Hi Ben!
I just saw you on the Rachel Ray show today, I live in Sweden so it a bit delayed.
I just wanna say that your an inspiration to us all, what you do is great!
Hope that you reach your goal and feed loads of hungry people!
 

Best wishes,
Nathalie Labermo   Sweden

Hi Ben,

Just a note of encouragement, really glad you are back on track. Can I give you a some unsolicited advice?

1)   Don't regret the past and any choices you made during that time, it's over, learn from all your experiences and just move forward.

2)  Turn  stumbling blocks into  stepping stones...every day from now on.

3)  Life kicks all of us in the crotch at times, don't let those emotions determine your food choices.

I am old enough to be your mother, I am sure, and I still have to remind myself to move forward, learn from my mistakes, and not comfort myself with food. Geez, it is just food and does not deserve that kind of power over us! Every day brings it's own struggles, so just take it a day at a time. I'll be reading...

Continued Success,

Amy

I'm Didi and I saw you on RR show. I'm from the Philippines but I just wanted to say good luck and what you have done is a truly inspiring thing. I have posted a short story about you and your donate link on my blog post. That's all I could do from my end but hopefully it will help. Take care.

 Ben: 

Here's some things to think about.  I think you would be so much more relaxed and stress free if you didn't make such a big deal about your weight.  You seem like such a nice guy.  I know that you worry constantly about it.  The fact is that you carry it so well.  More than two out of three people are overweight nowadays.  I had a good friend, who had the perfect stereotypical "perfect" body, and he had a heart attack while bike riding in his 30's.  He was stressed.  It's not so much about your size as it is your happiness. 

You seem to have excellent blood pressure, and cholesterol.  I have a friend (a doctor in fact) that is almost exactly your weight and he is healthy as a horse.  He doesn't carry the weight as well as you.  You just look like cross between a sumo and a football lineman.  Take this as a compliment.  Some guys (me included) would give anything to have your looks.  Lots of women like "big guys".  Obviously, you have found a very beautiful loving wife that doesn't mind.  Let her feed you and love you.  Don't worry what everyone else thinks.  Not everyone needs to be 200 lbs. 

If you really want to lose, then like so many people, I offer you my support.  If you only want to lose because others think you should, take a deep breath and think on it some.  You are a very handsome guy and I'm jealous I'm not as big boned as you.  All the best.

Scott

Hi Ben!

My name is Dr Pinkston a family practitioner in San Antonio. I would like to motivate my patients and myself and loved this idea. I would like to make a similar donation type incentive with in my clinic to motivate patients and would like to know it is ok to in fact use your idea. I am not into stealing ideas.

Thanks and good luck.

I really really admire you!!!!

M. Pinkston, MD

Dear Ben,

Just watched you on Rachael Ray Show. I think the Donate My Weight Program is wonderful!! I am also sending the link to my daughter and son-n-law the web site. I currently weigh 224 and I am promising my donate my weight to our local homeless  shelter.  I have also asked my fiancé to also do so. I think if everyone in the world did this there would be no more hunger in the world. God Bless You  Ben!! I hope you will continue to lose the weight

Sincerely,
Kim H. (Hudson FL)

Ben, I just wanted to say keep up the GREAT job with your weight loss that is awesome, I myself have currently lost 130lbs with exercise and cutting back on my intake of food!!! It really was nice to see you on the Rachel Ray show when you said about your family going to Disney that really hit home for me that was 1 of my main reasons for losing the weight I wanted to take my daughter to Disney and be able to ride the rides with her, so it truly touched me!!  I will get there someday we are hopefully planning a trip 2011 when our finances allow it!! Anyways thank you for all you do and keep up the good work !!

Your Friend in weight loss,

Laura Strausner

Hi Ben,

I think you're very brave and smart to continue on your weight loss program. Don't worry about what other people think, and please don't be concerned that you feel that you are letting anyone down.

Please do this at your own pace, without guilt, and one day at a time. I know this is a tough struggle, but keep at it and you will be successful.

From someone else who struggles with weight issues,

     All the best,

          Jamie

Dear Ben,
  I just saw you on the re run of Rachel Ray and went to your web site to see how you are doing.  I was happy to see your blog and that you are willing to update it even though you have gotten off track a little.  I just want you to know this.....You have helped me just by being honest about your situation and making me realize that I am not the only one who has gotten off track too.  I lost 40 lbs with WW almost 2 yrs ago and have not lost anymore.  I have recently started to exercise regularly (key word) and watch my portions.  I would like to lose 40 more pounds while my husband is in Iraq (go Army). 
  Please do not hate yourself!  Remember you have had success and you can have success again, remember how good it felt?  Don't give up and start today, you don't have to wait for a Monday or in the morning, start right now.  You seem like a great person with a wonderful family and kids.  I have a wonderful family and two boys and I don't just owe it to them but I owe it to myself to be healthy (NOT skinny). 
   I just want you to know that your story has motivated me, an Army wife and mom down here in NC......one day at a time, you CAN do it.
 
best of luck to you and god bless you and your family!
Kathleen Medlin
Louisburg, NC

 Hi Ben,

I am a 26 yr. old obese girl from Sellersville, PA.  (about 20 mins from you)  I have lost ALL hope and was hoping you could help!  I had a slip and fall in 2007 and since then have put on so much weight b/c I am unable to exercise! Everyone has been harping on me recently about my weight and telling me that I'm gonna die or be bedridden. My mom, husband, friends, people I don't know and Doctors are all trying to give me an intervention. I know I have a problem, I look at myself every day. I'm not stupid! But I am in so much pain to the point that I use a cane and I'm on disability. I just don't know what to do at this point and no one seems to wanna help or give me the answers. I was hopefully turning to you for some help!

Sincerely

Jamie Standish

Ben,

First off, allow me to start by saying congratulations on the progress so far.  Watching the segment on the Rachael Ray show was truly a wake-up call for me as well.  My story has taken a similar path as yours.  I too served our country doing 5 years in the Marine Corps.  Towards the end of my tour, I began to not care about watching my weight and once I left active duty, I let myself go.  I had no one to report to, nobody to count pounds, no more Physical Fitness tests, etc.  As of right now, I am 31 years old and weigh about 380 pounds.  I have a 2-year old son and the segment gave me a real kick in the pants telling me if I don't do something, I will wind up dead before he graduate high school.

What do you feel would be the best way to begin to count calories?  Is there a particular diet setup that has worked for you?  Do you change your diet makeup regularly?  I would really appreciate any guidance you can provide.  I too will donate for every pound of weight loss to homeless shelters here in NYC.

Thank you,

Newby Burns

Hi Ben!!!

I just saw you on Rachel Ray!!!  I am so proud of you!!!!  I was very much an obese kid, teenager, adult...on and off, and I finally – like you hit rock bottom and decided to live a healthier life.  I love what you’re doing for your community and spreading the word about living a healthy life and helping those in the process.  I’m just speechless.  

As a military wife and Dietitian to many special forces soldiers, I just wanted to say if you ever would like my insight, or any help I can offer please do not ever hesitate to contact me.  I would love nothing more than to help you on this journey and the community in the process.  If you need any nutrition, fitness, cooking etc advice, please never hesitate to call on me (free of charge of course).

You’re doing an amazing job, continue the good work and keep loving your family and looking toward living a long and healthy life with them.  You truly are an inspiration.

Kimberly

Hello,

I just watched the Rachel Ray show on TV. Since I live in Norway (way up north in Europe) the delay of the show is sometimes as much as one year, so I decided to look your web page up and see how you are doing. I think it is very courageous of you to try to loose weight in such a public way, telling us about the ups and downs of this fight. And even now when it seems like you are going through a rough time you keep up the fight against the pounds, I'm very impressed! So, remember that people are thinking about you (even way up here in Norway) and wishing you all the best on your road to a lighter life:)

All the best wishes and good luck!!

take care,

Ingvild Johanne Aarhus