Steve Hirsch - Health First: Winning at Weight Loss and Wellness

Writing this book was a dream of mine for a number of years. However, it was only after reading The Success Principles, written by Jack Canfield, that I drew the inspiration to just lean into it and get started on this breakthrough goal. Thank you so much, Jack, for motivating me to begin writing.

My dear friend Sheryl Shapiro provided me with the name of a writer, Donna Green, who helped me translate my Health First program from clinical practice to text. Donna was instrumental in working with me, chapter by chapter, to develop the first draft of the manuscript. Her commitment and dedication to this project not only helped me transform my concepts and ideas into text but also kept me on track with deadlines. Thank you, Donna, for your incredible help and hard work.

My wife, Paula, was a tremendous support in so many ways throughout this entire project. She encouraged me to stick with it when the going got tough, and provided invaluable feedback, editing, and suggestions for change at every stage of the process. Thank you, Paula, from the bottom of my heart, for your ongoing and unwavering support.

My two sons, Jason and Neil, encouraged me to write this book over many years. Their ongoing enthusiasm was a continual source of inspiration for me. Guys, thank you so much.

Lorne Greenspan, a friend and colleague, was very supportive during the writing process. He encouraged me to persevere when challenges arose and was always very supportive. Lorne, thank you.

In July 2012, with three or four chapters left to write, I was feeling stuck. I applied and was accepted to a retreat in Hawaii with Jack Canfield, Stewart and Joan Emery, and seventeen other wonderful participants from around the world. We spent five days together, working on our personal goals and helping one another to achieve a breakthrough goal. Jack, Stewart, and Joan, thank you so much for your guidance and support. Your valuable lessons helped propel me to the next level. Additionally, my fellow participants provided me with tremendous encouragement and the determination necessary to continue writing. To Ian Bailey, Aleesa Daley, Kathy Davenport, Marc Gottlieb, Erika Labansat, Tatiana and Mykola Latansky, Katja Narva, Guillermo Paz, Natalie Peace, Marc Pletzer, Lewis Pugh, Ellis Rubenstein, Patrick Ryan, Kelly Shorter, Kristi Staab, and Stewart Welch, thank you all so much. And to Alice Doughty and Patty Aubery with The Jack Canfield Companies, thank you for your support and enthusiasm for this book during the retreat and over the subsequent months.

Following completion of the first draft, several colleagues and friends kindly and enthusiastically agreed to conduct a review of the manuscript for me. Each of you provided me with excellent feedback and suggestions for improvement. I greatly appreciate the time and effort that you all devoted to the review. Thank you to my dear friends Diana Brecher and Diane Davies, to my colleagues Arielle Cheifetz and Jennifer Brighton, and to my brother-in-law and closest friend, Mark Adler.

To my colleague and mentor Cal Gutkin, thank you for reviewing the final manuscript, and for your advice and excellent comments. I greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

When it came time to add the graphics, my close friend Gavin Herman recommended me to Irwin Milgrom of Milgrom and Associates, who were fantastic. Irwin, thank you for your great interest in this book, and for the help of your photographer Larry Mead. Larry, thank you so very much for your time, tremendous patience, and great work.

Finally, when it came time to find a publisher, my friend, Cy Charney, an accomplished author, put me in touch with Don Bastian, of Bastian Publishing Services. Don, it has been terrific working with you. Your editorial suggestions have been of tremendous help and your relentless commitment to ensuring a high quality standard is greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for your guidance and for your helpful editing as well as that of your assistant, Monica Kanellis and for the wonderful artistic text design provided by your designer, Daniel Crack.