DIET REPORTS AND ARTICLES

7 Steps to a New You

In 6 months, one couple lost more than 100 pounds between them—thanks to a life-changing, university-tested program, VTrim™. Here’s how they did it and how you can take the pounds off, too. by Joyce Hendley

7 Steps to Permanent Weight Loss

Jan and David Blittersdorf were so busy building their start-up wind energy company, NRG Systems, into a success, they didn't notice the pounds piling on. In June 2005, they signed on for VTrim and now they are a combined total of 135 pounds lighter.

David Blittersdorf has the tall, rangy look of someone who has always been thin. Having just celebrated his 50th birthday, he has a few more gray streaks in his hair than he used to, but he walks with a purposeful stride that makes him seem much younger and carries a lean 170 pounds on his 6'1" frame. You might never guess that a mere 18 months ago David was 80 pounds heavier. His friends called him “Buddha” and in clinical terms, he was obese.

VTrim wasn’t a fad diet or a magic bullet or potion. It was just common sense.”

Jan Blittersdorf, 47, David’s wife of 23 years, is what some might call “statuesque.” At 5 feet 10 inches tall and around 145 pounds, she’s not the same woman who once combed the plus-size racks in clothing stores. “I went from a plus-size 2X to a size 12,” says Jan, who lost 55 pounds over a year and a half. Now, “instead of looking for camouflage,” she shops for form-fitting clothes.

What happened was a transformation neither Jan nor David could have imagined. The Vermont-based couple, who just couldn’t see themselves drinking slimming shakes or attending weight-watching meetings, reinvented themselves—literally—with the help of an innovative weight-loss program that skipped the gimmicks. Instead, the VTrim program focused on helping the Blittersdorfs change the behaviors that put on the pounds in the first place. “VTrim wasn’t a fad diet or a magic bullet or potion,” says Jan. “It was just common sense.”

VTrim was developed by Jean Harvey-Berino, R.D., Ph.D., a nationally recognized weight-loss researcher at the University of Vermont and an EatingWell Nutrition Advisor. Her concept is based on behavior change: a systematic shaping of daily habits to help people move more and eat less. VTrim’s focus on everyday strategy sets it apart from conventional weight-loss plans. “Most diets tell you what to do but not how to do it,” says Harvey-Berino. “They don’t provide you with a plan for the long term.”

Harvey-Berino developed the strategies and tools that the Blittersdorfs used in their weight-loss journey. She then worked with EatingWell to adapt them into a book published by Countryman Press—The EatingWell Diet. The book lists the 7 essential steps the Blittersdorfs and other VTrim participants took toward achieving healthy weight loss and adds in a 28-day menu plan and nearly 100 recipes from the EatingWell Test Kitchen.

The Blittersdorf's first step to losing weight was to make sure that they were ready to change. Read more to find out how they lost 100lbs between them in only 6 months.

Explore The EatingWell Diet in depth.

Buy The EatingWell Diet now and get a FREE 28-day Food Diary!

Stay current with the latest issue of EatingWell. Subscribe Risk-Free Now!

More EatingWell Resources:

Advanced Healthy Recipes Search
Today's Featured Recipes
100 + Healthy Recipes Collections
EatingWell Homepage: News, Recipes, Health
EatingWell's BEST Menu Ideas

USER COMMENTS — Add Your Comment

NO USER COMMENTS

EATINGWELL EDITORS' PICKS

6 Tips for a Healthier Thanksgiving
Our secrets for a healthy and flavorful holiday meal.
Quick & Healthy Dinners!
Delicious meals from start to finish in 15-30 minutes.
Healthy Diet Recipes
These are great choices for healthy weight control and weight loss.
Free Desktop Wallpaper !
Gorgeous EatingWell photos to personalize your computer screen.