Residents Join Dr. Oz's 'Transformation Nation' Challenge

The excitement started to build about 10 minutes before the show started. A small crowd of about 25 people gathered in the back room of the in Monday, sipping Diet Cokes and waiting for the Dr. Oz Show to start.

Lori Talbot, surrounded by family members and friends, paced excitedly around the room, greeting people as they arrived to watch as she and fellow Cranford residents Michele Keating and Lisa Korn make their television debut on the daytime talk show. The topic: Dr. Oz's "Transformation Nation Weight Loss Challenge." The three women are all members of Weight Watchers - which is partnering with Dr. Oz on the initiative - and attend meetings at the Westfield Weight Watchers Center on South Avenue. The goal: to become 40 pounds lighter by spring by making healthy lifestyle changes.

As they waited for the show to start, the women were greeted by their energetic Weight Watchers leader, Ann Thomashow, who brought flowers and encouragement to the Kilkenny House. A longtime member of Weight Watchers who successfully shed pounds on the program, Anne is known for being brutally honest with her meeting members, and for bringing humor and a high level of motivation to the meeting room.

During a preview of the show - during which Talbot helps Dr. Oz and a Weight Watchers leader make a healthy dessert - the local teacher explains that she has already lost 6 pounds on the program. Like Keating and Korn, Talbot became involved in the weight loss challenge because she was eager to lose a few pounds. She contacted the Dr. Oz show and was selected to appear on the program.

It was 4 p.m. and all eyes were fixed on the flat-screen TV that hangs on the wall of the back room. Finally, the last commercial ended and the show came on, as cheers erupted from the small crowd of supporters.

"All of these women are here because they're frustrated about how hard it is to lose weight," Dr. Mehmet Oz said as he opened the show, intruding Talbot and the other Transformation Nation participants who were chosen to appear on the stage.

Panelists on the show talked about the challenges of shedding pounds. They explained that gaining the weight is easy; taking it off is difficult. They spoke about the hurdles they have to overcome in order to lose weight, such as not having time, or having little energy. Dr. Oz explained that there are no healthy, quick fixes.

"The slower you can gently edge that weight off, the harder it will be to regain it," Oz said.

According to Dr. Oz, as we age, our metabolism slows down. In fact, for every decade of their lives, women lose 5 percent of their metabolism.

As the show continued, the audience was given tips on how to conquer their hunger by eating broth-based soup before a meal, or for a snack to conquer your hunger. Other tips included eating frozen fruit and making high-fiber fruits and veggies a part of your diet. The audience was also given information about the importance of exercise and building muscle mass. Those who sign up for the Transformation Nation Challenge - which anyone can join - will continue to have their progress tracked. One contestant may even will a $1 million prize.

It was at this point in the program, that the show was interrupted by a special news report about Conrad Murray and his conviction in the death of Michael Jackson. The crowd, who had yet to see Talbot's appearance on the show, waited somewhat patiently for the report to end. After footage of the jury's verdict being read, the station cut back to the Dr. Oz show, just in time to see Talbot standing next to the host.

As the show ended, Talbot received words of encouragement from the friends, co-workers and family members who were there to watch the show and cheer her on.

"I'm very proud of her," said Jerry Dobbins, Talbot's father. "She's very outgoing. She's got such a vibrant smile and outgoing personality."