Naperville native to speak on dieting for your personality

Naperville North High School graduate Jen Widerstrom has become widely known as a fitness expert, trainer, diet consultant and TV personality on both "American Gladiators" and "The Biggest Loser."

She also has recently written a book based on her health and fitness knowledge, "Diet Right for Your Personality Type."

Widerstrom will return to town to celebrate and share her latest work at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17, at Community Christian Church, 1635 Emerson Lane, Naperville. She'll talk about her book in conversation with Steve Mazzarella, a former Naperville North health teacher.

Tickets, which include a copy of the book, are required and available exclusively at JenWiderstromAndersons.brownpapertickets.com. Her appearance is sponsored by Anderson's Bookshop.

Widerstrom has learned one important thing through her work with contestants on NBC's "The Biggest Loser" and her clients who have collectively lost thousands of pounds: When it comes to dieting, one size does not fit all. In order to successfully lose weight, your diet plan should be based on your needs and patterns as an individual.

Now, in her first book, Widerstrom has developed a plan for maximizing weight loss and keeping it off once and for all by eating right for your specific personality type.

In her book, Widerstrom discusses the five most common personality types. Starting with a simple quiz, readers will be able to figure out which type they fall into: the Everyday Hero (who always puts themselves last), the Rebel (who is impulsive and noncommittal), the Organized Doer (the type-A personality who craves routine and rules), the Swinger (the adventurous type who follows the trendiest fads), or the Never Ever (who believes if the pants don't fit, buy bigger pants).

Once readers identified their type, they will be guided through a four-week diet and fitness plan that caters to their individual strengths and weaknesses.

With motivational advice, meal plans, recipes, exercise plans, and more, readers will learn how to effectively lose weight and maintain a lasting healthy lifestyle.

After completing her degree at the University of Kansas in Sports Administration, Widerstrom went on to become certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine with an emphasis in nutrition, balance training, cardio performance, reactive and resistance training as well as in neuromuscular stretching.

She also is committed to helping others through philanthropic endeavors, volunteering at orphanages and schools throughout Rwanda, Kenya, and Malawi, and hosting events on Goodwill Military tours for troops in Kuwait and Iraq.