I just wanted to say I really enjoy your articles.  This one was a fun read.

Having to lose weight is not fun but the key is that it is simple math.

Burn more calories than taken in = Weight Loss

Six months ago I embarked on a journey to lose weight.  I had gone to my doctor and I was concerned about the blood sugar becoming elevated and that gave me the spark to move in a positive direction.  It has been almost 6 months and I have lost 21 pounds.  This month I am getting my blood work done again to see if I have brought my blood glucose down to under 100.

Even without those results, I am already seeing and feeling the benefits of losing the weight.  I have gone from around 189 to 168 and do have about 25 more to go.  I am eating better (bring on the veggies!) and have been walking a lot.  On the weekends I generally go between 5 and 6 miles a day and during the week I try to get a couple of 3 mile walks in.  It is getting harder as the days get shorter.

Anyway, thanks for the great articles.  It’s nice to know you are there.

Ginny

Lower abs to come soon. It is a trip to see myself in physical shape for the first time in many years.. I only lift about twice a week, yoga, eat healthy, and walk up and down hills everyday.  My vision is to have a lean healthy body the rest of my many years on this planet. The way you set me up for success is such an amazing gift. By not accepting our restricting state of poverty and digging us out of the hole, to the gift of health and fitness, and everything in between. I know that you have changed thousands of lives through fitness, however i want you to know that i am one of them..We as humans are suppose to be lean and healthy!!!  It’s amazing living in the surroundings of nature how much easier the program is for me… Etc etc I am babbling now from my iPhone.

Thank you for being you!
Peacelove,

Adam

Blake

Your article on the ACS Wellness web page about “Obese is the new Thin” is by far the BEST article on weight issues I have ever read.  I think this article should be printed out and posted at every kitchen, restaurant, or any other place that prepares or serves food.

Thanks for a creative take on the issues!

Rick @ ACS

It is my thought that you are one of the best speakers I’ve experienced in Dallas during the decade; I would place you in the top ‘5’… Additionally, I think that most if not all of the folks at Nishmat Am yesterday, thoroughly enjoyed the time you shared with us, and came away with something positive. Thank you for visiting with us!

Of import, virtually everything that was delineated on the page in your presentation, “How to Determine if Your Metabolic…”, resonated within me. I need some help to do a better job taking off the last 14 to 19 lbs of a painful diet experience, and maybe in another area or two. Could you email me a copy of that page from your PowerPoint presentation? It would be greatly appreciated.

Of your books, which would best deliver additional information to supplement your program yesterday? I found the following on Amazon this afternoon: Larry North’s Slimdown For Life, Living Lean, Get Fit!: The Last Fitness Book You will Ever Need, and The Great North American Cookbook.

There is no bad news. You are a kind man, and seemingly a great son. Beverly speaks highly of her boys, and yall appear to have the greatest of Mother-son relationships; I applaud you!

We all have our stories; thank you for sharing yours. I am

Kindly yours,

James

To Larry and Staff at Larry North Fitness,

This is my annual birthday letter to all of you. For those of you who have come on board at Larry North Fitness during the past year, this is my 14^th letter of thanks to Larry for saving the quality of my life.

It has not been an easy year due to our business challenges in our country and to my chronic shoulder problems and spinal stenosis. But it has been far better than it would have been if not for Larry.

Fourteen years ago my life took a radical turn in less than 24 hours. I woke up on July 4^th, 1995 and all hell broke loose physically with no prior warning.

Within 24 hours, I was totally paralyzed, could not close my eyes, had double vision (2 years), could not swallow or speak, was on a respirator, and was on morphine – detached from the real world. When I finally left Baylor Hospital many months later, I still had a food tube in my stomach and could not raise my arms.

I had never heard of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, much less the Miller-Figher variant, and my morphined mind did not grasp it for months.

I almost died twice – once from pneumonia and once while on morphine, when I pulled at the trache in my throat and ruptured the major blood vessel.

When I was released from Baylor Hospital, I was skeletal for the first time in my life. All of my years of conditioning was gone.

I survived the 6 month ordeal due to the 13 hours a day that my beautiful Beverly was there with me, the support of our children and my mother, and without question, the personal involvement of Jesus Christ.

As I was going through outpatient rehabilitation, Larry North came to see me to ask me to let him rebuild my body and strength. He worked out a transition plan with my doctors.

I have been here ever since. If not for my foolishness in doing far too many pushups and ruining my shoulder two years ago, I would still be in the best shape of my after football life.

I particularly want to thank Tyler Herrin, my trainer for the past four years and Hash Raja for his work on my very bad shoulder.

I want each of you to know the debt I owe Larry. Jesus Christ and my family, and my doctors, and the staff at Baylor Hospital saved my life. Larry helped me get back my quality of life. You each work for a great man.

Sincerely,

Charles T.

I received this from a friend, and thought I would share it here.

——————————————–

Dearest  Larry,

It was wonderful to run into you the other day at the grocery store. You look marvelous and I am so glad you are happy. Congratulations on your falling in love again. Love looks beautiful on everyone.  I know we spoke of your looking at Technogym again because we do custom color frames and upholsteries, but the real reason I wanted to write you is because, gosh, 17 years ago??–  I sat at a dinner party while you told your amazing story of your brothers and your Mother and your Father’s struggles in NYC while you were a child. I was so touched at how instead of being embittered and torn down by it all, that you found silver linings of strength that became absolute invincible power in your will and soul. Yours is a story that should never stop being told. It can give so many that feel they are without hope, that one little glimmer they require to break free and move forward from their paralysis. Through the years, when I have seen or heard your name, I smiled at feeling honored that I had met you and heard your inspiring words. We meet many people along our paths, most slip away—but I expect you rarely slip away from anyone’s path. For that, and for me, I must thank you.

Warmest Thanks,
Martha N.

Larry,

I hope you are doing well.

I had to email you and let you know how your program continues to impact my life in so many exciting and positive ways.

On October 19th, I ran The Columbus Marathon. It was an amazing experience.  I finished in 5:28:31…which is less time than I thought it would take. The goal was to finish in under 6 hours, and my hope was to finish in 5.5 hours.  I paced myself very well during the race to try to prevent “hitting the wall.” I am pleased to say, I didn’t hit the wall because I had trained smart and ran a conservative race.  The best part of that was when I rounded the corner at mile marker 26, I had enough energy to sprint the last .2 miles down the chute to the finish line.  My Garmin told me I was running at under a 5 minute mile for that short distance.  It was so great!

The marathon was a truly life changing experience…one I’m so glad to add to my list of mid-life adventures.  It was rewarding in ways I don’t think I can fully express with words.

I started the race in a Clif pace group.  The group leader, Marie, is an amazing athlete…full of energy and stories.  I ended up running ahead of them after mile 6 because Marie was using Galloway (the run/walk method) which I had tried in training and found made my body ache more because of the pace variations.  So, because I was still running through the walk breaks, I got ahead of the group enough that I couldn’t really hear her, but felt her energy through the entire race.

One of the things Marie told us before the race was to dedicate miles to things and people that are important to us and those who got us to this point in our lives.  I dedicated mile 8 to you, Larry.  You were Mile 8 because it was 8 years ago that I bought your program, lost 60 pounds and changed my life for the better in so many ways I never dreamed possible back then.

The marathon capped off a great season and an incredible journey for 2008…starting in March with the Heart Mini Marathon 15k, Tri for Joe Sprint Triathlon in May, Fit to Fight Sprint Triathlon in July, my first Olympic distance triathlon in August, a half marathon in September and the full marathon October 19th.  I took up triathlon last year which was exciting since I didn’t know how to ride a bike when I decided to do it.

I am currently looking at what athletic events I want to participate in for 2009, but I know I want to do some triathlons and another half and full marathon.

The journey continues… thanks to you!

Thank you so much for returning my call.  As I outlined, due  to my mother-in-law’s declining health (she resides in Charleston, SC) and care requirements it necessitates for my wife and I, I will be leaving Southlake at the end of July. We are relocating back East. Therefore I request that my last date as a member of your wonderful fitness club be the end of this week.  I have been a member of Larry North Fitness for two and one half years enjoying every minute.  I work our at least 4 times a week…. I look and feel the best I ever have.  As part of my business career, I worked for Gold’s Gym International and visited every kind , size and level of amenities facilities across the country. Your facility is just wonderful with its fine Personal Training staff and, I believe most importantly, the best front desk person I have experienced in the business.  As you know, our business is about motivating and helping the member reach their goals. She greats you every time by name like you have just returned home after a long absence( at 5:30 a.m.)! and she always says when you leave “we will see you tomorrow, won”t we??!!” the best!

Thank you for a great experience and helping me move toward by goals! If I can assist in anyway in the future, please contact me. In the = meantime, good health!

Regards,

Ed P.

Dear Larry,

I just wanted to thank you again, wish you a happy holiday season and tell you about my latest progress. I couldn’t have done this without you and your program!

First, I have kept my weight off for seven years. As you may remember, I started your program in a size 16 and 175lbs. Today, my 4’10” body is 115lbs and a size 2!

With my leaner body and fit lifestyle, I have been doing some exciting new things I never thought I would do.

In October 2006, I took up running. I completed my first 15k in about an hour and 40 minutes in March of this year. After completing that event, I wanted a new challenge…so a personal trainer friend of mine who helped me train for the 15k suggested I take up triathlon because she said “true athletes cross train and do multiple sports!” This sounded interesting and fun, but I didn’t know how to ride a bike. Sure, I rode a bike when I was about 6 years old, but it had a banana seat and no gears and I haven’t ridden one since, so that hardly qualified. Well, determined that this would be a great challenge, I learned to ride a bike and competed in my first sprint triathlon in August, finishing in under 2 hours! I got bitten by the triathlon bug badly and love the training so much that I am now training all year long and looking forward to the 2008 tri season.

I couldn’t have done this without you! Your program changed my life. I feel great and am more fit than I have ever been in my adult life, even more fit than when I was thin and in my 20’s! My cholesterol, which was never high even when I was obese, is 155. My doctor is in awe! And the reason it’s so low is because of my healthy eating and exercising lifestyle.

I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am that I had insomnia that night and saw your infomercial. I cannot thank you enough for changing my life and making me healthy again. My former doctor couldn’t do it. She kept telling me for four consecutive years during my annual check up to just eat less and less and exercise more. Right before I saw your infomercial, she had me down to 700 calories a day and 1-2 hours of exercise a day. She was starving me to death and I felt horrible…tired all the time and physically exhausted. You gave me back my energy, my health, and gave me a new lease on life. I am forever grateful to you.

Everyone I know asks me how I did it. I tell them, buy this book called Larry North’s Slimdown for Life. I tell them if they follow the plan, they too will look and feel better than they ever thought was possible. I am a living testimonial the program works.

Again, thank you! You have given me back a precious gift, my health and I am forever grateful to you.

Sincerely,

Lauren A