Growing up overweight, Wally was taunted endlessly by his peers. He was that kid you always hear about, the one who always gets picked last for sports teams. As an adult, Wally's weight is an issue that sometimes hurts his career in sales. Lunch meetings can be awkward if there aren't chairs designed to fit his needs. Standing too long during presentations also tends to be a challenge. Wally is motivated to lose weight for himself and his family. Inspired by a daughter who was born with hearing ... Read more »

Rachel has sometimes been known as the "friendly fat girl." She admits that she's the only person in her family who struggles with weight issues. Growing up, she'd come home crying nearly every day, talking about how the kids in her class wouldn't stop making fun of her because of her weight. By the time she was eight years old, she was by far the biggest kid in her class. Rachel was always active, competing in sports and playing outside—but she loved food. The years went by and the pounds wer ... Read more »

Krista became an emotional eater after her dad passed away when she was eight. She has a young daughter who has been plagued with health issues. Even with all this hardship, Krista remains a lively person who loves to meet new people. She used to be fairly active and she even played softball in high school. But lately she only has the energy to do daily tasks and care for her child. Krista is ready for a change. She wants to learn how to start living instead of just existing. She hopes to one d ... Read more »

Dana is a guy who had hoped to qualify for gastric bypass surgery. That didn't happen. This left him feeling hopeless and alone. That's too bad, as Dana is someone who has been known as the life of the party. He's adored by just about everyone he meets. Dana has been known to make two or three trips a night to his favorite fast food spots. This likely stems from a feeling of loneliness. As youth counselor, we have feeling he's already pretty good with kids. Now we're hoping he gets great at taki ... Read more »

Overweight for as long as he can remember, Tony attributes his nutritionally unhealthy lifestyle and food addiction to his unstable family life throughout his childhood. From the time he was 14, he supported himself by shoveling snow and working at a local fast food restaurant. He would overeat at work because he never knew where his next meal would come from. At 21, he and his first wife had a severely handicapped child, and those stresses pushed him towards food for comfort. He rose through th ... Read more »

At 27 years old, and 435 pounds, Nyla knows she needs to change the way she eats and lives. The younger of two girls, Nyla was raised living a Louisiana lifestyle. Food was an important part of every occasion, and was often fried, buttery and creamy--and she learned to cook at an early age. She had a modest upbringing and was raised entirely by her single mother. Her father was never in the picture, and at the age of 21 she tried to contact him, but he never reciprocated. As a young child, Nyla ... Read more »

A devoted husband and father of two young sons, it seems as though Jonathan has everything one could want in life. Unfortunately, he lacks the most integral piece -- his health. At only 30 years of age, this former athlete weighs 543 pounds. Jonathan fears he only has a handful of years left to spend with his family. Determined not to leave his wife a single mother and his children fatherless, he reaches out to trainer and transformation specialist Chris Powell. He hopes with Chris' assistance t ... Read more »

At 14 years old, Jacqui was a bright and talented teenager with a future full of promise. But one night at a party a boy attacked her, and that event changed her life. She kept the incident a secret and, not knowing how to deal with the pain and stress, turned to food to help her cope. By the time she was a high school senior, she was 100 lbs. overweight and continued to gain. When she meets trainer and transformation specialist Chris Powell, she weighs 355 lbs. and is working at a health and we ... Read more »

Chris Powell exploded onto the fitness scene with his unorthodox approach, becoming a pioneer for a new hybrid of fitness professionals. He captured national attention with the largest and fastest natural weight loss ever documented, transforming the life of David Smith, who lost 401 lbs. in 26 months. It was Chris' unyielding dedication to another that captured the heart of America, as he shared his story on such national shows as The Oprah Winfrey Show, 20/20, The View, as well as a one-hour d ... Read more »