Weight Loss Success Stories

From the Zone Diet

Here's a post from the Member Support Message Boards:

"I started the Zone on March 13. I have lost exactly 6 pounds in three weeks and I'm celebrating every pound. I wasn't that heavy to begin with, but I've never been comfortable with the weight that I've gained over the years — always 1 to 2 pounds a year, which adds up to low self-image.

I did a 30-minute workout six days a week for three months before starting the Zone and didn't lose a single pound. I told myself, 'I'm probably gaining muscle while losing fat.' Nope, not a single inch lost either. Although my muscles got stronger, you couldn't tell through the fat. I finally decided it was my diet I needed to change. I logged on to Zonediet.com out of curiosity and decided to become a member right then. It dawned on me after reading the Zone philosophy that I'm a cereal junky who usually ate starchy carbs with each meal. No wonder I wasn't losing weight!

For the first time ever I don't feel half-starved on a diet. I'm eating foods I love to eat anyway, and I'm seeing results. I don't feel tempted by starchy foods anymore because the positive comments from people who have noticed my weight loss are really motivating.

I've always wanted to have a lean, athletic body that aerobics instructors seem to have. Finally, I feel that goal is achievable. I feel great! I hope to make the Zone a lifelong way of eating. My husband is starting to come around, too, since noticing my results." — Cricket

Hip, Hip, Hooray!

From Sonoma Diet

Achieving weight loss milestones and goals certainly provides cause for celebration. Here's how this Sonoma Diet member reached one goal, and how she's planning to celebrate:

"As of yesterday I'm down 23 pounds! I've seriously tried only two other diets over the years and never could break the 15-pound mark, even with working out at the gym. For exercise so far, I've only started using the stairs more at work, as my joints can handle it, instead of taking the elevator all the time. This plan works, even for someone who is very sedentary.

I've passed my first 'mini goal,' so it's time to book that spa pedicure... Now, what color do I want my toenails?" – djcblucastl, member, The Sonoma Diet Online

Success on South Beach Diet(tm)

People following The South Beach Diet® change their lives! They lose weight, gain energy, and shed insecurities — most importantly, they reclaim their health. Check out what some of them have to say:

My husband and I have both been on The South Beach Diet® and we have great news. My husband has been on cholesterol medication for the past year and a half. After only 12 weeks on The South Beach Diet®, his cholesterol level is now normal. It just gives us more enthusiasm to stay on The Beach because it's working for us. Oh yeah, my hubby has lost 33.7 pounds and I have lost 12.8!
ojos de gato (14724995)

What are the "side effects" of The South Beach Diet®? Much more energy; much less indigestion; going from having all my size 14s being a little too tight to fitting perfectly into a size 10.
downanddirty (13361485)

I am loving The South Beach Diet®! I am not a big cook, but I must say I have LOVED all of the recipes I have made. They are flavorful and delicious!
17039273

I am a happy, happy camper! I lost 4 more pounds this week. I finally feel in control, and it's such a great feeling!
JMCB (9451953)

*Results not typical.

From Tom Venuto and Burn the Fat

Feedbacks

Tom,

Last November I was determined to lose weight because I had reached a point where I knew I was becoming unhealthy. My left knee was constantly hurting from the stress of my excess weight and my "fat" clothes were getting too snug. Even my family was telling me that I "looked better when I didn't tuck my shirt in my pants." that was their "nice way" of telling me my belly was unattractive sticking out. In the past, I always experienced diet failure when I would hit a certain plateau (around 245 lbs) that I couldn't seem to break. I was trying to find information as to why this happens and how to resolve the issue. That's when I found a link to your Burn the Fat site.

The reasons you gave for this plateau phenomena made perfect sense to me - you said it was my body's way of trying to survive a "famine." The human body has a marvelous survival mechanism and starving it even further to try to break the plateau is not going to work long term.

What sold me on your plan was your guarantee, try if for 8 weeks and if I wasn't completely satisfied I could get a refund. What did I have to lose? Nothing, except the fat I no longer wanted. The only thing you asked for was a testimonial letter if I didn't ask for the refund.

Well, it worked, so here's my story, Tom, I hope it will inspire others who are thinking about purchasing your plan to take action and do themselves a huge favor and "just do it."

As I was reading through all your material and before I actually started the plan, I was rear ended in a car accident on December 1st. It was pretty severe and it required a visit to the ER with a neck injury. I had to see my family doctor for follow up care, whom I hadn't seen in a couple of years.

He said I'd recover from the whiplash with some therapy, but he was more concerned about my weight. After the accident it hit a staggering 283 lbs., and, unbeknownst to me, I was in the early stages of developing high blood pressure -- the silent killer.

My whole life I had perfect blood pressure never more than 120/80. Now I was at 135/95. Given my family history of high blood pressure, my doctor began counseling that my excess weight was the leading culprit to my high blood pressure and the other potential unhealthy results that was sure to happen if I didn't start doing something about my weight.

I told him about your Burn The Fat, Feed The Muscle (BFFM) plan that I had purchased but hadn't started yet. Since I had to seem him the following week on a follow up visit he asked me to bring the "plan" in for him to review. He was pleased to see that it wasn't one of those, and I quote, "dangerous diet plans."

He said to follow the eating plan, but because of my neck injury, lack of exercise over the last 15 years and putting me on high blood pressure medicine he told me to refrain from vigorous exercise until I get down to 250 and we're sure my blood pressure was stabilized. He said that I should just walk for 30 minutes a day 3 days a week and follow the nutrition part.

Here are my results (so far):

Jan 1st, 2006: Weight: 284 lbs Body Fat: 32.1% Lean Body Mass: 193 lbs.

April 19, 2006. Weight: 257 lbs Body Fat: 23.9% Lean Body Mass: 195 lbs.

The first 19 days I lost 11 lbs. Normally, I would have been pleased as punch that I was losing weight so fast. But now that I was armed with knowledge I knew that I was losing it too rapidly and I might be dropping lean body mass and heading toward another plateau, so I actually INCREASED my calories to avoid losing muscle or fouling up my metabolism. As you can see, I gained two pounds of lean mass.

Now I'm losing about 7-8 pounds per month of all fat, which in my mind, is ideal. It took me 17 years to reach 284 lbs, next month I'll be be under 250 lbs and I can begin strength training. There is ZERO doubt in my mind that I'll be back down to my desired weight of 215 lbs @ 10% body fat by the end of the year -- no problem.

Tom, even if an individual has physical limitations and can't exercise, like I have at the moment, they can and will lose weight following your eating plan. I'm proof positive your BFFM plan works.

I'd like to address any reader who is considering purchasing your BFFM plan, but they're still undecided. You might be thinking Tom is a professional body builder, he has those God given genes and this is probably all hype. It's not. If you don't believe Tom, believe me, I'm just an ordinary guy that's not cut like a Greek God. You can do this.

Follow Tom's plan as he's laid it out. You won't be hungry like other"diets" (I actually had to increase my calories!), and you won't be eating just carrot sticks either.

Your success will come in small chunks, a few pounds at first, then 10 pounds, then 15, then 20 and soon you'll realize that it's working and you'll be inspired to keep going. Remember, success comes over time, not overnight, but you can be sure there wont be a plateau and you won't be gaining back the weight ever again.

Gary Bollinger-Smith

Discovering a love of activity — even if it's just an after-dinner stroll — is a great way to drop pounds. The more you lose, the more you feel like moving. And the more you move, the more you lose! See what this member has to say about her healthier nightly routine:

"At last! I'm down to 175 pounds from my starting weight of 200. I never thought I could really do this, because I've never succeeded at a diet before. But since The Sonoma Diet is about choosing good, flavorful foods (I love the seasonings in the recipes!) instead of avoiding food, it doesn't feel like penance.

The Sonoma Diet has increased my energy, and now I love walking and yoga. So instead of munching my way through TV shows at night, I go for a long walk and/or have a nice long yoga session." — Camas, member, The Sonoma Diet Online