Scott Zimmerman discovers more means less

Less is more, right? Maybe if you're referring to crash dieting. The less food you eat, the more hungry you get, and the more you will gain back. That's why the opposite held true for Scott Zimmerman. He discovered his secret to weight loss was actually eating more.

Scott was aware of his weight his entire life. He had never been a skinny kid, and the weight only increased as he got older. By the time he reached his 40s, Scott was tipping the scales at 352 pounds.

He was sweating all the time, and never had any energy. Scott also suffered from shortness of breath, knee pain, and high blood pressure.

He wasn't happy, and tried losing weight by drastically cutting back on eating. But his one-meal-a-day plan only sent his weight yo-yoing. Scott lost weight when he was starving himself, but always gained it all back as soon as he started eating again.

Scott felt like he had lost all control of his weight, and knew that his diet was far from healthy. He also knew that he needed help. So in April 2007, he joined his local Clackamas, Ore., L A Weight Loss center.

Scott was paired with a one-on-one weight loss counselor, who taught him how to eat right. When he learned he should be eating five meals a day, he didn't believe he would ever lose weight.

But it didn't take long for Scott to discover he was wrong. He ate five smaller meals a day, and cut back on starches, fatty meats, and fried foods. Scott replaced them with fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins, and saw the numbers on the scale fall.

Since joining L A Weight Loss, Scott has lost 122 pounds. And he can't believe the difference. Scott feels like an entirely new person. He can do things today that he never would have been able to do a year ago, such as get on the floor and play with his kids, spend time outside with his son, and go hunting for an entire day.

Plus, all of his medical issues have improved. Scott feels like he's been given a second chance at life. And he and his family are thankful for it. Way to go, Scott!

Here's Scott at 352 pounds:



And here he is today, happier and healthier, at 230 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Scott Zimmerman
Hometown: Oregon City, Ore.
Age: 47
Height: 5'11"

Starting weight: 352 pounds
Goal weight: 230 pounds
Current weight: 230 pounds
Program start date: April 2007

Favorite food: Homemade vegetable pizza.

Biggest temptation: Junk food.

Biggest motivator: Seeing his own success.

Biggest obstacle: Getting rid of his water weight.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever, whenever.

New eating philosophy: Eating five meals a day to keep his metabolism high.

Best thing about losing weight: Being able to do the things he wants to do.

Best weight loss secret learned: Don't starve yourself! You need to eat to lose weight.