From 265 pounds to running a 5k

When Gail Winkler went to the doctors and weighed seven more pounds than she did just a few days earlier, she knew she had to do something to take charge of her body.

But it wasn't that simple. Gail's weight had increased the effects of her sleep apnea, acid reflux disease, and fluid retention in her feet.

Gail was barely 50, but she felt like she was 80. That's when she went to the L A Weight Loss Center across the street from her office. In the last three years, she's dropped and kept off an amazing 117 pounds, and she's even decreased reliance on prescription meds for her various ailments.

What's more, her new body has encouraged her to return to her first love--teaching--and to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.

Gail before, tipping the scales at 265 pounds:

After, at 147 pounds:

FAST FACTS

Name: Gail Winkler
Hometown: Russellville, Tenn.
Age: 48

Starting weight: 265 pounds
Goal weight: 155 pounds
Current weight: 147 pounds
Program start date: August 2003

Biggest motivator: Getting rid of her chronic health problems: sleep apnea, swollen feet, and acid reflux.

Old eating philosophy: Lots of canned goods with additives and preservatives.
New eating philosophy: It's all about fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.

Best thing about losing weight: Having the energy to finish her first-ever 5k!

Best weight loss secret learned: People are too quick to think that gastric bypass is their only option, rather than the last possible resort.

For heavier or lighter, 'till weight do us part

A trip to the Field of Dreams in Iowa turned into a nightmare for Jeff and Danita Dostalek when they got their photos back, and saw how heavy they had become. They decided to tackle the weight issue as a team by changing their lifestyle and learning how to eat right.

After a string of failed diet attempts, the couple discovered L A Weight Loss, which let them eat real food, but with the right balance and portions. Together, they lost a total of 90 pounds!!

Now Danita is much more outgoing in her social life -- her son’s friends say she’s hot! And Jeff finally had the energy and confidence to join the local over-30 baseball league. Now that’s what I call a field of dreams.

The happy couple before:



And the even happier--and healthier--couple now:



FAST FACTS

Name: Danita and Jeff Dostalek
Hometown: McFarland, Wis.
Age: 42; 43

Starting weight: Danita -- 195 lbs.; Jeff -- 229 lbs.
Goal weight: 145 lbs.; 200 lbs.
Current weight: 135 lbs.; 200 lbs.
Program start date: August 2004; October 2004

Biggest temptation: Chocolate and donuts.

Biggest motivator: Wanted to increase their energy levels.

Biggest obstacle: Occasional lack of discipline about the program.

Old eating philosophy: Grab chips or donuts for a snack.

New eating philosophy: Reach for the apple or carrot!

Best thing about of losing weight: More energy, better sleep, improved relationships.

Best weight loss secret learned: You begin the journey just by walking in and getting information -- it's definitely the right choice.

Grazing each day keeps the doctor away

Bev Odegaard was making many visits to her doctor for type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, and each time her sugar and blood pressure levels were on the rise. Fed up with taking three medications for her blood pressure and two for diabetes, she took control of her situation, and joined the L A Weight Loss program.

While she rarely ate junk food, Bev had difficulty with portion control. Now, having changed her eating habits by incorporating more vegetables and low-fat foods, she’s reached and has maintained her goal weight of 129 lbs. She’s completely off her diabetes medication, and is only taking two to control her blood pressure. Fantastic work, Bev!

Recently retired from a long career in the nursing field, she is looking forward to spending her time with her two grandchildren. And, now that she finds it easier to walk in the park, those years are sure to be golden.

Here's Bev at 216 pounds:

And now a confident, medicine-free 129 pounds!

FAST FACTS

Name: Bev Odegaard
Hometown: McFarland, Wis.
Age: 64

Starting weight: 216 pounds
Goal weight: 129 pounds
Current weight: 129 pounds
Program start date: May 2005

Favorite foods: Whole wheat bread, beef, pork, squash, and green veggies.

Biggest temptation: Eating large portions of food.

Biggest motivator: Her grandchildren.

Biggest obstacle: Exercising.

Old eating philosophy: Slathering everything with lots of butter.

New eating philosophy: Eating seasonal foods, including fresh garden spinach and corn on the cob.

Best thing about losing weight: Having a lot more energy.

Best weight loss secret learned: Her self-esteem is now sky-high!

U.S. soldier in Iraq battles weight loss

Lorraine Staton, 29, is in the U.S. Army, and stationed in Iraq. She came into the L A Weight Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, earlier this year, where she weighed in at 180 lbs. When she first joined the army, she weighed 115 lbs. She gained 50 lbs. in each of her two pregnancies.

At the Center, she was given a drink called the Take Off -- and it helped her lose four pounds in three days. That got her excited about weight loss. Renee, who runs the L A Weight Loss Center in Lorraine’s town, e-mails her in Iraq.

Renee helps keep her going, and offers a lot of support to someone in a very stressful situation. She even sends L A Weight Loss supplements, shakes, snack bars, and popcorn.

Lorraine really loves it when other soldiers say, “Sgt. Staton, you lost some weight!" Right now, she weighs 142 pounds. She’s motivated by her desire to wear her bathing suit on the beach for a special reason: She’s hoping to be stationed in Hawaii. See you in the surf, Lorraine!

Here's Lorraine now. Watch this space to see her after photo when she returns from Iraq in December. Can't wait to see what she looks like when she reaches her goal weight!

A slimmer Lisa Richmond, out and about again in Vancouver

When she was 31, Lisa Richmond’s doctor advised her to undergo gastric bypass surgery. She weighed about 320 pounds. Now she’s nine weeks away from completing a 67-week L A Weight Loss program.

Before she began the program, Lisa hated to go out. Once, she was in a restaurant in her town of Vancouver, Washington, and overheard people talking about really fat women. One of them said, “Here comes one now. And you better get used to it -- they’re everywhere.”

That did it. She had tried Weight Watchers, but preferred the privacy of the one-on-one counseling sessions she heard that L A Weight Loss offered. When she began the program, she cleaned everything that was not on the plan out of her house. She did not want to be tempted.

Lisa and her husband used to eat lots of fried foods. But no more. Now it’s fresh vegetables, salads, lean proteins, fish, and Boca Burgers. Lisa thinks that’s pretty cool for a former 'Junk Food Junkie'.

Today, at 203 pounds, she doesn’t feel like she’s stuck in a body that isn’t her friend. She doesn’t hate herself anymore. And now, she told me, she goes out. A lot.

Here she is before, out and about at 320 pounds:

And enjoying the outdoors in her new 203-pound body:

Virginia Owens Justice nets a new husband -- and a job with L A Weight Loss

When she was heavy, Virgina Justice wouldn’t wear dresses above her knees. She told me her clothes looked terrible and made her feel old. But she went from being seriously overweight to being hired as a counselor at L A Weight Loss. That’s success, don’t you think?

Virginia got married in October. She’s 30, and lives in Tennessee. She’s a long-term success story, on maintenance for five years. Even in her early 20’s, her 240 lbs. was a serious health risk (considering she's only 5’5”). Today she weighs 132 -- down 108 lbs. on her way to her goal of 115 lbs.

Virginia says her entire family is overweight. They’ve had strokes and heart attacks. She had high cholesterol, was a borderline diabetic, and had high blood pressure. She knew she was making bad food choices, but couldn’t help herself.

One-on-one counseling helped her get control. Before, she had never exercised a day in her life. Now, she walks three or four times a week, and has more energy than ever before! Great job, Virginia.

Here's Virginia at 240 pounds:



And after, 108 pounds lighter:

From Katrina to Kentucky: Stephanie Ladnier’s weight loss journey

Most women like to compare themselves to movie starlets like Angelina Jolie or Halle Berry.

But for Stephanie Ladnier, she felt more like Violet Beauregard, the blown-up blueberry girl from ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, when she and her family of five landed in Kentucky after losing their entire home during Hurricane Katrina.

Without a kitchen to call her own, Stephanie put on weight *fast*, which made her very depressed. She was ready for a complete lifestyle change, but didn’t have any money to join L A Weight Loss.

Her husband Jamie saved the day by selling his treasured antique guns, and raised enough money for his wife to start the program (way to go, Jamie!). Stephanie certainly made every penny count. She lost over 80 pounds in only one year!

When I caught up with her, Stephanie was looking and feeling fantastic with a new home, a new body, and a new life. The best part: Stephanie says “the weight will never be an issue in my life again.”

Here she is before, at 269 pounds:



And after, at 189 pounds:

FAST FACTS

Name: Stephanie Ladnier
Hometown: Elizabethtown, Ky.
Age: 31
Height: 5 ft. 6 in.

Starting weight: 269 pounds
Goal weight: 175 pounds
Current weight: 189 pounds
Program start date: January 2006

Favorite food: Fruit, raw carrots.

Biggest temptation: Peanut butter.

Biggest motivator: The need to get life back on track after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Biggest obstacle: Homelessness, tough financial situation (disabled husband was unemployed).

Old eating philosophy: Eat everything in sight because you might run out.

New eating philosophy: Have fun with your food, and try new things.

Best thing about of losing weight: Feeling feminine again when her husband wraps his arms around her.

Best weight loss secret learned: Don’t doubt yourself. Keep your chin up!

Wedding day slim down leads to lifelong changes

Every bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day, and Angela Ganey was no exception, though her transformation was certainly exceptional! In the two years preceeding her big day she worked hard to drop a whopping 140 pounds.

And lest she get too comfortable with married life, she's maintained her new figure to this day -- even dropping another five to meet her goal weight of 145 pounds. This was no easy feat.

Angela, like her mother, struggled with her weight all her life, and says she can’t remember the last time she was this thin. Her mom had several surgeries for her weight, and her dad suffered a stroke.

While Angela herself never suffered anything as serious as a stroke or diabetes, she did experience back problems because of her weight, and she sought the help of a chiropractor.

Though she’s come a long way, Angela still sees a 200-pound woman when she looks in the mirror. The images of that period of her life are hard to erase.

But that hasn't stopped her from playing with her four-year-old son, Trystan, without losing her breath, and happily greeting her husband, who just returned from Iraq.

Before, at close to 300 pounds:


Now a true hot momma at 150 pounds!!


FAST FACTS

Name: Angela Ganey
Hometown: Ball, La.
Age: 27

Starting weight: 290 pounds
Goal weight: 145/140 pounds
Current weight: 150 pounds
Program start date: 2001

Favorite food: Baked chicken and mixed vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Hamburgers and fries.

Biggest motivator: Wanted to lose weight before her wedding, March 15, 2003.

Biggest obstacle: Family history of weight and health issues.

Old eating philosophy: Breakfast: 3 bowls of cereal, biscuits, sausage, and eggs. Lunch: 2-3 Taco Bell bean burritos plus nachos, or hamburgers and fries -- all super-sized. Dinner: Anything goes! Fried fish, mashed potatoes, or vegetables drowned in butter.

New eating philosophy: Much healthier! A typical breakfast is a half-cup of cereal with fat-free milk and some fruit. And she still hits the drive-through, but goes for the salads instead of the grease.

Best thing about of losing weight: Running and playing with her son without feeling out of breath.

Best weight loss secret learned: Realizing that losing weight is not an overnight success, and there will be ups and downs.

The right mindset leads to the right waist size

Lisa Skiles was bombarded with harsh words like “big-boned,” “large-framed,” and “you’re tall enough to carry the extra weight.” In fact, she heard these words so much she developed the attitude that it was OK to be “big”—until enough was enough.

After many failed attempts at other diets, Lisa joined her local L A Weight Loss center. Lisa immediately saw the plan as a way of life, not a diet. She found the right mindset, made the commitment to herself, and L A Weight Loss did the rest.

Lisa dropped 102 pounds and reached her goal weight of 126 pounds. That was five years ago, and she hasn’t gained an ounce back!! Which just proves what Lisa learned: L A Weight Loss isn't a diet; it's a lifestyle, which Lisa has incorporated into her new life of golfing, shopping, and comfortably fitting into theater and airline seats.

Here's Lisa, at 228 pounds, with her husband:



No, he didn't get remarried ... that's Lisa at a rockin' 126 pounds!!



FAST FACTS

Name: Lisa Skiles
Hometown: Evansville, Ind.
Age: 42
Height: 5’8”

Starting weight: 228 pounds
Goal weight: 126 pounds
Current weight: 126 pounds
Program start date: January 2001

Favorite food: Grilled chicken.

Biggest temptation: Dessert.

Old eating philosophy: Fast food and more fast food.

New eating philosophy: Plan out healthy choices and stick to them.

Best thing about of losing weight: Wanting to get out, do things, live life.

Best weight-loss secret learned: Listen to your L A Weight Loss counselor!

Sue Toshner beats cancer *and* obesity

Here's a real-life survival story of an L A Weight Loss client I spoke to who fought back against both cancer and obesity. Sue Toshner from Osh Kosh, Wis., gained 81 pounds while undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. After successfully battling the cancer, she emerged at 193 pounds -- which put her at risk for a heart attack.

She knew she had to lose the weight. It wouldn't do anyone any good, she thought, unless she cared for and loved herself. Determined to live longer, Sue joined the L A Weight Loss program to help her beat obesity. In less than a year, Sue lost all 81 pounds -- impressing even her doctor.

Sue says she has never felt healthier, and her family is obviously thrilled and excited to have her around for many years to come. Her story also appeared in the October issue of Prevention magazine.

Here's Sue in October 2005 at 193 pounds:



Here she is now, at a healthy, cancer-free 112 pounds:



What an unbelievable journey!

Portion Power

We talk a lot about eating proper portions of food. But it's also important to eat proper portions of vitamins and minerals. This is one key to a healthy and effective weight loss plan. It is especially important for women, whose diets are often short of folate, vitamin E, calcium, vitamin D, and iron.

The average American diet is also short of fiber. Most Americans consume only half of the American Heart Association's recommended daily intake of 25 grams of fiber. Fiber has a lot of health benefits. High fiber diets have been linked to lowered risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain cancers, and high cholesterol. Fiber can also satisfy hunger, so you feel full, and eat less. High-fiber diets are generally lower in calories, fat, and added sugars. Good sources of fiber include whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and beans.

What foods have what nutrients? The USDA's food pyramid is a good place to start. Here's a summary.

• Whole grains: B vitamins (thiamine, niacin, folate, and riboflavin), iron, magnesium, selenium, fiber
  
• Fruits: Fiber, potassium, vitamin C, folate
  
• Vegetables: Fiber, potassium, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, folate
  
• Dairy: Calcium, vitamin D, potassium
  
• Meat and Beans: Protein, iron, B vitamins (niacin, riboflavin, B6, and thiamine), magnesium, vitamin E, zinc
  
• Oils: Vitamin E, essential fatty acids (Most oils are high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids.)

Remember my "double-P "rule: Always eat proper portions of foods, nutrients, and vitamins to maintain a healthy, balanced diet.

Thanksgiving prayer for healthy eaters

A friend (who also happens to be on the L A Weight Loss program, and is just 5 pounds from her goal weight) just forwarded this to me, and I couldn't resist passing it along.

May your stuffing be tasty,
May your turkey be plump,
May your potatoes n' gravy have nary a lump.
May your yams be delicious,
May your pies take the prize,
May your Thanksgiving dinner
stay off your thighs!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Quick & Simple covers Jeanne Onken's long journey

L A Weight Loss client Jeanne Onken recently talked with the reporters at Quick & Simple magazine about the shame and embarrassment she endured as 252 pound woman. That was before she lost 90 pounds on the L A Weight Loss program.

Jeanne's inspirational and emotional story will appear in the December 5th issue of Quick & Simple. The story covers how fought her battle of the bulge head-on, and how her struggle to lose 90 pounds even changed the way she's raising her two teenage sons.

Here's Jeanne back in 2005, at 252 pounds:




















And here she is today in her new 162 pound figure:




















Quite a difference, wouldn't you say!!!???

Congratulations Jeanne!!

Healthy recipes for a sweet holiday season

With the holiday season kicking into full gear, it's often hard to resist those annual sweet treats. The good news is that you don't have to. By substituting a few ingredients, you can still indulge in your favorite holidays desserts--minus the guilt and weight gain.

Here are two of my favorite recipes (pulled from the L A Lite Cookbook, which you can pick up at your local center when you stop in for your weigh in):

Crustless Pumpkin Pie

1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin, no salt added
1 can (12 oz.) evaporated skim milk
1/2 cup egg substitute
2 egg whites
3/4 cup artificial sweetener
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground allspice
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 cup reduced-fat graham cracker crumbs
nonfat cooking spray

Preheat oven to 325.

In a mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, milk, egg substitute, egg whites, and sweetner. Beat until smooth.

Add the spices and salt and beat until well combined. Stir in graham cracker crumbs.

Pour mixture into a 9-inch pie plate coated with nonfat cooking spray. Bake at 325 for 50 to 55 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool before slicing.



Egg Nog (a great source of calcium!)

2 eggs, well beaten
3 packets artificial sweetener
dash of vanilla extract
2 cups cold skim milk
dash of nutmeg, to taste

Combine eggs and artificial sweetener. Add vanilla and cold milk. Beat well. Pour into festive glasses or mugs and sprinkle with nutmeg.



Enjoy!

John Spino: The man with the famous pants

John Spino, 61, of Leesburg, Fla., once weighed 310 pounds. Today he weighs in at 182 pounds. John, whose health issues include diabetes, is proud of himself. He got involved in L A Weight Loss to save his life, but the social benefits helped keep him motivated.

John is physically active, and isn’t laying around anymore. He says everyone compliments him on “the new John” -- and no one can believe it’s the same guy they knew a few years ago. Even his doctor said, “Whatever you are doing, John, keep doing it! I wish more of my patients would!”

John told me he is done with junk food, and that his sugar cravings are gone. Now he can go into a regular store and buy regular clothes. John says they are a lot cheaper, so he was able to get rid of his old clothes -- even the huge pair of pants he wore before he joined L A Weight Loss.

Here's John at 310 pounds:

And now, with those famous pants:

In just 55 weeks, John Lay dropped 155 lbs. -- and his blood pressure medication

John Lay's wakeup call came when his size made it difficult for him to travel or enjoy a family trip to Disney World. He weighed 402 pounds, hurting his personal and professional life enormously.

John, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, says he didn’t feel confident out in public on any level, whether it was speaking engagements for work or swimming with the family. His lack of energy also caused him to be more isolated.

After witnessing some of his colleagues’ success at L A Weight Loss, John decided to join. Counselors and nutritionists worked closely with him to come up with a plan and goals that suited his health needs.

Today, John finds his life lighter -- literally! He even returned to Disney World again and this time, the seat fit.

UPDATE: John's 13 pounds closer to his goal weight today. We caught up with him and found out more about what losing weight has done for him. Check it out!

Here's John at 402 pounds:

Now John's at 245 -- 57 pounds more than his goal weight! Way to go, John!!

Deep-fried flag cooks up controversy

I just came across this story about an artist in Clarksville, Tenn., whose deep-fried American flag exhibit ,"The Fat is in the Fire," has been pulled from the town's Custom House Museum. Apparently he created it to bring attention to America's obesity epidemic.

Well, I guess that's one way to go about it.

On the other hand, should we really blame America and American instititions for our obesity epidemic? Or does responsibility for our national girth begin at home, more specifically at the kitchen table?

That's certainly the cornerstone of how we think at L A Weight Loss. Our program is designed to help people learn how lead a healthy lifestyle of nutritious meals and exercise--without sacrificing the foods they love.

I'm going to ask our registered dietician and nutritionist, Jennifer Simmons, to drop by here and post some recipies that you can use to fight the battle of the bulge, without having to fry the flag. Watch this space!

Thyroid cancer survivor shares her incredible story

Today JackieZ and I caught up with Georgina Fowler from Weslaco, Tex., and let me tell you--this is one chat you don't want to miss.

This remarkable woman is a loving wife, a devoted mother, a successful L A Weight Loss member (98 lbs. in 10 months), AND a thyroid cancer survivor.

Hear her moving story in her own words here. She will inspire and motivate you to keep going, no matter the odds.

Warning: Keep the Kleenex handy. You'll need them.



Here she is at 257 lbs.



And here she is down to 177 -- and still losing!

Meet our new Canadian spokesperson

Of the hundreds of L A Weight Loss clients I've talked to over the years, Carol Ann Parlato of Ottawa definitely ranks as one of the most enthusiastic and articulate. She could easily be captain of the L A Weight Loss pep squad!

That's probably why she was chosen as the spokesperson for our Holiday Makeover campaign, which is already in full swing. We're going to be issuing a press release about her in the next week or so, announcing her appointment as our Canadian spokesperson.

I'm also hoping to post a Podcast interview with her in a day or so. Watch this space to hear her inspiring story, which led L A Weight Loss to select her for their national TV ads.

Checkout her amazing before and after photos. Here she is at 182 pounds in October, 2004, wearing a size 16:



Here she is in July, down to 128 pounds and a size 6:



Way to go, Carol!!!

Top 10 ways to avoid overstuffing yourself on Thanksgiving

As a follow up to my earlier post, I want to share the rest of my favorite tips for surviving Thanksgiving without putting on a pound--something we can all be thankful for come next Friday morning!

1. During Thanksgiving dinner, choose white turkey meat versus dark turkey meat, which is lower in calories and fat.

2. Maintain your normal exercise routines. Make sure you continue to exercise during the Thanksgiving holiday, which will help burn any extra calories you may consume.
   

3. Try not to skip meals. Skipping meals can make you hungrier, which causes you to overeat later.

4. Drink at least 64 ounces of water each day. Water helps you feel full and can combat the bloating and water weight gain caused by salty foods offered at many parties.

5. Position yourself away from the food table. Staying in another room may prevent you from mindlessly picking at appetizers and finger foods all night.

6. Don’t try to diet. Your goal should be to maintain weight, not lose it.

7. Don’t try to cut out high-calorie Thanksgiving favorites like candied sweet potatoes or pumpkin pie. Instead, choose small portions on the high-fat favorites and fill your plate with additional low calorie choices, such as baked squash, pumpkin, breads, and pastas.

8. Eat something before going to an event with alcohol. The effects of alcohol are felt much more quickly on an empty stomach. Also, try to drink one glass of water before each glass of an alcoholic beverage.

9. Offer to bring a favorite low-calorie dish to holiday parties, so you know there will be at least one “safe” item available. Arrive fashionably late and stand far away from buffets so you’re not tempted to nibble constantly. Instead, indulge in conversation.

10. Center entertainment around non-food events such as ice skating, or renting a holiday movie.
    

Forbes covers my healthy holiday advice

Just in time for Thanksgiving, Forbes.com dishes on how to trim turkey--and your waistline. Click here for these timely tips, featuring my advice on how survive the holiday season without packing on the pounds.

Pro football manager who loves his losing streak

When Jackie Z. and I sat down with Jim Barker, General Manager of Canada's Calgary Stampeeders, we tackled a lot of topics, but it was his motivation for dropping an incredible 70 pounds that really drove his story to the end zone.

As if his amazing transformation wasn't enough, Jim has also developed a winning way to stick with the L A Weight Loss program, even as he travels all over Canada and the U.S. Listen for yourself as he explains his goals and game plans.

Talk about a true weight loss champ!

But don't take my word for it. Listen to Jim share his story with JackieZ and I. Yes, it's another L A Weight Loss Diary Podcast!



Here's Jim with his grandkids at 365 pounds:



And now, at a fighting weight of 295.