's motd Friday Oct 3, 2008

[Guest guest]

MY BIG NEW ORLEANS SURPRISE

Friday, 03 October 2008

On my Cruise To Lose last April, my brother, Lenny and his wife, , joined us at sea. Now the two of them love food just as much as me. And over the years, I've watched them both lose weight and gain weight and lose...well, you get the picture.

When they came on this year's cruise, they were both pretty much at the heaviest weights they'd been at in quite a long time. Of course, I've had talks with them both about their weight a few times. And yes, they'd work at losing weight for a while but, after a while, would both go back to their old ways of eating.But toward the end of our cruise, the two of them came up to me to say, "We get it this time, . We're definitely going to take better care of ourselves when we get home."After hugging them both, I let them know that I would be there to help them in any way!Now every week since the cruise, I've talked to Lenny and and they would tell me how they were eating healthier meals and working out regularly at the gym. I never really pushed the subject. I just always told them how proud I was of them both and to keep going! Lenny and never told me how much weight they'd lost. And I didn't want to pry, you know, adding pressure, so we just never discussed numbers.

Well, last Friday night, Lenny, and I met for dinner at our longtime family favorite, Arnaud's restaurant in the French Quarter. And I've gotta tell you, when I saw them, I just about dropped to the floor! There was my brother and his wife both looking so unbelievable! Lenny had lost 41 pounds and several inches from his waist while had lost 31 pounds and had dropped a few dress sizes. Wow!Not only that but their skin looked fabulous, their eyes sparkled and they had an aura of energy about them. I was just so proud! told me that she was doing water aerobics and line dancing while Lenny was hitting the gym, walking the treadmill and doing toning exercises every week.At dinner that evening, they split an entree. (So cute!) They told me that their weight-loss efforts worked so well this time around because they did it as a couple. This was the first time they'd really lost weight together, as a team. See, in the past, they'd worked at losing weight independently of each other. But when they'd done it that way before, their efforts had no real staying power.

Now I have to tell you a really cute story. Lenny and came up to my hotel room on Saturday right before class to change into their workout clothes. Lenny went into my bedroom to change and he came out in a pair of cute bicycle shorts but was wearing a shirt he'd worn when he was at his heaviest."Lenny! You can't attend my class looking like that." I shouted! "It looks just horrible on you. Here, take one of my T-shirts, try it on and see how it fits."Well, Lenny looked at me a little strangely as his eyes seemed to say to me, "Oh, I'll never fit into that shirt!"But you know what? Lenny tried the shirt on and, hey...it fit him perfectly!

I have to admit that I shed a little tear over my brother being able to wear my T-shirt. And I could see how proud he was of himself, too. I'm suggesting that after he and reach their goals that they teach a couple of weight-loss programs at East Jefferson Hospital near where they live. (I've worked with East Jefferson in the past so I know they have an excellent wellness/fitness program.) And who knows...they may just do it!Congratulations Lenny and ! And to all of you reading this message today, I hope that my brother and his wife's story will help motivate you!Love,