. I was insisting that "mo-fo" wasn't in and of itself… a bad word.

Devlin said it was.

We went back and forth discussing it for awhile... but the discussion soon ended when Devlin shouted,

“Johnathan, I’m not going to let you use the slang term for mother fucker on our air!!!”

Since he put it that way... I conceded.

Mike Devlin… the last of the great “gut” men.

I’d also like to thank the late Marty Haag. Never has one man’s approval meant so much to me and my career. I am forever grateful.

Peter Diaz thank you too.

Thank you for not firing me my 2nd week here when I tagged out a piece about the Moody Gardens penguins by saying,

“The average life span of penguins is about 30 years. They’re kind if like Kennedys that way.”

I had no idea that would cause such a stink.

But mostly Peter… thank you for allowing me the opportunity to create, write, produce and host six prime time specials. It was singularly the most fulfilling work of my life... and more than that… it's really primed me for what I’m about to embark on. I kind of feel like I earned a PhD in producing my own 30 minute shows.

Thank you Peter for my salaried stay of execution.

Thank you for always being honest and upfront with me.

I know we’ve had our disagreements in the past… like the time you thought I should leave Channel 11... and I disagreed with you… but… I am so glad things turned out the way they did and I have nothing but respect and appreciation for you and all you’ve done.

Thank you Keith Connors as well.

Really.

You have without a doubt been the greatest teacher I’ve ever had in my life. I’m sorry I didn't understand the lesson until just recently. I’m sorry I said all those nasty things about you. I'm sorry I mocked you incessantly by putting my leg up on desks while calling for newsroom meetings. Forgive me. I was hurt and rejected and likening you to the nefarious prison warden from “Shawshank Redemption” seemed to help me cope. I regret every bad thing I ever said about you and I wish you well.

To every one of you who’s ever stopped me in the hall (or at the urinal) to tell me how something I did on TV made you laugh… thanks for letting me know.

I really get off on making people laugh.

“In the joy of others lies our own.”

It’s a Hindu philosophy I abide by. (especially in the bedroom)

I’m going to miss all of you so much.

How do I even begin to adequately say goodbye?

Ron Trevino. Codename: Grey Pubes. Thanks for the laughs and good times. And thanks for taking me to my first football game ever. (I’m glad my first time was with you.) You’ve been both like the father and the son I’ve never had. In my wildest dreams I couldn’t have imagined forging such a close and profound friendship with someone as old as you.

Adrienne Cody. Professional 12 year old. I will miss you. See how awesome you were in my last special? I knew you would be. If khou.com had half a teaspoon of vision they’d give you your own video blog and have you pimp the web on morning show cut-ins. You are so money baby!

Calily Bien. I love you. You make me want to rethink everything. You’re as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside. (Though until you’ve spent a day at Schliterbhan with Calily in bikini you really can’t fully appreciate the outside. Woweeweeewa.)

Bobby Bracken. My little brother. You and Liz are like family to me. You have no idea how many times… after my number of hits started getting cut from the morning show and I was feeling humiliated and dejected… I’d be sitting at my desk absorbing the weight of it all… on the verge of tears… wondering if I even belonged on TV… doubting every professional decision I ever made… I’d see you… sitting a few desks away… laughing at something on your computer screen… and I would get up and walk over to see what you were laughing at… and a bunch of times it was me. A pkg I’d done… or a live shot. Thanks for reminding me when I needed to be reminded the most. At 24 years old, you are the demo I truly value.

Larry Mullins. You’re the best photographer I ever worked with. I will never forget the time you tripped and fell trying to run with me in the middle of a LIVE shot… you never dropped the camera... you never lost the shot... and you never sued the station. Amazing. Thank you for the good times and the KTRK stories. Be sure to ask Larry which 13 reporter would routinely make him stop at Foleys so she could buy underwear to put on 'cause she was wearing a skirt to work that day! Larry, spending all those mornings with you at the "ass-taint" of dawn was a blessing and a treat.

Nathan Kvinge. I enjoyed every minute as well. Thanks for being as passionate about my stories as I was. Thanks for letting me rape your creative mind over and over again and not pressing charges. Thanks for the heartfelt and sage career advice. Thanks for shepherding my last few specials. Thanks for making me better. Your Nazi like dedication to the craft is inspiring... and a pain in the ass... but mostly inspiring. Thanks for believing in me.

Keith Tomshe.

What can I say?

I’ll never forget when you heard I got fired and you walked up to me and said,

“We have room in our house and my wife and I would love for you to stay with us for as long as you want.”

I was blindsided by that kindness. You’re an exceptional human being Keith Tomshe. I’m blessed to have your friendship and esteem. If you’re ever in Los Angeles…

Priceline.com can get you a great deal on a hotel room.

Kidding.

Try orbitz.

Joke.

You can stay with me for as long as you want.

Or at lease for a weekend.

Ted Maynard… fish shirt Friday was all I had to hang on to sometimes. Thanks for always brightening my day. My favorite Ted Maynard moment happened when I was picking up a costume for a shoot and a viewer came up to me to say hello. Ted didn't have his camera with him... so I told the viewer Ted was my dad. Ted played along. But the look of muted shock and fatherly disappointment that enveloped him was HYSTERICAL! The viewer asked,

"You must be very proud of your son? Being on TV and all."

And Ted, quietly pinpointing this as one of the reasons he never had kids ,responded,

"Yes, very proud."

John Shaw. Thanks for letting me bare my soul and thanks for baring yours. Thanks for the wisdom and spirituality... and the cheap electricity.

Michelle Scarintino. My biggest regret at KHOU is not getting to work with you more. You’re soooo freaking talented and soooo much fun to be with. Thanks for throwing me a bone. You personify this heady combination of grace and strength… kindness and discipline… beauty and brawn. Thanks for all you do for me… and for everybody you meet.

Carolyn Campbell… you’re my Mother Teresa. Thanks for the hugs and lipstick kisses. Thanks for the prayers and solace. I admire you more than you know.

Wendy Burkeen. Thanks for being my biggest cheerleader. From my first day to my last you have been so friendly and supportive. I appreciate you always talking me up.

This e-mail is getting waaaaay toooo long now… if I neglected to mention you by name… forgive me.

Thank you all for the outpouring of love and support on the heels of my perceived demise.

I learned years ago that sometimes… the worst thing that can happen to you… and the best thing that can happen to you… CAN BE THE SAME EXACT THING!

So long KHOU…

I'm off to glimpse infinity.

You will see me again... especially if you have basic cable.

By the way... everyone is invited to my going away party:

9:30pm Saturday June 30th
Hotel Derek's Bar (in Bistro Moderne)
2525 West Loop S
Houston, TX 77027
(713) 961-3000
Free Parking next door behind Le Peep

Peace and love.
Johnathan

Goodbye, Johnathan. I hardly had a chance to correct your flowing prose. ;)