Teresa Hogan
Before: No time to pump up. After a long day at work, Randy didn’t have much time for a workout. Dr. Oz’s streamlined solution: pull-ups. “Randy should do as many pull-ups as he can on his sons’ jungle gym,” Dr. Oz says. “It’s one of the best weight-bearing exercises because you have to lift your entire body weight using your arms, upper body, and abs,” he says—plus, it’s a superquick workout.
After: Pumped arms and abs. “The day Dr. Oz came I could barely do five pull-ups,” Randy admits. “Now I can do 10. I haven’t missed a day, even when it was raining, because it just takes a few minutes.”
Before: Work = danger zone. Kathleen relied on diet soda while she worked. “The problem is that diet drinks give a sweet taste, but your brain is smart enough to realize that calories aren’t coming in,” Dr. Oz says. “As a result, your brain goes looking for calories, and you end up snacking on food you wouldn’t have otherwise.” And Randy was often tempted by the pastries and bagels in his office break room.
After: Solutions that work. Kathleen hasn’t had a diet soda in two weeks: “I’m reaching for them less.” She’s made changes on the road, too. “When I was in L.A. for work, I was at a Latin restaurant. Prior to Dr. Oz, I probably would’ve ordered one of the fried things with lots of sauce. Instead, I got salad with grilled chicken and a healthier pico de gallo seasoning,” Kathleen says. As for Randy, he now takes fat-free Greek yogurt with kiwifruit or blueberries and granola to work. “I kind of get heckled for it,” he says. “But these healthy snacks are working for me.”
Before: The boys were finicky about veggies. Broccoli and green beans made the cut with Dillon and Peyton, but eating those every night was getting old for Randy and Kathleen. Dr. Oz’s advice? Keep offering fresh options.
After: the boys are still finicky about vegetables! They’re getting more adventurous with produce, though. “I love watermelon,” Peyton says. Dillon gave kiwifruit a chance—something he wouldn’t try before. “It takes kids about 12 times of trying a food and not liking it before they’ll finally accept it,” Dr. Oz says. “Just ask them to take one bite. One day, your kids will surprise you and ask for seconds.”
