Weight Loss & Diet Plans

Secrets from The Biggest Loser

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Plagued by health issues — diabetes, a bleeding ulcer, and debilitating knee injuries — as well as years of yo-yo dieting (he has tipped the scales at 527 pounds), Ron underwent gastric-bypass surgery. It didn't work. Now he wants to succeed not only for himself but also for his wife and two sons. Mike is down 135 pounds so far, but 17-year-old Max is also overweight. "If I'd been able to tackle my weight when I was young, our lives would have been different," Ron says.

Next: See Ron's transformation

Ron Morelli

At-Home Challenge: Fast food takeout. "I was embarrassed to eat in front of people, so I did my bingeing when I was alone in my car," Ron says. "It automatically turned into every place with a drive-through window."

GH Strategies: "Given his health problems, Ron has a lot of reasons to want to keep losing weight. But to be successful, he's going to have to make a new rule: Only eat in the presence of other people," says Beck. "If he makes this decision and it's firm — no choice about it — he will eventually stop struggling with secret eating." He doesn't have to give up fast food, as long as he's with others (and picks healthy items). Beck has another suggestion to help Ron keep his resolve, especially during weak moments: "He should carry a 3" by 5" index card with him that says, 'I can eat in secret or I can continue to lose weight, but I cannot do both.' "

Originally published on May 18, 2009

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