Anna Marie Kirkland

Age 23, Height 5'4", Starting Weight 295 lbs Ending Weight 215 lbs -
LOST 80 Total / 26%

My name is Annamaria Kirkland and I am 23 years old. Before starting the Get Downsized program I was on a path to self destruction. I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and I avoided all physical activity whenever possible. I have been overweight my entire life but when I reached 302lbs, I knew I had to do something drastic to take back my life.

When a friend of mine went through the Get Downsized program and had amazing results, losing more than 100lbs, I knew this was something I needed to be a part of.

Since starting the program 4 weeks ago, I've lost 16lbs and 10 inches. I am very proud of myself for the progress I have made in such a short time. I learned early on in the program that my biggest challenge in this program was a mental one and not a physical one. I went from not thinking I wouldn't make it past the 1st week, to now week 5 and I'm finally hitting my stride and believing that I can do it.

This program came into my life when I had lost all hope of ever losing weight and leading a healthy lifestyle. I am so thankful to Todd, Mandi, and the entire Get Downsized team for helping me on this journey.

Matt Omara

Age 42, Height 6'1", Starting Weight 300 lbs Ending Weight 226 -
LOST 74 Total / 25%

Since being bitten by the marketing bug while handing out T-shirts at a Ride Drive event in Puerto Rico at age 13, Matt has been driven to find unique ways to engage consumers and build relationships with them. Matt has worked on the Lexus and Toyota business and was for many years the Management Director for the Denver office of Saatchi Saatchi. His veins carry a rare combination of both marketing and gasoline. Matt's experiences range from the launch of the Lexus Certified Pre-Owned Brand at Team One Advertising in Los Angeles to owning his own communications firm in Detroit. Matt grew up overseas and carries a UK and US passport and speaks Spanish fluently. He has a unique global background as well an extensive understanding of all three tiers of the Automotive sector. Matt is on the Board of Imagination The Americas and runs the Ford business in The Americas. His team provides Ford with strategy, creative and production management of their Auto Shows and Events efforts. Matt's ability to assess client needs and quickly lead a team to successfully exceed client expectations has played a significant role in the expansion of Imagination's 38-year relationship with the Ford Motor Company. In March of 2010, Matt's doctor advised him that if he did not lose 50lbs within six months, he had a 90% chance of getting diabetes. Matt knew it was time to get serious about his health and discovered Get Downsized as he researched solutions. Matt is looking forward to being a healthy parent who can keep up with his 11 year old triplets and demanding job.

Tawny Baker

Age 36, Height 5'8", Starting Weight 300 lbs Ending Weight 199 -
LOST 101 Total / 32.4%

My name is Tawny Baker. I am 36 years old, a mother of two beautiful girls and a wife of one (LOL!!). I have been married for 16 years and my girls are 12 years old and 11 months old. I am a Business Consultant at Quicken Loans where I have worked for 17 years. Well, in October of 2008 I was surprised to find out that I was pregnant. I was worried because I am over 35 and my older daughter was already 11 years old, but it turns out that everything feel into place and I delivered a healthy baby girl last June. I did not know how much I wanted/needed another child until she was here. I felt like my life was complete and it was time to take better care of myself I just didn't really know where/how to start. The one day, my team leader at work asked me if I needed to lose more than 80 pounds, which I did, actually a lot more than 80, but who's counting...So, she told me about the program and I thought about it for a couple days and then I called Todd. We scheduled an audition and that's how my story starts. When the Get Downsized program started I had to give up my vice, food. I also had to start moving more, a lot more than I had in years. I cry, A LOT. I sweat, A LOT. I have dug deeper that I ever have in my life to do this for and by myself! I found this quote just before the program started and I try to remember it every workout, The good Lord gave you a body that can stand most anything, it is your mind you have to convince." Vince Lombardi. I thought this was a pretty good quote when I found it and now I KNOW it is the best quote I could have found because it is 100% true and relevant to this program. I am amazed at what I can do and how great it feels to do this for myself. A lot of people wish me luck and I appreciate it, but there is no such thing as luck, this is pure determination and hard work and I am doing it- I am so proud of myself and that is a feeling I have not had in years! I am proud to say that after the first 4 weeks of training and eating the right food and drinking TONS of water that I have lost 33 pounds. I will lose a lot more weight (another 80-120 pounds) as this program continues. I am living, and will continue to live a healthy lifestyle thanks to Mandi, Todd and all of the Get Downsized crew!

Ashley Wicklund

Age 24, Height 4'11", Starting Weight 214 lbs Ending Weight 163 -
LOST 51 Total / 24.2%

My name is Ashley Wicklund and i am 24 years old and am in the get downsized program. Since starting the program a month ago i have seen a huge difference in the way i feel and the way i look. I have lost 12 pounds and over 12 1/2 inches. I can already fit into pants 3 sizes smaller! When i was younger i taught dance and was very active all through high school but when i moved away for college the "college" lifestyle of eating whatever is easiest and not being that active didn't help my body. I love the fact that through the help of Mandi and Todd and the other trainers i am getting healthy and starting to feel great.

Jason Cesarz

Age 37, Height 6'2", Starting Weight 360 lbs Ending Weight 275 -
LOST 85 Total / 23.3%

My name is Jason and I'm a 37 year old married father of two little boys. I've fought obesity since I was 13 years old. I am a junk food eating, no exercise doing, watching TV everyday, wishing I was thinner kinda guy. I stop playing sports after high school, so for the last 19 years, I just sat behind a desk and exploded to a whopping 365 pounds. That is until 4 weeks ago. I drew a line in the sand, I could not continue down that path. I couldn't play with my boys, I could hardly hug my wife, my stomach kept getting in the way. Now I'm working harder than I've ever worked and I am seeing amazing results. I am now at 339 pounds in just 4 weeks! The Get Downsized program has got me on the path to totally transform my life. Trainers Mandi and Todd are the rocks that are sharpening and molding this overly lazy person into a stronger, faster, healthier man. I cannot thank Get Downsized enough for this opportunity.

Joseph Culp

Age 53, Height 5'8", Weight 305 lbs Ending Weight 217 -
LOST 88 Total / 28.8%

My name is Joseph Culp. I am 53 years old and have multiple medical problems. I have had 8 different operations on my knees over the past 30 years, 5 on the left, 3 on the right. The orthopedist wants to replace my left knee as soon as I lose enough weight because it has no cartilage left. Both shoulders have been dislocated more than once and the left was so bad I had trouble lifting it above shoulder height. My spleen was removed 5 years ago because a virus I had infected it and made it swell to dangerous proportions. This means that my immune system is compromised. A year and 9 months ago I had a heart attack and had to have a triple bypass. In March 2010, just before I heard about the Get Downsized program, I was in the hospital with congestive heart failure. I also have arthritis in my knees and hands.

Now for the good news. When I first started the Get Downsized program, I couldn't walk up 1 flight of stairs without resting at the top. Yesterday, I went up and down 10 flights of stairs 5 times! I have lost 36 pounds in the first 4 weeks! My knees are still bad but are much better than when we started. I can now lift my arms over my head with weights in my hands! My cardiologist is loving my progress! I still have to work within my body's limitations but I feel 100% better than when we started!

I hope this is what you need. If you need anything else, just ask. I owe Todd, Mandi, Tiffany, Jolie and Shilo my life. I will never be able to repay them but anything I am asked to do will never be too much!

Steve Shaya

Age 38 Height 5'10" Starting weight 340 lbs Ending Weight 259 -
LOST 81 / 23.8%

Stephen Shaya, M.D., M.S. is the Medical Director of J & B Medical. J & B is one of the fastest growing medical supply, pharmaceutical, medical equipment companies in the country. J & B sells over one million products from 887 manufacturers and has customers in 47 States and 26 countries. Dr. Shaya manages all of the business development and quality assurance for J & B.

Dr. Shaya has been trying to lose weight for over 10 years and was 340 pounds starting this program. In one month, he has lost 26.5 pounds. By losing as much weight as possible and getting into the best shape he can, Dr. Shaya hopes to exemplify what a perfect prescription for health would be.

Roselin Butris

Age 26, Height 5'6";, Starting Weight 190

My name is Roselin Butris, I'm 26 years old and I have been over weight since I was a baby. Literally a baby! My highest weight of 240lbs caught up to me in 2005. Not far behind but I was 220lbs my senior year of high school. After an incident of eating to many fatty foods, causing me to end up in the Emergency room. I found out that I was a borderline diabetic, had high cholesterol and since I could remember having an entire ball of hormonal issues. This was my breaking point. None of these issues would better until I had shed the weight. I have tried every diet fad, diet pills and at some point even starving myself as much as I could. Depression didn't allow me to make rational and healthy life style choices. Instead I'd end up indulging in a favorite junk food, then crying myself to sleep.

I'm the girl that wishes she can look in a mirror and be happy with what she sees. To love herself so she can allow others to love her as well. My weight holds me back from this and a lot more. At this point I don't have serious illnesses or any physical disabilities from being over weight. What I do struggle with is trying to gain self-confidence. Day by day killing the stress and sadness in my heart and mind, so one day I can be simply happy. New years ever of 2009, sitting at home in my pajamas, while the world was out celebrating, I made a list. A list of changes to better myself for the following year. First things first, to drop below 200lbs by my 27th birthday on may 22. By New Years Eve 2010, I will not be at a certain goal weight but I will be exactly what I need to be to feel great and for the first time ever wear a bikini.

The GET DOWNSIZED program made this possible for me. I could never imagine myself doing such intense workouts and having strict nutrition eating habits. Now here I am only one month in the program weighing in at 185lbs. Still working towards that Beach body! I truly want to thank the entire team for putting this program together and making it possible for those of us who struggle with our weight for many different reasons. I also thank you for seeing in me what I learn to see each passing day and each pound shed. You are my teachers and my motivators. I train with the Best so I will be the Best!