Author Alicia Ash first received
the much sought after invitation to the Oprah show after penning a book
on how she dropped an astounding 142 pounds in one year. Ash, author of
How I Lost 142 lbs. in a Year and 220 lbs. Overnight, has been
invited back to Oprah’s show to help the cultural icon stabilize her
frustrating weight fluctuation. Ash offered the talk show queen seven
ways to permanently shed the excess weight.
1. Lower her daily cholesterol intake and increase her fat-burning (exercising, bike riding, etc.).
2. Boost her metabolism by eating 4-5 small meals during the day.
3. No late-night eating after 7 p.m. (especially when on the road).
4. Cut out unnecessary carbs and starches (i.e. breads, desserts, etc.).
5. Consult with her doctor about recommended daily vitamins and supplements she should take.
6. Consult with a certified dietician to develop a meal plan to reach [her weight] goal.
7. CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY, CONSISTENCY. It doesn’t matter what she does if she stops after two months.
Ash was asked to make a second appearance on the show after Oprah made a poignant admission in her magazine, O, that she has failed to conquer her weight demons.
“I have a message and a word that I would love to share with people. I
know it has blessed so many people when I talk about this, because
everybody I know carries physical weight or mental weight, [and] they
want an outlet. So if someone has an outlet, they want to hear it, but
to be able to share my message on TV is incredible,” says Ash.
Ash, who has partnered with the American Diabetes Association for her
upcoming book tour, commissioned R&B sensation and diabetes
spokeswoman Angie Stone to write the forward to her book. The
autobiographical book about how Ash endured three life-threatening
strokes in a single calendar year before dropping 124 pounds, made
national headlines. Ash’s cumbersome journey to healthy living was made
even more arduous because she was a borderline diabetic mired in a deep
depression and had suffered spousal abuse at the hands of her
ex-husband. After the third stroke, her doctor informed her that she
was just inches from death. Her fears of not being able to raise her
children inspired a radical life transformation that Ash eventually
poured into her book. The author now travels the nation speaking to
crowds about beginning and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. She will be
a guest speaker at the National Coalition of 100 Black Women’s
Challenge Walk Off in Atlanta on Sept. 5 as part of the 50 Million
Pound Challenge.
“Being on the show and meeting Oprah was the second-best goal to
accomplish,” she says, still dazed by the experience and second
invitation. “When I walked on that stage, I was like, ‘I can do
anything I put my heart and soul to.’ ” – terry shropshire
