Ron has recently retired from the food distribution business that he was in for most of his career. He sits on the ZBA and city council and has been on the planning commission for his town. Ron has battled his weight his entire life, weighing over 200 pounds at just nine years old, and has yo-yo dieted to almost 500 pounds as an adult. Ron, like most people who are overweight, has tried everything to lose it. And like most, he lost a lot of weight only to gain it back, usually faster than he lost it. Currently at over 420 pounds and with both of his sons struggling with obesity, Ron realizes that his sons cannot follow in his path.

Ron and Mike are a father/son team who are extremely driven and competitive. They are outgoing and love to have fun, but always keep a competitive edge about them. They have the typical Italian dynamic; they compete and push each other relentlessly, but it all comes from love of one another. Ron admits he is a nutritional basketcase when it comes to food and realizes he's passed his bad eating habits to his son. Michael wants to pursue his dreams of becoming a doctor and wants to start the rest of his life as a healthy 18 year old. Both are motivated and determined to lose the weight and break the cycle together.