Giving Thanks...

On a day like today, when the sky is grey and brings lots of rain, and when the news around the world brings much of the same, give thanks for all that is bright and sane....

Read this very inspiring story: Central Park Jogger Still Running 20 Years Later

On A Mission...

I found this to be less of a Success Story, and more of an inspiring but also a very honest and straight-forward account of one person's pursuit of a better and more fulfilling life.

Giyen's past struggles with her weight and her desire to pursue her dreams mirror the obstacles that many of us face everyday.

By Elizabeth Landau

CNN

In April, at age 34, Giyen Kim of Seattle, Washington, dropped a 60-hour-a-week job to follow her childhood dream of becoming a writer. Now, she's primed to clear her next personal hurdles: making money from writing, and losing weight.

"I made a lot of changes last year and I just really started to focus on the things that were important to me, my passions, and just really flipped my life upside down," she said. "When this year came around, I just thought my weight has been an issue for a really long time, and this just seemed the year to conquer it."

Her resolutions come after a year of personal and professional upheaval.

For 10 years, Kim worked at a nonprofit organization, and was serving as a director until April. She felt stressed in the job, and didn't like the boss who had replaced her previous boss. But one sleepless night changed everything.

"I did something I had never done since I was a kid, which was: I prayed about it. And I'm not religious at all, but I was just concentrated, meditating on what I should do next. And I finally fell asleep, I woke up, and I said, 'I have to quit my job!' And that was it," she said.

Initially, after leaving the job, she had a "freak-out period" in which she constantly questioned what she was doing, but writing down her thoughts just for herself got her through the tough time.

Now, Kim is a freelance writer, blogger, and a nonprofit consultant on the side. She's also working on a book about her life.

She said she's more happy than she's been in her adult life, although still worries about finances.

Working at home, she has a lot more time to dedicate to exercise, cooking and other "self-care stuff" she had put aside when she worked 60 hours a week.

When she was a child in Coos Bay, Oregon, Kim knew she wanted to be a journalist or a writer one day, but her parents wanted her to go into a more lucrative career such as law or medicine.

Kim's own 14-year-old daughter, on the other hand, is "totally freewheeling -- she knows she can do whatever she wants," she said.

"I think that growing up Asian, and as a woman, you're totally raised with this notion that you should keep it all inside and not have a lot of self-expression," she said. Blogging "gives me the freedom to branch out," Kim said.

Her blog, Bacon is My Enemy, serves as her online diary, in text and video. She recently posted a list of 28 things she's proud of or thankful for from 2008.

This year she hopes to earn an income from writing and blogging, she said. The blog's name came about because she's trying to lose weight -- but still loves those pork strips.

She also set up a Flickr page in November called "Shrinking Giyen" to chronicle her weight loss journey in photos.

While she has been trying to lose weight for years, her strategy for 2009 is to focus on small goals, not quick fixes. She aims to lose one or two pounds a month, which will add up over the course of the year.

She counts her calories diligently using the Web site calorieking.com, which allows users to tabulate the calories for the foods they eat each day. Kim finds this effective -- "I will stop myself from snacking because I don't want to put it in the computer," she said.

She aims to lose more than 60 pounds, which would put her back at her pre-pregnancy weight of 120 pounds, but the number isn't so important, she said.

"I will stop when I feel good about my body or feel that I've lost enough weight," she said. "I don't want to chase a number, I just want to feel like I can climb a mountain without feeling like I am going to die."

To read Giyen Kim's updates - Go To: GiyenKims.update#1, update#2, update#3

A Different Kind of Success Story

106-Year-Old Voter’s Cheerful Longevity Secret

Tara Parker-Pope

Published: November 5, 2008
The New York Times

In his victory speech, President-elect Barack Obama framed the remarkable events of America’s recent past through the life of 106-year-old voter Ann Nixon Cooper.

She was “born just a generation past slavery” he noted in the stirring speech . “And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.”

CNN’s Web site profiled Ms. Cooper last month during early voting in Georgia. In a wheelchair and with the help of two caretakers, Ms. Cooper bypassed the long lines of early voters and headed right to the voting machine, CNN reported.

Ms. Cooper danced the electric slide up until the age of 103, but she has recently slowed down after suffering several heart attacks and a fractured hip. Three of her four children have died, and her surviving daughter is 83. She has 14 grandchildren living and many great-grandchildren and even great-great-grandchildren, according to CNN.

The cable network asked her about the secret to her longevity.

“I ain’t got time to die,” she said. “I don’t know how it happened, but being cheerful had a lot to do with it. I’ve always been a happy person, a giggling person — a wide-mouthed person!”

The New York City Marathon

Congratulations to all of you who ran in today's New York City Marathon.

Your desire, your determination, your triumph and your spirit are an inspiration to us all....

DATE: Sunday, November 2, 2008
LOCATION: The Five Boroughs of New York City
START: Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, Staten Island
FINISH: Tavern on the Green, Central Park

The Marathon

39,000 runners from more than 100 countries and all 50 states are expected to participate in this year's 39th running of the ING New York City Marathon. This famous race will feature many of running's premier athletes including Olympian Kara Goucher who will make her marathon debut after representing the USA in the 5,000 and 10,000-meter events in Beijing. The ING New York City Marathon offers a prize purse of more than $700,000 with the men's and women's open division champions taking home $130,000 each.

New in 2008, there will be three wave starts to alleviate congestion on the course and enhance the overall race experience for runners. The Professional Women's field will start at 9:10am while the Professional Men will head the Wave 1 start at 9:40am.

The ING NYC Marathon will be the last event in the World Marathon Majors Series which kicked off in April with the running of the Boston Marathon and also includes Flora London, real,- BERLIN and Bank of America Chicago. The series showcases the sport's top athletes and awards a prize purse of $1 million to be divided between the male and female point leaders at the end of the series (determined by finishing times at each of the five races).

The ING New York City Marathon will officially begin at 7:30am with the Early Start for Athletes with Disabilities, followed by the 8:35am start for the Wheelchair Division and the 8:55am start for the Handcycle Division.

Paralympic gold medalists and defending wheelchair champions Kurt Fearnley of Australia and Edith Hunkeler of Switzerland will return to headline a loaded Wheelchair Division that is expected to include all of the past ING New York City Marathon male and female winners since the first official race in 2000. The wheelchair division prize money purse totals $40,000 plus time bonuses, with the male and female winners taking home $7,500 apiece.

An estimated two million spectators will watch the event from the streets of New York City, while a worldwide audience of over 315 million is expected to watch the televised broadcast.

The first marathon was held in 1970 with only a few hundred runners participating in the 26.2-mile competition in Central Park. Slowly expanding in size and scope, the 1976 marathon saw 2,090 racers complete a race that encompassed all five boroughs. Runners now enjoy a scenic course that stretches across the Verrazano Bridge from Staten Island to Brooklyn, north through Queens and the Bronx, and concludes in Manhattan for a spectacular finish in Central Park.

To learn more about the New York City Marathon and view the winners from each year, please visit our Marathon History Page.

For detailed information on participating and
viewing the race, please visit the ING NYC Marathon Website.

One Healthy Team

Husband and wife achieve weight-loss goals together

By Steve Palisin

Published: October 08, 2008
The Sun News - Myrtle Beach, Fl

Tonya and Newt Merrick of Longs tag team not only as teachers at North Myrtle Beach Elementary School: They've made getting into shape by their 50th birthdays next year their goal together this year.

After each day at work, where Tonya teaches second- and third-graders art and he teaches physical education, they hit the gym together to work out.

Sharing home-made pasta salad during a lunch break last week, the Merricks talked about their exercise routines. In a T-shirt and knit shorts, he already looked dressed for an after-school workout because of the gym classes he leads all day long.

Tonya Merrick likes to turn her workouts into combinations of activities. She uses free weights, elliptical machines and various classes, such as Pilates, her favorite.

Running is Newt Merrick's choice activity. It's how he got into regular exercise. He would run as far as he could, then walk, then run again, and so on. He said his latest run covered 4½ miles in 36 minutes.

Besides coaching boys' soccer at North Myrtle Beach High School, Newt Merrick plays soccer in an adult league he started, the Fat Man League.

"He used to be the 'fat man,' before he lost 60 pounds," Tonya Merrick said.
Her husband weighs himself daily, she weekly. He is down to 208 pounds and wants to get to 203.

The Merricks, married for 16 years, also play golf and tennis with their two children.
The couple find their energy level higher after a day in classes and the gym.
"It's a different lifestyle," Newt Merrick said. "You have to change everything."

Falling out of his running routine is out of the question, because weight gains would result.
"It's simple to put it on," he said. "It's almost impossible to take it off."

Tonya Merrick gets creative with exercise at school. She said because the students already might have spent time mostly sitting down in other classes or before recess, she gets them on their feet, using jumping jacks to spell out colors for instance.

"I talk about muscles, which are used for cutting and sketching," she said.
The children flex their limbs when looking for objects hidden around the room for a Picasso project, for example.

"I just try to intersperse movement in my lessons in some way," Tonya Merrick said.
The pair use their willpower with food; that's why they bring their own lunch.

"We still eat three meals a day," Tonya Merrick said, but in smaller portions. They try to avoid breads and sweets.

The cook between the two, Tonya Merrick grills and sautes a lot of vegetables, with only a little red meat and lots of salads.

Fruit serves as their snacks, and water their main beverage.
Even when they dine out, they usually share one entree.

"It's plenty," Newt Merrick said.

Sharing the lunch table with the Merricks, Megan Magnotta, the school's other physical education teacher, remarked on the couple's good influence for fitness and diet.

Magnotta munched on a salad and some warmed-up sliced potatoes brought from home.
She and the Merricks said in their efforts to be good role models for children and parents, they resist the temptation to overindulge in candy or other goodies.

"You just eat one of something instead of the whole bag," Magnotta said.

If I Can Do It...

Local Woman Loses Half of Her Body Weight Without Surgery

By Kay Quinn

Weight loss may sometimes seem like an unattainable goal. But a local woman has lost half her body weight!

Here's how she shed the pounds...

When Karen Ebbesmeyer turned 40, she decided to get a check-up that she'd been putting off for years. During that physical, Karen's doctor told her if she didn't lose weight, she wouldn't live to see her youngest daughter graduate from high school.

"The doctor told me that I was basically a walking time bomb," says Ebbesmeyer. "I just went home and cried and cried because I had been on diets, I tried many diets."

She'd tried low-carb and diet meals. Two years ago, Karen weighed 275 pounds. "I've even tried diet pills and knowing the affect that they could have to your heart and nothing worked."

Then, this working mother of four started walking on a treadmill, she immediately felt better and now walks at least three miles a day. She also realized that if she was going to be successful her next step was to start eating healthier.

Her biggest challenge? Giving up soda.

"Yes, it was diet, but I was drinking two to three two liters a day by myself trying to compensate for not eating," says Ebbesmeyer.

Now she drinks only water and eats a lot more vegetables.

"If we opened one can of vegetables a week we were doing good."

In February, she reached her goal weight of 148 pounds. Karen went from a size 24 to a size 6.

"I look at my old clothing, and at old pictures of myself and I think oh my goodness, how did I let myself get to that point. But, it happens it happens to a lot of people."

She also never wants to go back...

But she believes with portion control, losing half your body weight is not an impossible dream. And, she hasn't given up all of her favorite foods. Ebbesmeyer still enjoys pizza and Mexican food. And she still cheats from time to time.

"Nobody's perfect!" says Ebbesmeyer. "We're all going to cheat."

But she sticks to the plan, and to her portion control.

"Now I don't even want to call it a diet," says Ebbesmeyer. "It's just a new lifestyle."

And she hopes to inspire others.

"If I can do it anybody can do it!"

ksdk.com

I Love My New Body...

By Julie Van Rosendaal

At age 7, I started a cupcake company. At 12, I won a chili competition. After college I launched a low-fat cookie business and wrote a bestselling cookbook, One Smart Cookie. But while I knew how to prepare healthy meals, I seldom followed my own advice.

At 330 lbs., I was making a ritual out of punishing myself with strict diets, my whole life, I would start a new diet every Jan. 1st,” she says. If that didn't work, "I would started a new diet every Monday morning, or after my birthday, or after Christmas.

At a New Year’s Eve party in 1997, I caught a glimpse of myself in a full-length bathroom mirror. Mortified, I locked myself in the bathroom for an hour. The next day, I vowed to lose weight. The difference this time: Was I’d do it on my own terms. I realized that instead of finding a new diet to try, I would have to figure out what worked for me.

Moderation became my mantra. I’d have pizza for dinner, but only one piece. I didn’t eliminate any foods from my diet; I just started eating more fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean meats.

And of course I exercised regularly.

My first month, I lost 10 lbs. A year and a half later, I had gone from a size 28 to a size 10. I didn’t know what it was like being thin, but now at 165 lbs stretched over a 5’11” frame, I get a thrill every time I board a plane because I no longer need a seat belt extender.

I love my new body and the way I feel, and I'm going to do everything I can to keep it that way.

Julie Van Rosendaal is the author of: One Smart Cookie, Starting Out: The Essential Guide to Cooking on Your Own, and Grazing: Portable Snacks and Finger Foods for Anytime, Anywhere.

Success... at Last!

Daily Weigh-Ins Helped Andrew Perry Lose 45 Pounds

Andrew Perry has lost 45 pounds, and with the support and the love of his wife, and his twin nine-year-old daughters, he has been able to keep it off for the past two years. After many failed attemps, Andrew is very proud of his accomplishment, and his family is very happy that Andrew has finally found a formula that works for him.

Andrew's Formula for Success Includes:


Adding Healthy Habits : Running and track. He started out being able to run 100 feet. He's completed two New York City marathons and regularly runs 800 meters in track meets.

Limiting Trigger Foods: Chocolate cherry cordials. His kids gave him two boxes, which are now safely tucked out of reach on top of his refrigerator for occasional treats. "Otherwise I'd eat the whole box at once."

His Secret Weapons: Weighing himself daily and monitoring body fat; reading food labels and watching portion control. He still measures out cereal, nuts and any other food with concentrated calories and a small portion size. He always has something slightly sweet, such as a cup of tea with a little honey, before leaving the office so that he's not ravenous when he gets home.

What He Can't Live Without: Physical activity, especially running. and... brownies.

His Favorite Snack: Trail mix.

His Biggest Struggle: "Controlling myself, especially with stress eating." Also, "It's hard to stop thinking of yourself as a fat person. I am a formerly fat person."

Previous Weight Loss Attempts:"I've read practically every diet book available. And I've tried them all, with no long-term success. Any diet plan that's moderately organized just doesn't work for me."

What Worked This Time: Slowly changing his habits. "I decided not to eat anything from a box and nothing frozen. I lost 10 pounds, then plateaued there and had to take it up a notch. I tend to lose weight in clumps."

What Motivated Him to Succeed: A photo of him celebrating after the Yankees won the 1996 World Series. " I was huge!"

Rewards Along the "Weigh": New running shoes, a jacket and starting blocks for meeting running goals.

And Benefits of Weight Loss: "I now eat more fruits and vegetables, and I've been able to stop taking my cholesterol lowering medications."

thewashingtonpost.com

My Fitness Triumph

Kristine R. Lincoln Park, Ill.
Occupation: Nurse assistant
Height: 5 ft. 9 in.
Starting weight: 249 lbs.
Lowest weight: 179 lbs.
Current weight: 179 lbs.
Began weight-loss program: August 2006



Weight and Me
I was working 80-hour weeks with little sleep and snacking on all types of junk food to stay awake.

The Last Straw

Being newly single again and my health. I work at a hospital and I see a lot of people who have diabetes. I knew I didn't want to end up having it, so I had to make a change.

How I Did It
I got myself back to the gym and hired a personal trainer who gave me practical diet recommendations, and put me on a new exercise plan. The first thing I did was to stop drinking soda and I promised myself that I would stick-with-it this time.

The Key To Success
My trainer has been one of the keys to my success. He has helped me regain my confidence and that has helped motivate me to work out and eat right.

Derailers and Strategies
Sometimes my friends want to go out and get drinks after work, and I have to say no most of the time because I know how it makes me feel the next day. I give myself one "cheat day" a week to keep myself from doing things like that.

When I Slip...
I am still trying to lose so if I have a day when something happens, I really try not to dwell on it too much. I just do a little extra cardio and I usually feel better.

When I Soar...
When someone at work or one of my friends refers to me as the tall skinny blonde.

MSN Health & Fitness

Taking it to the Next Step with My Trainer

By Jackie Adams
CNN

Hardly a day that goes by that you won't find Tracey Wygal working out at the gym. Tracey Wygal weighed 295 pounds before starting a "clean diet," keeping a food journal and exercising.

The 30-year-old middle-school teacher does cardio exercise, strength trains and follows what she calls a "clean diet."

That's quite a change for a woman who tipped the scales eight years ago at 295 pounds.

Wygal first started gaining weight in her early teens. A fast-food diet and little to no exercise helped her pack on the pounds, and her weight ballooned to over 200 pounds.

"It was my first year out of college, and that number, along with being diagnosed as morbidly obese, was very frightening," remembers Wygal. "I went to several doctors, trying to get them to prescribe a weight-loss pill."

But none of her doctors would give her the quick fix she was looking for. Instead, a physician handed her a 1,600-calorie-a-day diet and told her to start moving.

At first, Wygal was shocked and refused to begin a diet that she thought was too restrictive. Even though her weight was rapidly approaching 300 pounds, she believed she had a pretty good diet and an active lifestyle.

As her weight crept up, Wygal grew more frustrated, and eventually she decided it was time to gain control of her life.

She started by keeping track of her daily calorie intake in a food diary and soon realized that her eating was worse than she thought.

"I was amazed by how many calories I was eating," Wygal said. "The food diary showed me that I really needed to get my food intake under control and helped me maintain my diet realistically."

She also started exercising.

At first, Wygal says, she was too embarrassed to go to a gym, so she bought an elliptical machine and started working out 15 minutes a day in her apartment.

"It was all I could do at first. I didn't give up, though," she said. "Gradually, my endurance improved. After losing about 30 pounds, I decided to join a small gym."

Several months later, Wygal was ready to take the next step. She hired a trainer and began a short strength-training program.

That's when something clicked.

Instead of feeling intimidated, Wygal started to love her workouts and the physical changes taking shape with her body. Ready to take the next step, she joined a larger gym, began researching different workouts and got into weight training.

Over the next three years, she lost 120 pounds and dropped seven dress sizes. Wygal, who's 5 feet 10 inches tall, says the fear of gaining weight motivates her to stick to her diet and exercise regimen because she never wants to look like she did at 295 pounds.

Now comfortable with her weight, which she says fluctuates between 170 and 180 pounds, Wygal works out at least five to six days a week. She says the key to losing weight and keeping it off is being honest about what you eat, writing it down and staying consistent. She wants people to know they can do it, but there are no quick fixes or easy outs -- just hard work.

"It won't happen overnight," Wygal advises. "Know that it will take time but it is worth it in the end."

Dad loses 30 pounds, climbs Kilimanjaro with teen daughter

As a personal trainer, and a father, I found this success story very inspirational....

By Jackie Adams
CNN

From the outside, Bill McGahan looked like he lived a pretty good life.
He had a great marriage, four beautiful children and a great job in real estate. But the truth of the matter was, he weighed 225 pounds, and he felt horrible.

McGahan, who was in his mid-40s, was extremely overweight. He could barely fit into his clothes; he snored loudly and didn't have the energy to play with his then 12-year-old daughter and 8-year-old triplets.

Bad eating habits, alcohol and a sedentary lifestyle had caught up with McGahan, who said he began to realize he could no longer eat the way he used to in college.

"I was on the see-food diet: What you see is what you eat," said McGahan. "Tons of carbs, pasta, pizza, steak, fries ... all the good stuff."

McGahan knew he needed to change his eating and exercise habits, but he wasn't getting the results he wanted at the gym. There also was something more important than losing weight -- he wanted to be healthy enough to play baseball and spend quality time with his kids.

He hated working out, so instead of focusing on diet and fitness -- he decided to set another goal.

"Fathers who are in their mid-40s sometimes struggle to find things to do with their seventh-grade daughters," said McGahan. "They're just not interested in the same stuff."

McGahan and his daughter started searching the Internet for something they could do together. After scouring dozens of Web sites, they finally settled on an unusual plan -- to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania.

"To me that was a great thing because it gave my workouts and my running a purpose," said McGahan. My objective was to get to the top of the mountain and get to the top of that mountain with her ... and have a good experience doing it."

The goal supercharged him into action. He eliminated greasy, fat-laden food from his diet and began eating more healthy cereals, salads, lean meats and raw vegetables.

The 6-foot-1 father, with the help of his trainer, was able to build up his body strength and increase his endurance which allowed him to run 25-30 miles a week in order to prepare for Mount Kilimanjaro.

All of his hard work and training paid off. In 2006, McGahan and Sara reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, one of the highest peaks on Earth.

"We were 100 yards from the top and we knew we were going to make it," McGahan said. "I put my arm around Sara and said, 'You did it, Sara,' and she said, 'No, Dad. We did it together.' "

McGahan said that was one of the greatest moments of his life.

One of the best parts of the trip was getting to know his daughter, McGahan said. He was impressed with her and inspired by her determination.

So what does Sara, now 14, think about all of this?

"I love my dad," said Sara. "He's really funny and I was glad I took the climb with him."

The father-daughter duo have already set their next goal -- to climb seven summits around the world.

In June, he's climbing Mount Rainer with two high school classmates. One month later, he'll scale Mount Elbrus in Russia with his wife and daughter.

"I want to get to these next couple of mountains and I want to do it with her," said McGahan. "I'm not giving up."

"I love my family more than anything, and I want to make sure I'm around for a long time so we can climb many mountains together..."

From Un-Fit to Fitness Instructor

By Jackie Adams
CNN

Like many young girls, Jennifer Marnell always dreamed that one day she'd become famous.
Jennifer Marnell once maxed out at 300 pounds. She lost 180 pounds and is now a fitness instructor.

Bubbling with personality and quite the ham -- she was no stranger to performing. Marnell loved singing, dancing and acting in local plays while growing up on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia.

Even though her family showered her with adoration and unconditional support -- Marnell was hiding something that she was afraid to share with anyone.

Since the age of 8, she struggled with her weight.

"I was the only one in the whole family who was overweight," Marnell recalled. "[They] were always supportive and told me I was beautiful ... I didn't realize how depressed I was because my family loved me no matter what."

But other people weren't so nice. Marnell says classmates and other people teased or ridiculed her about her weight. Instead of talking about her feelings -- she turned to food for comfort.

As she ate to soothe her pain -- Marnell's weight spiraled out of control.

"It got out of control over the years because it became an addiction," said Marnell. "Food didn't talk back to me and didn't tell me no ... I didn't know how to stop and listen to my body."

Working as a nanny at the age of 27, Marnell was 5-foot-tall and weighed 300 pounds.

The wife and mother says a series of embarrassing moments such as not fitting into a restaurant booth, running out of breath while walking and lacking the energy to play ball or skate with her daughter -- took an emotional and physical toll on her health. But the final straw came during a trip to an amusement park with her family.

"We were at Six Flags waiting on a ride and we waited for an hour-and-a-half," said Marnell. "When we got on, I couldn't latch the belts because I was too big and they had to ask me to get off."

Devastated by the incident, Marnell says she broke down in tears and had a heart-to-heart talk with herself. Afraid that she might die before the age of 30, she was tired of being a "fat mom" and wanted to set a good example for her daughter.

After the mental pep-talk, Marnell started her weight loss journey by joining a gym. She started by exercising in the women's-only section and ate a low-fat, low-calorie diet. After a few months, she'd lost 50 pounds. The weight loss boosted her confidence and she decided to try a water aerobics class which was a lot less stressful on her bones and joints.

Over the next two years, Marnell continued taking group fitness classes, hired a personal trainer to get past a plateau and eventually lost 180 pounds.

After reaching her goal weight of 120 pounds, she decided to start a new career. She wanted to use her own weight loss journey as inspiration to help others. So, in October of 2006 she decided she was going to become a fitness instructor. Soon after making her decision, she had her Group Power certification , and shortly thereafter she received her personal training certification from the National Council for Certified Personal Trainers.

One of the most important lessons she's conquered is emotional eating.

"You've got to learn to talk through your problems instead of using food," Marnell says. "An alcoholic can't just have one drink. I will never eat a Snickers bar because that is my one weakness ... the one thing I won't have."

The weight loss has also helped her realize another dream -- being in the limelight.

In January, she was featured on the "Oprah Winfrey Show" and in People Magazine's "Half Their Size" issue and will appear on the game show "Don't Forget the Lyrics" with Wayne Brady. She's also touring the country as a spokesperson for Gold's Gym and has just inked a book deal to tell her weight-loss story.

Marnell says all of the recent attention has been a bit overwhelming but she's enjoying every minute of her new career and life.

"It's made life more exciting," said Marnell. "I still feel like the same person on the inside, I have the same heart. But the outside, it's just enhanced the inside even more."

What advice does she have for other people who want to lose weight?

The toughest part of losing weight, according to Marnell, is staying mentally focused. She recommends taking "baby steps," trying not to do everything at once or focus on how much you have to lose and joining an online support group.

"Learn to accept yourself for who you are," Marnell advises. "It can be done ... it's not going to be easy -- but it can be done."

Success Stories...

One Healthy Team
If I Can Do It...
I Love My New Body...
Success at Last...
My Fitness Triumph
Dad loses 30 pounds, climbs Kilimanjaro
Taking it to the Next Step...
From Un-Fit to Fitness Instructor
On A Mission...


Testimonials

"I had the wonderful pleasure of training with Carlos Reyes for three years. As a novice exerciser and not particularly athletic, Carlos, with his easy going manner and his unique way of imparting his knowledge in a simple, and straightforward way, helped me to understand what it would take to become stronger and more fit. To overcome my concerns about lifting weights, and help me tame my perennial weight problem and control my fears, he made sure our workouts were meaningful, focused and safe. I learned to trust him... and because of Carlos's commitment, his attention to detail, and his ability to listen to what was important to me, I am proud of the manner in which my appearance has changed dramatically."

Laura B. Lehman


"When I started training with Carlos I had never been an active member of a health club. I had never really taken my health seriously, and I certainly never enjoyed working out. From day one Carlos made me feel comfortable, he listened to my goals and set-up a training routine accordingly. His ability to keep our workouts extremely focused, but also fun, is the reason I look forward to our training sessions. He has turned me into a person who cares about his health, and has also changed my perception of what it means to live a healthy lifestyle. I can't thank him enough..."

William Grant


"I have known many trainers over the years, and so I feel confident, that I know what qualities to look for in a trainer. I also know, that Carlos possesses the most important of those qualities - knowledge, and the ability to impart that knowledge to untrained individuals. But, what particularly impresses me, and those who work with him, is his professionalism and his success at motivating his clients to reach their goals."

Michael Dean Smith


Foods We Love to Eat and Why...
















Almonds
Avocado
Beans
Blueberries
Broccoli
Milk
Olive Oil
Spinach
Tomatoes
Whole Grains