By Pete Thomas
Season 2 At-Home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”

Last week I talked about “counting plans” and discussed why these types of diets can be ineffective.  However, there is another kind of diet plan called a “set” plan, and these can be just as bad for your weight-loss goals.  You’ve heard the saying, “Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for a lifetime.” Well, it is no different when it comes to your diet.

Jenny Craig and NutriSystem are set plans. These plans tell you what to eat for breakfast, what to eat for lunch, and what to eat for dinner. Because they are very specific, and they work well for a certain amount of time, they are very popular plans.

However, set plans do not teach you HOW to eat, they only tell you WHAT to eat. What are you going to do when the food that you’re supposed to eat is not available? Let’s say that you go on a vacation to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. What are you going to do when your special food that’s supposed to be refrigerated is not available in the Grand Canyon? If you don’t eat what’s on the plan, you’re not on the plan.

Another problem I have with set plans is that they never teach you to prepare your own food. You spend a fortune on the special food provided by the plan, but you never learn to make a meal plan, shop at the grocery store or prepare a healthy, low calorie meal for you and your family. So set plans have obvious limitations.

These limitations can sabotage your weight-loss goals and your health.  Avoid them. And stick around for next week’s discussion of short-term diets that go nowhere.

In the meantime, let’s continue this conversation on Facebook.  When you Sign up you’ll receive my free e-book, “Ten Tips from a Biggest Loser: How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off!”

I look forward to helping you reach your goals in 2012.  Whether you need a motivational speaker, teacher, coach or corporate wellness consultant—I can help.  Contact me at www.PeteThomas.com.

Remember, There’s a Winner Within you!

Pete Thomas
Season 2 At-Home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”

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About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.

A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomas.com.   To request an interview or inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

Forget Losing Weight—Instead, Get Healthy!

By Tara Cavanaugh, AAPS News Service

Pete Thomas knows a few things about losing weight.

Thomas won $100,000 after being a contestant in the 2005 season of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” a reality show dedicated to weight loss. He not only lost 185 pounds, but he has kept them off for seven years.

At a Jan. 12 Community Education and Recreation health fair at Forsythe Middle School, Thomas promoted his fitness classes and shared some of his tried-and-true tips for a healthy lifestyle.

First, Thomas asked the audience if they wanted to lose weight. He patiently waited as most in the crowd raised their hands.

“That’s a stupid goal,” Thomas proclaimed. “It just is. Because we’ve all lost weight before. Your goal should be ‘I want to live healthy at a healthy weight for as long as I possibly can.’”

Before being a “Biggest Loser” contestant,Thomas tried many weight-loss programs, such as Atkins, Weight Watchers and a church program called the Weigh Down Workshop, which he said he got kicked out of for non-compliance. Although some of the programs worked, Thomas said they didn’t work long-term because they only focused on weight loss.

“We all know how to lose weight,” Thomas said. “You cut some calories, you cut back on some foods, you exercise a little bit more, and you will lose the weight. The real challenge is: how do I maintain the weight that I have lost?”

After leaving the show, Thomas knew it would be hard to keep the weight off. He said many people who lose large amounts of weight gain it back within five years. So he set a series of goals: a five-year-goal, a fifteen-year-goal and a what he calls a “Jack LaLanne goal,” because the bodybuilder and fitness expert maintained a healthy physique until his death last year at age 97.

“Motivation by definition wanes,” Thomas said. “There’s not one thing that will keep you motivated for the rest of your life,” so people should continually set up new motivators. It can be as simple as wanting to fit back into a certain pair of pants or by meeting a friend at an exercise class every week.

“But just stating (a goal) isn’t enough,” Thomas pointed out. “I had to go about learning about exercise, learning about nutrition.”

Many people gain weight for the same reasons he did, Thomas said. When he was overweight, he didn’t understand prophings about losing weight.er nutrition and often ate fast food, gaining ten pounds a year as an adult.

When he was an obese adult, Thomas said he was locked into food habits he learned when he was young: to eat cheaply. His mother suffered from mental illness and he went in and out of foster care, even being homeless at times. Food wasn’t a matter of nutrition, but of availability.

The trim and toned Thomas, standing next to a life-size photo of himself at 416 pounds, has come a long way since then. But he admitted he still has to work at it.

One audience member asked Thomas what his favorite workout was. “None!” he sighed into the microphone. The audience laughed as he continued “My favorite workout is the one that’s over. Here’s the thing: working out serves a purpose. I feel great, I feel wonderful, it keeps me fit, but working out is just what it sounds like: it is work.”

In order to avoid weight-loss plateaus or boredom, Thomas changes his workouts every three weeks, varying the intensity and always keeping his heart rate up.

Thomas also shared a secret. Another audience member asked him if he had had any surgery to tone up loose skin. He looked at the audience slyly and said, “I’d like to say I’m the male model for Spanx.”

Thomas offers a pair of classes through the Rec & Ed department that teaches people how to eat well and exercise properly. Sign-ups are going on right now and can be found at the Rec & Ed website.

This entry was posted in Features, News and tagged Forsythe Middle School, Pete Thomas, Rec & Ed by AAPS News Editor. Bookmark the permalink.

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About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.

A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomas.com.   To request an interview or inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

If Your Diet Makes You Dumb, Ditch it!

By Pete Thomas
Season 2 At-Home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”

Recently, we’ve been discussing reasons why you should quit “dieting.”  Last week, we discussed how restrictive diet plans can do more harm than good, and we resolved to ditch those.  This week, it’s time to evaluate how “smart” your diet plan really is, and whether or not you should keep it.

Many diet plans are “counting” plans.  A counting plan is where you have to count something – it might be calories, or carbohydrates, or fat grams, or something else. These are good for restricting the number of calories or carbs that go into your mouth, so they have value. Atkins, The South Beach Diet and Weight Watchers are examples of counting plans.  Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever, is a variation of a counting plan, so I’m definitely not against the idea of “counting.”

However, I have a problem with counting plans if it doesn’t teach you how to count for yourself. It is fine to understand the “point” value of a product, but it’s better to understand the nutritional information. If you’re trying to lose weight, knowing the calorie content in your food is the most important information.

Here’s an example. In one plan, Progresso Light Soup is “zero points,” although it does contain calories. That’s misleading and counterproductive to weight-loss. So in my opinion, that plan makes you “dumb” because it doesn’t teach you the real life skill of counting actual calories–and the reality is–all foods have calories. Water and diet drinks excluded, of course…

Here’s another thing to watch out for. In some plans, you’re rewarded for any extra exercise that you put in. That’s good in theory, but there’s a catch. They reward you by allowing you more points or more food that you’re allowed to eat. This can at times sabotage your weight loss efforts.

Next week, I’ll discuss another type of restrictive diet—the kind that only tells you what to eat instead of how to eat.

In the meantime, let’s continue this conversation on Facebook.  When you Sign up you’ll receive my free e-book, “Ten Tips from a Biggest Loser: How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off!”

I look forward to helping you reach your goals in 2012.  Whether you need a motivational speaker, teacher, coach or corporate wellness consultant—I can help.  Contact me at www.PeteThomas.com.

Remember, There’s a Winner Within you!

Pete Thomas

———–

About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.

A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomas.com.   To request an interview or inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

Strategies for Success for Multinational Corporate Wellness Programs

A Follow-up to the 3rd Annual Corporate Wellness Conference & 2nd Annual Global Benefits Conference’s 2011 Educational Session

By Pete Thomas, Season 2 $100,000 At-Home Winner of “NBC’s The Biggest Loser

The Corporate Health and Wellness Association recently concluded its Annual event that took place October 26th-28th in Chicago, IL.  Another stellar event, it was sponsored by the Corporate Wellness Magazine, the official publication of the Corporate Health and Wellness Association.

At this year’s 3rd Annual Corporate Wellness Conference, I was privileged to design and facilitate a crossover session with the 2nd Annual Global Benefits Conference entitled, “Strategies for Success for Multinational Corporate Wellness Programs.”  Two of the nation’s top multinational corporations joined the panel:  Procter & Gamble’s U.S. Benefits Design Director, Sandra Morris and Hewlett-Packard’s Global Benefits Program Manager, Celina Moraes.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS

In this session we set out to share how to implement strategies in your company that will motivate your employees to make lifestyle changes.  From my experience coaching individuals and companies around the country in the area of health and wellness, I’ve discovered seven essential components for a successful wellness program.  In this article I lay out these seven principles and offer a few of the highlights from this engaging session!

In brief, here are the 7 components:

• Motivation
• Education
• Personalization
• Perspiration
• Collaboration
• Repetition
• Inspiration

MOTIVATION

First, allow me to define motivation as: something external that gets individuals moving toward a desired outcome.  Motivation can come from a variety of sources—including internal company heroes, recognition, and incentives such as cash, premium reductions, etc.

Sandra Morris, Director of U.S. Benefits Design for Procter & Gamble leads their global wellness program entitled “P&G Vibrant Living:  How to live vibrantly in life.”  In our session, Sandra indicated the necessity to include motivators like incentives to help motivate individuals to get involved in the company’s programs.  “We do have to motivate people to get engaged,” Sandra shared.  “They’re not going to do it naturally.  It’s just not human nature for the majority of human beings.  There are people out there who will do it automatically, but the majority of the people aren’t there.  So we do do things to motivate people to get on the band wagon,” Morris states.

CHANGING YOUR CORPORATE CULTURE

One of the less obvious ways a company can motivate its employees is by undergoing a “culture change.”  Sandra Morris of P&G shared how in everything P&G does, they attempt to “make their entire corporate reflect their commitment to healthy living.”  Two examples of the ways they have done that include making it easy to make better choices.  They have branded the healthier choices with the P&G “Vibrant Living” logo.  The stairwells also have the “Vibrant Living” logo.

From my work as a fitness trainer and weight-loss coach, I’ve found that individuals are motivated both positively and negatively.  Sandra Morris affirms that in her program, employees had the opportunity to earn rewards as a result of participating.  She went on to state that P&G then revised their benefits package to include an in-network deductible.  With this in-network deductible employees however, can completely eliminate that deductible simply by engaging in the P&G “Vibrant Living” wellness program.  As a result, Sandra indicates their engagement level increased 134%!
GETTING TO “WHY”

Inspiration is something internal that keeps individuals moving toward a desired outcome.  Each individual has their own reason(s) for wanting to get healthy/fit.  An effective wellness program must help employees uncover their “why”—which will in turn help the individual stay on track with their long-term health goals.

There has to be a point where an employee determines his or her “why” and then determines to be engaged for themselves.  But sometimes in order for a person to get to that point, they need outward accountability first.  I teach that there are four levels of accountability:

• Public  (large group)
• Team
• One other person (i.e.  coach)
• Self—self mastery.  You want your employees to get to this level.  You want your employees to get healthy for themselves.

WELLNESS THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE

Personalization is the next component I want to share.  An effective program should include a variety of offerings to fit one’s work schedule, family situation, physical location and unique personality—including group, one-on-one, online and in-person access points.

I happen to be 6ft 5 inches tall.  As such, my nutrition plan will not likely fit someone who is 5ft 5 inches tall.  They probably couldn’t follow my plan and maintain their weight.  Likewise, when designing and offering a wellness program it should contain a certain amount of personalization to fit the needs and nuances of your employees.  All employees should be captured in some type of funnel and receive your health and wellness message.

To illustrate this component, Sandra Morris shared how it’s important to think about the type of personal and group challenges you institute.  And include both physical and non physical activities —such as eating your required fruits and vegetables for the day.

A successful wellness program recognizes that “physical” wellness is just one component of wellness and offers program that reach the “whole” person.  Both P&G and HP take a three-pronged approach to “wellness” that includes physical wellness, financial wellness, and emotional wellness/stress management.

PERSPIRATION

A variety of exercise and physical activity is essential to an effective wellness program.  Your wellness program should include activities for every fitness level and promote progression as one’s fitness level increases.  Furthermore, an exercise program is a great way to help individuals transition from unhealthy habits to healthy habits.  Exercise also releases beneficial hormones as well.

Celina Moreas, the Global Benefits Program Manager at Hewlett-Packard launched “Winning with Wellness,” the framework for HP’s wellness program.  HP launched “Winning with Wellness” as a pilot in the US and has since launched in 33 countries, with initiatives in Physical Wellness, Stress Management and Financial Wellness.

In 2011, HP implemented a Physical Wellness Challenge under the “Winning with Wellness” framework called “The Global Wellness Challenge.”  This 12-week challenge was launched in all the countries, with 90 countries represented and 54,000 employees participating.  In total, 11,000 teams worldwide registered and participated in the physical activity challenge that measured pedometer steps, exercise minutes and weight-loss.

COLLABORATION

Success requires teamwork—Mentors, coaches, partners, etc.  A successful wellness program encourages “buddies” or “teams” and integrates collaboration into its design.

Teamwork is vitally important.  In almost every area of life, the most successful endeavors we’re engaged in involve teamwork or collaboration.  Yet weight-loss is the one thing we try to do by ourselves.
At Procter & Gamble, Sandra Morris and her team have “Vibrant Living Champions” throughout the company in various countries.  Similar to a “team leader, these “champions” are out in front of people talking about the “Vibrant Living” program on a regular basis.  The champions are also individuals whom employees can go to and share their ideas, etc.

REPETITION

Information about your company’s wellness programs and resources must be promoted frequently through a variety of mediums!

Through her experience, Sandra Morris of P&G has found that it takes at least 6 “touch points” per year for the employees to “get it” and know that the program is available.  Such touch points includes home mailings, email reminders, team meetings the company newsletter.

Both Sandra and Celina utilize company champions to keep the message in front of employees and they affirm that company champions have a very positive impact on employees.

Repetition also includes the strategic use of branding.  P&G’s orange sunburst represents their health and wellness brand—It is communicated throughout the organization and on all wellness related communication.

STRATEGIES FOR SUCCESS IN GLOBAL WELLNESS PROGRAMS

No matter what country your offices resides in, there are certain core components that a successful corporate wellness program share.  A successful program has the ability to motivate its employees, gather teams, personalize its programmatic and fitness offerings, lead employees to discover their “why,” and communicate their wellness message frequently and effectively.  Ultimately, a successful corporate wellness program helps employees make life-long lifestyle changes that result in healthier, happier employees, and a more productive workplace.

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About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.

A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomas.com.   To request an interview or inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

Looking for a way to keep your New Year Resolutions?

Pete Thomas Invited to Inspire Attendees at the  2012 Ann Arbor Public Schools Community Education and Recreation Fitness Fair!

Ann Arbor, MI– Ann Arbor Public Schools, Community Education & Recreation (Rec&Ed) is hosting it’s first-ever Fitness Fair on 1-12-12 to help you get on track for living a healthy lifestyle in 2012! Join us and featured guest speaker, Pete Thomas, Season 2 At-Home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Thursday, January 12, 2012, from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at Forsythe Middle School– 1655 Newport Road in Ann Arbor, MI.  This event is free and open to the public.

Rec&Ed fitness class instructors will be on hand to answer questions of which fitness class is best suited participants needs.  Demonstrations, raffle drawings, and hands-on activities will be available throughout the evening.

Any guests signing up for fitness, health, or wellness classes during the Fitness Fair (from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.) will receive 12% off their class fee.  This is a one-night only special offer for classes offered during our Winter Session, most of which begin in early January.

Guest speaker, Pete Thomas will take the stage at 6:12 p.m. sharp to get the crowd on their feet and ready to take the first step towards a fit 2012!

Also on hand will be Victoria Cendrowski, Rec&Ed Fitness Supervisor since 1990.  Cendrowski teaches various forms of dance and yoga classes and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance from Eastern Michigan University, as well as a Teacher’s Certification and Masters of Education in Science of Human Movement with an emphasis in Personal Training from Wayne State University.  Her professional career includes Dance Program Director, K-12 Physical Education Teacher, Wellness Trainer and producer of her own Yoga Pilates videos

The first 112 guests will receive a gift from Rec&Ed and become eligible for raffle drawings throughout the evening and a Grand Prize Drawing of a two-night weekend package at the newly remodeled Weber’s Inn including a spa certificate to Fran Coy’s Salon & Spa in Ann Arbor.

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Join Us!

Thursday, January 12, 2012

5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Free and open to the public

Forsythe Middle School

1655 Newport Road

Ann Arbor

Feeling Restricted? If Your Diet is Not Sustainable for the Long-Haul, Go Ahead and Ditch it Now!

Last week, I began a series on when and why you should quit a diet plan.  There are several reasons, but the first to keep in mind is this: if it restricts you, ditch it.

Most diets are not sustainable for a lifetime. That’s because they operate on the basis of elimination. Let me explain. You may have heard of the Master Cleanse (also called the Lemonade Diet because it’s made of maple syrup and lemonade) or one of several “Cookie” diets.

The Master Cleanse is famous among Hollywood stars because it helps people shed pounds quickly. On the Cookie Diet, which has understandable appeal, you have a cookie for breakfast, a cookie for lunch, and a regular meal for dinner. It’s very popular in certain parts of the country. And it’s true that these plans work for some people for a short time.

But here is the key: they only work one way – elimination. You’re going to lose weight from caloric or carbohydrate elimination. You’re not making any real changes to your life; you’re just temporarily eliminating these things from your body.

Understand, if the diet is not sustainable for you in your life, then it’s just not a good diet. You have to be able to stick with the diet in any and all circumstances for it to be long-term. When I teach my students the secret of “Modification, Not Starvation” they learn the tools for a lifetime of healthy eating. The bottom line is that you need to have a plan that’s going to work in your real life … for your entire life.

Next week, I’ll discuss a few common-sense diet tips in part three entitled, “Ditch It…If Your Diet Plan Makes You Dumb.” Because if dieting is bad enough, being dumb and dieting is even worse.

In the meantime, let’s continue this conversation on Facebook.  When you Sign up you’ll receive my free e-book, “Ten Tips from a Biggest Loser: How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off!”

I look forward to helping you reach your goals in 2012.  Whether you need a motivational speaker, teacher, coach or corporate wellness consultant—I can help.  Contact me at www.PeteThomas.com.

Remember, There’s a Winner Within you!

Pete Thomas
Season 2 At-Home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”

————-

About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.

A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomas.com.   To request an interview or inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

Happy New Year!

I hope 2012 is an even healthier year for you than 2011. No doubt there are some areas in your life that need to change in order for 2012 to be healthier. After practicing successful weight loss for seven years since winning the “At Home” prize on NBC’s The Biggest Loser, I still have adjustments to make. That’s because living a healthy lifestyle requires constant vigilance in our high-calorie, highly processed food culture.

One of the changes you might need to make in order to be healthy is to quit your diet plan. I can just hear you saying, “What? I thought losing weight was a good thing…” Yes, losing weight is a good thing. But losing weight PERMANENTLY is a GREAT thing. And you can do that this year, but you might need to ditch your incomplete, ignorant, or downright unhealthy diet plan.

Let me explain.  A lot of diet plans help you lose weight by restricting you from eating certain types of foods, whether they be carbohydrates, refined foods, grains, or whatever. Those changes are easy to make for a while, but good luck sticking to it for a lifetime. Other plans don’t teach you how to eat, they tell you WHAT to eat and WHEN. So if you find yourself in a different country or in an unfamiliar setting, you won’t know how to adapt and continue with your plan.

That’s why I like to call Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever a “nutritional” plan, not a diet plan. You need to change the way you eat forever, not adopt a bunch of temporary rules or buy a truckload of prepared meals. That way, no matter where you are or what food you see around you, you will make intelligent choices that lead to health and independence.

There are reasons to quit your diet plan.  In the coming weeks, I’ll discuss the top four reasons why you should in more detail.

Next week, we tackle find out the first reason why you should ditch your diet and start taking control of your life. Stay tuned!

In the meantime, let’s continue this conversation on Facebook.  When you Sign up you’ll receive my free e-book, “Ten Tips from a Biggest Loser: How to Lose Weight and Keep It Off!”  I also welcome you to drop in or join my SLIM U™ Boot Camp and Seminar in Ann Arbor, MI if you’re in the area.  Learn more at www.PeteThomas.com

Remember, There’s a Winner Within you!

Pete Thomas

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About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.

A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomas.com.   To request an interview or inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

Take it from us: You can lose weight, too

Michigan’s Biggest Losers offer tips as new year begins

By Cassandra Spratling, Detroit Free Press

For almost all of her adult life, Helen Phillips made one New Year’s resolution — the same one every year: “I’m going to lose weight.”

She would kick off the year with new gym shoes and workout clothes to match her motivation, but her enthusiasm would wear out before her new shoes.

Like many of us, she would end the year with no pounds lost or worse — far more gained than she had temporarily lost.

That all changed in 2009, when she became a contestant on NBC’s reality weight-loss show, “The Biggest Loser.”

Phillips proudly became half the woman she used to be — dropping from 257 to 117 pounds — to become the season’s “Biggest Loser” and at age 48 the oldest person to earn that top spot.

Other Michiganders have lost big on the show, too, including Pete Thomas, 43, of Ann Arbor, who shed 185 pounds and was the biggest at-home loser in 2005; Ron Morelli, 57, whose entire South Lyon family has gone from fat to fit since 2009, when he appeared on the show, and Carla Triplett, 40, of Detroit, who is 100 pounds lighter and still on her weight-loss journey.

All four of Michigan’s “Biggest Losers” now spend at least part of their time coaching, coaxing and encouraging others to lose weight.

As many people make America’s most popular resolution this new year, Phillips, Thomas, Morelli and Triplett offer their stories and tips to help along the way.

They all agree, however, that a key step toward reaching a healthy weight is to stop temporary dieting. Instead, decide to permanently change the way you live.

Secret is teamwork

Pete Thomas remembers when simply walking up a flight of stairs left him winded. He weighed 416 pounds.

If you’d told him he’d run a marathon one day, he would have assumed you were out of your mind.

But Thomas ran the Detroit Free Press marathon in 2006 and has run several half-marathons since then. He sees a triathlon in his future.

He could not have envisioned it before being a “Biggest Loser” contestant, which he calls the start of his new life. He lost 83 pounds in two months on the show and lost 102 more pounds in nine months at home on his own.

“I feel amazing,” Thomas says. “I even think sharper. I’m not sluggish in my mind or my body. I feel like I could hike the Grand Canyon and then come back and dance all night. You can’t do that if you’re carrying an extra person in your body.”

Thomas now teaches weight loss through a program called “Lose it Fast, Lose it Forever.” He works as a motivational speaker and corporate wellness consultant and continues to speak on behalf of the reality show.

“Your biggest tool is your mind,” Thomas says. “Stop lying to yourself. If you were eating and exercising right, you wouldn’t be overweight.”

It’s also vital to enlist a team of supporters, he says. “The secret sauce to success is the teamwork,” says Thomas. He recalls being on the verge of quitting during the show only to look up and see his teammates pushing through their pain, which fueled his determination to keep going.

“Motivation by nature is fleeting, but if you have a team of people pushing one another, you’re more likely to keep going.”

Keep goals small

The first thing Helen Phillips had to do before she could lose weight was believe she could do it.

She’d been fat so long and tried every conceivable diet — some more than once — that she had lost confidence in herself.

“You just get to a point where you stop believing you can accomplish it,” says Phillips, 51, of Sterling Heights. She’d pretty much given up trying.

“The Biggest Loser” showed her that she could succeed.

“Right off the bus, they have you exercising,” Phillips recalls. “I didn’t even think I could exercise like that. And I was doing it. That gave me confidence, and with each accomplishment I gained more confidence.”

The show also taught her something she tells others — set small, achievable goals. The thought of losing 100 pounds looked impossible to her.

Instead of thinking of losing large amounts of weight, think about a smaller number. Approach exercise the same way, she advises.

“If you can’t walk three miles, decide that today I’m going to walk three blocks, then four, five,” she says.

Pick one goal every day.

Phillips has made exercise a regular part of daily life. “I don’t let two days go by without exercising,” she says. Variety is important, says Phillips, who works out at least 1 1/2 hours each time. She goes to two gyms, walks when weather allows and swims, shoots hoops and ice skates.

She recommends that people check with their doctor or a nutritionist to learn how many calories they should eat per day to maintain a healthy weight and to lose weight and then to meticulously keep an accurate count.

“It really is calories in and calories out,” she says. “It can be done with support from others and control from yourself.”

Make time to exercise

You have to view doing daily exercise like taking your daily dose of medicine, says Ron Morelli, 57, of South Lyon.

“I hate it, but I do it,” he says. “If your doctor told you (that) you had cancer and you need chemotherapy, you’d make time for chemotherapy,” he says. “I make time to walk on the treadmill. That’s just what I do — at least five of seven days.”

Doing so and eating healthier — fewer fatty foods in smaller amounts — helped Morelli go from 430 pounds when he started on “The Biggest Loser” to 275 today. He’d weighed even more before gastric bypass surgery, which he had in 1995. Before the surgery, his weight had hit 532 pounds.

Losing weight has become a family affair for Ron, his wife, Becky, 47, and their sons, Mike, 21, and Max, 19.

Together they’ve written a book about their story, “Fat Family/Fit Family: How We Beat Obesity and You Can Too” (Plume, $15), published earlier this year.

In total, they’ve shed 650 pounds since the 2009 show — the same season as Phillips.

“The key is never giving up,” Morelli says. “Don’t let a slip ruin the day or the week. There are days — like during the holidays — when you’re going to overeat. So what? Get over it.”

In addition to preparing healthier meals at home, they’ve learned to make healthier choices when they eat out.

“Recently, we went to Frankenmuth and we didn’t go … for the fried chicken,” says Morelli, a retired South Lyon councilman. “Before, that was the reason to go to Frankenmuth. But you find out, there are other things to do there.”

Read the labels

Carla Triplett’s “ah-ha” moment came when she sat in a chair at Comerica Bank, where she’s a branch manager, and the chair broke.

That’s when she knew she had to lose weight.

Triplett, 40, of Detroit was among the 2009 contestants, along with Morelli and Phillips.

She was among the first contestants sent home from the weight-loss ranch.

That didn’t stop her, however.

Since being on the show, she has lost 128 pounds and is still working toward her goal of 170 pounds. She weighs 289 — still not where she wants to be, but closer to her goal when she started the show at 379 pounds.

She has become the spokeswoman for a healthy weight-loss campaign based at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit called “30 Days to Lose It.” The weekly Tuesday program resumes Jan. 10.

The main thing she learned on the show was the importance of reading food labels.

“You would think you’re eating or drinking a certain number of calories and not know you’re consuming three times that much because one package contains three servings,” she points out.

“Being on the show made me more conscious of what I was putting in my mouth,” says Triplett.

Triplett enjoys boxing and dancing because she discovered that by dancing vigorously, she can burn more calories than she does on an elliptical trainer. Boxing also burns a lot of calories and both are fun, she says.

“People stop exercising because they become bored,” she says. “I box and dance because I enjoy doing those things. Boxing also helped me get over the frustration of not being on the show.”

To keep yourself motivated, Triplett advises hanging a photo of clothing you’d like to wear someplace very visible.

“I’ll never be skinny, but skinny doesn’t equate to healthy and I can become healthier,” she says.

Contact Cassandra Spratling: 313-223-4580 or cspratling@freepress.com

ON THE COVER: Pete Thomas of Ann Arbor pauses next to a picture of himself on “Biggest Loser” in 2005, when he weighed 416 pounds.

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About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.

A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomas.com.   To request an interview or inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.

Biggest Loser Winner Pete Thomas Helps the City of Detroit Fight Childhood Obesity with Detroit M.O.O.V.E. Initiative!

CLICK HERE to see additional photos from this event:

DETROIT GETS M.O.O.V.ING TO FIGHT CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Councilman Andre L. Spivey declares war on city-wide youth epidemic

DETROIT, November 1, 2011-In an attempt to reduce the growing number of overweight kids in the city of Detroit, councilman Andre Spivey will bring together over 700 Detroit Public School 4 & 5^th grade students for a morning of fun, fitness and nutrition education at Wayne State University’s Matthaei Center on Friday, November 4, 2011 starting at 9:30 a.m. This youth rally will serve as the official kick-off for M.O.O.V.E. Detroit, a newly formed task force created to combat the crisis of childhood obesity.

M.O.O.V.E. Detroit is an acronym that stands for Minors Overcoming Obesity with Veggies and Exercise. A spin off of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign, M.O.O.V.E. Detroit was created by the councilman to address the growing issue of overweight children in the city of Detroit.

A new generation of children are being raised addicted to fast food and not being exposed to physical activity. Unfortunately, many elementary schools have discontinued recess and daily P.E. classes for all students guaranteeing daily exercise and fresh air.  Experts recommend that kids should have at least one hour of what they call moderate-intensity physical activity such as walking the dog, riding a bike or dancing to a favorite song.

“In order for Detroit to be a strong community, it must be healthy first,” said Detroit city councilman Andre L. Spivey. “As a legislator I fight everyday for the rights of our citizens but what am I fighting for if our children will not be around to inherit the hard work of today because they are too sick from various controllable diseases such as high cholesterol and diabetes?” Today’s kids are tomorrow’s leaders, but if they don’t adopt healthier lifestyles, they could be the first generation of children that will not live as long as their parents.”

M.O.O.V.E. Detroit will focus on exploring the root of childhood obesity in Detroit and tackling the myths behind health eating and exercise.  It will involve not only youth, but also the school system and the local grocers who supply the food to our communities. This initiative will act as a one-stop shop in the city for all things related to controlling this dilemma. It is a fact that children are spending too much time indoors, adversely affecting their health. Besides obesity, Detroit children are seeing increased Vitamin D deficiency, early onset of diabetes, reduced attention spans, increased aggressiveness, and sleep deprivation. Studies show that 70% of overweight youths already have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

The councilman has put together a jam packed morning with the goal of taking the necessary steps to curb the staggering statistics listed above. The youth program will feature some wonderful Detroiters who have dedicated their lives to health & nutrition.

Pete Thomas, the Season 2 at-home winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” will serve as the nutritional speaker for the day.  He is a full-time motivational speaker, teacher, weight-loss coach and consultant.  Thomas has been featured in People Magazine, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly and has appeared on, eXtra, ABC’s ‘The View’, The 700 Club and commercials nationwide.

Nutritional expert Lazet Michaels Boatman, a certified physical fitness expert and owner of the Life Center Fitness Facility in the city of Detroit is the author of the book “Workout & Worship” 8 Steps to Physical & Spiritual Health. Boatman is a Fox 2 Detroit Fitness Consultant and CEO of the “Working out with Lazet” Foundation, which has a program called “Get Fit for Prom…Get Fit for Life!” for high school students, currently at the (DIA) Detroit International Academy for Young Women High School. Boatman will be showing the children how to properly workout and stay physically fit during the school year.

The event sponsors and task force partners include Whole Foods, Health Alliance Plan, The McDonald’s Owners & Operators Association and Wayne State University. Individuals throughout the community including corporations and non-profit organizations have been invited to the table to help solve this plaguing issue.

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About Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas is the Season 2 $100,000 At-home Winner of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser.”  Since his win in 2005, Pete Thomas has evolved into an acclaimed motivational speaker, highly skilled TV personality, teacher, fitness trainer and corporate wellness consultant.

Thomas helps companies increase employee participation in their health and wellness programs and provides customized educational and inspirational health and fitness content for Human Resource, Benefits and Wellness Directors.  Thomas has also helped over 200 individuals shed thousands of combined pounds with his personally developed Lose It Fast, Lose It Forever™ 10-week Nutrition and Exercise program.

Dubbed, “Mr. Biggest Loser” by executive producers of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” Pete has appeared on ABC’s The View, The 700 Club, and eXtra, as well as being featured in People Magazine, Runner’s World, TV Guide, inTouch Weekly, Real Health and commercials nationwide.  A full time motivational speaker, weight-loss coach, consultant, and product spokesman for companies such as NordicTrack and HealthPlus of Michigan,  Pete travels and spreads his “Winning Principles” to organizations worldwide—both in person and through his website at www.PeteThomasOnline.com.   To inquire about having Pete Thomas speak at your event, contact Anita Lane at 646.450.6214.