Nancy DeGennaro, Murfreesboro Daily News Journal Published 11:11 a.m. CT Jan. 29, 2020

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When Marisol Lozoya of Murfreesboro was diagnosed with high cholesterol and prediabetes, she knew she had to get serious about her health.

"I started looking for better ways to get healthier," said Lozoya, who started replacing meals with Herbalife shakes and energy teas.

She lost over 30 pounds and wanted to share her weight loss success with others. So she and partner, Oscar Yepes, opened The 'Boro Nutrition and Energy at 2089 Lascassas Pike in Murfreesboro.

Marisol Lozoya prepares an energy tea at her shop, The 'Boro Nutrition and Energy, 2089 Lascassas Pike in Murfreesboro.(Photo: Nancy DeGennaro/DNJ)

"I got better ... lost 32 pounds ... and wanted to help people do the same. I know other people suffer (from health issues)," said Lozoya, whose ribbon cutting and grand opening for the shop is set for 11 a.m. Thursday.

The shopserves Herbalife's meal replacement shakes and energy drinks as well as acai bowls and protein waffles.

Each shake is around 250 calories and has 24 grams of protein, 21 vitamins and minerals, 9 to 14 net carbs and sweetened with a no-calorie sugar substitute derived from the stevia plant.

But Lozoya and Yepes want The 'Boro Nutrition and Energy shop to be about more than serving up products.

Along with serving up shakes, they offer free wellness evaluations, meal plans and a weekly workout email from a personal trainer.

For Nikki Saull, the products and personal interaction with the owners has made a change in her life.

As a candy sales representative, Saull spends her days driving around with tons of snacks in her car.

"It's easyto grab chips and cookies all the bad stuff," instead of lower-calorie options, Saull said.

"But I can come get a shake and (energy drink) and I won't even think about eating until 4 or 5 p.m.," Saull explained. "They are delicious ... and helping me maintain a healthier lifestyle. I'm not snacking on the go."

Saull said she is "hooked" and tries a different shake each day.

The shop offers nearly 60 flavors like caffe latte, strawberry cheesecake, cookie dough, chocolate birthday cake, cinnamon roll and salted caramel.

"Some of my favorite flavors have been the Ferrero Rocher, turtle cheesecake and Fruit Pebbles for something a little different," Saull said.

There's also a selection of energy shakes that include flavors like orange pushup and key lime pie.

You can also order add-ins such as extra fiber and probiotic.

More than 20 energy drinks are offered on the menu, too. Each is fueled by mixes filled with vitamins andcaffeine, as well as natural aloe that aids in digestion. Flavor options include:

Saull said her favorite is the Russian twist, which is a combination of chai, orange and mango. "It's tastes like a spiced cider," she said.

There are even protein coffees on the menu.

"I love the community I'm involved in," Lozoya said. "We really want to help people."

What: Ribbon cutting and open house for The 'Boro Nutrition and Energy

Where: 2089 Lascassas Pike, Murfreesboro

When: 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 30

Reach reporter Nancy DeGennaro at degennaro@dnj.com and follow her on Twitter @NanDeGennaro.

Read or Share this story: https://www.dnj.com/story/entertainment/dining/2020/01/29/find-healthy-on-go-fast-boro-nutrition-energy-murfreesboro-tn/4591436002/

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The 'Boro Nutrition and Energy serves healthy options to cut out unhealthy snacking - Daily News Journal

After losing her beloved father aged just 61, Brid Griffen had all the inspiration she needed to step up and take on a new challenge in her life as a Weight Watchers coach.

The Co Donegal woman admitted she struggled with her weight since her teenage years and again after the birth of her children but it wasnt until she found WW that she was able to really succeed at her weight loss struggles.

She said: From when I was a teenager, about 16 or 17, my weight would have fluctuated and then after I had my children like many another woman my weight went up again and before I got married, I lost and found three stone, three times, before I found WW.

I did all the quick fixes, I was great at losing weight but I could never keep it off, it was the maintaining was my challenge.

A friend of mine tried to talk me into going to Weight Watchers for about five years, but I thought it was for old people and I said it wasnt my thing but eventually she talked me into it and that was it, I got WW and they certainly got me.

What I loved about it was that I could eat my dinner. I love my potatoes, I love my dinner and I couldnt believe I could eat ordinary food. When I joined WW my children were five and three so we might have been going out once a week or once a fortnight for a bite to eat and a drink and I could do that and still go in the next week with a pound off, I loved it!

Winning a lifetime of free membership if she achieved her target weight was the hook that drew the mum-of-two in and it wasnt long until she had the coveted gold card.

She said: What really got me about it was the gold card and the gold membership, I just loved the thought of the fact they would give me free membership for life to help me maintain my weight loss if I got there, so that really hooked me in.

Fast forward to 2006 when a new challenge presented itself to Brid in the form of a coaching role with WW. Unsure at first, she then thought of her late father who became her inspiration for the role.

The 56-year-old explained: I got to my goal weight and I maintained my weight loss for eight years when my own coach asked me would I be interested in becoming a coach as she was going off on maternity leave.

"I was in full-time employment at the time and I really didnt know what to do, but I thought about my late father, and he died at 61 with heart issues and he would have been overweight and I often wondered if he had found something like Weight Watchers might we actually have had him for longer.

So I thought if I could help one or two people it would be worth a try so I went ahead and did the training. The night I opened my first workshop I was so nervous because you needed 25 people to open a Workshop, and I opened my first in April 2006 with 58 members and Ive never looked back.

Having spent 14 years coaching thousands of people through their weight loss journey, the Stranorlar woman was this year named WW Coach of the Year, (sponsored by Dale Farm Northern Ireland) a title she treasures dearly.

She said: During the last 14 years Ive probably been nominated 5 or 6 times because you have to be nominated as Coach of the month during that year to be put forward for Coach of the Year, so you sort of get used to your name not coming out but I was absolutely over the moon when I was awarded it this year.

It really meant an awful lot for me to bring that accolade back to my members because they are just so supportive, I was delighted as well for my family because they have been part of the journey as well, theyve grown up with it because I started as a member with WW in 1997.

The members that are coming to me know its not a job anymore, its an absolute passion for me. You know the old saying if you love what youre doing youll never work a day in your life thats true for me, I just knew back then when I opened my first class that this was for me, I just love it.

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Weight Watchers coach tells how late dad inspired her to take on new role - Belfast Live

Instagram/@ericalovefit The newest trainer on the new season of "The Biggest Loser" opens up about her 150-pound weight loss and the challenging lessons she learned along the way.I weighed 322 pounds five and a half years ago and was completely okay with it.

I'd started gaining weight around middle school, and food and fitness just weren't something my family talked about at home. My mom worked a lot, and my siblings and I grew up eating whatever snacks she'd stocked in the pantry. After meals, we'd always have dessert. That's just how my family, like so many others, showed love: through food. (Related: How to Use Intuitive Eating for Weight Loss)

By the time I got to college, there was nothing holding me back from eating whatever I wanted. There was no one around to tell me "no", and I didn't think there was anything wrong with eating fast food and pizza every day. Food aside, I also had no idea that working out and moving your body is important. I'd never been to the gym, and I never really felt the need to go. Why? Because no one really said anything about my weight or the way I looked. No one seemed to think there were any red flags about my health, so neither did I. (Related: This Woman's One-Year Transformation Is Proof That New Year's Resolutions Can Work)

To be honest, I don't have one of those stories where I can tell you that I looked at myself in the mirror and hated myself. I was truly just oblivious. I mean, I knew I had some weight to lose, but at 5 foot 11 inches tall, I just felt like I was a big girl and was ever going to have a tiny waist or small thighs, and that didn't bother me.

As years passed, I continued living life the same way and the weight kept piling on. I got married and gave birth to my son a few years later. My whole life I'd wanted to be a mom so badly and I dove into motherhood with my whole heart. (Related: This Influencer Is Keeping It Real About Stepping Into a Fitting Room After Having a Baby)

I continued to gain weight after pregnancy but still didn't really think I had any problem. My wake-up call finally came when my son was 3 years old and playing on our living room floor. I was sitting on the couch when he looked up at me and asked me to join him. I said no.

I vividly remember sitting on that couch with zero energy, eating some kind of snack, not wanting to get up because doing so felt like too much effort. At that moment, something clicked. I looked at my son and realized that I brought him into this world and he deserves so much more than a mom who doesn't even have the energy to play with him. I had to make a change and I needed to make it fast while I had the motivation.

While I still knew nothing about diet, weight loss, or fitness, the one thing I did know was that I need to reduce my calorie intake and increase my activity level. (BTW, the weight loss concept of 'calories in versus calories out' is not as simple as it sounds. Plus, counting calories is not the end all be all of losing weight.)

The initial changes were small. As far as food was concerned, I was still cooking pasta and pizza, but consciously eating smaller portions. Then began eating low-calorie frozen meals. At the time, I didn't know that those came with their downsides too, but to be honest, all things considered, it was a good place to start. Eventually, I began educating myself on food and started learning about fat, carbs, proteins and how to eat balanced meals that fueled me versus comforted me. (Related: New Energy Foods to Power You Through Your Day)

When it came to fitness,I started by joining a local Planet Fitness. I went in the mornings before my son woke up and began by just walking on the treadmill. A few weeks in, I felt comfortable challenging myself and would jog for 30-seconds a few times during my walk. I just kept building upon that goal. Soon, I was jogging for the length of one song on my playlist, then two songs. My goals just kept growing from there. (Related: What Might Happen If You Walk 30 Minutes a Day)

For the first two months, I stuck to cardio. I averaged about five hours on the elliptical and treadmill a week. Then, I started working with a trainer who showed me some high-intensity interval training (HIIT) drills. While I could feel the weight coming off of me, I also wanted to build muscle and HIIT was a good way to work toward that. Once I adopted this workout strategy, I discovered what "good tired" meant and I became hooked to that feeling. (Related: How to Make Exercise a Habit You Love)

In the first month of my journey, I lost 45 pounds. At the end of the first year, I was down 122 pounds. Every month I watched the weight come off my body. My clothes stopped fitting me and my energy levels shot up. (Related: The #1 Thing You Should Keep In Mind Before You Set Weight-Loss Goals)

But the biggest transformation for me was internal. During the early stages of my journey, I began documenting my experience on social media, and I saw that it was resonating with people. They noticed that I was carrying myself differently and was just happier overall. They wanted to know how I did it. That helped me realize that I was ready to commit to fitness outside of myself. I became a certified personal trainer and created Erica Fit Love, an online training platform. Now I'm able to work with people one on one no matter where they live and help them reach their own goals. (Related: How I Learned My Weight-Loss Journey Wasn't Over Even After Losing 170 Pounds)

The program I created offers a variety of workout styles including strength trainingand HIIT. Even though HIIT can sound and feel intimidating, I focus on scalable drills. They start with one-minute cardio intervals: either 15 seconds hard, 45 seconds rest, or vice versa. This flexibility makes my workouts great for people who are just starting out and have never really delved into fitness before. Plus the quick intervals are a great source of motivationthey're over so quickly so it deters you from quitting. My program also offers a calendar with weekly reminders and a private accountability-focused Facebook community with direct access to me to help keep everyone motivated. (Related: Joining an Online Support Group Could Help You Finally Meet Your Goals)

After losing the initial 122 pounds, it took me another two years to lose an additional 35-40 pounds. Some of that is totally normalwhen you're going through extreme weight-loss you are going to hit a wallbut I also learned the hard way that you can't keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect the same results. I adopted a trial and error method to figure out how my body was going to reach my goal weight. What ended up working for me was reevaluating my diet and diversifying my workouts to challenge my body in ways it hadn't been challenged before. In 2018, I reached my goal of losing 150 pounds, and I finally felt like all of my efforts over the past three years had paid off. But I quickly realized that losing weight was about so much more than the number on the scale. (Related: Science Found the Best Workout to Overcome Your Weight-Loss Plateau)

Despite the weight-loss, for the first time in my life, I began dealing with body image. When I was at my heaviest, I never struggled with body image. I never spoke harshly about myself and didn't feel insecure. But now? It's a daily battle. As the weight started to come off, I became my biggest critic. When you work in the fitness industry (and are on social media), everyone has an opinion and everyone is showing their highlight reel versus what's really happening behind the scenes. That's really challenging.

Even still, I didn't really understand how intense my body image issues were until I got sick. (See: How Celebrity Social Media Affects Your Mental Health and Body Image)

Three years ago I was diagnosed with EpsteinBarr virus (EBV), also known as human herpesvirus 4. EBV is a very common virus that can cause other infectious diseases such as mono and is spread through bodily fluids. I experienced serious brain fog and low-grade fevers. Even though it's under control now, it's something I will live with for the rest of my life. The biggest thing I had to learn to deal with was the feelings of exhaustion that came with the illness. It was like nothing I'd never felt before. I had to really scale back my HIIT workouts because my body just couldn't handle it. I went from doing HIIT every single day to just two-three times a week. Learning to cope with the illness combined with the change to my workout routine caused me to gain some weight. That took a huge blow to my self-esteem and brought some of my body image issues to light.

As if that wasn't enough, in November of 2018 I was diagnosed with stage 2 thyroid cancer. I underwent radiation and surgery and ultimately beat the disease, but my body went through hell and back in the process. I remember coming home from treatment, looking in the mirror and thinking: "I look terrible." (Related: My Lupus Diagnosis Was the Wake-Up Call I Needed to Stop Abusing Diet Pills)

It's something I deeply regret. My body had fought through and triumphed over so much but all I was focused on was the way I looked. It was heartbreaking, but it forced to me confront my lingering body-image issues head-on. It's something I'm still learning to deal with today.

One thing that's really quiet all the negative thoughts about my body is having conversations with myself. A part of that involved me tallying how many times I said something negative about myself on any given day. Looking at that number was a huge "holy crap" moment for me. There were some days when I said 50 negative things about myself! The comments could be a result of feeling self-conscious in my clothes or how parts of my body didn't look "perfect". Keeping tabs on my negative thoughts made me realize how quick I was to pick out my flaws and how unfair that was to myself and everything my body had been through.

Today, working out and eating healthy isn't about how awesome I look. It's about inspiring people to realize that neither illness nor your weight define you and that you're so much stronger than you think. That's what I'm trying to bring to this brand new season of The Biggest Loser as I work with contestants who are starting their own fitness journies...just like I did. (Related: The Biggest Loser Is Coming Back to TVand It's Going to Be Totally Different)

I want them to know that truly loving and appreciating your body is an ongoing journey, and it's something you have to work hard toward every day. I also want to prove that losing weight and transforming your life doesn't have to be complicated. My story is proof that taking it back to the basics works. I didn't make any crazy, drastic changes to my life. I just took things one step at a time, and the results followed. (Related: What I Wish I Knew Sooner About Losing Weight)

Yes, there will be barriers. I, for instance, have always struggled with binge eating. I still need to plan a weekly cheat meal because if I splurge on a whim, I'm scared I won't be able to bounce back. But the key is being in tune with your personal challenges, being honest about them, and choosing to make the healthiest decisions.

At the end of the day, your health shouldn't feel like a chore. It should be looked at as an opportunity to elevate your life and motivate you to be the best version of yourself. The journey is ongoing, but if you're on the path, you're doing something right.

Gallery: The 30 greatest flat belly tips of all time

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Erica Lugo's Personal Weight-Loss Journey Makes Her One of the Most Relatable Trainers - msnNOW

Shares of Weight WatchersInternational(NASDAQ:WW) jumped nearly 30% in the opening weeks of the new year, but the stock has since given back these gains and is down 6% as of this writing.

The company benefited from the seasonal enthusiasm that comes with New Year's resolutions and also spokesperson Oprah Winfreys 2020 Vision Tour, which kicked off in January. However, WW stock will likely continue to be volatile as the company struggles with sales growth. Competition is only increasing in the weight loss and wellness space, while consumers have ever-increasing options in the forms of websites, apps, and trendy diets.

Image source: Weight Watchers.

Weight Watchers saw declines in both earnings per share and revenue during the first, second, and third quarter of fiscal 2019. End-of-period subscribers increased during the year, but growth came from lower-priced digital subscriptions. For the companys higher-priced "Studio + Digital" option, which gives clients access to in-person workshops, subscription sales contracted during all three quarters. During the third quarter, Studio + Digital subscriber losses decelerated from double digits in the first half of the year to a drop of 7.3% year over year.

The wellness provider continues to battle competition from traditional weight-loss businesses like Nutrisystem, as well as from upstarts like Noom. The wellness and weight-loss space is highly fragmented with many individual online weight-loss coaches and wellness apps all vying to help consumers with their health goals.

For example, on December 26, Weight Watchers shares closed down 8.6% after competitor Tivity Healths Nutrisystem division announced its new customizable weight loss program based on individual goals, food preferences, and body types. The plans will be delivered via Nutrisystems NuMi app. The wellness company is also rolling out 41 new menu items to complement the debut of its new personal plans. Veggie lunch bowls and chocolate cream-filled cupcakes are among the new offerings.

Noom is another formidable competitor to Weight Watchers. It has attracted $114 million in funding from top investors, including Sequoia Capital, WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum, and Serena Williams. Noom announced on January 18 that it had signed up 55,000 people to its app on New Years Day 2020, and WW stock sank over 10% the following trading day. Noom has over 50 million users, and its revenue nearly quadrupled from 2018s $61 million to 2019s $237 million. The app-driven program boasts customized offerings for customers as well as access to a specialist who can help with wellness goals.

These major threats come on top of the abundance of individual websites and coaches offering weight-loss support and programs.

While Oprah Winfreys extended partnership and 2020 Vision Tour presented by Weight Watchers are positive for the companys brand, they're not enough to boost revenue or subscriber numbers. Consumers now have access to an increasing range of solutions.

Given this new competitive environment, WW will have a hard time returning to positive sales growth. While the stock trades at 17 times forward earnings estimates, below the broadconsumer discretionary sector, the fundamentals of the company do not warrant a higher valuation right now. And the recent volatility of Weight Watchers shares is likely to be just a sign of things to come.

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Increasing Competition Creates Problems for Weight Watchers - Motley Fool

Randy Jackson is opening up about his incredible weight loss transformation. In a new interview with People, the American Idol alum said he shed 114 pounds after undergoing weight loss surgery and overhauling his lifestyle.

His turning point took place in 2003, when Jackson hovered around 300 pounds, and the body-shamers didn't miss a beat.

I think it was season 2 on Idol," Jackson recalled to People. "You come in and they go Yeah dawg, youre telling me Im terrible but youre fat! And I would go, I am. I have mirrors in my house. I know! For a long time you see me on TV and people have noticed me in the past and I was struggling with my weight, then I finally got it off by using some pretty drastic measures."

After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes that same year, Jackson decided to make some serious changes to improve his health. The former American Idol judge underwent gastric bypass surgery before the year's end.

He also decided to switch up his diet. Growing up in Louisiana, Jackson ate sausage and grits, bread pudding, and beignets on the reg. "Food was always my thing because I grew up in the South where food and good times were king, Jackson told WebMD in 2008.

And a high-profile job touring with celebrities only made it harder to eat healthy: "After the show, everybody hangs out and eats and drinks," he said. "There are all kinds of sandwiches plus chips, cheeses, cookies, cakes, candy, beer, wine."

The star told People that after his weight loss surgery, he had to change the way he thought about food to keep the weight off. You have to almost have a complete divorce break up and start back bit by bit and find out the things that work with your body and you also find out the allergies and really pay attention to how you feel, he said.

Today, Jackson said that there are lots of fruits and vegetables in his house, and "we now have the corn without the bread. He recognizes that paying close attention to his diet is important to managing his type 2 diabetes.

Following his incredible weight loss transformation, Jackson wanted to inspire others to make healthier choices in their life too. He co-founded Unify Health Labs, a supplement company designed to help other people in their journey to get healthywhile sparing them the long confusing search I went through.

This is me sort of giving back, he told People. Something thats a simple solution because all of us probably have 50 bottles on the counter or 50 bottles in the bathroom of different vitamins and things that we take. The root causes of these certain diseases and trying to get your best health, it all starts in the gut. Gut health is really best health.

Like what you just read? Youll love our magazine! Go here to subscribe. Dont miss a thing by downloading Apple News here and following Prevention. Oh, and were on Instagram too.

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Randy Jackson Lost 114 Pounds After Being Diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes - Prevention.com

The Biggest Loser results in the biggest transformations.

Close to four years after the reality show went off the air, a revamped version is coming to the USA Network with more stories of weight loss and inspiration.

Hosted by Bob Harper, the show will give contestants the opportunity to exercise, make smart food choices and lead a healthier lifestyle. But as it turns out, losing weight is only part of the journey for these brave participants.

"The show taught me to find my voice," season 14 winner and motivational speaker Danni Allen shared with E! News exclusively ahead of the premiere. "The knowledge that I gained is remarkable. It's not about counting calories and going to the gym. It's about really making a lifestyle change."

The Planet Fitness advocate continued, "I don't think the scale tells you anything but your relationship with gravity. It doesn't tell you your worth or anything. The show helped me realize the scale doesn't tell me what I can do."

As for season six winner Michelle Aguilar, her weight-loss journey also included an emotional component that allows her to live her best life today.

"Being emotionally healthy is equally as important to me as being physically healthy," the proud mom shared with us. "It's hard to be open and vulnerable, but that's what keeps me healthy on the inside."

As we gear up for another memorable season of The Biggest Loser, take a look back at just some of the faces who not only transformed their body, but inspired the country.

NBC

After dropping more than 100 pounds during the course of several months, the season-four winner began teaching spin classes during his free time.

NBC

The firefighter dropped a staggering 116 pounds during his run on the show. That tallied up to 35 percent of his total body weight.

NBC

She took home $100,000 for going home almost half her size. Rebecca lost 139 pounds during her journey on the competition show.

NBC

Starting season six off at 242 pounds, Michelle got down to132 within a surprisingly short amount of time.

NBC

He clocked in at430 pounds on season eight, and was under 200 pounds shortly before the show finished.

NBC

Olivia went from 261 to 132 pounds on season 11 of the hit NBC program.

NBC

Like her twin sister, Hannah's progress was major. She lost 120 pounds while on the show.

NBC

After the death of her husband, infant son and young daughter in a car accident, Rike decided to make a dramatic change. She lost 100 pounds total, almost half of her body weight.

NBC

Starting on season eight as the biggest contestant the show had ever seen wasn't easy, but she managed to lose an impressive 172 pounds.

Chris Haston/NBC; Trae Patton/NBC

During season 14, Jillian Michaels' beloved contestant began her journey on the show at 258 pounds. She would weigh in at 137 pounds on finale night

NBC

The 24-year-old dropped from 260 pounds down to 105, losing almost 60 percent of her body weight.

The Biggest Loser returns Tuesday night at 9 p.m. on the USA Network.

(E! and USA Network are part of the NBCUniversal family)

Watch Daily Pop weekdays on E! at 12 p.m. and don't miss our 2020 Oscars preview special Saturday, Feb. 8 at 11 a.m.!

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See The Biggest Loser's Memorable Weight-Loss Transformations - E! NEWS

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Dr. Kristen Kells, DC, BSc, a Chiropractic Physician, is the founder of Dr. Kells Weight Loss.

She says the components of her program are simple. It's an all-natural, whole body approach that uses real food, pharmaceutical grade supplements, mineralized water and red light therapy.

Dr. Kells Weight Loss addresses the biochemistry and broken metabolism and even promises to eliminate those sugar cravings!

Dr. Kells isn't just the founder of the program, she's been through it. At her highest weight she was 200lbs, and she's a tiny little thing, just 5'1"! Now she's 80 pounds down and helping others do the same, including her client Roxanne Swift.

After just eight months on the program, Roxanne is down 48 pounds. She says before her weight loss she was sick and even had a hard time walking. Now she goes to the gym and walks on the treadmill! She says she feels great and feels she can keep it up for the rest of her life.

Dr. Kells Weight Loss has spots reserved for the first 15 Fox 13 callers... so call (385) 217-3834 now to schedule your free, no-obligation consultation.

For more information please visit; drkellsweightloss.com.

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No more weight loss resolutions this is the last program youll ever need - KSTU FOX 13 Salt Lake City

My name is Bri Blank Alexander (@bri.healthy) and I'm 27 years old. I live in Brooklyn, New York, and I'm a television personality and host, as well as a health and wellness influencer (though I prefer to call myself an inspirer!).

Ever since I was a toddler, I could eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. There were no real food-related limits or rules in my household. Neither of my parents ate healthy, and neither of them really liked to cook. Large, greasy takeout meals were the norm. I ended up developing an emotional relationship and connection with food that I don't entirely understand to this day, but food was definitely a source of comfort for me.

I continued to gain weight throughout my life but I didn't let it bother me. I had a bunch of friends and a loving family. I was happy, so I didn't see a reason to change. But there were struggles: not fitting into booths at restaurants, being kicked off of an amusement park ride at Six Flags in front of my classmates on a school trip, squeezing into school desks, struggling to keep up with my friends while walking, and so much more.

I consider this divine intervention, because I used to avoid the scale at all costs, even refusing to learn my weight at doctor appointments. When I stepped on the scale, I saw a number that I never thought I'd see: I weighed 306 pounds. At that moment, I knew that I could not keep living the way I was. I knew that I needed to make a change, for no other reason than improving my health.

I was living on campus at the University of Rhode Island (URI), so my first step was immediately researching healthier foods I could eat in URI's dining halls. I found that turkey sandwiches on whole-wheat bread with lettuce, tomato, onion, and brown mustard was a staple that I could rely on (and I ate it almost every day for lunch and dinnerand never got sick of it!). I'd usually pair it with a piece of fruit or a cup of chicken noodle soup).

I also started a private Tumblr blog to repost healthy lifestyle graphics and recipes as motivation, and to track my progress and food intake.

It became fun for me to track my food intake, especially because I started to see results quickly. The numbers didn't stress me out, but rather they showed me the truth about what I was actually consuming. Calorie counting kept me accountable and gave me a written food diary, complete with all of each food's nutrients. I continued to count my calories all the way through my weight-loss journey, even after I moved off campus and taught myself how to cook healthier foods.

Now, my meals vary each day and are often different than they were during my weight-loss journey. Recently, I've been trying to eat more intuitively and to eat (pretty much) only when I'm actually hungry, which changed the way I eat, too. I try not to snack too much because I recently realized that, many of the times I was snacking, I wasn't actually hungry.

My eating style is constantly evolving. I eat differently now than I did last year, and the year before that. I believe that change is the only constant in life, so I continue to experiment with my eating style as my life gets busier as well, and I try to have fun with it, too.

Now that I'm used to calorie counting, I don't have to do it every day. When first starting out, it was important for me to develop an understanding of the foods I was eating. For example, nuts are super healthy, but it's important to portion them out, because their calorie counts can rack up really quickly. I don't believe in eliminating foods, but I believe in eating in moderation.

So yes, I would track my slice of pizza, but I'd still enjoy the pizza and then I'd eat a bit healthier the rest of the day. After doing the research and getting the hang of calorie counting, it became second nature.

My schedule is very busy now, so I have to make time for my workouts. I first started exercising about four months into my journey, when I had already lost about 50 pounds. I didn't want to jump into exercise without knowing if my heart could handle it. When I started, I got a gym membership in my hometown during summer break between sophomore and junior year.

I began to teach myself how to work out using the little bit of experience I had using gym machines in high-school gym class. I would ask trainers for advice on things like proper form, but I never had a trainer myself. I also researched workouts that I could do and found ones that I liked. I also fell in love with Zumba classes, which taught me how to dance and showed me how fun working out can be.

Nowadays, I do lots of strength training and group fitness classes. I like to try all of the different boutique fitness studios here New York City. Fitness has become much more than a weight-loss tool for me; it gives me energy, it makes me feel happier, and it makes me feel so strong and so empowered. And every time I work out, I know I'm doing something amazing for my health. The looks are just an extra bonus. (I created a hashtag called #HealthNotLooks because I feel that it's so important to start any health journey with the intention of improving your health, and not doing it simply for appearance.)

With a ton of determination, dedication, and self-love, I lost 150 pounds in one year and 10 months.

I went from a size 24 to a size 10. But more importantly, losing weight changed my quality of life. I'm able to walk freely, even run, without strain or immediately sweating profusely. I'm able to perform normal daily tasks with ease and energy. I can live a healthy, abundant life that is not limited by my size.

Read the rest here:
'Calorie Counting With The MyFitnessPal App Changed My Weight-Loss GameAnd I Lost 150 Lbs.' - Women's Health

The longer The Biggest Loser went on, though, the harder it was to maintain this position. Though participants were reportedly forbidden from talking to reporters without the shows permission (and were warned about potential fines of up to $1 million if they broke the rules), news began to eke out about what happened behind the scenes. In 2007, the Season 3 contestant Kai Hibbard spoke out about the tactics shed used to shed weight before the finale, which included eating only sugar-free Jell-O and asparagus (a diuretic) for days at a time, and sitting in a sauna for prolonged periods to sweat out more water. In 2014, after the Season 15 winner, Rachel Frederickson, weighed in at an emaciated 105 pounds, a visibly shocked Michaels quit for the third time, with People reporting that she was deeply concerned that attention wasnt being paid to the contestants health. In 2016, Biggest Loser alums told The New York Post that they were given diet pills on the show, sparking an internal NBC investigation. (Producers, doctors, and trainers on the series denied all allegations.) Most damning of all was a wide-ranging National Institutes of Health study published the same year, which revealed not only that the majority of former contestants had regained the weight theyd lost, but that their extreme dieting had also permanently damaged their metabolism.

Read: Can television destroy diet culture?

Even after so much scrutiny, The Biggest Loser wasnt officially canceled by NBC in 2016. It just never came back. And, in the four years it was off the air, a lot changed. Weight Watchers pivoted to wellness, supposedly rebranding itself away from the hard focus of numbers on a scale and toward more general encouragement of health and well-being. Consumers became more skeptical of diet culture, and more cognizant of the societal factors that lead to obesity. TV also adjusted to the times. Dietland and Shrill premiered, deftly dissecting fatphobia and the self-hatred that products like The Biggest Loser subliminally encourage. As if to illustrate how anachronistic the NBC show seems now, Michaelswhose unfiltered, unflinching style was historically a big part of her appealwas broadly denounced for fat-shaming this month after making comments about Lizzos weight on a BuzzFeed show.

And yet, despite everything, The Biggest Loser has shuffled, zombielike, back to prime time, with a new season debuting this week. USA Network, the sister network to NBC where the show has found a new home, announced last year that in its new incarnation the series was going to offer a holistic, 360-degree look at wellness. In a panel at the Television Critics Association conference in January, Harper (now serving as the shows host) and two new trainers insisted that this time around, things would be differentthat the focus would be on health rather than weight. Which is both a funny comment about a series whose final 20 minutes still revolve around mass weigh-ins optimized for peak drama in a TV studio, and, it turns out, completely untrue.

Read more here:
The Retrograde Shame of The Biggest Loser - The Atlantic

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Tired of weight loss plans that make you miserable? Its no funand sometimes downright difficultto stick to a strict diet that keeps you from enjoying the foods you love. How would you like to eat what you want and still lose weight?

You can, with Noom.

Noom doesnt tell you what to eat and when. It doesnt cut your favorites from your diet. Noom doesnt make your sell meal plans or force you to eat things you hate. Noom restricts calories rather than specific foods. By setting a limit on your daily caloric intake, you can eat what you want and still lose weight. You just have to watch how much you eat instead of what you eat.

Noom is different because it treats you like an adult, holding you accountable to things like portion size. It does that through a supportive community of fellow Noom users, Plus, you get a personal health coach whose job is to offer guidance, advice, and help you make smarter lifestyle decisions.

Hold on a second. A diet plan that treats you like a grown-up, holding you accountable and putting you in charge? If Noom sounds groundbreaking, thats because it is.

Most diet plans are strict regimens that tell you what you can and cant eat. Many force you to buy into their food services. So you pay a bunch of money to get boxes and boxes of pre-packaged meals. You either eat themall the time, every dayor they spoil and youve wasted your money.

Sure, theyre healthy and good for you. And some of the food can be tasty. More of then than not, though, it tastes about as appetizing as the packing its delivered in.

Isnt there an easier way to lose weight, one that puts you in charge? Thats Noom.

Noom stands out because of its revolutionary and easy to use app. Log what you eat, and you keep track of your calories. Log what you do, and keep track of the calories you burn. Thats it. Just as in life, success, or failure, is entirely up to you.

Of course, Noom is full of suggestions and tips on the right foods to eatand which to avoid. But it doesnteliminate the choice altogether. It simply gives you the information you need to make a prudent, educated decision.

And if you ever have a question or concern, if youre feeling tempted or weak, just reach out to someone for support and advice. You can quickly and easilyand often immediatelytalk to any of the thousands of Noom users who are going through the exact same weight-loss struggle. Talking with someone who knows what youre experiencing can be a super-helpful tool in fighting cravings and urges.

Plus, youve got access to your personal health coach, 24/7/365. Your Noom coach is trained to motivate you, to assist you every step of the way. And theyre always there to chat.

Starting out, you and your coach will work out a daily calorie limit, as well as an exercise and fitness plan. Your coach will hold you accountable to put in the work and keep your calories down. Its not painful. Its not bland and tasteless. From Nooms perspective, its your diet, your life, and your plan. So its your responsibility.

By focusing on making smart decisions and doing the right thingand holding you accountableNoom helps you control the little things in life you can control. Like how much you eat.

After a while, making the right decision about your diet and fitness can bleed over into other aspects of your lifesay, your drinking or your relationships. Soon, thanks to Noom you could be making smarter choices up and down the board. Getting healthier and making better decisions. Putting you in charge of our own health. Thats what makes Noom different.

By controlling what you can, and being accountable to yourself, Noom helps you be the person you always knew you could be. It sounds too simple, too good to be true. But once you start seeing results, as tens of thousands of noom users already have, youll start to understand how Noom is so successful.

The Noom app, found in the App Store and Google Play, offers two monthly memberships: a Healthy Weight Program for $45 per month, or a Diabetes Prevention Program for $90. Theres no free version of the app, but Noom does offer a 14-day trial to start out.

Why not try Noom today? Take control of your life. Youre already an adult. Its time you started being treated like it. Eat what you want and still lose weight with Noom

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Eat What You Want and Still Lose Weight: Take Control of Your Diet with Noom - Men's Journal