Beating heart disease before it beats her

Family genes can be a blessing or a curse. Just ask Mary Brownson of Pueblo, Colo., who's had a lifetime of the latter.

The Brownson family curse: heart disease. Mary's father had his first heart attack at age 40. Then, at 57, he had a second attack that killed him. Two of Mary's brothers also suffered heart attacks, one at 30, and the other at 45. And heart disease didn't spare her sister either, who had an attack at 46.

Mary was lucky, though. She reached 49 with nary a blip, but saw the writing on the wall. After all, she weighed 255 pounds, wore a size 24, and was easily fatigued. She could barely climb a flight of steps before running out of breath.

On the cusp of turning 50, she knew she had to do something -- or the heart disease would catch up with her.

Having tried nearly every fad diet on the market -- to no avail -- she joined L A Weight Loss in February 2006. The program's personal attention and one-on-one counseling immediately turned her on.

Mary's counselor helped her create a customized, heart-healthy meal plan to fit her lifestyle, and adjusted it when Mary hit a weight-loss plateau.

Mary also incorporated exercise into her day, using the treadmill and lifting weights five times a week, and doing yoga and stretching exercises in her apartment.

Now, a year later, Mary's heart is healthy -- as is the rest of her body. She's dropped 95 pounds, and has never felt better!!

Here is Mary before at 255 pounds:



And after, at a heart-healthy 160 pounds. Way to go, Mary!



FAST FACTS

Name: Mary Brownson
Hometown: Pueblo, Colo.
Age: 50
Height: 5’9"

Starting weight: 255 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Program start date: February 2006

Favorite food: Vegetables and dips made with light sour cream.

Biggest temptation: Adding chips to those veggie and dip plates.

Biggest motivator: Avoiding the heart disease that affected her father and three siblings.

Biggest obstacle: Finding a weight loss program that felt comfortable.

Old eating philosophy: Lots of salty, greasy snacks like chips and French fries.

New eating philosophy: Don't deprive yourself of the things you love, just be more sensible about it.

Best thing about losing weight: Finding stylish clothes that fit (she's now a size 12).

Best weight loss secret learned: Be honest with yourself and the people who want to help you. Let them know your needs and goals. This kind of support network is invaluable!