inspiring

Ken Mink stands out on his Roane State Community College basketball team. Then again, a guy with thinning grey hair who is 50 years older than any other player on the court usually does. Meet Ken Mink, a 73-year old (that's not a misprint) guard who decided he had unfinished business to attend to on the court.

You may or may not have heard of Randy Pausch. He is not a traditional celebrity or guru, just a man with an encouraging and inspiring message.

With the Beijing Olympics right around the corner, there is the usual hype, controversy and politics that have become synonymous with the games. And while there will be some compelling stories, showdowns and drama - there will be a select few athletes for whom the road to Beijing was that much more challenging. Hopefully these stories will inspire you.

Most writing about models and diet tends to be negative - focusing on skinnyness, starvation diets, and eating disorders. I must also confess that the image-obsession and vanity that goes with celebrity culture leaves me cold - so I'm reluctant to devote too much space to how "celebrity-x got rid of her cellulite".

However - in the interests of fairness and balance - I recently sent a few questions to Nic Bezuska, a male model and personal trainer. Nic helped Mauricio Padilha of MaoPR lose over 180lbs. MaoPR is successful a NY public relations firm that has produced over 100 fashion shows.

As with other advice - take what you can and leave the rest.

Outside all the dramatic weight loss programs and hyped up testimonials - there are people who quietly go about changing themselves.

This story is very encouraging. I was excited to discover that Diet Blog played a role (again - reader comments on this blog directly impact and help people).

Eric's Story At age 22, Eric weighed around 230 lbs (height 5' 10"). He claims that he was "always a fat kid".

During a particularly stressful time with a terminally ill grandparent, Eric gained a further 30lbs. The reasons were not complicated: comfort foods, stress, and no exercise.

Then came a crossroads - Eric's grandparent passed away. It was now time to move on.

From time to time on Diet Blog, we will feature a "success story".

It's refreshing to know that there are people out there who (despite considerable hardship) still turn their life around.

Positive encouragement can inspire someone to make a change. The opposite approach is bludgeoning someone with fear and guilt - an approach that often backfires.

I was thrilled to receive this email from Lisa White. Lisa was inspired by the story of Jacob - the "400lb Marathon Man".

As sources of inspiration, these guys and gals are hard to beat. They've definitely turned their life around through a mix of careful eating and a healthy dose of exercise.

Now it's time to add your name to the list.

Some people have it tough, and others have it very tough.

Shannan Hutchinson is one of the latter. Shannan has Multiple Sclerosis - yet despite the phenomenal challenges posed by her illness, Shannan was able to lose over 90 pounds - by eating right and exercising.

Here is her story.

Jacob started his journey at 438 pounds. His goal is to run the Boston Marathon. He is currently just under 400 lbs and is chronicling his efforts on his site "What Would Jacob Do?".

Near the end of 2003, Rob experienced a "random act of violence" - he was held at gunpoint during a home robbery. The traumatising incident led to a serious bout of depression. Rob felt like he had lost control of his life. His comforts became TV and a big box of Cheez-Its.

Rob admits he has been fat his entire life.

"Long ago, I accepted the fact that I would always be fat." he writes.

At a height of 5' 2" - she was clearly classified as obese. As a teenager she had no shortage of peers who reminded her of the fact. Every other girl seemed taller. Every other girl seemed slimmer.

What followed was a journey through dieting, through eating disorders, through failures and struggles. Rene finally emerged as a woman of incredible strength - emotionally and physically. Here is her story so far...

Success stories are always worth reading - not only for inspiration - but to learn the real truth about long-term healthy weight management.

44 year old Susan Ray appeared on the Today Show as well as a number of magazine articles. She reached her turning point after being hospitalized for a severe anxiety attack. Over a period of 2 1/2 years she lost 85 pounds (her original weight was 225 pounds at 5'4"). "I realized I had to change my diet and my life," she said.