Weight Loss Success Stories

From Obese to Extremely Fit

2012-01-28T20:33:00.000-08:00

Randall weighed 270 pounds when he decided to get in shape. One and a half years later he was extremely fit and participating in an Ironman competition.
Thanks much for sharing this!

Hi Isadora!

I made this video just for my friends, family, and relatives as a reminder that it's never too late and anything no matter how difficult is possible if you believe. I'd like to share it hoping it would help other people believe in themselves as well and lead towards a healthier and happier lifestyle.

For me, I can still remember like it was yesterday 270 lbs I attempted to run not even 1/4 of a mile I was winded down like I was going to have a heart attack and every car was stopping asking if I needed a ride. A year and a half year later I was treading water in Ironman Cozumel about to embark on a 140.6 mile journey, smiling and thinking to myself how I enjoyed everything along the way.

One Very Successful Year of Weight Loss

2012-01-25T20:27:00.000-08:00

Megan Marquez and her husband lost a combined 174 pounds in one year. The first photo here was taken at Christmas in 2010 and the lower photo is from Christmas 2011. Thanks much for sending in your story!

Good Morning,

My name is Megan Marquez. I have been morbidly obese since I was a teenager (I’m 36 now). My husband and I have been married for 16 years. We have two amazing, young children. We decided to finally take control of our weight for our children’s sake and for our own health. We did not use any pills, tricks, concoctions or fads. For the first time in our adult lives, we simply did what every doctor tells their patients to do; maintain a better diet and get regular exercise.

We started slowly, cutting out junk food completely and taking short walks. We both used an app on our phones to log our food intake every day. As the weight started coming off, we increased our exercise. I now use an elliptical machine every evening for 30 minutes. I couldn’t have done 2 minutes in 2010.

It has been an unbelievable year of weight loss and personal growth. Combined, my husband and I lost about 174 pounds in 2011. We are continuing our new lifestyle into 2012. We both feel and look substantially better. We had the greatest support of our families and co-workers. My weight loss caused two co-workers to also improve their diets. For the first time in my adult life, I am able to shop at non-plus size stores. Our young children are very proud of us. What a great feeling!

The reason I am contacting you is that I truly believe changing your life is in your own hands with real support. I promise, if we can do it, anyone can.

Electric Bikes and Weight Loss Success

2012-01-24T09:37:00.000-08:00

Traci Brown is a coach with Optibike. This pricey electric bike (costing about $10,000), "the Ferrari of electric bikes", is hand-made in Boulder, Colorado. Traci sent in the following story about one of her clients.

Bob Brewer was a regular guy. He spent his life building a successful family business. The money was good and all the perks that came with it were even better. Then at 53 he found himself overweight. Way overweight. And diabetic. He was 5’7” and 270lbs. The doctor called him ‘morbidly obese’.That’s when the fear set in.

A young death just wasn’t an option for Bob. So what’s a guy to do? A little exercise for a few days wasn’t going to fix the problem. An entire lifestyle shift was in order. But it sounded so hard.

That’s when Bob joined the Optibike weight loss challenge with coach Traci Brown. It’s a year long coached lifestyle and fitness program. Community is created around the enthusiasm for weight loss and cycling. And Optibikes are electric. They give you a push when you need it. And you still get a great workout.

Bob found the fun in community and started riding his bike every day. He followed the program: Riding every day with a specific plan, walking if he couldn’t ride, eating lower carbs, less meat and more fish, cutting out soft drinks and alcohol. As a matter of fact, Bob has only had water to drink for a year.

What about the results? Bob’s lost 87lbs and he’s still going. He’s exercising every day, riding his Optibike or walking, and totally off all medications. He’s excited about life and he still hasn’t had anything to drink but water. And all this happened because he decided to save his own life with the Optibike Weight Loss Challenge.

Losing 80 Pounds in Eight Months

2012-01-23T20:50:00.000-08:00

Maria weighed 210 pounds eight months ago. She is 5'4" tall. A Zumba class inspired her to start her weight loss journey and now she feels fantastic at 128 pounds. Thanks much for sending in your story!

Hi, my name is Maria. I am 40 years old and I am a Physical Therapist Assistant. I live in Wilkes Barre, PA. My before weight was 210 pounds and my after weight is 128 pounds, I am 5'4".

In April of 2011 my friend asked me to go try out a Zumba class which I was reluctant to do but after she persuaded me to go I immediately fell in love with it, I was going 3 days of week.

Towards the end of April the instructor opened her own studio and started offering more classes, at that time I decided that was it, I was sick of my weight and wanted to lose full force, I went on my own diet with an app on my phone counting calories(1200 calories a day).

Jessica Sands, the owner of the studio S.W.E.A.T. Fitness Studio, helped me in every sense of my weight journey answering questions I had on food decisions, what classes to take, etc. I really owe it all to her for being my inspiration in this past 8 months, even though she will say it was all me. I am totally in love with eating right and exercising all the time, I take as many classes as I can, sometimes 1-3 classes a day, every day of the week. So after 8 months of losing 72 pounds and dropping from a size 16 to a size 2, meeting the most amazing people ever, and developing friendships I feel will last a lifetime, I am the happiest ever in my life.

I finally feel good about the way I look and feel. My husband, Jim, of 18 years and my children, Patrick, 17, and Katie, 13, are very supportive in my new way of life, and I wouldn't be able to do any of this without them either. I am very thankful every day that Jessica took the courage and many pitfalls, even surviving through a flood, to keep her studio open to give me a second home to go to every day to achieve my goal. I LOVE S.W.E.A.T. FITNESS STUDIO, ALL THE INSTRUCTORS, AND ALL THE FRIENDS I HAVE MADE ALONG THE WAY!!!!

Reduce Cravings with Meditation

2012-01-21T10:05:00.000-08:00

Here's a really great 5 minute video instruction on how to meditate for a minute in your day.

Meditation has been proven to reduce stress and cravings. All you need is one minute to feel better. Check it out!

From Obese to Ultra Fit

2012-01-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

Drew used to be big and tall. He is 6'4" and weighed 340 pounds not too long ago. One day he decided to get super fit and choose a healthy lifestyle. He never went on a diet, just started making different eating choices and doing a ton of running, starting with baby steps and stepping it up to the point where he is now doing 'ultramarathons'. See his inspiring story at Running Runners.

A Very Inspirational Weight Loss Video

2012-01-11T12:05:00.000-08:00

Wow! check out this wonderful video of a man who has lost 270 pounds. It's so optimistic and inspirational.

Bryan Ganey, age 39, also has a very helpful blog (My Lifestyle Change) about his weight loss journey. Check it out for some great motivation.

Kale Chips: A Super Nutritional Low Calorie Snack

2012-01-04T15:36:00.000-08:00

Here's a fast and easy recipe for a really tasty and super nutritious snack. These kale chips are made with just three ingredients (kale, olive oil and nutritional yeast). (PS I know the picture I took looks awful, and you can't see that they are crunchy and dry..)

My nephew told me about this recipe. He's a vegetarian and it's hard for him to get enough B vitamins. One super food that contains tons of these vitamins is nutritional yeast.

Nutritional yeast (amazon link)
contains 18 amino acids (forming the complete protein) and 15 minerals. Being rich in the B-complex vitamins, it is vital in many ways and particularly good for stress reduction. The B-complex vitamins help make nutritional yeast such a valuable supplement, especially to the vegetarian. One element of yeast is the trace mineral chromium, also known as the Glucose Tolerance Factor (GTF). This is necessary to regulate blood sugar and is important for diabetics and people with a tendency toward low blood sugar.

Kale is one of the world's healthiest vegetables. (The other two hugely nutritious greens are swiss chard and collard greens.)

So this recipe combines two of the world's healthiest foods and it's really yummy. It does taste a bit like thin crisp chips. The nutritional yeast has a nice nutty flavor. Hope you will give it a try.

Kale Chips Recipe:

Ingredients:

- a bunch of raw kale (tear into bite size pieces)
- nutritional yeast
- olive oil

Place the kale on a cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil and then sprinkle a good amount of nutritional yeast over it. Bake it in the oven for about 15 minutes at 375 degrees. And voila!
You have kale chips.

If anyone would like to figure out the calorie count, please let me know! I figure it is about 200 calories at most for a heaping bowl full.

Best Way to Lose Weight - Poll

2012-01-01T08:44:00.000-08:00

What is the key habit keeping me from losing weight?

Is it eating too many sweet foods? Or too many fatty foods? Is it mainly a matter of not exercising enough? Or is it too much soda/pop or alcohol?

It's been a few years since I did a poll. It would be interesting to see which habit people feel is the most responsible for their weight gain.

Please vote on your best habit breaker to lose weight. See it on the sidebar to the right.

The poll starts today January 1st and closes in six days. See how other people have voted so far.

And if you can contribute any help (encouragement, tips, advice), please leave your comment below.

Also, if anyone has a success story with before and after pics of your weight loss and would like it posted here, please let me know!

33 Real People Tell Their Weight Loss Story

2012-01-01T07:22:00.000-08:00

This website is mainly focused on true weight loss stories by real people who lose weight the natural way - via a change in diet or exercise.

You can scroll down through the posts and at least half of them deal with life stories (while the other half are related to tips about weight loss).

But here's a faster way to get to the latest 33 stories posted on this blog.

Before and After Inspirational Weight Loss Pics

2011-12-27T12:51:00.000-08:00

Here's a video showing some inspirational before and after photos of a couple of dozen people who've lost a lot of weight. Hope you enjoy.

23 Pounds Lighter, A Few More to Go

2011-12-22T12:53:00.000-08:00

Jennifer has lost 23 pounds since she started her weight loss blog about three months ago. Check out her fun and honest blog at Diary of an Even Fatter Girl.

Here's an intro from Jennifer:

I'm a 57-year-old clinical counselor and social worker who's been overweight since 1985. That was the year that I successful quit smoking and transferred my addiction to food! My highest weight since smoking was 255 ---- 125 pounds more than the morning I smoked my last cigarette! Of course, adding to that weight was having a child (now 25 years old but I PROMISE, I still carry my pregnancy fat), getting divorced, living life.

I've tried so many weight loss strategies in the last 26 years - once eating no solid food for three months, only Optifast shakes. I took doctor-prescribed diet medication for a year and gained a heart murmur, but lost no weight. I've tried it all.

But...... on September 19, 2011, I started a blog in order to keep myself focused, accountable, and conscious of who it is I want to become. Since that date, I've gone from 244 to 221! I've still got "miles to go before I sleep" but I feel that blogging is the most nurturing thing I've done for myself in years. Having a place to document my fears, my musings, my successes and failures has kept me more motivated on my weight loss journey than anything else. I feel like, after 57 years, I'm beginning to know myself and what makes me tick (and eat). I have begun to live my life transparently - and in the process, I've discovered that, though we all fight different battles, our "insides are the same". We are all brothers and sisters of the heart.

Diary Of An Even Fatter Girl is an honest, funny blog about losing weight and living life.

I've Kept the Weight Off

2011-12-22T09:31:00.000-08:00

I thought it was time to give an update on my own weight loss situation. So here goes, it's a happy story over all...

I started this blog in November of 2005. I had my first (and only) baby at the age of 42 in January 2004 and had gained 65 pounds through the pregnancy. Just before my son was born i weighed 215. Soon after the birth i weighed about 200 for a while and then got down to the high 170's within a few months without doing any kind of dieting or exercising. I was not focused on weight loss at this time and found motherhood all consuming and exhausting (even if pleasantly exhausting).

Two years after birth i had stabilized at about 165 pounds which put me near the top range of the 'normal bmi' for my height of 5'9 (maybe almost 5'10"). I stayed at this weight throughout 2007. In the spring of 2008, i decided to get fit and began walking much more. Later that spring i was down to 150 pounds. I've been walking regularly for about four years now and am thrilled to say that i am fitter and slimmer now than I was in my 30's. I've weighed about 145 pounds for a long time now and i think this is the ideal weight for me.

My son is sensitive to wheat and dairy so I've drastically reduced my bread and cheese consumption. This used to be my mainstay snack (with lots of butter,-- i've kept up the butter habit and added more good fats because i think this is important). Otherwise, i am usually very good at staying away from any processed foods and eating vegetables almost every (every other?) day. I'm also a big fan of beans (lentils, chili beans, etc.) and brown rice.

Walking has been my only exercise. In a typical week I usually walk about six or seven hours. So, this would average about one hour a day though my typical route now is 1.5 hours (about six miles of brisk walking) and I do that about four times a week.

I'm super happy with the benefits this regular walking has brought to my life. But I've been negligent about regularly replacing my walking shoes and I am starting to feel a bit of pain in my knees. So this has got me thinking i need to switch up the walking with at least one other alternative exercise.

I am not a gym person. I'm quite sure that if i bought a gym membership the money would be wasted. So i've been thinking about what else i could do.

A friend of mine bought a beautiful rowing machine about a year ago and uses it regularly. Rowing is supposed to be a fabulous all round exercise, not just for the legs but for the whole body. He did a lot of research before buying one, and he chose one of the more expensive models - the WaterRower {Amazon link}
This rower is really fun (almost soothing!) to use and it looks really aesthetically spectacular and folds up easily against the wall when not in use.

So it is very expensive, but I have been thinking this over for a while now and I've decided to take the plunge and buy one. I look forward to being able to exercise at home on rainy days and to listen to podcasts while i row.

Will let you know if this was a good idea in a couple of months or so.

Visual Motivation for Weight Loss

2011-12-16T11:40:00.000-08:00

For any of you who have an iPhone, iPad or iTouch, check out these new updated apps on 'virtual weight loss'. They are a great way to track your weight loss progress and help inspire and motivate.

There is a male version and a female version. You can see your weight loss progress with a virtual model of your heaviest weight, your current weight and your ideal, goal weight (based on your height).

Too Fat for the Gym?

2011-12-16T11:04:00.000-08:00

Meet Tiff. She started off her weight loss journey weighing 352 pounds. The top photo you see above is one she considers her 'wake up call'. In the last photo she weighs about 225. Though her plan for exercise initially was just to walk a lot, she decided to face her fear of joining a gym and went ahead and started working out regularly at her local community center. She's lost about 130 pounds so far! Check out her story at Project 365.

Obese at Age 29, Super Fit Now

2011-11-11T08:54:00.000-08:00

Thanks much to Luis for sending in this story and for sending in these before and after pics;

Here is my weight loss story.

I was born and raised in México until the age of 12. I have always been a tall person, but I was a skinny and tall kid while growing up in México. Food did not come around as easy back then.

When we moved to the United States it became a whole different world. The first meal I had in the new country was a Big Mac at McDonalds. The meals kept coming in the form of pizza, hamburgers, hot dogs, burritos. Everything you can possibly imagine. I started getting bigger and bigger. My weight did not register at that time because by the time I was an 8th grader I was 6'5'' and weighted 285 pounds. I never got picked on because of my size, instead I got idolized. They looked at me as the big football player. I kept eating and lifting weights. By the time I was 21 I was 6'8'' and weighed 370 pounds. I struggled to get in shape for football and my weight was holding me back from excelling in the sport I thought I was made for. Well, I played division two college football and got a career. After all was said and done I still had the weight. I did not need the weight anymore. I tried a bunch of different diets and exercise regimes and none of them worked. I thought I was an athlete and should have been able to shed the weight easily. Nothing was working and I just kept eating. Before I knew it I was 400 pounds and was on a second medication to control hypertension at age 29.

I felt like I was changing for the worst. I was losing my friends, my family, my loved ones. I was losing myself. That's when I decided to fix me. I started working out with a video game on the XBOX Kinect. I lost my first 50 pounds within 3 months. I was hooked. I played that game so much that I broke it. I must have scratched it or something. It forced me to look for something else.

I started doing research on Google and looking at fitness and diet videos on YouTube. I also started purchasing equipment. Before I knew it I had my own gym in my garage and friends joined in to workout with me. I have lost 140 pounds in 10 months and got my health back. I am not taking any pills anymore. My blood pressure is normal. I tell people that my physical change is about 10% of the change I have made. I tell them that the real change happened inside. I now love myself. That is where it all began.

Taking that First Step

2011-11-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

This is not a success story. This is the story of a first step to weight loss. Here I only point you to one woman who has decided she really wants to lose weight and she is starting on her goal of losing 130 pounds now.

She weighs 260 pounds now, wants to lose 100 pounds over one year, and then 30 more pounds after that. See her initial thoughts about why she wants to lose weight and how she thinks sugar (including fake sugar) is the culprit. Check out her new start at The Journey of a 100lbs.

Help Motivate Diminishing Lucy

2011-09-16T05:49:00.000-07:00

In 2008 Lucy made the decision to transform herself from an obese 275 pound goddess to "a lithe and supple goddess of healthier proportions". She has lost about 85 pounds so far and feels she has about 38 more to go.
She has a great blog at Diminishing Lucy. Please go visit and give encouragement.

AOL Success Stories - Submit Yours

2011-05-03T11:51:00.000-07:00

I've just stumbled on a great selection of weight loss success stories at AOL's "That's Fit" website. Check it out at That's Fit: Success Stories. They have motivational stories from a diverse range of people of all age groups.

If you would like your weight loss story profiled at this AOL website, please contact Martha Edwards there. They have also put out the call to feature and link to bloggers who have weight loss success stories.

Weight Loss Success Stories on Reddit

2011-04-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

Reddit.com is a great source of genuine weight loss success stories. The photos shown here were submitted by jxmac just seven hours ago and she has already received over 2,000 comments. She has lost 65 pounds. Check out her weight loss story and other people's comments here.

Western Food is Making the World Diabetic

2011-03-26T09:01:00.001-07:00

Listen to this interesting 13 minute NPR audio on Diet and Diabetes, where one doctor discusses the differences he noticed between Afghan patients and the bodies of North American patients. He says;

"Typical Afghan civilians and soldiers would have been 140 pounds or so as adults. And when we operated on them, what we were aware of was the absence of any fat or any adipose tissue underneath the skin," Patterson says. "Of course, when we operated on Canadians or Americans or Europeans, what was normal was to have most of the organs encased in fat. It had a visceral potency to it when you could see it directly there."

Male Weight Loss Transformations

2011-02-14T09:20:00.000-08:00

Check out this page, which has four inspiring stories of men losing weight. Here's an exerpt from Calle's story, he lost 136 pounds and was asked;

If someone reading this has repeatedly tried and failed to change their life for the better and they are considering giving up do you have any words of encouragement for them ?

I can only speak from my experience, I was a healthy morbidly obese person, but for how long? I used to hate pictures of myself, I was really mad when i looked myself in the mirror.

I´ve been alone for years, no girlfriend and not going out because i was ashamed of myself. If you identify with these things, well, you need to change. The best feeling in the world is when people see you on the street and make this big amazing surprised face because you are looking younger, great and healthier. Another great feeling is to fit in normal size modern clothes.

Are you demotivated? Find the reason! Take a picture of yourself every month so you will see the changes and be motivated every time. Know that you are eating to keep your body healthy and fine. Just think in long term, your body will thank you for that.

When you reach your goal, you will feel powerful, invincible, that you can achieve whatever you want in life. Let me tell you that this feeling leaves you speechless and so happy every second of your life. It will worth the fight and the sacrifices, just keep doing it and results will come.

Divorced Man Gets in Shape

2011-02-13T19:58:00.000-08:00

Thanks much to Eli who sent in this inspiring weight loss story:

In March of 2008 I had been married for almost 18 years. For the last 5 or 6 years of my marriage, I had gained weight exponentially each year. Not only was I obese (6'1/2" 280 lbs), but I was also a heavy smoker. When I got separated from my ex-wife close to 3 years ago, I had an epiphany. I looked at myself in the mirror and couldn't believe what I was looking at. How had I allowed myself to get like that? I wanted to live a longer life for my 3 children and I wanted to be happy with myself again. These things made me take the first step into my journey of weight loss which has now become a passion for fitness.

I had yo-yo dieted for many years and tried many of the fad diets. I was "successful" in losing weight those times, but I never kept it off because I was not making a lifestyle change.. The most important change that has lead to my success is knowing to take things one day at a time. When I started on my quest, I did not join a gym and I did not exert myself enough. What I did was ask myself, "What am I willing to do NOW which will help me continue to do it for the rest of my life?" My answer then was to walk for 15 minutes each night and I made small adjustments to my horrendous eating habits. Today, I can run up to 10 miles at a 10 minute per mile pace. I also weight train 5 days per week and my bad eating moments are most people's best eating habits! I am proud to say that today I have a body fat percentage of 12%!

As soon as I started to see the weight coming off, I was motivated to continue on this path. The most challenging thing for me was changing my bad eating habits. I saw results right away. I started to lose weight after the first week and it never stopped from there.

My life has changed in many ways! I am healthier physically, mentally and emotionally. My self esteem although never low, is at an all time high. I have been the inspiration of many to start their own quest of a healthy lifestyle change and I have finally found a real life passion!

Losing Weight Before the Wedding

2011-02-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

Sparkly_81 has lost 80 pounds in 13 months. In a discussion forum she says;

Last Jan I was feeling really down about being overweight. I was also was getting married and being a bridesmaid for my sister. I was really not confident at all about looking good and decided I had to do something about it. So I set about calorie counting and getting into fitness. 13 months later I have lost 80lbs. This takes me into the normal BMI range (I know; don't listen to BMI, but as a fat, relatively unactive woman it was probably quite accurate and psychologically this is a big milestone for me). I am working out regularly. I am pretty close to the point I can do a few pull-ups and I can run without killing myself.

She's had 130 people comment on her progress. See her workout and fitness details here.

A Weight Loss Motivation App for the iPad

2011-01-06T11:38:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Adriana for giving us 25 free copies to hand out. Here is the scoop;

This app helps you visualize your weight loss. It's great motivation for losing weight!

You begin personalizing the model by setting your current height and weight as well as your heaviest weight and your goal weight.

Keep a track record of your weight loss and visualize how you'll look when you reach your next lower weight goal.

Your model is based on BMI calculations so she will look different for women who weigh the same but are different heights.

See the Weight Loss Virtual Model on your iPad or iPhone.

Update: Dec 16th 2011. See the male version of the weight loss app here.

Bracelets for Every Pound Lost

2010-12-07T12:48:00.000-08:00

Kelley sent me the following email;

Hi there,
I found your website and wanted to share my weight loss story with you.

The photo I'm sending you is a picture of me after I lost 72 lbs. along with the before photo. It’s hard to believe but I did it. I'm also sending photos of the PoundPuncher Bracelets that I created during my weight loss. It's explained in the story. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.

My story begins in 2005 after the birth of my second child. Like all mothers I fell into the everyday routine of taking care of everyone except me. I kept putting on weight, felt depressed, and didn’t know what to do. In 2008, a friend asked me if I wanted to enter a local weight loss competition with her. Even though I didn’t want to I knew I needed to. I began eating wisely, exercising, and losing weight. After the competition was over I still had a lot of weight to lose. I wanted to change, feel alive again, be a happy person, and be there for my kids and husband. You can have all the support in the world but it's all up to you to make good choices in life.

I needed something to remind me all the time to NEVER give up and to be proud of the hard work that I had accomplished. I was determined to get to that dream. I knew I needed to stay focused and MOTIVATED to continue to lose weight, but how? I came up with an idea …..a bracelet. I had my husband create a bracelet that I had visualized. It tracked my weight loss and reminded me to make healthy choices when reaching for food. It was my daily "reminder" to keep going! I had lost 39 ½ lbs. in the competition and continued until I had lost 72 lbs. I felt the need to create more bracelets to help those on the same path, in order to give them hope and motivation. I had never created anything like this before and had no business experience, but I felt I needed to do this. Since then, I launched a website and have sold bracelets in a few stores and on-line. I’m thrilled to know that I was right about following my instincts.

Very few people know my story or how the bracelet helped me conquer the weight loss battle. I wear my bracelet everyday. It reminds me to be PROUD and to stay on the healthy road of happiness.

Thanks again and God Bless,

Kelley Davis

Check out her website and bracelets at poundpuncher.com.

A Motivational Weight Loss Story Video

2010-11-18T06:02:00.000-08:00

Ryan lost 135 pounds in 13 months with diet and exercise. He went from 308 pounds to 173.

Someone had told him he could change a habit in 21 days. Within 21 days he had lost 18 pounds. This motivated him to keep going. Within five months he lost 100 pounds. He gets up at 4:45am each morning to exercise. See his very motivational video here.
Check out his story at his website Ryan in Boise.

Jogging to Lose Weight

2010-11-17T14:03:00.000-08:00

Ben is six foot tall and used to weigh 360 pounds. Within 10 months of starting his goal to lose weight he was down to 220 pounds. Check out his inspiring story at his site. Here is an excerpt;

My name is Ben Davis. On December 25th, 2008, I decided to get my life together. I weighed 360 pounds and was a miserable person.

Then I started jogging.
Then did a 5K.
The pounds started falling off.
I ran a 10K.
And a sprint triathlon.
Then I did a half-marathon.
I kept losing weight.
And kept running.
Then I did a full marathon.
I decided to keep going.
Then I did an Ironman.

If you want to do something with your life, if you really want to do it, just do it. I promise that you can. You just have to do it. And when you do, you’ll be happier for it.

Inspirational Weight Loss Video

2010-09-05T13:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a very inspirational story of a woman who recently lost over 100 pounds in less than ten months. She initially weighed 266 pounds. In the before photo here, she weighed 255 pounds last August. In the 'after' photo she weighs 145 pounds by May.

Check out her very beautiful and inspirational video where she shows her weight loss progress over one year.

Treadmill Success Story

2010-09-02T12:38:00.001-07:00

Janet used to weigh 337 pounds. She bought a treadmill and initially just walked on it for five minutes a day. She increased the time gradually. By the time the treadmill gave out she had put 3,000 miles on it over two years and had lost 100 pounds. She was eager to buy another one.

But then she plateaued and wanted to try weight loss surgery. (She is only 5'1") Her doctor suggested she first try the Medifast diet for one month. She ended up doing this for 12 months and losing another 120 pounds.

Read her inspiring story and see her 'after' photo here.

Late Night Junk Food Snacking

2010-08-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

Check out this fun video. Anita Renfroe parodies Carrie Underwood's video for those who want to reconsider the next trip to the fridge.

Alcohol and Weight Loss

2010-07-29T11:09:00.000-07:00

Here is the very fit Scooby guy, age 49, who lectures us about how much alcohol can hinder your effort to lose weight, get fit, and build a ripped body. He's funny, check him out;

A Treadmill Weight Loss Story

2010-07-05T08:19:00.000-07:00

Thanks much to Caroline Jhingory who submitted this post about her weight loss story. See her site at myspace; I Lost 122 Pounds. and her before and after pics at Facebook.

What's your weight/fitness story?

I was 5’2 in height and 273lb the year before starting high school at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.

Over the last eight years, now at 29 years old and still around 5’2ish, I have lost and maintained a 123lb weight loss without gastric bypass surgery, any commercial diet programs or fad diets.

I attribute my weight loss success to strengthening my faith, determination, patience…and a treadmill.

Exercise has been the central tool in my transformation, but it’s still only one part of the puzzle towards health. I significantly changed how I eat; altering my relationship to food and eating. Again, I adhere to no specific diet. I practice mindful eating, remaining disciplined and limiting my intake of carbohydrates, sugar, dairy products and caffeine..

What was your turning point and/or "Ah-ha!" moment?

There was no major incident that caused me to have an “aha moment” really. One day I was home visiting from college. And I just said to myself “I had enough!” Enough of wearing body girdles to fit into certain outfits, enough of being the girl that guys never acknowledged. Overall being obese had caused me to miss out on enjoying simple things in life: I had not worn a bathing suit since I was 9 years old, was never able to ride a roller coaster because the safety bar did not fit over my stomach, and did not have my first boyfriend until graduate school.

How has losing weight/being healthy & fit changed your life?

Outside of all the superficial stuff of being able to wear cute clothes and a guy or two noticing me, my weight loss has made me more driven all around. Losing 123lbs has made me feel as if no obstacle is too big whether its school, work-related or family-related. Life has taught me that God is never gonna give me more than I am capable of handling.

How often do you exercise?

My key to success was learning to replace an unhealthy addiction: mindless eating while sitting in front of the television, with a healthy addiction: hitting the gym everyday. “I eat everyday, so I workout everyday,” is my number one fitness tip when giving advice to others.

What is your favorite workout?

For 60 minutes, I love to do a combined high speed and high incline walk on the treadmill while listening to music and/or watching a mindless reality show on the built in televisions. It really makes me feel like I’m challenging myself and using every muscle in my body to pull myself up on the incline. I also enjoy riding my bike through downtown DC and to the World War II Memorial at night.

What 5 food items are "must haves" in your kitchen?

Costco’s Kirkland Organic Salt-Free Seasoning – Sure it is healthy, but I have just never been a fan of salty food.
Economy size bag of frozen chicken breasts. – I think of chicken breasts as my “chameleon food.” I can make them adapt too almost any dish and they are a convenient source of lean protein.
Frozen veggies such as cauliflower, spinach and bell peppers – Being that I am a single lady and feeding only me, fresh veggies tend to spoil very quickly. Frozen veggies of course last longer, are usually already chopped and cheaper!
Leak-proof Tupperware – I am a creation of convenience. On Sunday, I typically cook my lunches and dinners for the week and put them in Tupperware. That way I always have healthy food ready that I can just pop in the microwave.

Bottled water, water, water and more water – Living in Washington, DC there has been way too much controversy on drinking the tap water here. Water keeps me well hydrated for my workouts and lubricates my joints for tough workouts as well.

What is your favorite motivational/inspirational quote?

Those who can truly be accounted brave are those who best know the meaning of what is sweet in life and what is terrible, and then go out, undeterred, to meet what is to come. -- Pericles .... (a gift from Tulane Professor Cinda Lanza, when I was having a really bad day)

How do you find balance in your life?

My faith, exercise and travel have become my therapy.

What is your greatest accomplishment?

It would be expected that losing 123lbs is my greatest accomplishment. However, my greatest accomplishment is coming to peace with the car accident death of my two teenage cousins and absence of my father after my parents’ divorce. For many years, I was angry at the world and God about these two things. I dealt with my anger by vacuuming in Hot Pockets and Hostess cupcakes. Perhaps my real “aha moment” was reaching a place of forgiveness.

What do you love most about your body?

I love and admire my body’s stamina when I am at the gym. The amount of physical activity I am able to do always shocks me. Even still I ask myself where did this come from?!?!

Best compliment?

A cardiologist looking at a sonogram of my heart, told me that I have the heart and heart rate of a marathon runner!

What are the last 5 songs played on your iPod?

Chuck Baby - Chuck Brown
Again - Faith Evans
Keep Hope Alive - Crystal Method
On to the Next One - Jay-Z
Triumph - Wu-tang Clan

What weight loss/fitness tools do you use that you rely on in your weight loss/fit life journey?

Good, comfortable and affordable workout clothes from discount designer stores like Marshalls and Ross. You really can find the durable sweat resistant workout clothes there for half the price. For me, having cute fitness clothes, motivates me to workout.

My IPOD and Black Berry! A few weeks ago an intern at work showed me how to stream music through my Black Berry so it’s a stand in for my IPOD from time to time.

I am a member of many online wellness and fitness communities. Discussing health and wellness with individuals from all over the world keeps me motivated and most of all EDUCATED on adhering to a health lifestyle.

I Lose It - A New Weight Loss iPhone App

2010-06-21T15:53:00.000-07:00

If you have an iPhone or iTouch, check out this new version of the virtual weight loss model. It's only 99 cents in the store - Virtual Weight Loss App

Bad Mood Foods

2010-06-02T12:03:00.000-07:00

Brandon, age 22, was not overweight but he suffered from depression, low energy, exhaustion and panic attacks for two years. He was on anti-depressants plus going to therapy but these were not helping.

All the while, his diet was never examined. Breakfast was several cans of Mountain Dew, a high-caffeine soda. He ate pizza, chips, French fries and candy throughout the day, and dinners were often Hot Pockets and snack foods.

"I was never overweight, so diet was never something I thought about. I was not eating any fresh fruits or vegetables," he said.

Check out the intereresting article about how food affects mood.

The Joy of Losing 300 Pounds

2010-05-31T10:49:00.000-07:00

Jerome, age 47, is a few pounds short of his goal of losing 300 pounds. When he reaches his goal weight he plans on getting certified as a personal trainer. Check out his blog and story at Watch Me Lose 300 Pounds.

Success with Determination

2010-05-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

David has lost an astounding 230 pounds. He used to weigh over 420 and now weighs about 180. He started his determined weight loss journey in March 2008. It's been a lot of exercise and a big change in eating habits. See his story at This Little Piggy Went to the Gym.

Just Do It - Another Very Inspiring Story

2010-05-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

Aren't these amazing before and after pics? Lindsay has lost 117 pounds. She peaked out at 289 pounds after giving birth to her third child. It took her 2 years to lose the weight. She plateaued for a few years after that but is now determined to lose another 15 pounds. Check out her very inspiring story here.

Diet Recipes: An iPhone App (Free)

2010-05-18T13:46:00.001-07:00

There's a new app in Apple's iPhone store which features some of the best videos on easy weight loss recipes. It focuses on whole foods, including how to make tasty raw salads, how to make quick fish dishes, easy bean dish recipes and other yummy healthy foods like chicken salad, brown rice salad, hummus, fried tofu, etc. These meals are filling, very healthy and promote weight loss. It's free. Check it out: Diet Recipes [iTunes link].

Losing Sixty Pounds by Jogging

2010-05-18T06:27:00.000-07:00

James has lost over 60 pounds in seven months by training for a half marathon. He says;

Over seven months ago, my wife made a suggestion: that we get in shape by training for a half marathon. I believe I laughed out loud at the suggestion. I've never been a runner, nor any type of athlete for that matter. The last time I ran over a mile at one time was during middle school..."

James used to weigh over 250 pounds. Now he's in great shape. Check out his blog and story here.

Walking to Health and Happiness

2010-05-14T07:07:00.000-07:00

Kerry has lost 150 pounds in 14 months. He's done this by walking. His only cost was a good pair of walking shoes. Kerry, age 54, used to weigh 335 at six feet tall. He now weighs an ideal 185 pounds. He says the walking has given him wonderful energy and has been such a great stress reliever.

He says "That 150-pound barbell I was carrying around all day is gone."
See his story here.

The Joy of Sports

2010-05-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

Here's an inspirational video on the joy of outdoor sports.

If you have an iPhone or iTouch, check out 17 more free videos about the joy of sports (running, soccer, basketball, martial arts, tennis, football, etc) [The Joy of Sports iTunes link]

Fast, Easy Recipes for Weight Loss

2010-04-28T11:10:00.000-07:00

Here's a funny video showing five fast and easy recipes you can make for dinner from Monday to Friday.

The famous Gordon Ramsay shows a guy who's never made a meal for his wife in 18 months, how to cook them. See more of his cooking tutorial videos here.

Cold Turkey on Processed Foods

2010-04-25T08:37:00.001-07:00

Angela has lost 110 pounds since she changed her lifestyle in January of 2009.

She used to weigh 250 pounds at 5'5''.

She lost the weight by joining a gym and exercising regularly. But she says “You can’t out-exercise a bad diet”. And so she also went cold turkey on Day 1 in terms of throwing out all sweets and processed foods and switching to lean protein and fresh fruits and vegetables. Her kids (age 4 and 7) have learned to love sushi.

Check out her weight loss success story and before and after photos here.

The photo here shows a Sushi-Sashimi Combo. 7 pieces of nigiri, 13 pieces of sashimi and a spicy tuna roll.

Lose Weight Marlena's Way

2010-04-05T12:03:00.000-07:00

Marlena has lost seventy pounds in about 10 months. In the video below she explains how she went about it by changing her lifestyle rather than going on a diet.

Marlena has a very popular YouTube channel called "MakeupGeek TV". She has over 200,000 subscribers and her makeup tutorial videos have been viewed over 34 million times.

Losing Weight by Running

2010-03-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

David has lost over 160 pounds in under one year. He used to weight 360 and now weighs just under 200.

He did this by changing his eating habits and by starting a running program. He's training for his first marathon. A year ago he couldn't run 18 yards, last week he ran 18 miles.

See an inspiring video of him before and after his weight loss here.

The F-Factor Fiber Diet

2010-02-26T11:52:00.000-08:00

Ditch those fad diets, lose weight and keep it off permananently. This book was just discussed on the View today and it is a sane and best way to eat. The emphasis is on eating high-fiber, filling foods and not worrying about carbs, fats or calories.

See the Amazon reviews for The F-Factor Diet.

See a list of ten high fiber foods here.

Lady Gaga's Diet

2010-02-18T11:34:00.000-08:00

Lady Gaga has just explained her diet to The Daily Telegraph. She says;

"I'm on a very strict healthy pop star diet. I don't eat bread, just vegetables and salad and fish. Eating like that is much better for me anyway but on Sundays I sometimes eat pasta."

Jennifer Aniston Lost 30 Pounds in Her 20's

2010-02-11T18:59:00.001-08:00

Jennifer Aniston just celebrated her 41st birthday, in a bikini in Mexico looking very lean and toned. But it's not a well-known story that when she was in her early 20's and trying to land good acting roles in Hollywood, her agent suggested she lose some weight. She went ahead and lost a reported 30 pounds. See the story about this here.

Let's Move Videos

2010-02-10T11:25:00.000-08:00

First Lady Michelle Obama has started a nationwide campaign against childhood obesity. One out of every three American kids is either overweight or obese.

Here is one of the several motivational videos you will find at the offical Let's Move website.

Food Rules for Weight Loss

2010-01-29T11:43:00.000-08:00

The number one bestseller on Amazon right now is Food Rules
by Michael Pollan. It's a slim paperback and costs just $5.00

Here's one review from Amazon;

This book cuts through all the garbage health information out there and gets back to real food and real nutrition. The format is simple and so is the message: Eat food, not too much, mostly plants. Our growing habit of eating packaged, processed foods has an impact on our bodies, our minds, and our planet, and Pollan outlines these while offering straightforward suggestions for getting real food back on the table. Great book.

The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone

2010-01-26T10:26:00.000-08:00

Celebrity Alicia Silverstone, age 33, is a vegan and has written a book about her way of eating; The Kind Diet.

Here's the description on Amazon;

In The Kind Diet, actress, activist, and committed conservationist Alicia Silverstone shares the insights that encouraged her to swear off meat and dairy forever, and outlines the spectacular benefits of adopting a plant-based diet, from effortless weight loss to clear skin, off-the-chart energy, and smooth digestion. She explains how meat, fish, milk, and cheese—the very foods we’ve been taught to regard as the cornerstone of good nutrition—are actually the culprits behind escalating rates of disease and the cause of dire, potentially permanent damage to our ecology.

Yet going meat- and dairy-free doesn’t mean suffering deprivation; to the contrary, The Kind Diet introduces irresistibly delicious food that satisfies on every level—it even includes amazing desserts to keep the most stubborn sweet tooth happy. Alicia also addresses the nutritional concerns faced by many who are new to a plant-based diet, and shows how to cover every nutritional base, from protein to calcium and beyond.

Alicia knows that changing life-long dietary habits is a process, and that each person progresses at a different pace. For that reason, The Kind Diet encompasses 3 separate levels, from Flirting to Superhero. Flirts learn to dip a toe into the vegan pool, reducing their meat-eating and swapping out a few key foods for plant-based substitutes to see quickly how even small changes can reap big results. Vegans get to experience the life-altering effects of forgoing animal-products entirely, while still enjoying many convenience foods and meat substitutes in addition to the wonderful grains, vegetables and fruits that form the core of that diet. True enlightenment comes with the Superhero program, based on the principles of macrobiotics and built on a foundation of whole grains, vegetables, and other yummy foods that Alicia describes in detail.

Whether your goal is to drop a few pounds, boost your energy and metabolism, or simply save the world, Alicia provides the encouragement, the information, and the tools you need to make the transition to a plant-based diet deliciously empowering.

See the video below for an intro by Alicia;

This second video gives more detailed information about her book;

Losing 2 Pounds a Week

2010-01-25T10:15:00.000-08:00

Here's a before photo of Max. He is 17 years old and has been overweight for many years. Last year he changed his lifestyle and lost the excess weight gradually. He lost an average of two pounds a week and went from 212 pounds to his current 160 pounds. See his photo at a fit 160 pounds and his story here.

Losing the Belly

2010-01-16T14:42:00.000-08:00

Max made the decision to lose some weight a few weeks ago. He has two toddlers and found it really hard to find time for exercise. But he's managed to do it and his belt size has already gone from 38 to 34.

See his story here.

The Best Diet for 2010?

2010-01-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

Mirror mirror on the wall, what is the best diet of them all?

The Daily Beast has done a statistical analysis of the top 10 diets where clinical results are available and have ranked these diets in order of effectiveness. See their slideshow of the 10 best diets.

You may be surprised to hear that the #1 most effective diet is not Jenny Craig, not Weight Watchers or Atkins. It may be one you've never heard of. It's called Volumetrics.

This diet focuses on eating lots of foods which have a high water content. This means lots and lots of vegetables and soups.

With Volumetrics you can literally eat many pounds of food each day. What I had for dinner last night would be a good example. I was eating alone, so I steamed a big bunch of kale, then added a a can of broccoli soup (250 calories) to give it more taste. This was really nice as was, and I had two huge bowls of it (with a calorie total of probably less than 350?).

(Since some of you may consider this a bit too granola head overboard, i'll just add as a sidenote that in my case i also mixed in a couple of tablespoons of nutritional yeast (which is one of the most nutritious foods, and is quite a bit more tasty than Brewer's yeast. It has tons of protein and B Vitamins).

Check out the The Volumetrics book on Amazon. It sells for $6.99

The WiFi Scale

2010-01-06T05:19:00.001-08:00

Here's a neat idea for a weight scale. It's the first WiFi scale that connects to the internet to automatically register your weight, fat and BMI calculations.

We first heard about it via a Leo Laporte podcast. He was very impressed with it and has attached it to his tweets on Twitter so that each morning when he steps on the scale, an automatic tweet goes out about his current weight.

The scale is rated five star on Amazon, but it's not cheap at $159. See it here Withings WiFi Body Scale at Amazon.

Is Your Diet Very Healthy? Take this Quiz

2009-12-26T20:07:00.000-08:00

The world's healthiest foods website (whfoods.org) has a quiz you can take to see how much of the healthiest foods you are eating and based on your answers, it will tell you what vitamins and nutrients you are probably lacking.

Check out the quiz here.

This non-profit website was founded by a guy who became a wealthy mogul by starting a health food company called Health Valley Foods in 1970. Though his principles were sound, the food was mostly packaged, convenience food. He sold the company in 1996 and now operates this non-profit web-site to give back and also possibly to atone for selling too many granola bars over the years.

The healthiest foods are non-packaged, non-processed foods.

This is the best site we've seen on truly healthy foods and it gives the highest quality information about their nutritional values. Check out the 100 healthiest foods.

Weight Loss for Men - Visualize It

2009-12-16T21:15:00.000-08:00

If you have an iPhone or iTouch and are a male who wants to lose weight, check out this Virtual Weight Loss Avatar for men. It's fun to get visual milestones for each few pounds you lose.

As with the similar app for women 'Virtual Weight Loss for Women', this app is based on BMI calculations so it will look different for men who weigh the same but are different heights.

Update: December 16th 2011: We've updated the app and artwork! Check out the latest versions here.

Outdoor Exercise for Weight Loss

2009-12-09T10:29:00.001-08:00

Here's a fun story from a discussion about mindless eating. Photo via wheany.

Outdoor Cat v.s Indoor Cat:

Living in the country we had pet cats that lived outdoors.

All of these outdoor cats had to be called to come to eat and did not beg for food. Most of the time they were 50 to 100 yards away from our house. Being predators they were constantly roaming, killing mice and occasionally a bird and patrolling their territory of a couple of acres. Needless to say all of these cats during my childhood were healthy, lean and fit cats.

As young adults we took our pet country cat to live with us in our apartment. The cat ate more food. Begged for food. Yowled for more food and was always underfoot looking for more food. He was left alone most of the day to an empty apartment. He quickly gained a huge amount of weight. Seeing that he was not fit for apartment living and was getting to be a fat cat with nothing better to do than beg for food, we took back home to our parents in the country.

Quickly, the cat lost weight and stopped begging for food since he had mice to chase and a couple of acres to patrol and occupy his time.

We humans sit in our homes watching TV and "reality shows", playing on the computer playing virtual games and wonder why we get fat.

Losing 200 Pounds

2009-12-07T13:12:00.000-08:00

Becky Griggs has lost an amazing 200 pounds. At her heaviest, six years ago, she weighed 352.

She now weighs 150 and has become a personal trainer. She's 43 years old and the mother of two grown children.

Becky cut out sugar and flour from her diet. She eats five times a day and works out regularly. Check out her story at CNN (From Fat to Gym Rat) and see her short video below;

Slim Fast Recall

2009-12-07T12:45:00.001-08:00

Ten million cans of Slim-Fast ready to drink products are being recalled due to a possible health risk. Slim-Fast is owned by Unilever and in cooperation with the FDA they are recalling the products because of the possibility of contamination with Bacillus cereus, a micro-organism, which may cause diarrhea and possibly nausea and/or vomiting. The probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.

These ready to drink products were being sold in stores nationwide.

No other Slim-Fast® products are affected by this recall. No Slim-Fast® powdered shakes, meal bars, or snack bars are included.

Consumers who have bought Slim-Fast® RTD products in cans are urged to discard them immediately and contact the company at 1-800-896-9479 for a full refund.

Losing 250 Pounds

2009-11-27T08:51:00.000-08:00

Suzi has lost an incredible 256 pounds in one and a half years. She was a morbidly obese 430 pounds 18 months ago. She's a 40 year old single mother and now weighs 176.

She was able to accomplish this incredible feat without weight loss surgery. But she did quit her job and moved in with her parents to focus on weight loss. She's kept up a very time-intensive exercise regiment to get rid of the loose and flabby skin.

Her typical breakfast these days is a bowl of oatmeal and fruit. (Photo of oatmeal, blueberries and sunflower seeds shown here is via Flickr).

See her inspiring story here.

Catherine Loses 35 Pounds

2009-11-16T08:18:00.000-08:00

Catherine lost 35 pounds and has kept the weight off for the past year. She's 30 years old, 5'7" tall and used to weigh 168. In the photo here she weighs 132.

She was able to break the cycle of overeating by joining Crossfit as well as learning about nutrition and beginnning to cook her own meals. See her inspiring story and before and after photos here.

Lose the Belly - a Weight Loss App

2009-10-31T07:42:00.000-07:00

If you happen to be one of the 50 million people who use an iPhone or iTouch check out these two free apps on losing the belly. They are each a collection of the 15 best videos you will find on YouTube to help you lose weight. Included is diet and exercise advice.

One is aimed at men with more emphasis on building six-pack abs Lose the Belly for Men and the other is for women, with more emphasis on yoga poses Lose the Belly for Women. Both apps include some of the best advice for what foods to eat for weight loss.

Diabetes without Insulin

2009-10-28T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Los Angeles Times has five stories of people who were diagnosed with diabetes but who later kicked the insulin habit with diet and exercise. See their inspiring stories here.

Losing Weight at Age 30

2009-10-20T07:48:00.000-07:00

Roseann lost and gained many dozens of pounds when she was in her twenties. When she turned 30 however, she decided to make a major lifestyle change. She went on to lose 90 pounds.

She has maintained her weight (150 pounds at 5'10 tall) for 17 years now.

Check out her weight loss story and before and after pics here.

Taking the Stairs

2009-10-19T09:30:00.000-07:00

A Stockholm subway station found a way to get more people to take the stairs rather than the escalator. See the video below.

Getting the Motivation to Exercise

2009-10-12T07:15:00.000-07:00

Here are a couple of great motivational videos encouraging us to exercise on a regular basis.

Patient Weight Loss

2009-10-05T10:05:00.000-07:00

John used to weigh 227 pounds. Now, two years later his weight is in the 150's. He's adhered to a slow weight loss program, and hasn't wanted to lose more than one pound a week. It's worked out great for him. He's reached his ideal weight and feels much healthier now. See his story here.

Image via

Losing Weight for the Wedding

2009-09-29T07:50:00.000-07:00

One year ago Regina set a goal to lose 60 pounds. She wanted to be in great shape for her wedding. At that point she weighed 195 pounds at 5'1" tall.

She has succeeded in losing 43 pounds so far. She's done it via exercise and a high protein diet.

Her fiancé is an ER nurse and "has seen some horrible situations with young girls overdosing on diet pills and other things like that. I made it a point to not do anything like that to my body. The only pill I take is a multivitamin.”

And she likes her new lifestyle and energy level so much that she says “This is forever for me. I like the way it (exercising and eating healthy) makes me feel and I don’t plan on giving that up.”

See her story here.

Tips for Losing Fat

2009-09-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a good video about seven tips to change your eating habits for effective, long-term weight loss.

Healthy Living to 100

2009-09-11T06:22:00.000-07:00

Japan has just announced that their population now includes over 40,000 people who are older than 100 years. Ten years ago, their centenarian population was just 10,000.

Lots of people are leaving comments at this article about what kind of healthy habits lead to a long life. Here's one example;

My father is over 95 now, still walks his dog every day. He does NOT take any medication of any kind even when he has a normal cold, does not smoke (never has), never drank alcohol in excess and is heathy as a horse except for his eyesight. Even when he has a small cut, he lets it heal by itself, he has been told by his doctor that he has a remarkable immune system.

What's his secrect? Not quite sure myself! He has the occassional glass of red wine with his supper (Frenchman of course), eats lots of garlic, olive oil, salt, butter, spices, cheese, salad, good bread (not the sliced crap), coffee each morning, occassional red meat but his favorite is fish. I have never seen him eat fast food or grocery bought prepared foods. He still cooks everything from scratch, home cooking!

Presently lives in California. (has dual nationality - born France/ naturalized Canadian)

Getting in Shape at Age 45

2009-09-03T08:18:00.000-07:00

Check out a very entertaining article by a guy, age 45, who lost 50 pounds over 8 months. He's done it via exercise and by changing his diet. He never actually went on 'a diet' and has never felt hungry. He's just changed the type of food he eats. And he hasn't cut out all his bad habits, he continues to drink a lot of alcohol daily.

Check out his fun article and inspiring before and after photos!

He says;

I have buns of iron and only the smallest of man-boobs, and I no longer feel waves of melancholy every time I see a photo of my slimmer twentysomething self...

Have I been on a diet? People have been asking me that for months. Sometimes, I'm ashamed to say, I joke that no, I'm terminally ill. I don't know what the straight answer is. You think of a diet as something that hurts – and I'm enjoying the business of feeding myself more than I ever did. Not once this year have I left the table feeling hungry or hard done-by. I have not signed up for WeightWatchers, come over all Atkins, discovered the delights of acai berries, or switched to the new "non-fat" fat. I have not – though God knows I should have – significantly reduced my boozing. I have stopped eating almost everything that I once thought of as food, but I'm loving what's replaced it.

One of the books he recommends is Eating for Lower Cholesterol: A Balanced Approach to Heart Health with Recipes Everyone Will Love

Phylicia Rashad Loses 35 Pounds

2009-08-31T07:58:00.000-07:00

Phylicia Rashad, age 61, (of Bill Cosby Show fame) has lost 35 pounds. She looks and feels fantastic. She joined Jenny Craig as a spokesperson in December and it's taken her eight months to lose the weight. She says it's not rocket science. She believes she can keep the weight off as she lost it quite gradually and she intends to keep up the regular exercise. See her in this Jenny Craig promotional video below.

Obese Habits?

2009-08-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post has a story today about The Seven Secrets of Highly Obese People. The bad habits they point to is things like using big plates, eating fast, always eating all the food on your plate, taking seconds and never eating breakfast.

But here is a comment from a slim reader who begs to disagree.

I am amazed at this study. I have a BMI of 20.5 and I do all of the things that they say obese people do. I eat very quickly, I take the larger plate and always go back for seconds. I actually have a major problem with leaving food on a plate (just wasteful!) The last time I ate breakfast on a regular basis probably was 15 years ago. Either this study is full of crap, or I am the luckiest person on the face of the earth (I think it is the first, not the second). It comes down to a very easy item. Exercise 5 times a week. Even if it is a 20 minute walk. My parents are very overweight, but they do not exercise. Take control of your life and do something about your weight if it is an issue. Someone at my office is always looking for the easy route to weight lose. She drinks special drinks, goes on crazy diets. When I ask her if she exercises, she says that she doesn't have to to lose weight. Obviously, she does.

The buffet photo is via NixKitz.

Another reader makes this point;

While this is all very interesting, I must say I just love how it conveniently wraps all of the actions of obese people in such a neat little package. So THAT'S why they are fat! Seriously, have you put any thought into why food seems to be so important to those who happen to be larger than you? Why they choose larger plates and tables that are closer to the buffet? Not because of laziness. Ever consider the psychological causes? Maybe that person is depressed and uses food as a way to comfort and fill that hole? And at times when they feel that no one truly understands them or is there for them, food is always there. So yes, there is somewhat of a desperation to get to that warm, tasty, comforting food. ...
I'm not saying that this is the case for everyone who is overweight, but it may be for many of us out there. And while these "little steps" sound so easy, the first thing a person has to do before really making a difference in eating habits is working on their self mentally and eventually find out that food is only a temporary solution to filling that void.

Walk to Lose Weight

2009-08-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

Here's a good motivational video about the benefits of walking for weight loss.

Losing the Big Bottom

2009-08-07T17:13:00.000-07:00

Greta has lost 45 pounds since March. Congrats Greta! She's got an entertaining blog about her weight loss journey. Here's an excerpt about her new eating plan;

You might be wondering what I am eating. Since starting all of this in mid-March, I sort of have come to a rhythm in my eating pattern that seems to be working. I have relied on the fabulous site fitday.com to keep me on track...which is a great resource. I especially like how it tracks nutrients, so I can be sure to supplement the nutrients I am not getting from my diet. I have also relied heavily on the principles of Ann Louise Gittleman's Fat Flush protocol. Eating lean protein, ample "good" fats, and loads of veggies seems to work well for me.

Basically, I have cut out ALL grains--with some occasional exceptions. I will not add them back until I reach my goal, and then, only slowly. I eat lean protein, eggs, lots and lots and lots of vegetables, 2 or so servings of fruit a day, and plain nonfat yogurt sweetened with liquid stevia (it is good.....I swear). I was NOT a big veggie fan, before....but have come to greatly appreciate vegetables over the past month. They are SO filled with nutrients.....and fiber.....and have so few calories. I have finally become good friends with them. :)

Check out her inspiring blog at Big Bottom Blogger.

Virtual Weight Loss Progress

2009-08-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

See your weight loss progress in a visual way.

Here's an iphone app to help with weight loss goals.

This virtual model was first created three years ago as a google gadget. Lots of people have been using it and find it fun and motivational. Now we've added several additional features and have developed it as an iPhone app.

You can find it at the iPhone app store under Virtual Weight Loss Model.

You can see your weight loss progress with this virtual model. Customize it with your current weight, your goal weight and your heaviest weight. Include your height.

The model is based on body mass index (BMI) calculations. So it will look different for people who are different heights but who weigh the same. If people like it we'll be adding more options, including a male model.

You can input your personal data in pounds or kilograms, inches or centimeters.

You can customize your model's skin and hair color, shoe and dress color.

The app also includes a page where you can keep track of your daily or weekly weight change.

Hope you enjoy trying it out!

Adriana Rae (Guest writer)

Before and After Photos

2009-08-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Here's a nice video showing lots of 'before and after' weight loss pictures of a couple of dozen different people.

Bariatric Surgery Gone Wrong

2009-08-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

Here's another story about weight loss surgery regrets. Thanks to the reader who wrote this in the post about weight loss surgery gone wrong.

I was only 23 when I decided to have bariatric surgery. I am writing this because I have been through the worst year + of my life. I had went for the whole big thing. Rerouting and such. The surgeon pretty much terrified me in to believing this was the only solution, that if done any other way, if something went wrong, it may not be able to be fixed. So with full confidence I showed up for surgery and thought it would be the end to my "problems". I was most certainly mistaken. A three day stay in the hospital turned in to 16 days. During my initial surgery, my epidural block fell out! I can remember them transferring me from the operating table to the stretcher. I was screaming, "please help me! someone. please, it hurts!". I do not remember an entire week of my life, in which I am told I almost died and was very nasty.

After the first surgery I was in a lot of pain, they took me for a test and left me in a wheel chair to drink this chalky liquid in a freezing hallway until the tech was done with his lunch. Turns out the pouch wasn't sewed well enough and anything that they were making me consume was just flowing right through me. Back in for surgery number two. Apparently they cut me open and I threw up in my lung cavity. It started to crush my lung. I was in the ICU for 5 days, almost had a heart attack and eventually needed to have a PIC line installed. Ending my stay I was sent home with one tube still hanging out. For an entire month. They only tell you the good things about surgery, never the bad.

It has been over a year and I have spent every holiday in the hospital and visit the ER at least once a month. I have had my gallbladder out, a hernia removed, countless times where I was internally bleeding from an ulcer or something was stuck in my small intestine. I have stopped counting the tubes of blood they have taken. It has been upwards of 24 tubes in two weeks. I recently found out that I am unable to retain iron. Therefore, I will need iron IV therapy for the rest of my life. And regardless of all the pain, the worst part is the emotional toll it leaves. The nightmares will never go away. I am going to have to deal with multiple issues for the rest of your life. No one tells you that this surgery doesn't fix anything. If you were self conscious before, guess what, you still are after. It is awful. If the surgery will save your life, go for it, but please, read stories from both sides first and take the time to think about it. Best wishes.

Fighting Inertia to Start Weight Loss

2009-07-27T10:09:00.000-07:00

Albatross has a good discussion about 'inertia' and how it prevents us from getting started with our weight loss goals. She's lost about 30 pounds in the past year and has increased her fitness and health levels. See what she has to say about overcoming inertia and the four factors that helped her do it.

You Have to Exercise...

2009-07-16T08:45:00.000-07:00

Bron won a 12-week employee weight-loss contest and $3,000 in cash. He lost 60 pounds.

He says; "You have to exercise. There is no way around it. It's tough sometimes; you work all day, you're tired, and that couch looks mighty comfortable."

Check out his story here.

Image via David Paul Ohmer

Sweet Tea Drinker Cuts the Habit

2009-07-14T09:31:00.000-07:00

Here's an interesting weight loss story from a recent comment on the post "Drinking Water to Lose Weight";

Hello. I was an avid sweet tea drinker. I drank about 3/4 of a gallon a day. I decided that I was tired of being chubby. (I have never been what you would call fat but maybe pudgy in the middle is fair to say) Anyway I cut that out and went to unsweet iced tea (no calories) and along with that started to drink 4 32 oz. cups of water a day. In 8 weeks I lost 25 pounds. It was like it just fell in the floor. I also love fresh fruit so I ate fruit and veggies and cereal. I cut out fried foods as well. I think that you have to look at the whole picture and not just one thing.

Image via kevindooley

Excercising 6 Hours per Week

2009-07-08T07:16:00.000-07:00

Sonya lost 60 pounds. She did it gradually. It took her over a year to do it. She now weighs 130 pounds at 5 feet and six inches.

See her before and after photos and how she changed her lifestyle here.

22 Year Olds Reach Goal Weight

2009-07-07T18:36:00.000-07:00

Today I witnessed a reunion of two 22 year old guys who met again for the first time since hanging out together when they were seventeen.

My nephew (Paul) from Germany was obese when he started a one year student exchange program at a highschool near Seattle. He made a close friendship with Eric who was a very skinny guy at the time. They really connected and have kept in touch over the years but just saw each other for the first time in five years yesterday.

Now Paul is at his goal weight. He lost the weight three or four years ago, then gained some back but is again in top form this year. His friend Eric, in the meantime, joined a gym about a year ago, and liked it so much he decided to work there as the sales manager. He's gained 40 pounds and it looks like his weight gain is 100% muscle. They both look and feel fantastic. And after five years of not seeing each other they fell right back into their close friendship. They are very both highly ambitious and happy with their lives and it was great to see them today.

The image above is via Lew57

The Best iPhone App for Weight Loss

2009-07-06T12:42:00.000-07:00

If you are one of the 15% of American households who own an iPhone or iPod Touch than you may have already noticed you can download tons of free apps from their apps store that are related to helping people lose weight.

Currently, the one that is by far most popular is called the Lose It! app.

It's really easy to use to keep a count of the calories you consume each day and the amount of calories you burn with exercise. You can set a goal to lose 1 to 2 pounds a week and this app will help you get there.

Personally, I just love my iPod Touch. I bought one for about $240 last November and I use it for all my walks to listen to really fascinating podcasts put out by NPR, the New York Times, Zencast, Leo Laporte and tons of others. My walking is now regularly around 25 miles a week and I finally reached my goal weight a few weeks ago and feel really great!

P.S. See also the new iPhone App : A Virtual Weight Loss Model

A Couple Succeeds at Weight Loss

2009-07-03T06:42:00.000-07:00

Eileen and Bill will be celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary soon. And they feel fitter than ever. Since deciding to get serious about getting in shape Eileen has lost 34 pounds and Bill lost 45.

See their photos and weight loss story here.

Image shown here is via Steve O's Photos.

Losing Sixty Pounds After Pregnancy

2009-06-30T07:55:00.000-07:00

Andrea weighed 207 pounds eight months ago after the birth of her second child. Today she weighs 145 pounds. She's tall, at 5'10".

She was motivated to lose the weight by wanting to enter a beauty contest for Mrs. West Virginia. She's worked out every day since October and has kept to a strict diet. She's been able to work out even though she works as a nurse and has two kids under the age of 2 at home. Check out her story and some larger pics here.

From Fat to Healthy

2009-06-23T05:39:00.001-07:00

Roni Noone is 5'9" and she weighed 225 after giving birth to her child. Thirty-two weeks later she was down to 145 pounds. She's got a very inspiring blog. Check it out here.

Stephen Fry Loses 80 Pounds

2009-06-21T16:52:00.001-07:00

Stephen Fry, a British actor, age 51, has lost 80 pounds in just six months.

He is elated about it. He says he feels so much better due to the new diet and exercise, he feels it's even cured his manic-depression.

He says that in the first month "I did without bread, potatoes and sugar, and the weight rolled off." Later he dropped red meat. He's going to the gym and doing a lot of outdoor walking. He says the audiobooks he listens to on his walks have helped enormously.

See his story and the wonderful before and after photos at the Daily Mail.

Flattering Bathing Suits for Plus Sizes

2009-06-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

SwimSuits for All has some flattering bathing suits in plus sizes. Check them out at Amazon.

Men's Weight Loss Stories

2009-06-18T07:18:00.000-07:00

The majority of the weight loss stories I discuss on this blog are about women but I thought I'd sum up the recent stories by men for any guys who are looking. Here's a few stories that will inspire men;

Micheal Loses 50 Pounds on the Diabetes Diet

John Quits Soda, Loses 45 Pounds

Timothy Loses Fat and Gains Muscle

Phil Loses 192 Pounds

Tim Loses 128 Pounds

Lucas Loses Only 7 Pounds (His amazing Before and After Pics are shown above here) - He lost 19 pounds of fat but gained 12 pounds of muscle.

And more Men's Weight Loss Stories here.

Michelle Obama on Eating Your Vegetables

2009-06-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

Michelle Obama met with some school kids today and told them “Too many kids are consuming high-calorie food with low nutritional value."

“We all have to eat vegetables every single day, every day."

The kids helped her pick lettuce and snap peas from the White House garden. Afterwords they went inside to eat a healthy meal of snap peas, brown rice and baked chicken.

Read the story at The Wall Street Journal. Image via scardey kat.

Good Food Ideas for Weight Loss

2009-06-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

I came across a good article today reminding me of some of the healthiest foods I haven't eaten for a while. They discuss foods that help promote weight loss and help us avoid bloating. Their list includes sardines, eggs, oats, lentils and blueberries.

Check it out here.

See also more about sardines and lentils.

The poached egg photo above is via jo-h at Flickr.

Weight Loss Pills - A Story

2009-06-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

Janice, 30, has tried a lot of weight loss supplements, pills and gimmicks in her efforts to lose weight. At one time or another she's done Xenadrine, Hydroxycut, Stacker, Ripped Fuel, Detoxa Trim, Alli and a bunch of others.

Recently she ditched the gimmicky way to weight loss. She went to see a trainer who told her the only way to lose weight and keep it off is to drop the pills and gimmicks and exercise regularly and eat well.

She feels she is successful in weight loss for the first time in her life. Read her story here.

The photo above is by erix at Flickr.

Weight Loss Surgery Complications

2009-06-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

I'm reposting a comment here about one person's horrible experience with weight loss surgery. It's a scary experience and needs to be heard. Thanks for your story!

I have been through 12 months of hell. I am pleased finally I have found someone who wants to hear about weight loss surgery gone wrong. I want to scream to anyone considering it, "DON'T DO IT".
I researched for 12 months before deciding on a Gastric Sleeve Resection. I decided a lap band wasn't for me as I trave overseas a lot and one surgeon said as I was not prepared to give up biscuits it would not work for me. 2 surgeons recommended the sleeve so I went for it.
Within 36 hours of surgery I began getting extreme pain in my transverse colon. (My diagnosis as that is the only realistic explanation, but who am I? I just live with the pain.)
I was told maybe I had kidney stones. Then maybe gall bladder. Then I had a leak (haematoma) from the staple line and the liver was affected.
Then my appendix was alledgedly gangrene.
Then I got a staph infection in the wound where the appendix was taken out.
Because of my constipation, I can't drink enough water in 24 hours, I needed a haemoroidectomy. Ohh the agony when I got 2 anal infections.
Hello, why all these infections? Ohh I have developed a blood disorder, Auto immune nutropenia (diagnosed by a bone marrow biopsy, more pain)and this means I am suseptible to infections.
Then my calcium levels in my blood are high. Oh hyperparathyroidism. We have to remove the parathyroid adenomas.
5 weeks later, anotehr staph infection. 10 days in hospital on antibiotic drips as I cant take oral antibiotics or a lot of tablets including anti arthritic tablets after weight loss surgery.
Was I told this pre surgery? No way.
Have I lost weight? Sure. I mena when you throw up at every family event and any time you eat more than 100 grams of food you sure lose weight.
I have lost 53kilos in less than a year, but have had months off work. I have had to use my holiday leave for sick leave.
Anybody considering weight loss surgery, talk to me at darlingwenda@hotmail.com
I will talk you out of it!!
The true story needs to be told. No one wants to hear it.

Getting Super Fit with Yoga

2009-05-29T06:55:00.000-07:00

Sting, the rock star, stays super fit with yoga. For many years now he's been practicing Ashtanga Yoga and he typically spends an hour and a half a day performing the exercises.

Here are two photos, one taken when he was 49, the other taken when he was 55 years old. That is also the same year he wrote a foreward to a Yoga book called Yoga Beyond Belief.

Ali Lost 100 Pounds in One Year

2009-05-27T15:50:00.000-07:00

Ali lost 100 pounds in one year. She did this with the help of a personal trainer. She is very tall at 6'1' and she now weighs 175 pounds. When she first met her trainer and weighed 278 pounds, he told her she wasn't eating enough!

He asked her to eat six small meals a day and to make sure she got lots of protein in each meal. Now she is often eating chicken or fish at 10:00 in the morning. She says she no longer craves sugar.

When she first started losing weight she lost 20 pounds in the first month and that was very encouraging. See her weight loss story and picture here.

Slim After Seven Pregnancies

2009-05-20T07:22:00.000-07:00

Diane used to weigh over 300 pounds. That was after she had three kids. Then she lost 150 pounds and has kept it off for several years and despite four more pregnancies! She lost the weight by watching her diet and exercising regularly. See her fabulous story at her website Fit to the Finish.

How Celebrities Lose Weight

2009-05-19T12:41:00.000-07:00

The Daily Beast site has a great slideshow and discussion about how 10 stars and celebritites went about losing weight. They include
Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Valerie Bertinelli, Julia Louis-dreyfus, Marie Osmond, Mandy Moore, Star Jones, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Rebecca Romijn, Nia Vardalos, and Kirstie Alley.

See their before and after photos and stories here.