'Dateline' diet challenge: Reunion time

Lorri's weight loss story
High school wallflower Lorri Pecoraro hoped to lose 50 pounds with the help of Oprah's famous weight loss coach, Bob Greene – who does not like the word diet. His approach requires exercise a minimum of five days a week. He also told Lorri to stop eating 2-3 hours before bed, drink at least six glasses of water daily and alcohol and caffeine were forbidden. For now he did not want her to weigh herself. But that's just the start. The focus would also be on self esteem issues.

Lorri first met Bob on his turf, Santa Barbara, where he told her that often overweight people believe they don't deserve to be a thin attractive person. So he and Lorri will dig deep to explore the core truths of her life. Back home, Lorri immediately took to the exercise, and dropped her late night snacks. After two weeks her clothes were fitting better. As time went on she made some more changes. In fact, the wallflower went on strike, forcing her husband to pitch in around the house. But the new order had taken a toll. Her husband, Rich, said her new focus was taking time away from him.

LORRI'S DIET DIARY Breakfast Shredded wheat cereal Or bacon and eggs Or whole grain bagel with cream cheese and banana Lunch Salad with dark greens and fruit Or ham and cheese sandwich on whole grain bread, fruit, always a yogurt Or soup, either a clear broth or tomato based and a salad Always water Dinners Small portion (4oz protein), 1/2 cup of pasta, always a vegetable Burgers without the bun or turkey meat without the bun, salsa on top, grainy mustards Always water Snacks Yogurt, piece of fruit, handful of nuts, pretzels and water Treats Ice cream bar, one cookie or slice of pie at church Exercise Worked up to six days week, an hour a day, starting with 10 minutes a day Began with treadmill and moved to the elliptical machine Greene also recommends power walking, stair climbing, aerobic dancing or spinning, indoor rowing indoor cross country skiing Resources "Get With the Program: Guide to Good Eating," by Bob Greene "Bob Greene's Total Body Makeover"

Meanwhile Lorri was on a tear. Exercise was becoming a way of life. At a party with friends from the diet challenge, despite her coach's advice, Lorri couldn't resist weighing herself. After two months she'd lost 19 pounds and three dress sizes.

But at her second meeting with Bob, she dodged his questions. Bob gently reminded her that just losing weight is not enough. He warned that even if she loses lots of weight, without her becoming happier, she won’t have the motivation to continue.

This summer, Lorri donned a bathing suit for the first time in 10 years. When she met Bob Greene again, she told him she was on her way to a new life and began to reveal her most painful truth -- that she and her husband were not in sync. By August, this woman on a mission was down 36 pounds and was getting compliments from everyone.

By September our lady with the celebrity coach was in Hawaii, doing something she never dreamed possible. She finished a three mile road race. Once again, Lorri was on Bob's turf for a final meeting with her coach. Confident with herself and her weight loss, she'd found a new peace. And this time the wallflower finally opened up. She could now admit that long before the diet challenge her marriage was in trouble and for years, she had been depressed. And when Dateline first contacted her last February she said she ready to change every aspect of her life. As her husband showed us the clothes that no longer fit his wife, he said he initially thought all she was trying to do was lose weight. But he quickly realized this was not about appearances, and to help his marriage, he had to face their problems, too.

And speaking of change, by October Lorri was five pounds from her goal, working out in the morning and running at night. She said that the last five pounds were proving harder than the first 45.

Next, was the woman with the celebrity coach who wanted to lose 50 pounds. Lorri started the diet challenge at a hefty 204. After eight months, she was at exactly 154. She reached her goal, dropping a whopping 50 pounds. No one was more proud than her husband.

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