Extreme Weight Loss is Only Half the Makeover | Weekend Read

Each weekend, Patch shares stories sparking conversations beyond one town:

After Extreme Weight Loss, Man Faces Next Hurdle in Makeover

Gino Warner's saga began in 2009 at the local YMCA. At the age of 19, Warner weighed in at 333 pounds. Today, Warner is about to turn 27, and his long journey has seen him shed a stunning 142 pounds. Unfortunately, he now faces yet another obstacle.

Losing such an astonishing amount of weight, even over such a long period, often results in loose hanging skin, and Warner is asking for friends and strangers to help pay for such an expensive surgery.

"I mess up on my eating, get sick, miss days at the gym, miss a whole week ... it happens," Warner said. "I have even come close to dying because of my chronic illnesses. But it didn't stop me." >>> Read more.

Next-Gen PSAs Target New Angle in Drug Addiction, Recovery

A new video contest is hoping to reframe the conversation surrounding addiction. “Just Say No” and “This is Your Brain on Drugs” campaigns of the 1980s sent powerful messages, but they didn’t address the stigmas surrounding addiction, according to Ashton Tupper, a spokesperson for Recovery Brands.

“We wanted to bring about a new message, something other than ‘Just Say No,’” Tupper said. The focus is to avoid invoking “feelings of shame or fear.” With five videos now left in the running, Recovery Brands wants viewers to decide the People's Choice Award winner up. Online voting is open until Aug. 25 with a $5,000 prize going to the winning filmmaker. >>> Read about one finalist.

Virginia Weather: Fall Forecast Keeps it Warm

Perfect fall weather might be on the way for Virginia and other Mid-Atlantic states, with one long-term forecast calling for a warm and dry autumn.

Unlike last year, don’t look for extended cool and wet periods. Instead, conditions should be right for a promising harvest season for farmers and great weather for fall festivals. However, leaf peepers may be shortchanged. >>> Read more.

Pulled Over? What to Do During a Traffic Stop

Fredericksburg police and city's NAACP chapter have produced a public-service video to highlight tips about what should be done during traffic stops.

The three-minute video includes information about how officers and drivers should act during a vehicle stop, how to inform a law enforcement officer if there is a weapon in the vehicle and more. >>> Watch video and read more.