Manuel Uribe and His Struggle to Walk Again

Manuel Uribe, 43, of Monterrey, Mexico was awarded the title "The Heaviest Man in the World" in Jan. 2006 by Guinness World Records. At that time he weighed 1,235 lbs. He has since lost over 500 lbs and now weighs about 700 lbs thanks to the Zone diet. He had been bed-ridden since 2001 and has one goal in mind - to be able to walk again.

Manuel Uribe is beyond the kind of overweight that comes from fast food and lack of exercise. Doctors call it morbid obesity. According to the National Institutes of Health, obesity means weighing 20 percent or more than your ideal body weight, and it's a health risk. Morbid obesity is altogether different. Sometimes called "clinically severe obesity," it means you're 100 pounds or more over ideal body weight, with a body mass index of 40 or higher.

Uribe doesn't gain weight like the rest of us. Brain chemistry, genetic mutation, addiction, psychological pain -- or an unhappy combination of all of them -- makes morbid obesity one of the biggest mysteries of medicine.

An operation in 2001 - to remove 180 lbs of growth tissue from his thighs and pelvic areas - proved unsuccessful and Manuel feared that he would not be able to walk again. In addition to his weight problems, his wife of 14 years left him. He continued to over-eat and became depressed and at one point contemplated suicide.

Things began to change after he was noticed by a local journalist, Jose Luis Garcia, who interviewed him and told his story to the world. In the interview Manuel asked for someone to help him lose weight. Doctors and dietitians visited him. After much consultation Manuel decided to go on a diet, the Zone diet, rather than undergo more surgery which came with significant risks to his health.

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Manuel not only started losing weight on his new diet but he also found love again. He met Claudia Solis and they both decided to get married. The following video chronicles Manuel's transformation from depression to romance.

Manuel and Claudia

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Manuel Gets Married

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Even though Manuel is still not able to walk, he has plans to be mobile. He is now having a 1989 Chevrolet Astrovan outfitted specially for him. The minivan is being converted into an open-air, flatbed pickup. Manuel says he will put a bed on the back of the van to drive around town, with his new wife at the wheel.

With his new found lease on life, Manuel now wants to open an auto parts store. He is also making plans to visit the beach soon with his wife. He plans to continue with his diet and exercise and maybe someday he will be able to walk again. Below is a clip with Dr. Barry Sears, the creator of the Zone diet.

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Manuel Uribe sums it up like this:

"I love life , I love God and I have someone to love, Thank God!!"

The Dating Game

Ladies, have you ever been on a first date that you would like to turn into a second date........but it never happened? Are you confused, upset or just bewildered? Well Lauren Frances, author of "Dating, Mating and Manhandling: The Ornithological Guide to Men has some advice that may just well turn that first date into a second or third one....if you want it to!

"What happened? I'm so confused. At first, he seemed to really like me. He made reservations, picked me up, and took me to a fabulous restaurant. But for some reason, over the course of dinner, he became a little cold and distant. By the time he dropped me off, he seemed withdrawn and just sped off into the night. I haven't heard from him since! And I really liked him. I'm so bummed! What do you think happened?"

There are some simple rules, in fact 8 of them, that may lead to a satisfying first date and prospects for a successful second one. Below are Lauren's Cardinal First Date rules:

1. Don't be negative about dating.
   

Romance Rule: Be a romantic challenge, not a mental health challenge.

2. Don't get tipsy.
   

Romantic Rule: Always stay sober enough to remember how naughty you were the night before!

3. Don't talk badly about your exes.
   

Romantic Rule: We all have baggage. Keep it in the closet on first dates.

4. Don't spook your suitor.
   

Romantic Rule: Confidence is sexy! Sometimes, thoughts are for the inside.

5. Don't talk about your personal pet peeves.
   

Romantic Rule: You already know all about you. Keep your problems to yourself and get to know him.

6. Don't chase your date.
   

Romantic Rule: When men chase you, they're much less likely to fly away.

7. Don't keep squawking.
   

Romantic Rule: Remember, sometimes less conversation really is more.

8. Learn how to leave.

Romantic Rule: If you're on date number one and aren't having fun, release your date back into the wild immediately.

All these rules are explained fully by clicking this link. Lauren Frances also hosts "Man Magnet Radio" on Karma Air. She claims to be a celebrity love coach and coaches some of Hollywood's hottest stars, from Kate Walsh and Amy Brenneman to the steamy Slade Smiley and Jo De La Rosa.