Theresa Curry wins Terre Haute Challenge in grand fashion

Congrats are in order for Theresa Curry of Terre Haute, Ind. She competed in the first-ever Terre Haute Weight Loss Challenge, and came out the biggest loser, dropping 33 pounds in six months on the L A Weight Loss plan!

Her hard work paid off big time. L A Weight Loss gave her a $1,000 spending spree, plus a luxurious makeover at Temple Spa. After her facial today, she's off to buy some new clothes for her killer size-12 body! Way to go, Theresa!

The challenge pitted six women from the Terre Haute center against one another to lose weight and get healthy in six months. They met with a personal counselor three times a week, weighed in once a week at the center, and maintained a daily diary of meals.

They also met every Wednesday night at the YMCA to work with a personal trainer for 90 minutes of cardiovascular, weight training, aquatic, and aerobic exercise.

I caught up with Theresa the other day to chat about how it feels to be the winner. She says, “I wasn't planning to win. I was in it to get myself motivated to exercise and feel healthy about myself.” She certainly accomplished her goal! Take a listen here:



And here's more about Theresa's weight loss journey:

As Theresa put on weight, she found herself shopping for bigger and bigger clothes. She reached her breaking when she hit 210 pounds and size 18. She couldn't take it any longer, and knew she didn't want to go up another size.

The weight gain also affected her health. Theresa's doctor diagnosed her with high blood pressure, and recommended diet and exercise to help bring it back down. But Theresa knew she couldn't go it alone.

She saw a sign for the Terre Haute Weight Loss Challenge, and decided to give it a go. She thought the challenge might be just the motivation she needed to drop the weight.

Theresa hit the Y three times a week, and kept track of everything she ate in her diary. Her counselor taught her portion control and how to eat her favorite foods in moderation, so she never got bored with food.

She went from 210 pounds to 177 pounds in six months, and is still losing. She's on a lower dosage of blood pressure medication, shares L A Weight Loss recipes with her friends and family, and keeps up her exercise routine.

This is Theresa before, at 210 pounds:



And this is Theresa after. Great job, Theresa!



FAST FACTS

Name: Theresa Curry
Hometown: Terre Haute, Ind.
Age: 37
Height: 5'6”

Starting weight: 210 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 177 pounds
Program start date: Sept. 29, 2006

Favorite foods: Strawberries and oranges.

Biggest temptations: Sweets and pasta.

Biggest motivators: Terre Haute Weight Loss Challenge, and her husband.

Biggest obstacle: Beating her sweet cravings.

Old eating philosophy: A lot of sweets, pasta, cheese, bread, and red meat.

New eating philosophy: More vegetables, plus fruits, turkey, fish, and chicken.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better about herself and having more energy to play with her kids.

Best weight loss secret learned: Everyone goes through ups and downs. Stick with it -- it pays off!

Put the kibosh on cravings

We've all had those moments of weakness, when only salty chips or sweet chocolate will satisfy. But giving in to cravings, and letting them overpower your life, are two different things.

Recently, Jennifer Simmons, our resident nutritionist, sat down with the editors of LoveToKnow.com to give the low-down on why we have cravings, and how we can avoid succumbing to every last temptation.

You can read the article here, then tell us how you deal with cravings. Click on the comments link and drop us a note, and we'll include some of the responses in a future posting.

Cindy Shank quits smoking -- and fad diets

Cindy Shank hit rock bottom in March 2005. She'd recently quit smoking and, after replacing cigarettes with food, packed on some extra pounds.

Then she was diagnosed with an under-active thyroid , a condition that can cause uncontrollable weight gain. She ballooned to 225 pounds -- which contributed to an onset of high blood pressure.

Cindy was at a loss. She ate fruits and veggies and worked out every day, but the weight wouldn't come off. In fact, she kept adding more. And now she was dealing with multiple medical issues as well.

She turned to a diet program that had worked before, but this time it didn't stick. So Cindy tried a "protein diet", which worked in the short term, yet wasn't something she could sustain for the long haul.

Cindy had seen several ads for L A Weight Loss, but unfortunately there were no centers near her home in Oakville, Ontario. Then one day her luck changed: L A Weight Loss had opened a new center in her hometown.

From the minute she walked into the center, Cindy knew the program was "tailor-made" for her needs, as she put it in a letter she sent to me. She especially liked the one-on-one counseling, which helped her build meal plans that were in step with her efforts to control her thyroid and high blood pressure. And getting weighed three times a week helped her keep a tight reign over her progress.

Clearly this double-barrel approach worked: In 38 weeks, Cindy dropped 75 pounds (!!), reaching her goal weight of 150 pounds! But that wasn't good enough. She really wanted to weigh 140 pounds -- a goal she also reached with the help of the Oakville center.

It's been over a year since Cindy lost those 85 pounds (plus five more!), and she's still working hard to keep it that way. She's back at the gym three to four times a week, where she enjoys the elliptical machine, yoga, and Pilates. She's now off two of her three blood pressure medications, and controls her thyroid with medication and diet.

Here is Cindy at 225 pounds:



And, here she is at a slimming 135 pounds. WOW!!!!



FAST FACTS

Name: Cindy Shank
Hometown: Oakville, Ontario
Age: 44

Starting weight: 225 pounds
Goal weight: 140 pounds
Current weight: 135 pounds
Program start date: March 2005

Favorite foods: Fruits and vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Cookies and candy.

Biggest motivator: Finding a realistic diet she could follow for life.

Biggest obstacle: Losing weight while dealing with an under-active thyroid and high blood pressure.

Old eating philosophy: Eating healthy fruits and vegetables, but not knowing how to balance them with other foods.

New eating philosophy: Understanding how to incorporate these nutritious foods into a balanced diet of proteins, carbs, and fiber.

Best thing about losing weight: Being a size 6 for the first time!

Best weight loss secret learned: Keep a food diary. Writing down every thing she ate helped Cindy track her daily intake, and plan accordingly for the next day.

Nurse finds cure to balancing weight loss and motherhood

Raising five-year-old twins *and* a three-year-old makes for a pretty fast-paced lifestyle -- which is probably why Launa Cornell never noticed the extra weight she'd slowly gained since starting her family.

That all changed in July 2005 when Launa took a breather, looked in the mirror, and realized she'd become what she calls a "chubby mom" at 183 pounds. That same afternoon she saw a TV ad for the local L A Weight Loss center in Encinitas, Calif., touting the center's free child care services. She grabbed her kids the next morning and headed to check out the program.

Despite her hectic routine, Launa was no stranger to diet programs. But for her, they were short-term solutions to a long-term issue. When she gained the weight back, she simply gave up.

So Launa was surprised when Diane, her L A Weight Loss personal counselor, worked with her to develop a plan to help Launa lose the weight while still taking her little ones on weekly trips to McDonald's. Diane even called Launa when she skipped appointments to make sure everything was OK.

It was this personal attention that helped Launa find the motivation -- and time! -- to drop 52 pounds. The kids played in the center's toy boxes and watched videos, while Launa and Diane worked to adjust Launa's goals and eating habits.

And now Launa is the one on TV hoping to encourage other busy moms to put their health first. She recently appeared in several local L A Weight Weight Loss commercials showing off her new 131-pound figure!

Here is Launa at 183 pounds:



And, here she is in her sassy scrubs at 131 pounds!



Way to go, Launa!

FAST FACTS

Name: Launa Cornell
Hometown: San Marcos, Calif.
Age: 35
Height: 5’4"

Starting weight: 183 pounds
Goal weight: 139 pounds
Current weight: 131 pounds
Program start date: July 2005

Favorite food: Sushi.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Not becoming the "chubby mom."

Biggest obstacle: Making the right choices when eating out with her kids.

Old eating philosophy: Kid-friendly meals like fast food and pizza.

New eating philosophy: She carries her L A Weight Loss "Dining Out Guide" wherever she goes so she knows exactly what she's eating.

Best thing about losing weight: Shopping! Sometimes she forgets she's a smaller size, and has to be reminded to buy size 6 instead of an 8 or 10.

Best weight loss secret learned: It's important for kids, especially daughters, to see their moms are confident and comfortable with their bodies.

Diabetes 101 with Dr. Boyd Lyles

It's amazing how many of our stories feature people with diabetes, or who have a family history of the disease. Clearly, this is a serious issue that's top of mind for many of our readers.

That's why Jackie and I recently took some time to talk with Dr. Boyd Lyles, Medical Director of L A Weight Loss, about the disease. He helps break down the basics, and offers some insightful advice for those who are diabetic -- or hope to avoid it. Take a listen here:



And don't forget that next Tuesday, March 27, is the American Diabetes Alert, an annual call-to-action day for people to find out if they're at risk for the disease. So if it's been a while since your last physical, now's the perfect time to see your doctor for a complete check-up.

Former athlete gets her weight on the fast track

Christy Daurie knew her weight was a problem when she started choosing fast food and the comfy couch over quality time outside with her daughter.

At 220 pounds, Christy was constantly tired, and had zero self-confidence or esteem. This was a drastic change from her younger days, when she was active in softball and volleyball. But getting married and starting a family shifted her focus away from herself, and left little time for extracurricular activities.

Over the years, Christy tried (and failed at) every diet on the market -- literally -- including one that had her smelling special markers to suppress her appetite.

Nothing seemed to work for Christy until she joined L A Weight Loss in August 2005. That's when she discovered how to eat the right foods for her body -- and how to avoid giving up if she found herself eating the wrong foods. Before L A Weight Loss, if Christy ate a greasy, fatty breakfast, she'd count the entire day as a loss, and quit.

Today Christy's back to her old self, playing volleyball and softball again, while also doing yoga and strength training three times a week. And she has the energy to play with her daughter every day!

Christy lost 67 pounds, which was enough for her to sport a bikini during a recent Mexican vacation!

Here is Christy at 220 pounds:



And here she is with her hubby looking bold and beautiful at 153 pounds!



FAST FACTS

Name: Christy Daurie
Hometown: Chestermere, Alberta
Age: 32

Starting weight: 220 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds
Current weight: 153 pounds
Program start date: August 1, 2005

Favorite recipe: Lean ground beef with mushrooms, celery, green pepper, salsa, and grated cheese topped with fat-free sour cream.

Biggest temptation: McDonald's Big Macs.

Biggest motivator: To wear a bikini during her vacation to Mexico.

Biggest obstacle: Feeling self-conscious and embarrassed when going out with her "skinny and beautiful" girlfriends.

Old eating philosophy: Fast food meals every day.

New eating philosophy: She craves fresh fruits such as strawberries and bananas, and vegetables such as carrots, celery, and broccoli.

Best thing about losing weight: Having the energy to keep up with her daughter.

Best weight loss secret learned: Losing weight can increase your sex drive!

A healthy pinch of luck for St. Patty's Day menus

Irish (and non-Irish) eyes will smile wide after tasting these delicious and healthy versions of traditional St. Patrick's Day fare.

And remember, if you're going to wash these down with some festive beverages, be sure to go with light beer (103 calories and 5.8 grams of carbs) instead of regular (153 calories and 12.6 grams of carbs).

Erin Go Bragh!



Corned Beef and Cabbage

Ingredients

5 lbs. corned beef brisket
2 onions, chopped
4 cloves
6 black peppercorns
2 bay leaves
1 garlic clove
1 carrot, cut into large chunks
1 celery rib, cut into large chunks
1 head green cabbage, cored
1 Golden Delicious apple, cored and quartered
horseradish sauce (optional)

Place corned beef into a large pot and cover with water. Simmer for 1 hour, skimming off any foam that forms on the water's surface.

Pour off the water and cover with fresh water. Add the onions, cloves, peppercorns, bay leaves, garlic, carrot, and celery. Cover and simmer for approximately 3 hours, or until the meat is tender.

Cut the cabbage into six wedges. Place cabbage and apples on top of the meat. Cover and simmer until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove the cabbage with a slotted spoon. Keep warm.

Remove the meat from the cooking liquid and let stand on a serving platter for 15 minutes. Cut into thin slices across the grain. Serve with cabbage and horseradish on the side.

Yield: 10 servings
Serving size: 3 oz. of corned beef and 1/2 a cup of cabbage
Counts as: 1 protein, 1 vegetable



Irish Soda Bread

Ingredients

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 to 1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

Sift the flour, soda, and salt together into a deep mixing bowl. Gradually add 1 cup of buttermilk, mixing with a large spoon until the dough is firm enough to form a large ball. If the dough crumbles, add more buttermilk a tablespoon at a time, until the ingredients adhere.

Place dough on a lightly floured board, and pat and shape it into a flat circular loaf, about 8 inches in diameter and 1 1/2 inches thick. Set the loaf on a floured baking sheet. With the tip of a small knife, cut a 1/2 inch deep cross into the dough, dividing the top of the loaf into quarters.

Bake on a middle oven rack for about 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown. Remove from the oven and wrap in a clean cloth. Let cool on a wire rack for about 20 minutes.

Yield: One 8-inch round loaf
Servings: 12 pieces
Serving size: 1/12 of loaf
Counts as: 2 starches



Irish Colcannon

Ingredients

1 cup water
1 Tbsp. light margarine
1/4 tsp. salt
3 cups chopped cabbage
1/3 cup skim milk
1 cup instant mashed potato flakes
1 green onion, finely chopped

In a medium saucepan, combine water, margarine, and salt. Bring to a boil. Stir in cabbage; return to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer 4-6 minutes, or until cabbage is tender.

Remove from heat. Stir in milk and potato flakes with fork. Stir in onion. Cover and let stand 3 minutes.

Yield: 4 servings
Serving size: 1/4 recipe
Counts as: 1 starch, 1 vegetable


Creamy Irish Coffee

Ingredients

1 oz. Bailey's Irish Cream, Lite 30 proof
8 oz. hot black coffee
1 Tbsp. light whipped cream

Combine Bailey's and coffee in a glass mug.
Top with whipped cream.

Yield: 1 serving
Counts as: 1 starch, 1 condiment

From fridge runs to running 5Ks

I get a lot of letters from L A Weight Loss customers, and they're often filled with emotional revelations and medical obstacles, such as high cholesterol, blood pressure, sleep apnea, and diabetes.

So imagine my surprise when I read Kathy Kersting's personal story, and got to this line: "My doctor told me that I was the healthiest obese person he had seen ..."

Well, that's a first. But it was true: Though she weighed 262 pounds, Kathy was otherwise healthy as a horse.

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for Kathy's mother, who was diagnosed with sleep apnea after battling emphysema and congestive heart failure. So Kathy knew it was only a matter of time before her own luck ran out.

Plus, even though she was healthy on the inside, Kathy was unhappy with her outside. She hated looking into the mirror every morning to do her makeup, and lost the confidence to speak up and draw attention to herself in social situations.

By fall 2004, Kathy was ready to make a change. That's when she and her husband Jay joined L A Weight Loss, and vowed never to be heavy again.

Kathy committed herself to the program, and the weight seemed to fly off. When she had dropped 70 pounds, she began exercising on the elliptical machine and stationary bike for 25 minutes a day. That turned into jogging, and soon Kathy was running 5Ks and training for half marathons.

In fact, Kathy was so successful, she was featured in L A Weight Loss ads that ran in her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.!

Today, Kathy's dropped 110 pounds -- about 20 pounds away from being half her size!! And she's adding one more sport to her repertoire: training for a 300-mile bike tour with her sister this summer.

Here's Kathy at 262 pounds being chubby with her hubby:



And here she is now at a race-ready 152:



FAST FACTS

Name: Kathy Kersting
Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
Age: 38
Height: 5’4"

Starting weight: 262 pounds
Goal weight: 140 pounds
Current weight: 152 pounds
Program start date: Fall 2004

Favorite food: Fresh fish and fresh baby spinach. (It used to be mashed potatoes.)

Biggest temptation: Starches like potatoes and corn.

Biggest motivator: To avoid the health problems that plagued her mother.

Biggest obstacle: Overcoming the urge to clean her plate.

Old eating philosophy: Forcing herself to eat, even when she wasn't hungry.

New eating philosophy: Knowing her limits, and making sure that when she does eat, her meals are packed with fresh fruits and vegetables.

Best thing about losing weight: Having the energy to run and bike.

Best weight loss secret learned: To avoid overeating on homemade sweets at work, she thinks about whether the person who made them washed their hands. The result -- she usually passes on the treats!

Postal worker: Deliver me from obesity!

"I'm fabulous and forty!" Barbara Bonura declared in a letter she sent me a few months ago.

But things weren't always so upbeat for the U.S. postal worker, who's faced a lifetime of weight losses and gains. No diet seemed to work for Barbara; for her, they were either too restrictive, too discouraging, or unsatisfying.

Barbara's weight issues escalated when she became pregnant 1997. After she gave birth, she wanted to drop the baby weight. But she was too intimidated and self-conscious to go to the gym and work out. She turned to food instead.

Then Barbara got the shock of her life when she caught her reflection in a full-length mirror in the summer of 2005. She couldn't believe the 165-pound image looking back her.

She immediately got on the phone, called L A Weight Loss for a consultation, and headed that day to the Aiea center in Oahu, Hawaii. As she says in her letter, "With that first step, actually walking into the center, my life changed forever."

Barbara met her personal counselor, Jennifer, who worked hand-in-hand with Barbara to get her weight back on track. Barbara dropped three pounds in the first week. It was all the motivation she needed to commit to the program.

And commit she did. Barbara lost 50 pounds and 26 inches in 29 weeks! That was more than enough to turn heads at a family wedding last summer, where she was showered with compliments (don't tell the bride!). As her daughter puts it: “Mom, you are way too skinny now, and you can stop losing weight.”

Barbara before at 165 pounds:



And here she is at 115 pounds. She definitely has our stamp of approval!



FAST FACTS

Name: Barbara Bonura
Hometown: Oahu, Hawaii
Age: 40
Height: 5’2"

Starting weight: 165 pounds
Goal weight: 115 pounds
Current weight: 115 pounds
Program start date: July 20, 2005

Favorite food: Broccoli -- something she never tried before joining L A Weight Loss.

Biggest temptation: Starchy foods like pasta, corn, and potatoes.

Biggest motivator: Gaining the confidence and energy to do everyday things like play with her kids.

Biggest obstacle: Opening her eyes to what her body really looked like at 164 pounds.

Old eating philosophy: An unbalanced diet of beans, corn, pasta, and steak.

New eating philosophy: Three servings of fresh fruits every day, and grilling or steaming all her meals.

Best thing about losing weight: Wearing short shorts in the Hawaiian sun.

Best weight loss secret learned: You didn’t put on the weight overnight, so you won't lose it overnight.

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!