Weight loss success of Maggie Sorrells

No longer able to fit into a booth at a restaurant and too embarrassed to ask for seatbelt extensions on an airplane, Maggie Sorrells was desperate to lose weight.

The day she stepped on a hospital scale and realized she weighed 440 pounds she knew she had to do something.


Name: Maggie Sorrells
Age: 32
Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee
Occupation: Receptionist in doctor's office
Height: 5 feet 6 inches
Heaviest weight: 440 pounds
Current weight: 140 pounds
Pounds lost: 300 pounds

Defining moment

The moment I saw that I weighed as much as I did, it scared me, and I knew I had to do something about it.

How did you finally lose the weight?

Diet: Weigh Down Workshop, a faith-based weight loss program. I ate whatever I craved, but only when I was truly hungry, and then I ate a lot slower, so I could tell when to stop.

Exercise: Nothing out of the ordinary, occasionally I'd go for a walk, but never because I felt like I had to.

How long did it take you to lose weight?

Four years with two pregnancies within the same time period. One month after I lost 300 pounds, I became pregnant for the third time with my son.
How has this changed your life?

Drastically, the way I eat, the way I live my life. I am able to move better. I feel better emotionally and physically. I'm just a much happier person.

I love to hike and I could never go when I was big. I almost killed myself going a half-mile. My chest would hurt and I would think I was having a heart attack. Just after we had our daughter, we went hiking all day and climbed rocks.

I also love the beach. I'm no longer ashamed to go to the beach or wear a bathing suit.

Do you have any tips for other people who want to lose weight?

Yes, don't think about how much weight you have to lose because you'll get overwhelmed and discouraged. Set small goals, like 15 pounds. There were times I wanted to give up and there were days I felt like I couldn't do this. Food was my drug. Take [weight loss] in small increments because when you lose 15 pounds you'll be excited and before you know it you'll lose 50.

Perseverance is most important. If you mess up, especially in the beginning you're going to slip. Don't say, "I'll start over Monday." Start over right now. The worst enemy is if you give up. What got me to the end, to losing 300 pounds, was persevering. On days I wanted to eat the whole bowl of something -- I had to talk myself through it. The truth was, I really wasn't hungry. Food is so much better when you're hungry. Andy, my husband, eats what he wants to eat. But instead of eating an entire gallon of ice cream, he'll just have a scoop of ice cream.

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Weight loss success of Andy Sorrells

He says he started without a specific goal weight and reduced his portion sizes to lose 280 pounds.

Name: Andy Sorrells

Age: 29

Hometown: Franklin, Tennessee

Occupation: Loan Processor

Height: 6 feet 3 inches

Heaviest weight: 500 pounds

Current weight: 220 pounds

Pounds lost: 280 pounds

Defining moment

My wife, Maggie, had started the Weigh Down Workshop program. We were newlyweds and continued to gain weight. We had tried other diets but this one worked for us.

How did you finally lose the weight?

Diet: Weigh Down Workshop, a spiritually based weight loss regimen. I just started without a real goal of losing a specific amount of weight and reduced my portion sizes. I spent so much of my life thinking about it and planning for it. Finally, I stopped focusing on food, stopped counting calories and eating low-fat foods. You just have to eat what your body craves and reduce portion sizes.

Exercise: I didn't really exercise. I walked occasionally but I never followed a specific fitness regimen.

How long did it take you to lose weight?

Just about 17 months from January 2003 to May 2004. My wife had tried the Weigh Down Workshop and had success with it. I was trying diet foods and fat-free foods. But I knew there had to be a way someone could eat normal food and still lose weight.

How has this changed your life?

When I was born I was close to 11 pounds and all of my life I've dealt with weight issues. People always teased me about being overweight. Once I started this program, I realized that I had to stop being angry at the world and I needed to look internally.

Once I started this program, it changed my outlook on my entire life. I realized that being happy is a choice. I can either be filled with hate and despair or I can be happy and help others.

Do you have any tips for other people who want to lose weight?

It is more than a temporary change. It's a lifestyle. Open your eyes and see that there's more to life than food. Food is used as a comfort, but just like alcohol or anything else, it can be overused. Eat smaller and be content.

Via http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/07/23/weightloss.andy.sorrells/index.html#cnnSTCText

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Interview With Jeanette Jenkins - Author of "The Hollywood Trainer Weight-Loss Plan"

I recently spoke with Ms. Jeanette Jenkins, while she was out touring the country, promoting her new book, The Hollywood Trainer Weight-Loss Plan. She is a genuinely caring person, who values family and friends. No wonder the stars love her!

Ms. Jenkins: I love the inside photo of your mother and yourself. Tell me about your reason for writing The Hollywood Trainer Weight-Loss Plan and how it is related to your mother, Karen Jones.

I was supposed to publish The Hollywood Trainer Weight-Loss Plan in January. Then I received a call that Mom had had a gallbladder attack. I was raised by my mom—she was my sole parent. I had to prioritize; I quickly realized how I would be devastated if I lost my mother. It’s important to have a mental and spiritual connection with your family and not always be motivated by external factors.

I was under pressure to get the book out, but decided that I had to go to Canada to make sure my mom was OK.

Publishing in May is a Mother’s Day gift, and a blessing in disguise. Mothers are the number one provider, and sacrifice their own time for their children and families.

However, they need to find time to incorporate family into healthy living because we need them.

That’s my connection—to inspire other women to motivate themselves.

How did you become a trainer to the stars?

I moved to LA ten years ago from Canada. I was originally born in Hollywood, my parents divorced, and Mom took us kids to Canada. I moved back afterward. California is the mecca of fitness. Wanting to do what I love to do, LA was the place to be for the most lucrative income.

I chose Hollywood and received referrals; Christina Applegate among other celebs would show up in front of my class. I knew I was doing something right! Then I got a call one day, “We’re looking for a trainer for Queen Latifah.” All of these clients have come from a personal referral.

Location is the case. I capitalized on the Hollywood thing. Queen Latifah is so inspiring, she lifts people up around her with her gift of entertainment. I wanted to help people live healthy lives through my Hollywood Trainer Weight-Loss book and DVD.

Your forward is written by Queen Latifah. She states, “Here’s the real deal: Jeanette knows how to keep me motivated, and how I can motivate myself when she’s not around.” While on your program, Queen Latifah lost 25lbs in less than six weeks.

How do you motivate your clients?

I motivate clients through education. If you can explain and help people understand who they are, they will be interested. No preaching. “This is why this motion is difficult for you. Your aerobic level is very low.” I have them get initial assessments for fitness, blood, resting and active metabolic rates. I want them to understand what’s going on in their bodies. For resting and active metabolic testing—I encourage everyone to get this.

Today, we know you are biologically an individual. The things you’re going through environmentally and socially will affect hormones and how you burn calories. Clients get results quicker with me than with other trainers. Beginning assessments help me avoid trial and error.

What other stars do you train?

Kimora Lee Simmons—she inspires me. She’s only 30 years old and has two children. Taryn Manning, she’s been through a lot in the industry and she keeps coming back on top. This month she is on the cover of Stuff Magazines 100 sexiest women issue and she has a starring role in Fox’s new Prime time show Drive.

How often do you hit the gym?

Every day. I practice what I preach, and mix it up. Right now I’m traveling to promote my book. This morning I had to be on a show. My wake up time was at 5:45 AM to do treadmill first, before hair and makeup. I plan for it.

What does your eating program incorporate?

Oatmeal without milk. I believe in using raw dairy, not pasteurized, to be as close to nature as possible. I’m a berries person and include them four times a week with the oatmeal.

I eat French toast and buckwheat pancakes with berries the other three mornings.

Sometimes I’ll have eggs and chicken sausage.

I eat four meals a day, every 2 to 3 hours.

What’s your message to women who have delivered babies?

I prefer to address women before delivery. On the mental and spiritual side, women lead careers, have a changing hormonal situation, and lead busy lives. Under stress, the stress hormones (including cortisol) will go to the child in the womb. Women need to decrease their schedules and find a place of peace. As a sign of affirmation—take a day off. We do too much, shut down, make parameters. People will respect them if you set them; make peace in your life.

I see many African–American women with fibroids, which feed off estrogen. They need to decrease amount of estrogen produced. Under a microscope, fibroids have more estrogen receptors than any other kind.

Estrogen is affected by the cortisol, and cortisol is sometimes created by stress.

Find out what’s causing you to be unhealthy rather than getting a prescription to take care of the symptom. Don’t feed yourself with caffeine. Fight or flight, the rise of cortisol, is increased by diet pills, caffeine, and the rush rush go go of life. Cut it off.

Your book comes with The Hollywood Trainer Workout DVD, a great feature to the program. Who will best benefit from it?

I’ve had experience making my own DVDs. They are necessary to help people. I’ll open up Shape magazine, and look at the pictures of the exercises. They can only show so much of the exercise. That’s where motivation and results come from.

For the DVD, I chose 8 to 10 back up people. They include a variety of ethnicities and ages: a 63 year old grandma (She’s in great shape!), a pregnant woman, a 40 year old female with kids, a man aged 40 and another in his 30’s.

It’s important to show how this exercise is for anyone, for people just beginning to workout. The routine is all low impact.

Your recipes look delicious and nutritious. With your busy schedule, do you cook and prepare ahead?

Yes, I made all my own recipes and I love to eat!

Page 27 explains the proper footwear and fit for the feet. This is unusual in a diet book and is a welcome feature. Do I need a special shoe for the workout?

Yes. It’s important, especially if you’re overweight or if you have pain. Don’t wear $7 Target shoes. Some people spend little on the comfort of their feet, but they’re driving a Mercedes. Are you feet flat, do you pronate or supinate? It’s important that your feet are comfortable. Then you’ll stick with the program. Muscular-skeletal issues will be avoided too.

I especially like the Today’s Affirmation boxes for each of the 21 Days. How do they go hand-in-hand with the exercise Weight-Loss Program?

Motivation is a layering effect, involving education, fun, and a little bit of love. I reward or compliment. Everyone needs to feel loved. Through The Hollywood Trainer Weight- Loss Plan, I use daily Personal Affirmation. Next is the workout. Then the meal plan, fitness tip, and nutrition tip of the day.

One tip a day is given. Too much information at once isn’t useful. If the reader wants to read more after the tip, about healthy fat for example, she can read the whole section on the subject in the back.

What else is part of The Hollywood Trainer Program?

Learning to Love yourself!

Besides the book, I have DVDs, teach classes in LA, and I often speak at expos, and other events around the country.

What do you want the reader to take away from The Hollywood Trainer Weight-Loss Program?

Today people have a choice in health, either wake up and once a week collect your pharmaceuticals, or you can wake up and take your grandchildren to the park. There’s so much out there to enjoy. My book can inspire people to change their lives for the better.

Ms. Jenkins, thank you for the interview. Much success to you and your Hollywood Trainer Weight-Loss Plan.

Thank you.

Via blogcritics.org

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Weight loss success with Proactol

Laura Price (Horsham, West Sussex) was overweight for years, hiding her body behind loose clothes. She had a school mate who had a figure of a model and they both were called Large and Little. Unable to control her weight, she felt miserable and ate more and more, so by her mid-teens she gained 14 stone.

Now 22, Laura says she had low self-esteem and considered herself being a plump, but a visit to her general practitioner made her face the truth. At 5ft 3in her weight was 15 stone and GP classified her as obese.

"It was a shock," Laura says "Nobody has actually used that word before and I’d never considered myself to be obese."

Laura admits she always felt sluggish and lethargic. "It was a vicious cycle. I was bullied and felt sad, so I’d eat – mainly cheese and savory stuff. My weight crept up throughout my teens and I never dieted."

"After I left school and began hotel work. I ate food as a reward. If I’d had a bad day at work, I’d treat myself to a whole tub of ice cream or a pizza, I drank spirits containing coke or Red Bull. Eventually it got to the stage where I don’t want to be that person any more."

Year ago Laura decided to take care of her problem.

Among many weight loss drugs Xenical, Acomplia and Reductil are considered as most effective for weight loss, but they also have side effects. Laura changed her diet radically and combined it with a Proactol – natural fat blocker from Neopuntia fiber extract. Proactol is considered the only natural alternative to Orlistat (Xenical, Alli) that underwent medical studies which showed that Proactol effectively reduce around 30 % of fat before it is absorbed by the body.



"I began losing weight at the rate of 6lb a week." she says. Laura managed to lose more than five stone of excess weight; she now weights 9 stone 10lb and is a size 10, down from a size 16.

"Losing weight has given me much more confidence," she says. "For the first time in years, I’m taking interest in clothes. I can go into a shop and know that they’ll have clothes that fit me."

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Australian TV Star Cat White weight loss success

ZESTY reality TV star Cat White visited Burnie recently full of advice on how to achieve one of life's toughest goals - losing weight.

The bubbly Melbourne woman who appeared in The Biggest Loser last year has dropped an astonishing 72kg over 14 months, and now tips the scales at 89kg.

She was in Burnie in Tasmania recently promoting a diet shake.

At first, losing the weight was tough for Mrs White, who had developed bad habits to cope with her busy lifestyle as a chef.

"When I left high school is when I started to pack on the weight. I went into cheffing and worked 16 to 18 hours a day ... I'd only eat two times a day. It was all crap because I was starving by that stage."

She entered The Biggest Loser as the heaviest girl on the program and got voted out after only three weeks - but she's since become that season's most successful slimmer.

"Having that stigma as the largest girl, I thought `I'll show Australia what the fattest girl can do'," she said.

"I definitely hit some setbacks in my time but overall it's been a fairly easy process. For me it's a lifestyle now," she said.

Mrs White now eats seven to eight small meals a day, including several meal replacement protein shakes.

She suggested people lose weight slowly - no more than 1kg a week - and exercise regularly.

"A bit of muscle mass helps fill your skin and accelerates weight loss."
She now exercises between four to six hours per week, and believes she'll be able to keep the pounds off for good.

Via The Advocate

Weight loss success story - Michelle Draper

In a world of diet pills, exercise equipment and books claiming to know how to lose those pounds that have taken residence where they are unwanted, Silverdale native Michelle Draper knows the secret.

Through the Million Dollar Body Game program and the at-home fitness boot camp with P90X, Draper lost 56 pounds and 10-inches from her waistline. Because of her success, Draper entered her personal success story and won $10,000 from the Million Dollar Body program and is now entered into the $250,000 drawing with the other winners from across the nation.

Michelle started at 186 pounds and lost 56 pounds already.

Here's her story in her own words:

My Beach Body story began Oct 2002. I went to the doctor for a check up. It was that dreaded time to get weighed. I got on the scale and really couldn't believe what the numbers on the scale said. I got off (thinking this thing must be broken) and back on. OMG! I was 196 pounds. At 5'6" 1/2 I was overweight. I had always been average weighing about 150. My poor eating habits and sweet tooth addiction had caught up with me. A typical days menu for me included a soda or two for breakfast, a soda or two and a mini bag of chips for lunch, a soda or two and whatever I made for dinner. If I bought a bag of candy I would eat the whole thing myself. I had managed to put on 46 pounds without even realizing it. The doctor told me I needed to loose weight especially since I carried the majority of my weight in my belly. I had an increased risk for diabetes, which runs in both sides of my family, and heart disease. Shortly after this insightful visit I went to the dentist as I had a tooth that was bothering me. The dentist asked me if I ate a lot of sweets and drank a lot of soda? I said yes, he told me that all the sugar was rotting my teeth and I really need to change my bad habits. I had 8 cavities. Ouch!

After those two wake up calls I knew I needed to make some changes in my life. I started walking 3 miles a day and lost 10 pounds. I got stuck at 186. I was really frustrated that the scale wouldn't budge and was about ready to give up. Then one late night when I was flipping through channels, I saw a Beach Body infomercial for Power 90. I saw it a few more times and was intrigued by what the program had to offer. I decided I would order it and try it out. I started my first round of Power 90 Feb of 2003. The first 30 days were very hard. Tony's jokes made it more enjoyable. I was able to lose 10 pounds in that first 30 days. When I saw the difference in the pictures from day 1 to day 30 it inspired me to keep going. By day 90 I lost 30 pounds, 13 inches off my body and I went from 31% body fat to 25% body fat. I was amazed at the before and after pictures.

I unfortunately did not adopt good eating habits and gained 20 pounds back. At this point I realized that this was going to have to be a lifestyle change for me. I switched from regular soda to drinking diet soda, convinced myself that candy was not a food group, and began eating three meals a day. I also started writing down what I ate in a food journal. It was and eye opener having to be accountable to myself for what I ate. I tried to stay in the top 2 tiers of Michi's ladder. I did a second round of Power 90 in Nov of 2004 and lost the 20 pounds I had gained plus I lost 6 additional pounds. I was now back to 150 pounds. I used the Power Half Hour, a mix of Power 90, some cardio and of course good eating habits to maintain my weight. I was able to keep the weight off this time! I finally learned the only magic pill for weight loss is a good diet and exercise.


I still had some more weight to lose to get to my goal of 130 pounds. I also wanted to tone my muscles. I saw P90X on the Beachbody websight, at first I was intimidated by the weights, pull ups, and push ups. I went to the message boards to see what other members were saying about it. After reading good reviews, I went ahead and ordered it. March of 2006 I started the P90X program. I was able to lose that last stubborn 20 pounds. The mix of weights and cardio helped me not only lose weight but change the shape of my body. The program was challenging. Tony made the weight lifting easy to understand, and I love the variety of the workouts. Using WOWY helped me to stay on track doing my workouts. The eating and workout books that came with the P90X were very informative and helped guide me through the program. I used the P90X recovery formula, it is wonderful after a hard work out and it tastes great. I also used the protein bars. They are convenient to take with you and make a nice meal replacement.

I went from being out of shape at 186 pounds wearing a tight size 16, to 130 pounds and a size 4. My body fat went from 31% to 16%. I lost 56 pounds and a total of 26 inches off my hips, chest, and waist. I'm in the best shape of my life. When I get tempted by food I remind myself nothing tastes as good as being healthy and in shape feels! Working out and getting in shape has empowered me to take my life back! Thank you Million Dollar Body!

1/2007 I have started a 2nd round of P90X. My goal this round is to increase my upper body strength and get more tone in my abs. 5/2007 I was honored to be chosen the May 10,000 winner. I have decided to do round 3 of P90X. The first 2 rounds I used the resistance bands to do the pull ups. This round my goal is to be able to do real pull ups and chin ups.

Most recently I have had several people come up to me and ask me how I stay in such great shape or tell me how lucky I am to not have a weight problem. When I tell them I used to be heavy they don't believe me until I show them my dreaded before pictures. Then I tell them how lucky I am that I found Million Dollar Body. It gave me the tools I needed to change my life and they should try it out.

Source www.milliondollarbody.com/seachelle

Best weight loss method - diet or exercise?

The well known truth about making weight loss success is maintaining the difference between calories consumed and calories burnt through metabolism and physical activity.

You can hear everywhere that the best way to lose weight naturally is through diet and exercises.

The group of doctors from the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana held a study that showed no difference between losing weight through diet plus exercises and dieting alone.

What we found was that it did not matter whether a reduction in calories was achieved through diet or burned everyday through exercise.

- Dr. Leanne Redman said.

Thirty-five overweight but otherwise healthy adults — 16 men and 19 women — completed the 6-month study. Twelve were assigned to a diet-only group; they reduced their calorie intake by 25 percent. Twelve were assigned to diet plus exercise; they reduced their calorie intake by 12.5 percent and increased their exercise by 12.5 percent. The remaining 11 subjects made no significant diet or exercise changes.

Redman and colleagues found that the diet-only group and the diet plus exercise group lost roughly the same amount of weight, albeit by different means. They lost about 10 percent of their body weight, 24 percent of their fat mass and 27 percent of their abdominal “visceral” fat — the deep internal fat linked to heart disease risk.

The sudy showed that both of the methods worked and people shed their pounds.

Of course you may think that physical activity is not necesaary anymore - if so, that's vary bad thought.

As the researchers point out, regular exercise can improve aerobic fitness and lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. This is your overall health enhancer.

The study also found that exercise did little to tone specific areas of the body. Fat was reduced consistently across the whole body and not more in any one trouble spot. The specialists concluded that every person has an individual way to store fat that cannot be overrided by weight loss. So we need specific exercises to work upon our problem zones.

Can we lose weight without exercising? Here are opinions from a message board:

I recently underwent a pretty major weight loss - I lost 50 lbs. in a year and 4 months. And I will honestly say that I lost the first 35 of them with no exercise whatsoever. I was lucky enough to stumble upon LA Weight Loss which taught me to eat right, in the right proportions - and never to feel hungry. I really do beleive that you need both, to maintain the weight loss and for heart health, etc. - but based on my own experience I can't help but agree that the weight loss part can certainly be done without exercising - it's all about what you eat.

I HAVE DONE DOZENS OF DIETS, AND IM NO SPORT OR EXERCISE FAN,AND I'VE LOST A LOT OF WEIGHTS ON THESE DIETS ESPECIALLY ATKINS. MY ONLY CONCERN IS THE HEALTH ISSUES DISCUSSED SO MUCH ABOUT TAKING ATKINS OVER A LONG PERIOD...AND THEN THEY SAY ITS FOR LIFE! AS I SAID I'VE LOST THE POUNDS WITHOUT THE EXERCISE, BUT WHEN I HAVE VENTURED INTO A ROUTINE OF BRISK WALKING EVERYDAY, I FELT MUCH MUCH BETTER AND LIGHTER TOO !

Via http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17278353/