Transformation Planet

Comedian Mike Speirs survived aortic dissection and the life-saving open heart surgery that followed. Mike shares his experience in this episode. We discuss his career and the path he's on as he works to get to and maintain a healthy body weight. His approach is different than his previous attempts in a variety of ways. He shares his experiences along the way on his weekly podcast Less On My Plate with Mike Speirs. He's performed at some of the hottest comedy clubs in the country. When he's not headlining his own shows, he opens for comedian Bob Marley. In addition to the stand up stage, he's an actor, most notably with a recurring role as a corrections officer named "Lumpy" on the critically acclaimed Showtime mini-series Escape at Dannemora, directed by Ben Stiller. 

This episode features a brief visit with mom, a short clip from a recent stand-up performance, and an interview with Dede Apfelbaum. Dede is over eighty pounds lighter than her heaviest. She's maintained her healthiest weight range for over three years. She shares how diets never ultimately worked for her in a long-term sustainable way. Things started changing for her in dramatic ways when she started applying patience for the process of evolving her own personal daily practice for long-term sustainability.

Welcome to Omaha! We're on the road this episode--from my hotel room. What does a new car wash, voice work, a famous fast food restaurant, a dead cell phone, asking for directions, Chipotle, navigating a tough menu at the last minute, and late hotel checkouts have in common? This episode!

After an extended break (1.5 years), Sean embraces a familiar philosophy in an attempt to break a pattern of inconsistency with this podcast. 

Are you a food addict? If not, great! If you are, great! It's good either way. Wait, what?? I'll explain, plus I'll share a list of self-assessment questions from foodaddiction.com

If achieving a healthy body weight isn't the magic fixer of everything, if it doesn't make us happy, then what can truly provide a measure of happiness? In this episode, we'll hear from a couple of people on the Transformation Planet hotline and we'll explore this powerful topic. I'll share a simple question and exercise that can help you identify the core elements of you; the things that were with you at your heaviest and healthiest weight. Have a question or comment? Want to share your inspiring story with listeners of this podcast? Call the Transformation Planet Hotline and leave a message: 580-491-2228  

In this episode, I release an episode! This podcast isn't dead, yay! in this one, I discuss some wonderful advice I've received for Transformation Planet. Have I over-complicated the process of producing this podcast? Uh, maybe. Okay, yes--yes I have. No more over-complicating. Simple works. I also talk Christmas and about the perspectives I must use if I'm to make it through without compulsively overeating. I'm also including a replay of my interview with Dr. Marty Lerner. Dr. Lerner's experience with eating disorders started long before he became known for his research and published articles. He shares his personal story with disordered eating behaviors in this episode. He also shares how a research project using ice cream forever changed the direction of his career. In the decades since, he's been featured on numerous national television and radio shows including The NPR Report, 20/20, ABC's Nightline and Discovery Health. Dr. Lerner's research has been published in many different professional publications and featured in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today and several newspapers and national magazines. He is the CEO of Milestones In Recovery Eating Disorder Treatment Center in Florida.

Bryan Ganey's transformation story contains two dramatic weight loss experiences. After losing two hundred fifty pounds in his twenties, he was set, or so he thought. After gaining it all back in less than a year, Bryan realized his plan was lacking a critical part. In this episode, he shares how this initial weight loss and regain experience became important information for his transformation to come over a decade later. His book "Impossible: How I Lost Nearly 400 Pounds Without Surgery" chronicles his transformation from nearly six hundred pounds to a healthy body weight and into maintenance. Bryan is a motivation speaker and best selling author. He's been featured on Rachael Ray, CNN, AOL, and The Dave Ramsey Show. Find out more at www.bryanganey.com  

Dr. Joan Ifland has dedicated over two decades of her life to food addiction research. In this episode, she discusses how processed food addiction starts, how and why it affects people differently, and how the research has proven, without question, the validity of its powerful grip on millions of people around the world. She's the founder of www.foodaddictionintensive.com, www.foodaddictionresources.com, and www.foodaddictionbooks.com  Dr. Ifland is the author of Sugars and Flours: How They Make Us Crazy, Sick and Fat, and What To Do About It and she's the co-author and co-editor of the comprehensive text-book, Processed Food Addiction: Foundations, Assessment, and Recovery published by CRC Press

Heather Robertson is the co-founder of the Half Size Me community and host of the popular podcast, Half Size Me. In this episode, Heather takes us back through her story and history of losing and gaining weight. Heather also talks about her experience and recovery with binge eating disorder. Her story took her to over 300 pounds at her heaviest before she started making shifts in her perspective and actions. She shares critical elements that changed everything for her. Heather takes a hands on approach in the Half Size Me community, where she offers support, member exclusive podcast episodes of Half Size Me, and even one on one coaching services--she's also the author of The Art of Weight Maintenance available wherever books are sold! Find out more at halfsizeme.com  

Michael Prager lost and regained the same 130 pounds, twice, before finding another way and ultimately losing 155 pounds. The perspective he's embraced for sustainable weight loss isn't all about weight. And it isn't even about dieting. Michael says the weight was A problem, but it wasn't THE problem. His was an approach challenging him to release what he thought he knew and to stop trying to figure it all out on his own. Michael is the author of two books, Fat Boy Thin Man and Sustainable You. He's also a certified health and wellness life coach and experienced public speaker. Find out more at MichaelPrager.com Also, we'll have a short update with my friend Nathaniel. 

Jordan Burgess was navigating life at 537 pounds until it became too much, for him, and too much for his family. After years of struggle, and just in time, Jordan has found and embraced perspectives bringing him consistent positive progress one day at a time. He's currently lost well over 200 pounds. In this episode, Jordan will share his remarkable story. It's a story full of hope and inspiration. We'll also check in with Nathaniel.

When we talk about transformation it's often about the physical--the difference you see. But what about the differences you can only feel? In this episode we'll get an update from Nathaniel--then, I'll take you on location to an event where I was the emcee--a social event, where we'll talk about the mental and emotional transformations that often happen with dramatic weight loss.

Joy Bauer is one of America's leading health and nutrition experts. She's a regular on NBC's Today Show, founder of The Joy Fit Club, and the author of twelve New York Times Best-selling books, including her latest, From Junk Food To Joy Food. In this episode, Joy shares her experience, practical advice, and she reveals the things Joy Fit Club inductees always seem to have in common. Also, we get an update from Nathaniel, who's at the very beginning of his own transformation from 671 pounds.

Nathaniel is embarking on his own transformation from 671 pounds and taking us along every step of the way. In this episode, you'll meet Nathaniel, and in future episodes you'll hear short updates before each featured interview. Nathaniel's story is remarkable in many ways. I'm looking forward to working with him and I'm excited about getting to know him better along the way. Nathaniel is putting it all out there, right here on Transformation Planet. 

Winifred Morice's career in the world of nutrition can be traced back to her upbringing on a completely sustainable homestead in New Zealand. Her nutritional expertise helped shape Weight Watchers and eventually led to working with Richard Simmons, first on a cookbook, then on the development of the wildly successful Deal-A-Meal. Along the way, she hosted her own TV cooking show, and worked alongside Dinah Shore, Suzanne Somers and many others. Her no-nonsense, simplistic nutritional philosophy is something she communicates in easy to understand terms. In this episode of Transformation Planet, Winifred shares the details of her fascinating career, life, and takes some time to offer her best advice to anyone preparing their personal food plan.  

Hope Williams Church shares how she made it to almost 300 pounds, tried to lose weight in different ways, many times, plus how and why this time was different. She's lost over 150 pounds. Now, in maintenance mode, her plan requires extraordinary care each and every day--and it's a plan she loves! She's a proud member of the Today Show's JoyFit Club. Stay up to date with Hope when you follow her Facebook blog Healthy Happy Hope. 

Dr. Lerner's experience with eating disorders started long before he became known for his research and published articles. He shares his personal story with disordered eating behaviors in this episode. He also shares how a research project using ice cream forever changed the direction of his career. In the decades since, he's been featured on numerous national television and radio shows including The NPR Report, 20/20, ABC's Nightline and Discovery Health. Dr. Lerner's research has been published in many different professional publications and featured in The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today and several newspapers and national magazines. He is the CEO of Milestones In Recovery Eating Disorder Treatment Center in Florida. 

Michael Bartley's story doesn't take the familiar route. Michael wasn't overweight as a child, a teen or as a young man. He was a record setting swimmer, a wrestler and a long distance runner before a catastrophic injury landed him in the hospital for more than four months. His athletic career ended abruptly, but his identity as an athlete remained and so did his daily caloric level. The same eating pattern that once fueled his athletic performance became a recipe for rapid weight gain. Finally acknowledging and coming to terms with his new reality set him on a path for a dramatic 320 pound weight loss transformation. His story includes a divorce, depression, a life-changing trip to Belize, monkeys flinging feces on his head, legendary film director Francis Ford Coppola and more--all on this episode of Transformation Planet!

Janelle Keith's 130 pound weight loss came after decades of diet mentality and failed attempts. She was a morning radio personality on a christian radio station for thirteen years--and although it was an on-air weight loss challenge that started her weight loss, the perspectives she needed to finally break free were divinely presented to her long before she started her transformation. Janelle has traveled the world spreading the gospel as a missionary in some of the most impoverished parts of the planet. Her unshakable faith has given her a transformation that goes far beyond the physical. When she speaks about the freedom she enjoys today, its depth and meaning comes through loud and clear.  

Dennis Adams is a survivor in every sense of the word. He was diagnosed with breast cancer, something he didn't even realize was possible for a man, until it became part of his story. He's cancer free today. In this episode, he'll take us to his highest weight of 501 pounds and share what inspired him to make a change once and for all. He's maintaining a 330 pound weight loss and he's doing it on the road, where he works as an over the road truck driver. 

Pam Holmes will never forget the moment she decided "enough was enough." In this episode, Pam shares her powerful story. It's a 178 pound weight loss that started at the age of 59, and it's so much more. She'll discuss her own relapse/regain experiences, what she does to maintain her weight loss and most importantly, Pam shares a beautiful perspective that endures through the most emotionally challenging time of her life.

Kathleen Miles has a fascinating story. In this episodes, she takes us along through her experience in working with Richard Simmons in promotion of his products and then the devastating life events that turned things in a very dark direction. Her weight climbed and combined with her isolation, created a circumstance few survive. Not only has she survived, she's thriving. She's losing weight consistently, recently became a certified life coach and writes about it all on her blog at www.totalkathy.com Kathleen Miles is alive and well and on Transformation Planet!

This first episode of Transformation Planet features Life Coach Gerri Helms. She's an international speaker, life coach and the author of Trust God & Buy Broccoli. Gerri lost in excess of one hundred pounds twenty-three years ago and to this day, takes extraordinary care of herself. A little later in the episode, we go on location to a Mexican restaurant for some dining out strategies.