November 5, 2007- Lori Tintari and Michelle May

Lori’s Success: 
Lori Tintari struggled with overeating for years, but she didn’t know how to address it.  Her doctor suggested she take an 8 week workshop on Instinctive Eating taught by another physician Michelle May, and it changed Lori’s entire outlook on food.  Lori is an RN and knows all about nutrition and could teach a workshop herself in dieting, but she learned that the real issue is behavioral and emotional and not about dieting.  She learned to eat when she was hungry, stop when she was full and address her emotions that triggered her to overeat.  Within a year of taking Michelle’s program she had lost 50 pounds and gone from a size 22-24 down to a size 16-18.

Michelle May
Author of Am I Hungry? What to Do When Diets Don’t Work
www.AmIHungry.com

Michelle May, M.D., a physician, author and recovered yoyo dieter, delivers her crucial and timely message with passion, energy, humor and insight that transforms the way her audiences view weight management.

November 12, 2007- Therese Slechta

Therese’s Success: 
Therese grew up eating meat and potatoes on a farm and kept her weight under control just by being active.  That changed when she started a desk job in her twenties and began eating unhealthy lunches and dinners.  Her lunch hour was her down fall, she loved eating fast food or going shopping.  She also became a closet eater  By the time she was 30, she was 215 pounds and wearing a size 20. 

She was inspired to join weight watchers, but didn’t see results fast enough, so she started walking a mile at lunch.  This led to more walking, strength training and then biking, swimming and running.  She not only hit her goal weight, she went on to complete an Ironman competition at 32.

Therese states “I feel like if I came this far anyone can do anything you set your mind to.  I came from being a couch potato to becoming an athlete and now I love life so much more than ever before!!”

November 19, 2007- Mary Foley
www.gobodacious.com

Mary's Success:
Mary Foley grew up as a tomboy and had parents who emphasized good eating and good health.  However nine years ago she experienced two divorces; one from her husband and the other from Corporate America, both of which she initiated because the relationships were ultimately unhealthy for her.  Mary’s ex-husband was controlling and demanding.  Her employer had worn her out from a “decade of adrenaline” only to hit the glass ceiling without a way to further grow her career.   When she severed both of these relationships she was exhausted on all fronts – physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. 

She can still remember the day after she left her corporate job.  She was sitting in her car and could feel an odd, warm sensation travel from the top of her head down to her toes.  All of a sudden she was weak and didn’t feel right.  It was as if the energy had drained out of her body.  It took her more than 6 months to fully get her energy back again.  Since then she has committed to taking care of herself.  She has continually and progressively added more things into her healthy lifestyle to boost her energy and immune system, including relaxation techniques, nutrition, massage and fitness.  As she’s gotten older she realizes there is so more of life to experience and she needs her health, agility and energy to do it.  She also needs it to fearlessly promote her ventures as a Bodacious Woman.

November 26, 2007- Sharon Lund
Her story is featured in this month’s issue of Oprah Magazine

Sharon's Success:
Sharon was in an abusive marriage and became infected with HIV/AIDS by her husband.  For the past 24 years she has been living as “HIV positive.” Her biggest challenge to overcome was forgiveness.  She also had to overcome anorexia.  She has done both.

She says, “I have a choice how I want to act or react to my situations. It doesn’t matter what challenges a person is faced with, there are always lessons to be learned. You can become a victim or you can become a person who takes responsibility for their well-being and happiness. I don’t take life for granted. A lot of the answers are within ourselves. I’ve embraced life and death due to all of my situations. Self-esteem and self-love is extremely important.”

Sharon has maintained her success, through a mind-body-spirit connection and techniques that have kept her healthy, well balanced, and given her a sense of inner peace. These techniques have also kept her alive.