The video below highlights a young girl’s inspiring story of weight loss after starting her life as an obese child.
Breanna’s transformation is nothing short of incredible. The before and after pictures are shocking particularly when you consider her young age.
Breanna weighed 100 pounds in kindergarten. Her weight soared to over 180 pounds by age 9. Classmates teased her regularly. Her childhood had become what every parent dreads for their children.
Fortunately, Breanna’s parents decided it was time to change. They modified her diet and started her on a regular exercise program. In the time since, she has lost over 60 pounds. Classmates no longer tease her. Breanna is able to play sports and enjoy an active life the way all youngsters should.
There are several positives that we can take from her story. Perhaps most importantly, it is great to see parents step up to the plate to elicit the change that is necessary for their children. Breanna’s story also delivers a valuable reminder that almost any course of action can be successful if the individual is diligent and consistent.
Breanna’s parents did not follow any revolutionary exercise or diet plans. Their approach was quite simple. They cut back on her caloric intake and increased her activity. In fact, after hearing about her diet, my initial reaction was that I would probably do things differently. Fortunately, my opinion regarding her diet means nothing. She has been successful with her approach and that’s what matters the most.
As for her success with a simplistic approach, it is no surprise to me. Over the years, I have chronicled numerous weight loss stories that utilized similar methods. One of the more popular examples can be seen below:
Yet another popular example comes from a man who took to bike riding to lose over 200 pounds.
I could go on and on with similar stories. Within each, you’ll notice success with what could be described as an overly simplistic approach. The success therefore doesn’t stem from the specifics of the exercise regimen, but more from the effort, sacrifice, and consistency put forth by the individual. It is these individual variables that spark the true change.
Similar points were discussed in another recent entry.
Once you are committed and determined to change, you can succeed with almost anything. Don’t get lost in paralysis by analysis. Recognize that you won’t have all of the answers on day one. You will learn as you go. It is all part of the process, whether your goals are weight loss, muscle gain, or anything in between.
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“Action is the foundational key to all success.” – Pablo Picasso
Shame he cut mom off when she was detailing how the little girl was still gaining weight despite the addition of the swimming and the other changes. I want to know what they did after that. What really turned this around… Is the solution just to pile on more and more exercise? Did they tweak more food out of their diet? Both? Neither?
Great post, Ross.
I think I’d find it more inspirational if I was overweight myself, but still, distinction to the girl for her achievement!
I’m probably not the first in thinking this, but I guess the parents are the place to start when you’re dealing with overweight kids, what they did was so simple, but the result was priceless. Anything saying ‘Lose weight, kids’ should now be ‘Help your kids lose weight..’. (I’m saying this from assumption, not from fact, in case you think I’m off the hook haha)
Bless her heart! Way to go, parents! Heartwarming family story. (applause)
I’ve been through a hell of a lot in my life over the last twelve years or so. I contacted you years ago, Ross, with sincere intentions of changing my life and getting fit. You were patient and sincere, and I tried to take what you gave me and build a new life. But I have this tendency to analyze everything to death; to try to change everything all at once.
In the last few years, I’d basically given up. But lately, I’ve found focus. I’ve had to confront a lot of tough things from my childhood over the last decade, and I’m still confronting those things today. But I’m coming around here again. I’m looking for concrete actions to take.
I’ve sniffed around Dragon Door and Convict Conditioning. Mark’s Daily Apple and The Primal Blueprint. In the end, it’s your work, Ross, and your efforts to be an authentic and principled voice in the racket that is often the fitness industry, that continues to be the most compelling.
Your highlighting of stories like Breanna’s and the simple message you continually put forth here based off of those stories are the things I need to remember. That this little girl had the courage to take control of a situation that had spun out of control gives me hope that I can do the same.
I will take some lessons away from other sources around the net, but this is the place where I intend to come in my efforts to pick myself up off the mat and try again.
Thank you, Ross and Breanna.
I’m a firm believer in diet being actually more important than exercise when it comes to losing weight. Of course exercise can become a friendly ally in helping lose those pounds not to mention building your body and strengthening the heart and lungs. Congrats to Breanna, and a big pffft to those little butt wipes that teased her. That’s showing them Breanna!!
Its great to see what Breanna did but healthy diet and exercise is really a given for any person, why do the parents get need to be congratulated for letting their child get to 180pounds. It is good to see them finally step up to the plate though and set things right.
I have to say that I agree with Brad. As a parent you control what your child eats and how they spend their time, especially at Breanna’s young age. I don’t wish to take anything at all away from her achievements but surely her wait gain could have been halted much earlier.