Extreme Weight Loss Challenge -- Begin Date: August 1, 2011 | Craig D’Onfrio | Beth Brainard |
| 3 weeks | 23 pounds | 15 pounds |
| 8 weeks | 28 pounds | 25 pounds |
Minoa (WSYR-TV) -- If you’re struggling with your weight, there’s a lot you can learn from a Minoa Couple who’s on a quest for extreme weight loss. They came to us in July asking for help and we hooked them up with a doctor and personal trainer.
We’re now at week eight in the couple’s quest.
When he was out of shape and 100 pounds overweight, Craig D’Onofrio says he never could have done certain types of exercise.
But that was then, and now, Craig’s in the gym at least five times a week. A high intensity workout with Gold’s Gym personal trainer Kulaa Bacheyie was designed for a high calorie burn that will last.
And while Craig’s burning more calories, he’s taking in far fewer than he used to, and he eats every three hours to keep his stomach full and his cravings at bay.
So far, Craig’s lost 28 pounds.
At Pine Grove Middle School, Beth Brainard is taking a different approach to weight loss. For eight weeks, she’s been eating only specialty nutrition bars, shakes and soups designed for weight loss. She’s being supervised by Dr. Wendy Scinta.
Next week comes the challenge for Beth. She’ll start eating real meals. Slowly, with one meal a day, when she gets used to that, she’ll be joining her husband Craig at the gym.
So far, Beth has lost 25 pounds.
Both Craig and Beth are under a doctor’s supervision. They were checked out before starting their weight loss and exercise plans, as should anyone starting up new diet plan.
The two have even started blogging about their experience along with Dr. Scinta and Kulaa. To read their blogs click on the link to the left of this story.
UPDATE: CNY couple takes on extreme weight loss challenge
August 22, 2011
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- A Minoa couple came to NewsChannel 9 looking for help slimming down and shaping up. Beth is an emotional eater who's always had a weight problem; Craig is an ex-jock who packed on the pounds after high school. We hooked the two up with a weight loss specialist and a personal trainer.
We first introduced you to Craig and Beth three weeks ago when they set a goal of getting in shape and losing more than 150 pounds between them.
Craig is now working out three days a week, twice on his own and once with Kulaa, a personal trainer from Gold's Gym whose philosophy is to start slowly.
As for his eating, Craig keeps his calories to between 1,500 and 1,800 per day, and his diet is much healthier.
Beth hasn't eaten real food for four weeks. She has three shakes and three bars a day. Beth also seeks help through support groups. The groups help her deal with cravings and to break the pattern of emotional eating.
Beth has lost 15 pounds. In two more weeks she'll start eating regular food again and begin and exercise program.
Craig has lost 23 pounds. He’s looking forward to being able to work out with Beth when she is ready.
The couple is being supervised by Bariatrician Wendy Scinta of
Medical Weight Loss of New York.
NewsChannel 9 will continue to follow their progress.
Discussion with a weight loss physicianSyracuse, NY (WSYR-TV) -- East Syracuse’s Beth Brainard and Craig D’Onfrio are tired of their looks and the comments.
Craig started packing on the pounds when he graduated from high school. He’s a typical ex-jock. Beth has been overweight since she was a little girl. She’s what some would call an emotional eater.
Beth and Craig have asked Bariatrician Wendy Scinta of Medical Weight Loss of New York for help. Before deciding on a strategy, they’ll have blood work done and talk with Scinta about their eating habits.
Beth’s weakness is chocolate, Craig’s is bread.
Beth’s blood work came back normal, but Craig’s reveals he has Type 2 Diabetes, high cholesterol and extremely high triglycerides.
Scinta suggests Craig restrict his calories to between 1500 and 1800 per day. He’ll be eating lean protein, like chicken and fish, and more good carbs – whole grains – and lots of fruits and vegetables.
Beth’s plan is more drastic. For the next 10 weeks, it’s just 1,000 calories a day and no food. Scinta has put her on shakes, bars and soups as meal replacements. She’ll eat every three hours to keep her blood sugar stable and stop cravings.
So, it’s time to clean out the cupboards. Beth and Craig will be getting rid of the white pasta and white bread, and replacing it with whole wheat. Beth has started on her meal replacement program and will attend weekly support groups to help break down her eating addiction. It won’t be easy, but they’ll have each other to lean on.
NewsChannel 9 will be following Craig and Beth’s progress in their quest to lose weight. Each week we’ll bring you updates and let you know how they’re doing.
1500 Calorie Meal Plan
BREAKFAST
1.) ¾ cup cold cereal, 1 cup skim milk, 1 slice of toast, 1 tsp of Olivio, 1 egg poached, boiled or scrambled in vegetable spray.
OR
2.) 1 cup cooked hot cereal, 1 cup skim milk, ¼ cup cottage cheese – low fat
OR
3.) 1 English Muffin with 1 Tablespoon Peanut Butter, 1 cup skim milk
OR
4.) 2 slices toast, 1 strip bacon and 1 ounce low fat cheese melted on, and 1 cup skim milk.
AM SNACK – 1 small apple, OR 1 small orange, OR ½ cup unsweetened fruit, OR 17 small grapes, OR 1 small banana.
LUNCH
1.) 3 ounces chicken, 2 slices diet bread, lettuce, tomato, 1 tablespoon low fat mayonnaise, carrot sticks and one small apple
OR
2.) 2 ounces lean hamburger, 1 ounce low fat cheese on a low calorie hamburger bun, tossed salad with 2 tablespoons low fat dressing and ¾ cup of blueberries.
OR
3.) 3 ounces grilled chicken or turkey on a large tossed salad with ¾ cup mandarin oranges and 2 tablespoons low fat dressing, 6 Saltines.
OR
4.) 1 six inch flour tortilla with shredded lettuce, onion, pepper and tomato with 3 ounces diced lean meat, ¼ cup salsa and 1 medium plum.
OR
5.) 1 cup chicken noodle soup, tossed salad with one ounce low fat cheese, 2 ounces water packed tuna and 17 small grapes, 2 tablespoons low fat dressing.
OR
6.) 3 ounces baked fish with lemon, 1 cup broccoli, 1 tsp. Olivio, ½ cup sweet potato, ½ cup unsweetened pineapple.
PM SNACK – 6 ounces low calorie non fat yogurt OR 1 cup skim milk
DINNER
1.) 4 ounces baked chicken, 1 cup cooked carrots and broccoli, 2 tsp margarine and 1 medium baked potato.
OR
2.) 4 ounces baked fish with lemon, ½ cup peas with 1/3 cup cooked rice mixed with peppers & onions, ½ cup cooked spinach and 2 tsp margarine
OR
3.) 4 ounces lean beef, 1 cup mashed potato, 1 cup wax/green beans and 2 tsp. of Olivio
OR
4.) 4 ounces pork tenderloin, 2/3 cup stuffing, 1 cup cauliflower/carrots/broccoli with butter spray
OR
5.) 3 ounces of ham, 1 ounce cheese, 2 slices bread – grilled with butter spray and grape tomatoes.
OR
6.) 4 ounces turkey baked or roasted, 1 cup winter squash, 1 small roll (1 oz), 1 cup Brussels sprouts and 2 tsp Olivio.
OR
7.) 2/3 cup cooked pasta, 4 ounces lean hamburger, 1 cup stewed tomatoes combined with Goulash. Tossed salad with 2 tablespoons of low calorie dressing.
NIGHT SNACK – 1 small fruit, or ½ cup unsweetened fruit, or 6 ounces low calorie, non fat yogurt, or 100 calorie snack, or 3 cups low fat popcorn.
BEVERAGES – Water, black coffee/tea (can use sugar substitute), diet soda or any other diet drinks.
1200 CALORIE DIET
BREAKFAST OPTIONS
1.) 2 slices of diet bread. 1 Tblsp peanut butter.
2.) 2 slices of diet bread. 1 hard boiled egg. 1 tsp Olivio.
3.) 1 light multi-grain English Muffin. 1 slice of cheese melted on top, topped with a tomato.
4.) ¼ cup cottage cheese, ½ cup of unsweetened pineapple, 3 Salteen crackers.
5.) 2 slices of diet bread. 1 ounce of ham. 1 tsp Olivio.
6.) 2 slices of diet bread. 1 egg scrambled with diced peppers and Pam spray. 1 strip bacon.
7.) 1 light multi-grain English Muffin. 1 Tblsp Peanut Butter
LUNCH OPTIONS
1.) 3 ounces lean turkey tossed salad. ¾ cup mandarin oranges. 4 wheat crackers. 2 Tblsp salad dressing.
2.) 2 slices diet bread. 3 ounces lean meat, lettuce, tomato slices, 1 tsp mayonnaise. 1 small apple.
3.) ¾ cup low fat cottage cheese. Celery/carrots/grape tomatoes. ½ cup unsweetened peaches. 1 light multi grain English Muffin. 1 tsp. Olivio.
4.) 2 ounces lean hamburger. 1 ounce low fat cheese on a low calorie bun, lettuce and pickle slices. 1 small orange
5.) 1-6 inch tortilla, 3 ounces lean meat with shredded lettuce/peppers/onions/salsa and 1 kiwi.
6.) 2 slices diet bread. 2 ounces lean ham, 1 ounce low fat cheese – grill with butter spray. Cucumber strips and 1 small banana.
7.) ¾ cup tuna, 1/3 cup cooked macaroni, diced onion/celery. 1 Tblsp diet mayonnaise and 17 small grapes.
DINNER
1.) 3 ounces baked chicken, 1 medium baked potato, 1 cup broccoli, 1 tsp Olivio
2.) 3 ounces baked salmon with lemon/dill, 1/3 cup rice & ½ cup of peas, 1 cup chopped spinach and 1 tsp of Olivio.
3.) 3 ounces of turkey. 1 cup winter squash, 1/3 cup stuffing and 1 cup green beans.
4.) 3 ounces lean beef ona hamburger bun. Tossed salad, 2 Tblsp salad dressing.
5.) 3 ounces pork. 2/3 cup rice, mushrooms/onions/peppers, sauté in 1 tsp oil
6.) 3 ounces baked fish, 1 medium baked potato, 1 cup broccoli/carrots/cauliflower and 1 tsp of Olivio.
7.) 2 slices of bread, 3 ounces of lean meat, lettuce/tomato and 1 tsp. mayonnaise.
AM SNACK
1.) 1 low calorie (60) yogurt
PM SNACK
1.) 1 ounce low fat cheese, carrot sticks OR
2.) ¼ cup low fat cottage cheese and grape tomatoes OR
3.) 1 ounce turkey, celery sticks OR
4.) 1 hard boiled egg, pepper strips
NIGHT SNACK
1.) 1 small apple, 2 tsp peanut butter OR
2.) ½ cup unsweetened fruit, ¼ cup cottage cheese OR
3.) 1 ounce lean meat, 1 small fruit OR
4.) 1 ounce low fat cheese, 4 saltine crackers
