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SIOUX FALLS, SD--(Marketwired - March 21, 2017) - The Beyond Diet looks to promote clean eating and avoidance of certain foods that hinder metabolic function. It is essentially, another re-hash of basic healthy eating principles based on the premise that eliminating five of the following foods: orange juice, soy milk, artificial sweetener, wheat bread and pasta will recharge the metabolism. Dr. Nishant Rao - Medical Director of Diet Doc explains that, "While this may be true for some, it certainly doesn't apply to everyone with weight management challenges, nor does the Beyond Diet offer anything particularly unique. It simply removes obviously unhealthy food and replaces it with healthier options."

Dr. Rao also states that, "The diet also places no emphasis on calorie intake adjustments, which are basically the currency of weight loss progress." Removing the foods above may operate under the assumption that the dieters already consume them frequently which may or may not be true. Furthermore, removing those foods may not be enough to create a genuine caloric deficit. Dr. Rao believes that, "Most people need to be educated in the importance of caloric boundaries or fat loss is impossible. The Beyond Diet takes the simplistic stance that these specific foods are the reasons most people gain weight and have metabolic issues, when the true answer depends on a lot of factors such as, level of physical activity, overall diet, lifestyle, possible smoking or drinking habits, etc."

Diet Doc's Jumpstart Diet promotes nutritionally balanced eating that is tailored to the unique health profile of each specific dieter and also takes into account the need to create safe caloric deficits for fast weight loss. Rather than following non-specific plans which usually fail to suit everyone's weight loss requirements, Diet Doc offers affordable nutritional coaching and doctor-supervised planning in order to hit your weight loss goals right on target.

New Diet Doc patients can call or easily and effortlessly visit https://www.dietdoc.com to complete an initial comprehensive, yet simple, health questionnaire and schedule an immediate personal, no-cost consultation. Diet Doc Physicians all received specialized training in nutritional science and fast weight loss. Diet Doc reviews each patient's health history to create a personalized diet plan geared for fast weight loss, or that addresses life-long issues causing weight loss to slow down or stop. Nutritionists work personally with each patient and use their own algorithm to craft meal and snack plans that are compatible with each patient's age, gender, activity level, food preferences, nutritional needs and medical conditions. They combine these state of the art diet plans with pure, prescription diet products that enable their patients to resist the temptation to reach for sugary snacks, eliminate fatigue and curb the appetite. Over 97% of Diet Doc patients report incredible weight loss results with the majority losing 20 or more pounds per month.

At Diet Doc, all patients gain unlimited access to the best minds in the business. Their staff of doctors, nurses, nutritionists and coaches are available 6 days per week to answer questions, offer suggestions, address concerns and lend their professional guidance and support. Because of this, more and more people are turning to Diet Doc for their weight management needs. Diet plans are tailored to be specific to the needs of those of any age, gender, shape or size and for those who are struggling to lose that final 10-20 pounds to those who must lose 100 pounds or more. Call today to request a private, confidential, no-cost online consultation.

About the Company:

Diet Doc Weight Loss is the nation's leader in medical, weight loss offering a full line of prescription medication, doctor, nurse and nutritional coaching support. For over a decade, Diet Doc has produced a sophisticated, doctor designed weight loss program that addresses each individual specific health need to promote fast, safe and long term weight loss.

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Dr. Rao Explains that the Beyond Diet May Not Take Caloric Deficits into Account for Expedient Weight Loss - Marketwired (press release)

Forbes

Study: Whole Body Vibration May Reduce Weight Like Running On A Treadmill But... Forbes The Augusta University study lasted only twelve weeks, probably not be long enough to study the long-term effects of WBV. And no one has ... More research with humans is necessary to better determine the risks and benefits of using WBV for weight loss. and more »

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Study: Whole Body Vibration May Reduce Weight Like Running On A Treadmill But... - Forbes

Weight gain happens when we consume more food than we can burn, and weight loss happens when we burn more energy than we consume. But why do some people seem to eat whatever they want and not gain weight, and others appear to gain weight even if they eat reasonable amounts of food? The answer, at least in part, may be found in the bacteria that live in our guts.

Our latest research, published in the International Journal of Obesity, shows that people who have a stable weight over nine years or lose weight, have a larger number of different types of microbes in their guts, eat more fibre and have a higher abundance of certain types of gut microbes.

In the past decade, researchers have found that the microbes in our gut have a strong effect on various aspects of our health. Studies in mice have demonstrated that how the body converts food into energy depends in large part on the different types of microbes a person has in their gut and also on the kind of microbes they carry.

In a recent study, scientists in Israel found that mice who were put on a yo-yo diet slowly gained weight compared with mice on a steady diet despite the fact that both groups received the same amount of calories overall.

One of the effects seen in the mice that were put on the yo-yo diet was a decrease in their gut microbiome diversity. Also, when they transplanted the microbes from the yo-yo dieters into the guts of non-yo-yo dieters, the mice on steady diets gained weight showing that the altered microbes were the cause of the weight gain. But is this relevant to humans?

In humans, comparing microbes in the gut in obese and thin individuals, scientists have already shown that lean people have many more species of intestinal bacteria than obese people.

Until now, however, there were no experiments tying the gut microbes to changes in weight over several years. For this reason, we decided to do an investigation into 1,632 women from the UK, all of them twins (about half of them identical). The participants had their body weight measured several years ago and, back then, they answered questions about the amounts and types of foods that they ate. We called them again nine years later and, in addition to measuring their weight, we asked them to give us a poo sample so we could analyse the bacteria in their gut.

We found that most of the women gained weight over the nine years, but this was not fully explained by the number of calories in their diet when the study began. Because they are twins, it was also possible to calculate (using the differences between identical and non-identical twins) how much of the weight gain can be explained by genes. Only 41% of the change in weight was explained by genes. That meant that there were other factors, in addition to genes and calories.

We discovered that women who ate high amounts of dietary fibre (found in fruit, vegetables and whole grains) were less likely to gain weight than those who ate little fibre, even if they consumed roughly the same amount of calories. Women who lost weight or had stable weight also had more diverse microbes in their guts. We were able to pinpoint some of the microbes that are different between women who had gained weight and those who had lost weight. Most of these microbes had already been discovered in mice to be involved in better energy metabolism.

These results show that the exciting studies in mice about how microbes affect weight gain are also relevant in humans. They are also important because they will allow our group, and other scientists, to investigate how to influence a persons gut microbes using probiotics and fibre so they are at a lower risk of developing obesity.

Visit link:
Gut bacteria plays a role in long-term weight gain - The Conversation - The Conversation UK

Recently researchers have published the studies to follow weight loss maintenance for individuals over a 10-year period.

The results show that long-term weight loss maintenance is possible if individuals adhere to key health behaviors.

For example, one is a 10-year observational study of self-reported weight loss and behavior change in nearly 3,000 participants.

The participants had lost at least 30 pounds and had kept if off for at least one year when they were enrolled in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR).

The participants were then followed for 10 years.

Researchers said, On average, participants maintained the majority of their weight loss over this extended follow-up period, and better success was related to continued performance of physical activity, self-weighing, low-fat diets, and avoiding overeating.

Other findings show that more than 87 percent of the participants were estimated to be still maintaining at least a 10 percent weight loss at years five and 10.

A larger initial weight loss and longer duration of maintenance were associated with better long-term outcomes.

Conversely, decreases in physical activity, dietary restraint and self-weighing along with increases in fat intake were associated with greater weight regain.

Researchers conclude, This is one of the only studies to follow weight loss maintenance over such a long term.

What the results tell us is that long-term weight loss maintenance is possible, but it requires persistent adherence to a few key health behaviors.

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News source:Lifespan. The content is edited for length and style purposes. Figure legend: This Knowridge.com image is for illustrative purposes only.

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The key to successfully maintain weight loss - Knowridge Science Report

Research by Skidmore College exercise scientist Paul Arciero has found that a balanced, protein-pacing, low-calorie diet that includes intermittent fasting not only achieves long-term weight loss, but also helps release toxins in the form of PCBs from the body fat stores, in addition to enhancing heart health and reducing oxidative stress.

Arcieros findings add to a growing body of evidence on the benefits of a protein-pacing caloric restriction (P-CR) diet.

This diet cuts back on calories and features four-six meals a day, each of which includes 20 to 25 grams of protein. Participants in Arcieros study also engaged in intermittent fasting.

His research results are published in the latest edition of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (Arciero-Protein-Pacing & Toxins).

In the study, Arciero first compared the results of the P-CR diet between obese men and women following a 12-week weight loss diet and subsequently compared the P-CR diet with those achieved by the heart-healthy diet over a 52-week period.

The 12-week P-CR diet was equally effective at reducing body weight (>24 lbs, 10%), oxidative stress (25%), and arterial stiffness (12%) and increasing toxin release (25%) in women and men.

Following the 52-week phase, P-CR demonstrated improvements over the traditional heart-healthy diet in maintaining weight loss; reducing artery stiffness; and releasing toxins.

A toxin-fighting response

His findings on toxins can help allay concerns that weight loss which releases toxins into the blood could have a negative effect on dieters health.

Environmental pollutants and other toxins are stored in fatty tissue. During weight loss, fat breaks down and toxins are discharged into the bloodstream.

Scientists have expressed concern that the released toxins could increase dieters oxidative stress and their risk of developing serious conditions, including hormone (endocrine) disruption (reproductive and fertility problems), heart disease, cancer, Alzheimers disease and Parkinsons disease.

Arcieros research findings that a P-CR diet does not increase disease markers and, in fact, can aid detoxification and reduce oxidative stress help reduce those fears.

Furthermore, the findings suggest that those who are not overweight or obese could also benefit from a P-CR diet.

The objective of the first 12-week phase was to assess the ability of a P-CR diet to achieve successful weight loss (defined as 10 percent of starting body weight) and this was achieved, with a mean weight loss of over 25 pounds.

During this phase, women consumed 1,200 calories per day and men, 1,500. Of those, 30 percent came from lean protein, 45 percent from unrefined carbohydrates, and 25 percent from healthy fat.

One day a week, participants followed an intermittent fast/cleanse, consisting of 300 to 450 calories from antioxidant rich plant-food sources.

The second phase (52 weeks) of the research compared the results of the P-CR diet and a more traditional heart-healthy diet.

All dieters consumed roughly the same number of calories: approximately 1,900 for both groups. P-CR dieters fasted/cleansed either once every two weeks or once a month.

Those on the heart-healthy diet followed the guidelines of the National Cholesterol Education Program, consuming 35 percent of calories as fat and 50 to 60 percent as carbohydrates.

Heart-healthy dieters also ate 20 to 30 grams per day of fiber and consumed fewer than 200 milligrams per day of dietary cholesterol.

At the end of the 12-month period, the results for the two groups deviated significantly, with the P-CR diet outperforming the heart-healthy diet for both maintaining weight loss, reduced blood vessel stiffness and eliminating toxins.

Research participants who remained on the P-CR diet regained about 1.5 pounds of the weight theyd lost and continued to eliminate toxins.

Those on the heart-healthy diet, however, regained 12 pounds. Most of it was fat and that fat may likely have (re-)stored toxins.

We have scientific evidence that its the quality of your diet that matters, Arciero said.

Through diet alone, we can favorably impact the detoxification process, decrease oxidative stress levels, reduce blood vessel stiffness and enhance weight loss. Thats an important public health message.

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News source: Skidmore College. The content is edited for length and style purposes. Figure legend: This Knowridge.com image is for illustrative purposes only.

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This diet helps shed pounds, release toxins and reduce oxidative stress - Knowridge Science Report

Lemon infused water is a popular drink for weight loss, thanks to celebrity sippers like Gwyneth Paltrow and Miranda Kerr. Proponents claim that it flushes toxins from the system, reduces appetite and tweaks the bodys digestive processes in ways that block fat absorption.

Trouble is, it doesn't work like that. In fact, lemon water leaves out the most effective part of the fruit.

The drink's hype seems to stem from a 2008 Japanese study that linked lemon's polyphenolsmicronutrients with antioxidant propertiesto less weight gain and improved fat metabolism in mice who were fed a high-fat diet. Its possible, the study team said, that lemon polyphenols may stimulate the liver to produce enzymes that help block the absorption of dietary fats.

This kind of research is like rocket fuel for those looking to market a new miracle food. But there are a lot of problems with such optimism. The research was in mice, not people, and there have been no rigorous studies showing that sipping lemon water can promote weight loss in humans, says Dana Hunnes, a senior dietitian at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center.

Another problem is that lemon water uses the juice, not the rind. Mice in the study were eating a diet loaded with lemon rind, the site of most of the polyphenols in lemons. While many committed lemon-water fans may be zesting some rind into their water, its likely nowhere near the amount the mice in the study were consuming. (Even if you were committed to loading your diet with lemon, some research suggests that the acid in a lemon-heavy diet could seriously corrode your teeth.)

Of course, lemon is healthy in moderation. It's a good source of vitamin C, and some studies have linked low vitamin-C status to obesity. But that's a large leap from saying that ingesting more vitamin C can prevent or reverse weight gain, she says.

Pectin, a kind of fiber found in lemons, has also been linked to some weight loss benefits. Pectin can lower LDL or bad cholesterol and has some anti-inflammatory benefits, says Bahram Arjmandi, a professor of nutrition at Florida State University and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Food and Nutritional Disorders. It can also prevent fat absorption and moderate insulin response. But most pectin comes from the flesh or pith of a fruit, not its juice. You're better off eating an apple. Youd have to eat a whole lot of lemon to see these benefits, he says. Its hard for me to imagine that being practical.

You get it by now: swigging a glass or two of lemon water will not provide much benefit. Lemon water is not a miracle weight-loss food, says Elizabeth Dejulius, a registered dietitian nutritionist with Cleveland Clinic.

But miracle-talk aside, lemon water could indirectly help people lose weight. For one thing, thirst is often mistaken for hunger, Dejulius says. Because many people find plain water boring or difficult to drink in large quantities, adding lemon to water may lead some people to drink more of it and stay better hydrated, thus reducing thirst-triggered food cravings. Dehydration can also slow metabolism, which in the long-term can lead to weight gain, she says.

Someone who swaps soda or another sugary drink for lemon water will be much better off, Hunnes says, as long as you don't sweeten it with added sugar.

Not all experts are ready to close the case on lemon water and weight loss, however. Hunnes says she found a little research linking the way lemon stimulates taste buds to appetite suppression. But there's not strong evidence yet to support that finding, she says. The power of the placebo effect could also play a role. If your mind believes strongly that drinking lemon water does something, like suppresses appetite, maybe it will, Arjmandi says. This kind of placebo effect is always a possibility.

Bottom line: If you like drinking lemon water, sip awayespecially if its helping you skip less-healthy drinks. But if youre looking for evidence-backed ways to lose weight, look elsewhere on your plate.

See original here:
You Asked: Will Drinking Lemon Water Help Me Lose Weight? - TIME

PHILADELPHIA, PA--(Marketwired - March 16, 2017) - The GOLO diet is a fairly simplistic approach to reduce dietary sugars and focus on fat loss through managing insulin resistance. The weight loss strategy is based on the belief that slow metabolisms and easy weight gain are both a product of too much insulin production. According to their website, higher insulin levels prompt the body to store excess fat rather than allowing it burn off. The body will produce more insulin if an individual does not engage in regular physical activity, or over eats. Age is also a contributing factor in higher insulin production, as insulin levels tend to rise over time. When excess insulin no longer efficiently converts glucose into energy, that glucose is eventually converted to fat and is stored primarily in the belly. Insulin resistance is usually a byproduct of excess insulin build up, thereby making weight loss even more difficult.

While insulin resistance is a common culprit when it comes to weight gain, Dr. Nishant Rao of Diet Doc Medical Weight Loss explains that insulin resistance is not always at the center of every person's challenges with weight management. "Unfortunately, this approach may not work for everyone as there are individual dietary macros to consider." Weight gain can occur for a variety of reasons, but without a proper diagnosis, dieters can find themselves incorrectly targeting a problem that they may not have, while also ignoring the real issue. Dr. Rao also takes issue with the dietary supplements used within the Golo Diet. "The ingredients in the supplements associated with the diet are not very well connected to weight loss. At the end of the day, the ingredients listed won't do much to improve insulin resistance."

If you believe that insulin resistance is leading to weight gain, Diet Doc's team of doctors, nutritionists and coaches will assess your health history and current health status to determine the best dietary plan and weight loss medication regimen for your unique weight loss needs. Diet Doc believes in using comprehensive strategies that will nail down what is causing your weight gain and will offer unlimited phone support as well as prompt prescription delivery so that you can lose weight fast and keep it off. Diet Doc clients report losing 20 pounds within 30 days.

New Diet Doc patients can call or easily and effortlessly visit https://www.dietdoc.com to complete an initial comprehensive, yet simple, health questionnaire and schedule an immediate personal, no-cost consultation. Diet Doc Physicians all received specialized training in nutritional science and fast weight loss. Diet Doc reviews each patient's health history to create a personalized diet plan geared for fast weight loss, or that addresses life-long issues causing weight loss to slow down or stop. Nutritionists work personally with each patient and use their own algorithm to craft meal and snack plans that are compatible with each patient's age, gender, activity level, food preferences, nutritional needs and medical conditions. They combine these state of the art diet plans with pure, prescription diet products that enable their patients to resist the temptation to reach for sugary snacks, eliminate fatigue and curb the appetite. Over 97% of Diet Doc patients report incredible weight loss results with the majority losing 20 or more pounds per month.

At Diet Doc, all patients gain unlimited access to the best minds in the business. Their staff of doctors, nurses, nutritionists and coaches are available 6 days per week to answer questions, offer suggestions, address concerns and lend their professional guidance and support. Because of this, more and more people are turning to Diet Doc for their weight management needs. Diet plans are tailored to be specific to the needs of those of any age, gender, shape or size and for those who are struggling to lose that final 10-20 pounds to those who must lose 100 pounds or more. Call today to request a private, confidential, no-cost online consultation.

About the Company:

Diet Doc Weight Loss is the nation's leader in medical, weight loss offering a full line of prescription medication, doctor, nurse and nutritional coaching support. For over a decade, Diet Doc has produced a sophisticated, doctor designed weight loss program that addresses each individual specific health need to promote fast, safe and long term weight loss.

See the original post:
Dr. Nishant Rao Examines Why the Insulin-Based 'GOLO Diet' May not be the Best Weight Loss Strategy - Marketwired (press release)

Weight gain happens when we consume more food than we can burn, and weight loss happens when we burn more energy than we consume. But why do some people seem to eat whatever they want and not gain weight, and others appear to gain weight even if they eat reasonable amounts of food? The answer, at least in part, may be found in the bacteria that live in our guts.

Our latest research, published in the International Journal of Obesity, shows that people who have a stable weight over nine years or lose weight, have a larger number of different types of microbes in their guts, eat more fibre and have a higher abundance of certain types of gut microbes.

In the past decade, researchers have found that the microbes in our gut have a strong effect on various aspects of our health. Studies in mice have demonstrated that how the body converts food into energy depends in large part on the different types of microbes a person has in their gut and also on the kind of microbes they carry.

In a recent study, scientists in Israel found that mice who were put on a yo-yo diet slowly gained weight compared with mice on a steady diet despite the fact that both groups received the same amount of calories overall.

One of the effects seen in the mice that were put on the yo-yo diet was a decrease in their gut microbiome diversity. Also, when they transplanted the microbes from the yo-yo dieters into the guts of non-yo-yo dieters, the mice on steady diets gained weight showing that the altered microbes were the cause of the weight gain. But is this relevant to humans?

In humans, comparing microbes in the gut in obese and thin individuals, scientists have already shown that lean people have many more species of intestinal bacteria than obese people.

Until now, however, there were no experiments tying the gut microbes to changes in weight over several years. For this reason, we decided to do an investigation into 1,632 women from the UK, all of them twins (about half of them identical). The participants had their body weight measured several years ago and, back then, they answered questions about the amounts and types of foods that they ate. We called them again nine years later and, in addition to measuring their weight, we asked them to give us a poo sample so we could analyse the bacteria in their gut.

We found that most of the women gained weight over the nine years, but this was not fully explained by the number of calories in their diet when the study began. Because they are twins, it was also possible to calculate (using the differences between identical and non-identical twins) how much of the weight gain can be explained by genes. Only 41% of the change in weight was explained by genes. That meant that there were other factors, in addition to genes and calories.

We discovered that women who ate high amounts of dietary fibre (found in fruit, vegetables and whole grains) were less likely to gain weight than those who ate little fibre, even if they consumed roughly the same amount of calories. Women who lost weight or had stable weight also had more diverse microbes in their guts. We were able to pinpoint some of the microbes that are different between women who had gained weight and those who had lost weight. Most of these microbes had already been discovered in mice to be involved in better energy metabolism.

Read More

These results show that the exciting studies in mice about how microbes affect weight gain are also relevant in humans. They are also important because they will allow our group, and other scientists, to investigate how to influence a persons gut microbes using probiotics and fibre so they are at a lower risk of developing obesity.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Ana Valdes does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond the academic appointment above.

More:
Gut bacteria plays a role in long-term weight gain - Yahoo Health

86 Million American Adults have prediabetesYou could be one of them.

Dont miss your chance to join the no cost lifestyle change program in Hemingford.

National Diabetes Prevention Program provides all of the important factors for sustaining long-term weight loss.

Classes are being offered in Hemingford starting Wednesday, March 29 at 6 p.m.

During the year-long program, you will get the information and support needed to meet the overall goals of increasing physical activity and losing 5-7% of starting body weight.

The support from the group and the coach help guide you along the way to overcoming barriers to a healthy lifestyle. NDPP focuses on healthy eating, physical activity, stress management, lifestyle change, and coping skills that support participants in successfully meeting their overall goals.

Are you ready to improve your health, increase your energy, lose weight and reduce your risk for chronic disease? If you answered yes, this program is for you. Trained lifestyle coach, Janelle Grant with Panhandle Public Health District will lead these classes.

To register call (308)487-3600 ext 105 or email hansenj@pphd.org to register as class size is limited.

I just had my health screening done and all of my numbers were down 3% or more!! I am confident that I can meet my personal goal and maybe beyond! Thank you NDPP for helping me get on the right track to a healthier me! P.S. my family thanks you, too! - Cindy, Panhandle NDPP Participant

To learn more about the National Diabetes Prevention Program, visit the CDCs website: http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/index.html. PPHDs website http://www.pphd.org or contact Tabi Prochazka at tprochazka@pphd.org or 308-487-3600 ext 107.

Panhandle Public Health District is working together to improve the health, safety and quality of life for all who live, learn, work and play in the Panhandle. Our vision is that we are a healthier and safer Panhandle Community.

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Diabetes prevention classes offered in Hemingford - Scottsbluff Star Herald

Michael O'Neil, the class clown, the funny guy in the office, the consummate jokester, gets serious when he talks about the past year.

On March 16, 2016, the 30-year-old defense contract project manager and business developer stared at the scale.

For the first time in his life, the number "300" stared back.

"After being fat for so long, you start to accept yourself as big," O'Neil said. "But I always told friends that if I ever see that number, I'm going to have to do something."

He didn't know if he could, though. "I didn't believe I was going to be able to actually commit to getting healthy and making that life change."

But the day marked a turning point for O'Neil.

He was struggling with energy levels, could barely keep up with his children, ages 4 and 2, was bulging out of XXL shirts and squeezing into size 44 pants.

O'Neil decided that he didn't want that life anymore.

"There is a stigma about being fat," he said. "Even if they're not mean to you, people treat you differently. The kind of looks you'd get, especially in a bathing suit. It was very uncomfortable."

Like breaking any bad habit, mind over matter is a big part of weight loss.

"You don't realize how programmed your brain is to eating unhealthy foods and overeating," O'Neil said.

Even though he didn't set a goal, O'Neil has dropped 100 pounds in less than a year and says he is happier, has more self-confidence, can hang in there for playtime and, much to his surprise, has become an inspiration to others trying to shed excess pounds.

"My focus was just to get my life back on track, but now, it's starting to affect change in other people. They tell us how inspiring we are, which is odd for me. I never thought that would happen."

Old habits die hard

O'Neil, a Colorado Springs native, was overweight in elementary school and became obese in college, after his Pine Creek High School sweetheart called it quits.

"There's 40 grams of sugar in every soda, and it adds up," he said. "My mom banned soda at our house when I was in seventh grade, but I just bought it at school. I had a stash that I sold to my younger sister."

Family and friends would sometimes ask him what he was going to do about his weight.

"I couldn't fix it. I didn't know how. Nothing worked," he said. "It's painful when someone points out a major flaw but you don't have anything to go back on."

Part of O'Neil's motivation was seeing three close family members go through gastric sleeve surgery to shrink their stomachs so they could lose weight.

"I was about to turn 30, and the last thing I wanted to do was to have a gastric sleeve put in," he said. "I wanted to see if I could do it myself."

O'Neil's wife, Bree, also had been wanting to lose weight she had gained during the pregnancies, so the couple embarked on their own "Biggest Loser" journey.

"Without that team effort, there was no way for us to get there," O'Neil said.

Bree agrees.

"We're supportive of each other," she said. "Without somebody to keep you accountable, it makes much it much harder. It's also more fun when you're in it together."

The O'Neils started working with body transformation coach Joe Ramirez, who has won six Gazette "Best Of the Springs" awards for his health and fitness work.

Ramirez has created a nutritional detoxification program to improve health. A side effect is weight loss.

"Decreasing inflammation and the toxic load on your body is the key to lasting, long-term weight loss," Ramirez said. "The quick fixes - restricting calories, counting points - a lot of times don't last because you're not giving your body the right nutrients to turn on your metabolism and keep it turned on."

The composition and quality of foods eaten "put your body in either a fat-burning mode or a fat-storing mode," Ramirez said.

O'Neil removed dairy, sugar and gluten, and minimized carbohydrates. He added more veggies and protein to his diet and reduced calories by eating correct portions.

His biggest issue?

Hunger.

"I could deal with having blander food, giving up cheese - which I love - and eating foods I didn't like," O'Neil said.

But he didn't think he could get past the hurdle of constant hunger pangs.

A prescription-strength appetite suppressant helped curb his food cravings.

O'Neil also began attending a boot camp class at the downtown Vault Fitness gym.

Exercising regularly accelerates the weight-loss process, said personal trainer Krista Enoch, who leads the class, which includes strength and high-intensity interval training.

"Diet and exercise together form a super combination," Enoch said.

O'Neil has succeeded because he has been "determined, dedicated and consistent," she said. "He's a dream client. It's been fun to be his cheerleader."

Healthier diet

O'Neil and his wife started taking walks and cooking nutritious meals together.

Cauliflower became the new pizza crust, toast and mashed potatoes. He reached for hummus instead of chips, and liquid aminos replaced soy sauce.

In the first few months, O'Neil dropped 35 pounds.

On the advice of Ramirez, he didn't weigh himself in the beginning, so as not to get discouraged or encouraged. So he didn't realize he had lost so much weight.

"I didn't know how far I could go - I thought maybe 50 pounds," he said.

There were good days and bad days. Some days he'd realize he didn't have any vegetables, for example, or he would eat dairy, such as eggs with a little cheese.

Once a month, he allows himself a "cheat" day, when he forgoes the plan. On a recent cheat day, he ordered a cheesy burrito and a margarita at a Mexican restaurant.

As his stomach shrank, his confidence swelled.

"I've watched this transformation of Michael having more strength and confidence - his whole body composition has changed," Enoch said.

After dropping 65 pounds, he started to plateau.

But by then, it was 100 or bust.

"I was down 87 pounds by Christmas and started to realize how cool it would be if I could get to that mark by in a year," he said.

The more you lose, the harder it becomes to lose weight, O'Neil discovered, and he knew those last few pounds wouldn't be easy.

He persisted, and a few weeks ago, a month shy of a year, the 6-foot-3-inch O'Neil saw the number "200" for the first time in 12 years.

"It almost seems unbelievable," he said.

One hundred pounds is an amazing amount of weight to lose, said Ramirez.

"What's even more amazing is keeping it off by making some changes to habits and it becoming a lifestyle," Ramirez said.

"I'm so incredibly proud of him for doing it the old-fashioned way," said Bree O'Neil, who has lost 60 pounds. "He's worked so hard and set such a good example for our children. He's done this for himself and our family and our life together. I'm more in love with him now than ever."

O'Neil said the couple wishes they could redo their wedding photos.

"We both look so much better," he said.

For a while, O'Neil felt like he had lost himself.

"I hated how I looked. I wasn't as attentive, engaging or funny. I wasn't just losing control of myself physically, but also mentally, a little."

Now, he's back.

"Struggling with a weight problem is exactly how it sounds - it's a struggle," O'Neil said. "It is possible to lose the weight, but you need to realize it's not a diet, it's a life change. I feel happier because I look better. I try to be humble but sometimes vanity does get the better of you, and it's nice to look good."

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In one life-changing year, Colorado Springs native drops 100 pounds - Colorado Springs Gazette

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