South Lake Tahoe resident, Barton Health Employee Stella Ortega lands top spot on Dr. Oz Show

South Lake Tahoe resident and Barton Health employee, Stella Ortega, made it to the top 10 on Dr. Oz Show-Transformation Nation: Million Dollar You segment. Ortega is among 10 finalists to earn a spot in the show's season-long initiative. Viewers can vote on which finalist they feel should win the grand prize of $1 million by going to www.doctoroz.com. The winner will be announced on “The Dr. Oz Show” scheduled to air on May 23.
Stella Ortega is a 24-year-employee at Barton and with Barton Cardiologist Dr. David Young by her side, she has transformed her life. Go here to read more, watch the video and to vote.

Since the health challenge launched on Sept. 26, 2011, more than 1.2 million people have registered for the seven step program that transforms their overall health. The steps include weight loss, knowing family health history, sleep hygiene, stress reduction, fitness and forming a relationship with their doctor. The 1.2 million registrants answered questionnaires and quizzes at the conclusion of each step, and a weigh-in with Weight Watchers required at the start and finish of the program. Through a partnership with Weight Watchers, registrants entered their starting weight through a complimentary weigh-in at a Weight Watchers center, and also recorded a final weight in the same manner. People were required to lose 10% of their body weight or reach or maintain a healthy BMI between 18.5 and 24.9.

Here's what Stella had to say:

Wow! What a weight-loss train ride I have taken. The ride has been bumpy sometimes, but my heart, my health and my family have gotten me to my weight-loss destination, Thin City. My inspiration has been my heart and my family. I was diagnosed with a right bundle branch block, bradycardia, pre hypertention, plantar fasciitis and urinary incontinence. Now all are gone except for the bundle branch block, which I will always have. Today my heart is stronger and healthier. My inspiration was deep for me: My cardiologist said the word "pacemaker" and that's all I needed to hear. I was determined to change my life for the better for my family, the heart of my life.

My husband, daughters and grandchildren are the inspiration I needed to complete the transformation. It was the hardest accomplishment I have ever completed. To continue to lose weight week after week, work out every day and eat the healthiest I have ever eaten was tough, but I did it. By learning to eat whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean protein, I fueled my body to excercise to its maximum potential. I worked out doing cardio, P90X, Zumba and weight lifting. I lost 45 pounds and went from a size 16 to a size 6. I feel fit, fabulous and fantastic! If this is what a million dollars feels like, I love it! I'm a different person, both physically and mentally.

One challenge I faced was keeping myself motivated. I had five quotes to keep me going: 'Never, never, never give up;' 'Competition makes you better;' 'Don't fear failure;' 'Bring it' and 'Just imagine.' I also have a picture of Dr. Oz on my computer. Seeing the picture and quotes every day kept me focused on my weight loss. In addition, my other challenge were my injuries and working through them. It made me tough and I did not give up. I had six goals: to lose 40 pounds, improve my cardiac health, improve my overall health, wear single-digit clothes and buy skinny jeans. I have completed all except for the sixth goal, which I cannot check off because I need to win this contest first. I have a Stella McCartney wish list and would like to purchase one item from my list. Maybe a pair of designer jeans. You never, never, never know and I will never, never, never give up! Thank you so much for this opportunity."

Seven judges poured over the submissions of the top 50 contestants after an algorithm identified those with the highest scoring value. The group of 50 was required to submit a personal narrative essay describing their personal transformation, motivation and detail of their experience. The seven judges were:

Best-selling author and meditation expert Dr. Deepak Chopra, talk show host Rachael Ray, Center for Disease Control deputy director Dr. Ileana Arias, fitness trainer Jorge Cruise, Weight Watchers Leader Liz Josefsberg, sleep physician Michael Breus, M.D., and Dr. Vonda Wright.

The finalists are:

1.       Stephanie Lewis-Woodbridge, VA
2.       Mercedes Moebuis-Hampstead, MD
3.       Karl Nielsen-Rochester, NY
4.       Stella Ortega-South Lake Tahoe, CA
5.       Michael Lamb-Athens,GA
6.       Sheila Haines-Sterling, VA
7.       Dawn Villaneuva-Ewa Beach, Hawaii
8.       SharonaSankar-King-Manhattan, NY
9.       Jen McElroy-Pinegrove, IL
10.   Mary Ellen Brunaugh-Vancouver, WA
 
The winner will be selected through a voting process that goes from May 7 thru May 13, 2012. Viewers will vote on “The Dr. Oz Show” website (www.doctoroz.com) where they can read personal stories, and watch videos of the finalists. Dr. Oz’s Transformation Nation: Million Dollar You will culminate in a grand finale where one winner will be awarded the $1 million prize on the May 23 episode of “The Dr. Oz Show.”

“Let America draw inspiration from these spectacular individuals who are sharing their personal stories of transformation so that others may see what is possible,” said Dr. Mehmet Oz, M.D. “While we made the contest as exciting as possible with a million dollar prize, the finalists that underwent the most impressive transformations weren’t motivated by money, but rather a desire to reclaim their health and be around longer for their loved ones.”

“The Dr. Oz Show” partnered with Weight Watchers–ranked #1 best plan for weight loss in 2011 and 2012 by U.S. News & World Report – to help registrants lose weight. Weight Watchers was an obvious choice for a weight loss program partner because of the scale and infrastructure of the organization. Anticipating sign ups exceeding one million participants, “The Dr. Oz Show” had to direct participants to an easy to find, easy to follow program that was also familiar, scientifically sound and medically respected.

Dr. Oz’s Transformation Nation: Million Dollar You was powered online by the show’s partner, Sharecare, who is committed to getting America healthy. In addition to the Dr. Oz’s Transformation Nation: Million Dollar You interactive program on Sharecare, participants have access to trusted health and wellness information, helpful tools, and real-time community interaction with each other and with thousands of health experts including physicians, nurses and trainers – all designed to help everyone live their healthiest life. Sharecare is a company founded and owned by Harpo, Sony Pictures Television, Discovery Communications, Dr. Oz, and Jeff Arnold, which also powers the robust website for “The Dr. Oz Show.”Each step in the Dr. Oz’s Transformation Nation: Million Dollar Youprogram has its own curriculum and evaluation criteria – all of which is managed in the online program.

A short synopsis of the seven steps that the 10 finalists followed include:

TELL A FRIEND: The show asked all Americans to enlist their friendsbecause we know you cannot go at it alone. Studies show folks who lose weight in groups keep their weight off and are more successful in the long term.

WEIGH IN WITH WEIGHT WATCHERS AND CALCULATE YOUR BMI: Learn the importance of your Body Mass Index. If you don’t have a healthy BMI, we asked participants to lose 10 percent loss of body weight or reach and maintain a healthy BMI, which correlates to a drop in risk to type 2 diabetes, stroke, and heart disease. The first step in calculating your BMI was to go to a local Weight Watchers center. There, participants found out their starting weight. During the initiative they received a complimentary weigh-in, and were invited to stay for a meeting. If they liked what they heard, they were invited to join Weight Watchers and become a member.

CONNECT WITH YOUR DOCTOR: Nearly 1/3 of all Americans don’t see a doctor every year. We encouraged participants to start a relationship their doctor so they could have an honest conversation abouttheir weight before it becomes a bigger problem. Know the questions to ask your doctor and find out the right numbers to talk with them about, including blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose. Having a relationship will help you prevent future illness. If participants didn’t have a doctor, we encouraged them to seek out their pharmacist who could help get the conversation going.

LEARN YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTH HISTORY: One of the critical tools a doctor uses to diagnose illness and recommend preventative care is your family history. Knowing your family’s health history enables you to get life saving screenings before it’s too late.  “The Dr. Oz Show” web site (www.doctoroz.com) offers unique web tools powered by Sharecare to help participants fill out their family history and compile all critical information.

GET MORE SLEEP: This step taught Americans to get at least 30 more minutes of sleep a night by going to bed a half-hour earlier. We know that lack of sleep is ahidden factor of weight gain.

ASSESS YOUR STRESS: Everyone must understand how stress is a key factor in weight gain, and learn new and practical ways to manage their stress better. Stress can affect the neuroendocrine system, resulting in abdominal fat, for example: indirectly stress is linked to the consumption of too many fatty or sugary foods and inactivity.

START NEW FITNESS HABITS: Something as simple as a brisk walking for 30-60 minutes, five times a week can lower your risk of heart disease by about 40 percent. The web site provided contestants with various fitness resources.

ABOUT “THE DR. OZ SHOW”
Dr. Oz won his second consecutive Emmy® Award for outstanding informative talk show host at the 2011 Daytime Emmys. “The Dr. Oz Show” won its first Emmy® Award for Best Informative Talk Show in 2011. “The Dr. Oz Show” debuted in 2009 with the biggest ratings in nine years in daytime television and maintained impressive ratings throughout the season. “The Dr. Oz Show” is distributed in 112 countries worldwide.

Dr. Oz has served as health expert on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" since 2004, sharing advice with viewers to help them live their best life from the inside out. Dr. Oz has co-authored six New York Times Best Sellers including "YOU: The Owner's Manual", "YOU: The Smart Patient", "YOU: On a Diet", "YOU: Staying Young", "YOU: Being Beautiful" and “YOU Having a Baby” as well as the award-winning "Healing from the Heart". He has a regular column in TIME Magazine, AARP and O The Oprah Magazine.  He is also the host of a daily talk show on Sirius XM Radio's "Oprah Radio."

Dr. Oz is vice-chair of the Department of Surgery and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University. He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital and performs 100 heart operations annually. His research interests include heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complementary medicine and health care policy. He has authored over 400 original publications, book chapters, and medical books and has received several patents.

Cleared in over 99 percent of the country, "The Dr. Oz Show" is co-produced by Harpo Productions and Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and distributed by SPT. "The Dr. Oz Show" is executive produced by Mindy Borman; Amy Chiaro is co-executive producer. The show is filmed in front of a studio audience in Studio 6A in New York's legendary Rockefeller Center.