I have been overweight since about the age of 8. During my twenties, my horribly unhealthy lifestyle of partying every night and being extremely inactive during the day resulted in me tipping the scales at over 250 pounds. (I’m 5’3).

In the summer of 2010 I heard that the Biggest Loser was holding a casting call in Omaha. But I didn’t make the show. Six months later, my mother finally talked me into going to check out his boot camp. I was welcomed with open arms by Marty and the amazing people in the boot camp. Since that day I have lost about 65 pounds…and that is only the beginning. I have learned so much about fitness, weight loss and nutrition, but most of all I have learned so much about myself. I’ve started playing sports again; I’ve run in 5 races and each time I shocked that I could do it! I feel fast and agile and it is such an empowering feeling! I feel like I can do, or at least try, anything!

I have also made so many amazing friends. Finding a community to belong to has made all the difference. We all can relate to each other’s struggles. I honestly believe that this is the KEY to helping overweight people take that first step. I just turned 30…and I’ve never felt better. I am so excited to see what the future holds!

Unlike most people I wasn’t big on trying fad diets. I didn’t yo-yo diet, I just consistently gained weight each year from the time I was born. A year and a half ago I was hovering around 400 pounds, extremely depressed, and had basically given up on life.

I heard about Marty’s SquareOne when he and Amy first moved to town, but at that time it conflicted with my work schedule. It took me a few more weeks to get up the courage, but I finally showed up for my first SquareOne boot camp on April 20th, 2010. Since that day, my entire life has changed.

I’ve lost 80 pounds and no longer have to special order my clothes (at my heaviest, even the plus size stores didn’t carry my size). I’ve completed races from 4K to five miles, done a vertical stair challenge, and will be be participating in my first triathlon. I’m studying for my ACE trainer certification so that I can help other people like me, and I’ve become a licensed Zumba instructor. Everything about my life has changed, but the biggest difference now is that I have hope. When I smile it’s a real smile, I no longer have to fake it. Instead of hiding behind fat and hiding in my house I get out and face the world. I take on new challenges. I’m not afraid to fail anymore. No matter how slow I run I am still running faster than the people at home on their couches. I am a work in progress, but I am making progress every day.

I struggle a lot with food addiction. I weighed 294 pounds at my highest recorded weight. As of my last weigh-in I was at 224 pounds. I am in shock every day that I have come so far. I now know that I CAN do this and I will.

Having the support in place, the friends that I do, and people that can help me who know and understand on a very real and personal level my struggles, it all helps me to be successful. The things I have learned from Marty and the SquareOne community help me to be successful. I have learned to be accountable for my actions with regards to eating. I have learned that I am not the only one who struggles. I know now that I can fix this with work, time, determination, and help/support. I also know that this is something I will continue to deal with for the rest of my life.

I know without Marty and SquareOne I wouldn’t be where I am now. I am a better mom and care provider. I am happier. I can do things now I couldn’t ever do before.

Since I became a teenager, I was always a little overweight. I was married and had two children by the time I was 25. There was no time and no money (and I thought no need) for me to get healthy after the birth of my children.

I left my husband nearly four years ago and continued to gain weight at an alarming pace. As of August 2009 I was tipping the scale at 298 pounds, had high blood pressure, my cholesterol was borderline high, and my blood sugar was being checked for signs of pre-diabetes.

In August 2010, I met Marty Wolff. I thought what better person to help me lose weight than someone who has been obese and had the knowledge about how to get healthy from being on The Biggest Loser. I signed up that night. I started beginner’s boot camp that next week. I started with Marty weighing in at 276.5 pounds. I have now been with Marty for almost a year. In that time I have lost 110 pounds in his program, my blood pressure is normal, my cholesterol is all within normal levels, and my thyroid is under control.

I truly believe that I wouldn’t have been successful on my journey were it not for Marty and the encouragement and motivation from my fellow SquareOne-ers and the community that he’s created.

Marty has taught me and reminded me that I can do anything that I put my heart and mind into. It took commitment, discipline, sweat, and at times tears.

Even with my medical condition that causes me to use steroids, I am the healthiest I have been in the past 10 years, and no longer have to take two different blood pressure medicines. Even though I have lost 80 pounds I believe my journey is not over. I choose everyday to be healthy and push myself to maintain. Thank you for all you have done for me.

When I met Marty I weighed 240 pounds. I decided that I was tired of being overweight and unhappy. I was determined to change my life. I joined SquareOne, and my life has been changed ever since.

Marty gave me hope, and he made me believe in myself. I truly felt that he cared about me and wanted me to succeed, and that made all the difference. Working out with Marty has made me strong. I have turned into an athlete. I became a runner, and I love it. I run races now and until last summer, I never thought I could be “one of those people who love running.” I have Marty to thank for giving me the confidence to achieve my goals. The support of my fellow SquareOne-ers is tremendous, and it makes all the difference in the world to know that they are there for me. If I can help somebody else along in their journey, I will embrace that opportunity. I decided that I wanted to change, that I am worth it, and Marty helped me achieve my new active life.

Before starting with Marty Wolff, I was in a pretty dark place. I weighed close to 550 pounds and I was depressed. It was painful just to walk from the car to the couch or chair at my friend’s/family’s houses. On the same day that my doctor and I discussed taking anti-depressants, my sister and I discussed meeting up with Marty. And it is a good thing I did!

I have been working with Marty for about three months. It is like night and day. Now I am actively pursuing a better life. Every day is the next day towards my new tomorrow. The greatest benefit of working with Marty is he provides a community of like-minded people who rally around each other to help everyone work toward their weight loss goals. They are a fun and accepting group of people who want to help each other succeed. I have lost around 50-60 pounds, but more importantly I have won back my life. When Marty and I first met, I told him that at over 500 pounds I could feel myself dying. It may take years to get to my target weight, but it took less than three months for me to feel myself living again. And for that, I can never repay him.

Since I was young, I was always “big”. I went from little girls clothes to womens to plus size clothes in just a matter of time. When I met Marty two years ago in May at the Health Expo that was held at the Civic Auditorium, I asked for advice and help.

Marty gave me a card with a “free pass” on it to go to his bootcamp. I went home and thought about it and I asked myself, “Am I ready to make a change in my life?” The day of the orientation came and I went, only to see other people there who were “big” like me. They were making a change too. I thought, “Ok, I can do this.”

Here I am two years later and 85 pounds lighter, but my journey doesn’t stop here. Yes, I have my ups and downs during my journey, but I am not stopping. Now, I am no longer in the plus size but in the fourteens. I am wearing clothes that I dreamt of wearing. I see my friends and families, and some of them ask how to do this… I sit down and ask them, “Are you, are you ready to make that change?”

I have never in my whole life been athletic or even moderately active. I have struggled with my weight since I was 10 years old. After the birth of my twins in 2005, I developed a host of medical problems.

I was in such bad shape that I wasn’t even able to go grocery shopping without driving one of the electric carts at the store. I was 343 pounds at that time. I was looking for something drastic to help me make a change in my life. I auditioned for the Biggest Loser, and that is where I met Marty. At that time, I didn’t know who he was or that the card he handed me would change my life.

I joined SquareOne in August 2010. I was 334 pounds. My new life started that month, and I have never looked back. This was a group of people who were big like me and going through the same things I was going through. With Marty and the SquareOne community encouraging me, I was able to do things that I never thought were possible for me physically.

With my one year anniversary of coming up, I now weigh 275 pounds. I still have more goals to achieve, but with the support of the awesome “SquareOne family” we have created, I have no doubt that I can accomplish anything!

I have gained and lost weight multiple times over the last 10 years. Since joining SquareOne in January of 2011, I have lost 54 pounds and have made changes in the way I look at food.

Marty’s program has given me the opportunity to work out with others who have the same goals and the same problems that I do. The workouts are cardio and strength based which has helped me become stronger. I have made huge strides both physically and emotionally.

I try to focus on fresh foods and all natural foods to fuel my body. I have never felt better physically. This journey has taught me to focus on overall health and well-being. Being around so many people who are supportive and have some of the struggles that I have, has helped pushed me further than I thought I could go. I feel so much better physically; however, I think that mentally I have made the most changes. I no longer see working out and eating healthy as a chore but rather as a way of life.

In May 2010, I signed up for a 16 week health competition in Omaha. Little did I know I would transform my life and become a completely new person! I was assigned to Marty Wolff as my trainer and from that day on, I started a new life.

There have been many great struggles along the way with emotions and eating. I went from eating over 4000 calories a day to cutting it back to 1200. Marty was there along the way to show and guide me on how to keep a balanced diet with protein, veggies, fruits, and carbs. Marty and my friends from SquareOne are there to support me during my times of need and still to this day they are my Omaha family. I lean on them for support and for fun! One thing to remember, “When it comes to your health, there is no finish line!” With that said, why wait till tomorrow when you can come join us today and start having fun!

My journey with Marty Wolff started six months after the birth of my son. I was suffering from Post-Partum Depression/Anxiety and had no desire to treat it with prescription medication.

Having been an over-weight adolescent and adult I had read many articles on the “natural high” that you receive from exercise. And who better to “teach” you than someone who can relate to your story.

With Marty I lost a total of 75 pounds and was able to complete a 5K. I have started a new chapter, and I am seeking that clarity and accomplishment I once felt. The difference this time is not about seeking destination happiness, but rather enjoying journey happiness. I have always said I started with Marty Wolff from The Biggest Loser; I stayed and have returned because of Marty.