Man's weight loss earns spot on 'Rachael Ray Show'

NEW MADRID, Mo. -- Having his story featured on "The Rachael Ray Show" was a memorable experience, but that isn't why New Madrid County Central High School's band director lost 370 pounds.

"I did it for myself and for my band students so I wouldn't keel over," said Ryan Blocker, a Farmington, Missouri, native.

Blocker said he hopes the segment encourages people to make healthy changes in their life "even if it is to eat just one less bad meal a week."

The episode in which Blocker appeared aired Feb. 12.

"All season long, they've been doing different segments on weight loss," Blocker said of the talk show. "They wanted to use my story as the inspirational part of that show."

Ryan Blocker weighed more than 500 pounds before going on a weight-loss program. (Submitted)

Ray's co-host on the episode in which Blocker appeared was personal trainer Bob Harper of "The Biggest Loser." Being in the business of encouraging people to lose weight, Harper has seen his share of success stories, but none like Blocker's, which was more remarkable because he lost all the weight without surgical assistance.

"He said the most he remembered seeing someone lose was 300," Blocker said. "Total, I've lost 370 pounds. It took me a year and a half."

Blocker had lost the weight through a program offered at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, which promoted success stories on its Facebook page.

"One of the producers at the Rachael Ray Show read that article and contacted me toward the middle of January," Blocker said.

Blocker was happy to share the story of how he lost the weight, but he said there is no secret: Just burn more calories than you take in.

But he hadn't seen any programs designed to accomplish that by setting a minimum food requirement rather than limiting the amount of food he was allowed to eat.

"It's called 'The Healthy Weigh.' It's a doctor-supervised program," Blocker said. "The whole philosophy behind their diet is, 'More is Better.'"

During the first phase of the program, Blocker was limited to prepackaged products from HMRdiet.com and was instructed to finish no fewer than two entrees and three shakes per day.

"I'm not going to lie: I was skeptical," he said.

But the diet's participants are able to satisfy cravings for food with the prepackaged meals, Blocker said.

"Then you won't be tempted to eat high-calorie foods," he explained. "If you want to have 10 shakes a day, you can have 10 shakes a day."

Blocker started the program hoping to push past the 20 pounds he recently had lost on his own and lose more weight, rather than getting stuck there again.

"It seemed like it was something I could do," Blocker said of the Saint Francis program. "I was thinking maybe I could lose 10, 15 pounds, something like that. I didn't think I'd lose 350."

But 12 pounds came off the first week, so he set a new goal of another 20. As Blocker kept setting and achieving new goals, he noticed the most weight anyone had lost on the program was 228 pounds. His competitive spirit took over, and he set his sights on matching that weight loss.

"Then when I hit 228, I thought I might as well go for 300. Then I decided 180 is the weight I wanted to be," he said.

Upon meeting that final goal, Blocker had lost 350 pounds on the program.

"I'm on the second phase of the diet now," Blocker said. "I've been maintaining my weight for seven months. I'm eating 'normal' food; I eat in social situations. I've just learned how to make healthier choices when I do go out and when I prepare food."

Blocker said he can even enjoy high-calorie foods. But they are an occasional treat, not a part of his everyday diet.

Blocker said the guidance he received from Saint Francis dietitian Candace O'Hare was helpful in learning to be conscious of what he was eating and how important exercise is.

"I owe it all to her," he said. "I'm just aware now, aware of what I eat. It's just math. I had been eating so many empty calories -- one of the worst for me was ordinary soda."

In addition to the support of the hospital's staff, "the other aspect of that program that made me most successful is their weekly meetings up in Cape," Blocker said.

Also, weekly meetings with other weight-loss patients and being able to talk about challenges they faced was a big help, Blocker said.

"For me, it was being a band director -- being out long hours, being at competitions and parades," he said. "I would skip breakfast, be at school all day, eat a school lunch and then be out all night long. Instead of preparing healthy food at home, I was eating fast food or whatever I could get at a convenience store or at concession stands at competitions. Now I take foods with me that I know are healthier items -- fruits, vegetables, lean protein -- rather than pizza and nachos."

Blocker said lifestyle changes also contributed to his success.

"I was doing no exercise before," he said. "I would work all day long and come how and sit down on the couch. I exercise now and I enjoy exercising: it is a good stress reliever."

Blocker said he likes hearing that someone has decided to make healthier choices for their life -- especially when it is someone close to him.

"My brother has started the program," he said. "He is 80 pounds down and working toward that 100 mark."