Rachel Pires, a 2001 graduate of High School South, will talk about her new book, “Diet Enlightenment: The Real Secret to Weight Loss” at the new author’s night at Barnes & Noble on Wednesday, June 11, at 7 p.m.
“My book teaches readers the secrets that the multibillion-dollar dieting industry doesn’t want dieters to know, and helps them learn how to lose weight easily and permanently without giving up their favorite foods,” says Pires. “With a spiritual and Buddhist twist, readers learn how to listen to their body, how to lose weight eating the foods they like, and how to free themselves from the bondage of emotional eating.”
Born in Connecticut, she was raised in West Windsor and attended Hawk, WW-P Upper Elementary (Millstone), and Community Middle schools. During her freshman year at South she became involved in Taekwondo at United Black Belt and in competitive dance in Robbinsville. “It’s great for learning discipline,” she says, “but it is a huge commitment.” Practices were both before and after school, and the focus at competitions was on the Olympics. It was also the path to an unhealthy relationship with food. “We would have to drop weight for tournaments and competitions,” she says.
Pires put on the “freshman 15” in college at Boston University. “I tried low carb diets, Weight Watchers, and others,” she says. “I lost it every time but always gained it back.” It was when she began to eat healthier and exercise that she lost the weight and maintained it.
“I went from being someone who struggled with binge-eating and yo-yo dieting for most of my life, to now becoming a master of weight loss,” she says. “I had my first child in October, and easily took off all of the baby weight within a few months. Everyone that I have put on my program has had remarkable results with weight loss. It is now my mission to help individuals who have tried everything else, finally learn how to lose weight the right way and make peace with dieting.” Her father has lost close to 50 pounds using her diet secrets — and has kept it off.
After receiving a bachelor of science degree in communications in 2005, she headed to California, where she was a marketing assistant for Creative Artists Agency in Beverly Hills, and then an online media manager for Ionic Media in Los Angeles. “I started to miss family so I came back,” she says.
Pires works in the marketing department at Educational Testing Service. “I have the skills to do it all,” she says. Her husband, Andre Pires, is a civil engineer with Toll Brothers in New York City.
Although her parents divorced when she was two, they both live in the area and now take turns babysitting. Her father, Kenneth Kutner, is a neuropsychologist at Cornell Medical Center. He lives in Plainsboro. Her mother, Sheryl Hochman Leon, is a bank vice president.
She also has four stepsisters. Kaylin Kutner, a freshman at South; Jaclyn Leon, a junior at South; Michelle Leon, a 2012 South graduate; and Nicole Leon, a 2004 South graduate. “I am so happy that they all got the South experience,” says Pires.
Author Event, Barnes & Noble, MarketFair, West Windsor. Wednesday, June 11, 7 p.m. Presentation, booksigning, and Q&A with new authors. 609-716-1570. www.bn.com.
