Best secrets from our "biggest losers"

We recently tracked down 11 of our "biggest losers" on the blog -- people who've lost over 100 pounds -- to find out their favorite weight loss secrets.

From portion control to finding the right foods, these successful losers share what helped them drop the pounds -- more than 2,000 pounds in total, to be exact. But these points of advice aren't just for the obese. We selected them because they're helpful for anyone trying to lose weight!

Sharla Pincock, lost 150 pounds: Eat more often throughout the day. Breakfast is the most important meal.

Tena Evans, lost 173 pounds: You can still eat out at restaurants while losing weight, just make the right decisions.

Arianna Chavez, lost 154 pounds: Drink lots of water! It really helps and can make a big difference.

Ben Shanahan, lost 130 pounds: You can eat anything and still lose weight. It’s all about portion control and making smart choices. For example, have veggie pizza instead of pizza with meat toppings.

Becky Harrold, lost 120 pounds: If you stick to the correct portions, you can still eat the foods you love. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change.

Connie Thone, lost 220 pounds: Keep variety in your diet.

John Lay, lost 160 pounds: It’s all about adding exercise to your life.

Kathy Kersting, lost 108 pounds: Use little mental tricks to dissuade yourself from eating bad foods throughout the day, like whether the person from work who made those brownies washed their hands.

LuAnn Zipp, lost 150 pounds: Moderation is the key to everything.

Margaret Mondragon, lost 188 pounds: By adding more fruit to your diet, you'll lose weight, and enjoy a sweet snack.

Michelle Dumas, lost 200 pounds: Don’t eat carbs at night.

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.