Fighting off the Startup 15 (pounds that is)

• 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.

NEXT: Now walks during conference calls