Weigh in: An update on 4 people who had a nutrition makeover

In April, four Deseret Morning News readers met with registered dietitians for "nutrition makeovers." The dietitians examined their eating and exercise habits and coached them on healthy changes. Then came the hardest part: actually doing it.

On our first checkup after seven weeks, all of them had lost weight. They reported feeling better, moving better and feeling more in control of their lives as they followed up on the dietitians' advice.

Then we cut them loose to find out if they could sustain this initial enthusiasm on their own, without feeling accountable to a dietitian or the Deseret Morning News.

Three of the participants stopped losing weight but were able to maintain most of their initial weight loss. But one reader, whose loss wasn't as dramatic in the beginning, slowly melted off 17 1/2 pounds, one pound at a time. Although they all slacked off a bit from the dietitians' advice, everyone's eating habits changed for the better.

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RANDY CLOUSE

April: 260 pounds

May: 231 pounds

December: 232 pounds

After losing 29 pounds within the first seven weeks, Clouse's weight loss hit a plateau.

"I fell off the wagon and started cheating a little, and went up to 240," he said. "Then I went back to it and lost eight pounds. I still have my goal to get to 190 and I'm going to keep working on it."

Beginning concerns: Clouse needed to lose weight and lower his cholesterol levels. His job takes him on the road, and his frequent fast-food lunches packed away excess calories, fat, sodium and cholesterol. He averaged less than one vegetable per day.

What he changed: Working with dietitian Jacob Schmidt, he cut out many of his fast-food meals and learned to choose more healthful menu items. His goals were to eat at least three fruits and/or vegetables daily, to increase whole grains, to shave off 250 calories from his daily intake, and to burn another 250 calories per day through activity. Schmidt showed Clouse true serving sizes to keep portions under control.

Today, Clouse goes to the gym three days a week, alternating between the treadmill and elliptical trainer, and weight lifting. His wife began working out with him, and she's lost around 15 pounds. They also take brisk walks with their dog in the evenings.