North Dakota woman boosts her body and mind

Do you ever wake up in the morning feeling like there's no reason to get out of bed? Being overweight and having low self-confidence can do that to you, as Linda McKinzie-Lee of North Dakota can attest.

Linda's weight started increasing when she had kids. She gained 60 pounds during her first pregnancy, lost most of it after giving birth, but gained it back during her second pregnancy.

Linda ate whether she was hungry or not. Her husband was a great cook, and often made too-hard-to-resist cakes and cookies. She also ate a lot of fast food, or whatever was handy around the house.

Her scale crept up to 221 pounds. Linda got out of breath just walking around, and her family was afraid she would have a stroke. Her blood pressure was also high, and she had chronic pain in her back, legs, and feet.

But the worst part was the feeling that people looked at her differently, or ignored her, just because she was overweight. As a result, Linda had low self-confidence, and didn't even want to get out of bed in the morning. She only wanted to sit around in her over-sized clothing.

Linda started working out at her local gym to combat her weight gain, but the pounds didn't come off. Next door, however, was an L A Weight Loss center. Linda always saw clients going in and out looking great. Determined to change her life for the better, Linda walked into the center one day, and made an appointment.

After meeting with the personal weight loss counselors, she transformed her eating habits. Linda ate a lot of chicken and salads, and drank 64 ounces of water every day. She didn't have anything fried or breaded.

Linda also planned out her meals, and knew she didn't have to eat everything on her plate. And when she went to get-togethers without a lot of healthy food options, she made sure to drink a lot of water.

L A Weight Loss's one-on-one counselors were also always there to answer Linda's questions, and the recommended snack items satisfied her cravings without breaking her weight loss plan.

In just eight months, Linda lost 76 pounds, and now weighs 145 pounds! She also lowered her blood pressure, and doesn't have body pains or lose her breath quickly. She's always out and about now, wearing shorts, capris, and swimsuits. She even had her skirts altered to fit her slender new body.

Plus, people notice Linda more, thanks to her trim figure! Her friends and family tell her how good she looks, and are very proud of her success. When she went to her high school reunion a few weeks ago, everyone was shocked at how thin she was. She got a ton of compliments!

All this good fortune has renewed Linda's self confidence. She thinks more positively, and the world looks brighter. As she says, "Losing weight is good for the ego!"

No doubt! Way to go, Linda!

This is Linda before, carrying around 221 pounds:



And here she is now, out of her shell at 145 pounds! Congrats, Linda!



FAST FACTS

Name: Linda McKinzie-Lee
Hometown: Minot, N.D.
Age: 58
Height: 5'5"

Starting weight: 221 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 145 pounds
Program start date: August 2006

Favorite food: Popcorn.

Biggest temptation: Sweets, especially chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Running out of big clothes to wear.

Biggest obstacle: Eating out a lot.

Old eating philosophy: Consuming junk food when she wasn't hungry.

New eating philosophy: Opting for fruits and vegetables when she feels hungry.

Best thing about losing weight: Looking good in the mirror when she tries on clothes in stores.

Best weight loss secret learned: Drink plenty of water!