Steve Vaught

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Steve Vaught, dubbed The Fat Man Walking, walked from his home in Oceanside, California to the George Washington Bridge leading into New York City (from the west coast of the United States to the east). He began April 10, 2005, and completed his journey 13 months later on May 9, 2006.

He had gained weight in the first place because of depression, which started after he accidentally killed two elderly pedestrians in 1990. By the time he had started the journey he claims to have weighed 180 kg (400 lbs). He states that he was not even able to walk across his local Target store due to his obesity. He decided on the cross-country walk for losing weight and for the experience of it all.

His journey was rocky, and at one point near Albuquerque, New Mexico, he laid down at a truck stop ready to turn back, but kept on going. Various hotel clerks along the route offered him places to stay. Throughout the journey, he kept a website. News coverage accompanied him with many interviewers walking with him in his path. He claims that one of the best parts of the experience was to "meet new people".

Mr Vaught's journey was not without controversy. Questions were raised by both the media and fans as to whether Vaught caught rides and did not in fact walk every mile. Mr Vaught was also still morbidly obese upon completion of his journey and in part, has blamed the fast food industry for his failure to lose weight during his 3,000 mile trek. Pierre Bagley, a Texas filmmaker, travelled much of the journey with Vaught in order to produce a documentary. Interviewed at the end of Steve's walk, Mr Bagley stated that rather than the 110 pound weight loss claimed by Mr Vaught, he believes that the loss was no more than 40 pounds.