Fighting off the Startup 15 (pounds that is)

High stress and long hours led these entrepreneurs to pack on the weight.

This entrepreneur put on 40 pounds

eric covino startup weight gain gallery
  • Name and business: Eric Covino, 32. Creative Signals, Smithfield, R.I.
  • Then: Pizza for dinner and no time for exercise
  • Now: A well-planned day that includes yoga, martial arts or basketball

I founded Creative Signals , a digital marketing agency, in 2008. I was in the insurance business previously and had more of a routine -- I'd wake up early and go to the gym before work.

When I started my company, there really wasn't a work-life balance. It was just work. When you have your own business you feel like when you're not working, you're not making money. I couldn't fit in exercise and I'd never sit down to eat. I'd just order a pizza or something. We also had a new baby. I put on close to 40 pounds.

Then in the spring of 2010 I was in an Old Navy dressing room trying on clothes. And it was just kind of sad. I'm not an Adonis, but I was never fat. I realized right then that I had a responsibility not just to my company, but to my family to stay healthy and be around.

I hired a productivity coach. We designed a process for planning out my work. It's helped me to be able to end my work day and have time for exercise. I got back into martial arts. I play basketball at the Y and do some yoga and meditation. It might be a reach, but I feel like these changes saved my life.

  @CNNMoney - Last updated May 13 2013 09:50 AM ET

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