Bellport resident inspirational story for the New Year

Fred Ford’s first epiphany came at Walt Disney World in 2019.

He was set for the “Avatar” ride with his wife and daughter. But the restraints on the banshee, a low-lying motorcycle-like vehicle that traverses participants for a ride, wouldn’t click.

“I was so fat, the harness wouldn’t close,” he said, frankly. After trying different ways to secure his body that didn’t work, Ford was asked to leave by the Disney attendant.

Mortified and ashamed, COVID hit shortly after. All small efforts, including stepping into his car, driving to work, then walking into his office, stopped. A senior appraiser reviewer for Suffolk County, Ford worked remotely back then.

“On March 1, 2021, I got on the scale and it reached 350.2 pounds,” he said of his second epiphany. “My first thought was, I’m close to 400 pounds, and that sickened me.” He was 61. The clock was ticking.

The “Avatar” incident and the telling scale number were two major instances that started his weight loss journey in 2021. It led to writing his best-selling book, “Think and Grow Thin.” It debuted in 2025 with Best Seller Publishing when he reached his goal of 215 pounds.

(He walks seven to 10 miles a day, mostly in Bellport, where he’s resided since 1989. It’s one of his suggested movement solutions; he also turns it into meditative gratitude. “I’m always moving my mouth, saying, ‘thank you,’” he joked.)

In the beginning, diet approaches would be successful for a couple of months; he’d lose the weight, then gain it back. Then he’d read that most weight-loss programs ended in failure.

Only 1 percent of those who stuck to their plans made it. Ford wanted to be a 1-percenter.

Ford is a spiritual man, a significant thread that runs in his family. He grew up in Salem, N.H., with one brother and three sisters. His father, Gerry, studied to be a priest, then changed course, marrying his mother, Joan, who became a Eucharistic minister in the Episcopal Church, so he had a solid foundation. Besides becoming a certified life success consultant in 2008, trained by Bob Proctor, Les Brown and John Maxwell—all successful motivational speakers and authors in personal development for over a decade—he also put out “Fred editorials,” weekly internet motivational homilies encouraging positivity.

Taking what he learned from books, spiritual readings and his motivational teachers, Ford hit on a holistic approach: a disciplined, daily commitment that engages prayer, visualization, movement, journaling and a plant- based diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, as well as gratitude. Occasional alcohol is okay, but less is better; he does eat fish and chicken. He’ll eat meat on occasion, but cheese is out. His wife, Babe, is his biggest supporter, along with daughter, Alma Rose. Babe partners with him on his life diet as well.

(You breathe easier around Ford and would want to sit and talk with him in your living room.)

Easy to read and well-researched with a bibliography, he makes it clear in his chapters, the books he’s studied. All his suggested practices are life enhancing that can be applied in every area of our lives. As a result, “Think and Grow Thin” is now an international best seller.

“I’m just starting podcasts,” he said. “I have a whole campaign to get on stages and share with as many people as I can. Those who are 50 and older are underserved; there is no spiritual element in their weight-loss goals, and I know now the spiritual element made the difference.”

He will comment that he is unqualified to give specific guidance on weight-loss drugs, but wants to promote healthy lifestyle changes and says his book is compatible with any weight-loss strategy. But he points out that all drugs have side effects and his biggest concern is their long-term safety.

As for the “Avatar” experience, he still tears up describing his triumphant return to Disney World in 2022 after losing 100 pounds. “Fitting in the banshee on my ride was thrilling,” he said. “I have yet to tell that story without getting emotional.”

For more information, click on www.authorfredford.com. A link to purchasing the book is on the website. The book is available on Amazon.com.