Marathon man races toward new start

I've always wondered why someone would want to run a marathon. A lot of people I know don’t even drive 26 miles in a day.

Ben Shanahan can tell you why he runs marathons: to stay fit. But two years ago, he was far away from being able to leg out the distance.

With a diet that focused on candy and beer, he weighed 338 pounds. His blood pressure was high, and his doctor diagnosed him with borderline hypertension.

Ben was concerned about his and his family's future. He tried dieting, but couldn't figure out how to stick with a plan or limit his intake of his favorite calorie-laden foods.

Then he found L A Weight Loss in September 2005. At first, he was concerned about the number of women perceived to be on the program. But once he joined his local center in St. Cloud, Minn. and started working with his personal counselor, Ben was hooked.

He learned portion control and how to structure his eating plan so that he could still enjoy a beer every now and then. That was the winning combination that enabled him to drop nine pounds in the first week -- and 65 in six months.

Then, inspired by his wife's running of Grandma's Marathon in Minnesota, Ben started running too. He ran several 5Ks, and then a half marathon in April. In that race, he far exceeded his goal of 2 hours and 10 minutes with a time of 2 hours, 3 minutes, and 25 seconds.

Ben's weight continued to drop, and now he's down to 216 pounds -- nine pounds less than his goal weight.

Hot stuff, Ben! Now he’s eyeing his first marathon on Sept. 9. Great job, Ben, and good luck in the race.

This is Ben in summer of 2005:



Now, here is Ben in tip-top running shape at 210 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Ben Shanahan
Hometown: Becker, Minn.
Age: 26
Height: 5'11"

Starting weight: 338 pounds
Goal weight: 225 pounds
Current Weight 216 pounds
Program start date: September 2005

Favorite food: Bread with peanut butter and honey.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivators: Lowering his blood pressure and running a marathon.

Biggest obstacle: Learning how to stick with a weight loss plan.

Old eating philosophy: Skipping breakfast, eating a big dinner, and washing it all down with beer.

New eating philosophy: Eating five small meals a day and exercising.

Best thing about losing weight: Having the energy to run 15 to 20 miles a week.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can eat anything and still lose weight. It's all about portion control and making smart choices.

One-way ticket to fighting obesity

Debbie Wilkerson wanted to celebrate her son's 21st birthday in Las Vegas. The problem: At 390 pounds she barely fit into an airplane seat. The idea of walking the casinos -- let alone the Strip -- was daunting to say the least.

When she and her husband considered buying *an extra seat* on the plane for Debbie, she knew it was time to make a serious change.

With a year left until the big trip, Debbie joined L A Weight Loss, a "momentous decision" she describes in a letter she sent to me. In 13 months, she dropped 130 pounds (!!), which was enough for a comfortable cross-country flight (in *one* seat) from Tennessee to Nevada.

That was only the tip of the iceberg. As she continued to shed pounds, she also shed her old ways. When she was at her heaviest, she could barely walk without losing her breath. She bought size 6X clothes from a catalog. When she got into the car, she had to tilt the steering wheel back to slide into the seat, and could hardly buckle the seatbelt.

Now, she sees the world in a new light. Little things like crossing her legs, sitting Indian-style on the floor, and even cleaning her house are new experiences for Debbie.

She went to her first college football game in 16 years. She used to avoid them because of the hills, and the long walk to the stadium.

Today Debbie is 75 pounds from her goal weight of 190 -- but she's already a winner in my book! We'll be sure to update you on her progress as she keeps slimming down.

Here's Debbie before, at 390 pounds:



And here she is at 260 pounds, more than half way to her goal weight. Keep it up, Debbie! You REALLY look GREAT!



FAST FACTS

Name: Debbie Wilkerson
Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
Age: 49

Starting weight: 390 pounds
Goal weight: 195 pounds
Current weight: 260 pounds

Program start date: September 2005

Biggest temptations: French fries, corn muffins, and chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Fitting into clothes she can buy at the mall.

Biggest obstacle: Making smart lunch choices at work. Her office has lunch brought in every day, and it's often not the healthiest selection.

Old eating philosophy: Never drank water, never read food labels, never tried low-fat foods. A typical breakfast was Cheetos, crackers, and a Dr. Pepper.

New eating philosophy: She buys everything fresh, drinks only water, and makes sure she balances out her day with the right amount of proteins, carbs, and starches.

Best thing about losing weight: She has so much energy now, her husband has to tell her to sit down!

Best weight loss secret learned: That it's possible to go grocery shopping AND out to dinner without feeling like you're on a diet.