Success Story I started the Michael Thurmond Six Week Body Makeover program on May 27, 2003. I went from 236 pounds to 132 in 36 weeks and from a size 24 to a size 6. When I started, I only dreamed about sitting here one day writing a story about how successful this program has been. More importantly, I never dreamed that this would be more than a weight loss program, but a way of life. I have people ask me every day how I did it, and my response is normally, “hard work and commitment”. Their next question is “What diet are you on, the Atkins?” I politely tell them no that I used the MT 6WBMO. They ask me how it works and I tell them. They immediately say I could never do that. I tell them it is all in your mind. If you really want to lose the weight you will try this program. However, it is not just about losing weight, it is about changing your lifestyle. That is why I said I never would have dreamed that this program would have helped me to do more than just lose the weight. I can remember back to the infomercial that I saw in May when I decided to start this program. The lady said, they should change this program name to “The ONE”, because it works. I feel that way every day. On this program I lost a total of 104 pounds and 91 inches. I lost 26 pounds in the first six weeks and used the SMART technique during weeks 3-9. I was in the Army for 12 years before moving here to Wisconsin. I struggled with weight control while I was in the Army, afraid to get on the scale every six months when we had our Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). Some units I was in, we weighed every month. I hated even walking by a scale; I would get nervous that I would be overweight. I was always over the screening table weight, but always met the body fat percentage. I think the only way I did that was the mandatory exercises of running daily, push-ups and sit-ups. I can remember telling my soldiers that were on the overweight program that we did this so that the discipline would carry over for life. I never realized I would be the one getting out of the Army and gaining 70 pounds because I decided not to exercise any more and turn to a sedentary lifestyle. I wish I had the tools that the Michael Thurmond program gave me when I was in the Army. For one, I could have started this lifestyle many years ago and secondly, I could have passed it on to the many soldiers who ended up having to leave the Army because they could not meet the Height/Weight standards. This program could have helped many excellent soldiers whose only downfall was that they did not know how to control their eating in order to lose the weight. About nine months ago our local newspaper editor came to interview me for a story that was published on Wednesday, November 26, 2003. She asked me why I decided to lose weight and what was the motivating factor and how did I choose this program. I had seen the infomercial back in May and remember so many of the ladies who told their story in tears. I never thought I would be sitting here 6 months later telling my story to the local newspaper in tears. I had tried every diet there was and every quick fix diet pill there was. None of them worked. I was successful about ten years ago using Herbal Life, but gained it all back plus another 70 pounds. I needed something that was going to be for life. I think that is what caught my eye in the commercial. Once I ordered the program I could not wait to start. The program said to wait until Monday, so I went and visited my Brother and his wife along with my four-year-old niece. My niece means so much to me because she is the only one I have, and I have no children of my own. That weekend we were sitting at a Denny’s eating breakfast and she had a placemat and began to draw a picture of Aunt Cindy with her crayon. She said we have to draw a big belly, because Aunt Cindy has a big belly. That nearly broke my heart, but she was right, and I knew that I really had to try and stick with this plan if it worked, because that is not how I want my niece to remember me. I think of that day a lot and it keeps me motivated. I saw her a few weeks ago for the first time in a few months. She looked up at me and said “are you the real Aunt Cindy?” and I almost broke into tears. I am so happy that I saw that infomercial back in May, so that I can live my life knowing that I will be able to pass this on to so many others. I hope that telling my story and being a prominent figure in the public (Director of Parks and Recreation for the City) I can motivate others to think about changing their lifestyle and becoming a more balanced individual like I have. That is what the Michael Thurmond Program has done for me and my community. Thousands of people will pick up the newspaper next week and read my story, and if one person says “if she can do it, so can I”, then the story was worth being told, however, personal it was. The reason I chose this program I believe is because I prayed so much about gaining the strength to lose weight that God put that commercial in front of me at the right time. It was his intervention, and I am glad that he did.