Bill Larson

Wellness Warrior, The Dr. Oz Show

Bill Ivory Larson remembers the perfect storm that contributed to his childhood obesity and his years as an overweight adult: eating cheap and unhealthy foods, poor portion control and a sedentary lifestyle. And as he grew up, he grew out of those bad habits. By March 2005, when he moved from his hometown of Chicago, IL, to Philadelphia, PA, Bill weighed in at 400.6 pounds.

He occupied more than one seat on a plane, could not shop in "normal-size" stores and had health problems no one in their 30s should have including high blood pressure, sleep apnea and joints that ached after little to no physical activity.

Combined with a family history of diabetes, Bill knew that carrying his extra weight would one day kill him.

By fall 2008, thanks to exercise, determination and a desire to live into his 40s and beyond, Bill became almost half the man he used to be; he trimmed himself down to 225 lbs without surgery, gimmicky weight loss programs or a doctor's help. He also continued eating what he wanted, although this time he controlled his portions, ate in moderation and exercised.

Wanting his experiences - both good and bad - to inspire people fighting their own battles of the bulge, Bill created and launched www.determinedtosucceed.com, designed to inspire people on their weight loss journey. The website features Bill's inspirational, funny and motivational daily weight loss blog, weekly weight loss podcasts, fun low-calorie/low-fat recipes and more.