Barry Ojers gets a new body -- and a new car!

The turning point for Barry Ojers came when he was in the waiting room of a gastric bypass clinic. He was already worried about the surgery's risks. Then he looked around and realized that, at 356 pounds, he was the smallest one in the room -- and the only one not dependent on oxygen or other breathing equipment.

When he talked to his doctor about canceling the surgery, he got another reality check: His doctor said it didn't matter either way. The risks of dying from the surgery were the same as those stemming from his continued obesity.

Barry decided to take his chances, and canceled the surgery. Then he found out that his brother-in-law, age 39, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). Barry felt helpless, and kept wishing there was a way they could switch bodies. That's when it hit him. His brother-in-law had no way to fix his disease, but Barry had a healthy body that he was slowly destroying.

Barry turned to L A Weight Loss. After he lost seven pounds in the first week, he decided to put all of his effort into sticking with the plan established by his personal counselor. He cut out sweets and desserts, and started walking 45 minutes a day, which eventually turned into running.

Now, seven months later, Barry's dropped 108 pounds! He's active with his wife and kids (he ran a 5k at his kids' school), and isn't embarrassed to take off his shirt at the beach. But the biggest change is his new ride: Barry rewarded himself with a brand new sports car to complete his transformation!

Here's Barry before, sputtering out at 356 pounds:



Here he is after, with a high-performance car to match his energetic 248-pound body. Now he can take off on the road -- and on his waistline!



FAST FACTS

Name: Barry Ojers
Hometown: Reno, Nev.
Age: 44
Height: 6'1"

Starting weight: 356 pounds
Current weight: 248 pounds
Program start date: July 2006

Biggest temptation: Sweets and desserts.

Biggest motivator: Avoiding gastric bypass surgery.

Biggest obstacle: Getting past people's perceptions. When Barry started running, younger guys on the street would yell, "Give it up, fatso!" He eventually bought an iPod to use when running, so he could drown out teasing or nasty remarks.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever he wanted, without much thought.

New eating philosophy: Proper portion sizes and the right balance of proteins, carbs, fiber, fruits, and vegetables.

Best thing about losing weight: There's less of an effort to do everyday things, like putting on his socks and tying his shoes.

Best weight loss secret learned: The L A Weight Loss plan is simple. Stick with it and exercise, and the weight will come off.