Tammy Lara proves it's never too late to be a comeback kid
If you have kids, you probably struggle to get them to eat right. Most children don't want their vegetables, fruits, or anything else that's healthy. But developing poor eating habits as a kid can catch up to you in adulthood, as Tammy Lara of Maple, Ontario, found out.
Tammy was always on the heavier side. She had a family history of weight problems, as her mother and relatives on her side were obese. Plus, she didn't learn good nutrition as a child. Instead, Tammy was free to eat whatever tasted good, which meant junk food and candy.
Her eating habits didn't improve with age. Tammy often ate a bag of chips in one sitting, and munched on fast and fried foods throughout the day. She washed it all down with high-calorie soda, pushing her weight to 301 pounds.
Then Tammy became hypothyroid, which made her feel sluggish. It also slowed her metabolism, which helped pack on even more pounds. She experienced chronic back and knee pain, too, which limited her mobility -- and her ability to play with her two kids, Tyler, age 5, and Samantha, age 11.
She could only watch them scream with excitement when they rode amusement park rides, because she couldn't fit into the seats with them. And time spent at the zoo was cut short because Tammy didn't have the energy to walk long distances or withstand warm temperatures.
Meanwhile, her mother developed diabetes and heart problems from her excess weight (being a heavy smoker didn't help either). The complications wore her health down, and she passed away just before her 61st birthday.
Her mother's death was a wake-up call for Tammy. She realized she needed to do something about her weight, or risk cutting her life short like her mother. Tammy wanted to be there for her kids, and spend more quality time with them. So she decided to join L A Weight Loss.
Tammy finally learned what she should have been taught long ago. She sat down with the nutrition experts and one-on-one weight loss counselors to evaluate her food choices. They helped her re-focus her eating regimen to include proper portions of fresh, healthy foods, and exclude fried and fast foods.
Tammy also started drinking more water, and cut out the soda. She also learned which low-calorie, low-fat foods to order at restaurants, as well as how to cook and barbecue healthy meals at home.
The weight started coming off. Tammy felt her mobility and energy coming back. She lost 141 pounds on the L A Weight Loss plan, and is now just 30 pounds away from her 130-pound goal weight!
Tammy continues to eat according to the L A Weight Loss plan. In fact, she's spreading the good habits to her kids. Tammy's daughter is slightly overweight, but thanks to lessons in good nutrition and portion sizes from her mom, she's lost 17 pounds!
But that's not all Tammy is doing with her kids. With renewed energy and mobility, she takes her kids to the park, goes on the swings, and rides down the slide with them. She can also fit through amusement park turnstiles and go on rides with ease.
Plus, Tammy walks on the treadmill every other day. And her husband George tells her she looks great, which is music to her ears!
Way to go, Tammy! Keep up the great work!
This is the 301-pound Tammy before:
And here she is today, weighing 160 pounds! Great job, Tammy!
FAST FACTS
Name: Tammy Lara
Hometown: Maple, Ontario, Canada
Age: 35
Height: 5'4"
Starting weight: 301 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Program start date: October 18, 2005
Favorite food: Nachos and cheese.
Biggest temptation: Chocolate and animal crackers.
Biggest motivator: Wanting to play with her kids and be there for them in the future.
Biggest obstacle: Keeping up with her kids.
Old eating philosophy: Drinking soda and eating chips all the time.
New eating philosophy: Drinking water, and eating fresh vegetables and grilled chicken.
Best thing about losing weight: Feeling healthier, and being able to spend more quality time with her kids.
Best weight loss secret learned: If you know how to order right, you can still eat your favorite foods at restaurants while losing weight.
Tammy was always on the heavier side. She had a family history of weight problems, as her mother and relatives on her side were obese. Plus, she didn't learn good nutrition as a child. Instead, Tammy was free to eat whatever tasted good, which meant junk food and candy.
Her eating habits didn't improve with age. Tammy often ate a bag of chips in one sitting, and munched on fast and fried foods throughout the day. She washed it all down with high-calorie soda, pushing her weight to 301 pounds.
Then Tammy became hypothyroid, which made her feel sluggish. It also slowed her metabolism, which helped pack on even more pounds. She experienced chronic back and knee pain, too, which limited her mobility -- and her ability to play with her two kids, Tyler, age 5, and Samantha, age 11.
She could only watch them scream with excitement when they rode amusement park rides, because she couldn't fit into the seats with them. And time spent at the zoo was cut short because Tammy didn't have the energy to walk long distances or withstand warm temperatures.
Meanwhile, her mother developed diabetes and heart problems from her excess weight (being a heavy smoker didn't help either). The complications wore her health down, and she passed away just before her 61st birthday.
Her mother's death was a wake-up call for Tammy. She realized she needed to do something about her weight, or risk cutting her life short like her mother. Tammy wanted to be there for her kids, and spend more quality time with them. So she decided to join L A Weight Loss.
Tammy finally learned what she should have been taught long ago. She sat down with the nutrition experts and one-on-one weight loss counselors to evaluate her food choices. They helped her re-focus her eating regimen to include proper portions of fresh, healthy foods, and exclude fried and fast foods.
Tammy also started drinking more water, and cut out the soda. She also learned which low-calorie, low-fat foods to order at restaurants, as well as how to cook and barbecue healthy meals at home.
The weight started coming off. Tammy felt her mobility and energy coming back. She lost 141 pounds on the L A Weight Loss plan, and is now just 30 pounds away from her 130-pound goal weight!
Tammy continues to eat according to the L A Weight Loss plan. In fact, she's spreading the good habits to her kids. Tammy's daughter is slightly overweight, but thanks to lessons in good nutrition and portion sizes from her mom, she's lost 17 pounds!
But that's not all Tammy is doing with her kids. With renewed energy and mobility, she takes her kids to the park, goes on the swings, and rides down the slide with them. She can also fit through amusement park turnstiles and go on rides with ease.
Plus, Tammy walks on the treadmill every other day. And her husband George tells her she looks great, which is music to her ears!
Way to go, Tammy! Keep up the great work!
This is the 301-pound Tammy before:
And here she is today, weighing 160 pounds! Great job, Tammy!
FAST FACTS
Name: Tammy Lara
Hometown: Maple, Ontario, Canada
Age: 35
Height: 5'4"
Starting weight: 301 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Program start date: October 18, 2005
Favorite food: Nachos and cheese.
Biggest temptation: Chocolate and animal crackers.
Biggest motivator: Wanting to play with her kids and be there for them in the future.
Biggest obstacle: Keeping up with her kids.
Old eating philosophy: Drinking soda and eating chips all the time.
New eating philosophy: Drinking water, and eating fresh vegetables and grilled chicken.
Best thing about losing weight: Feeling healthier, and being able to spend more quality time with her kids.
Best weight loss secret learned: If you know how to order right, you can still eat your favorite foods at restaurants while losing weight.
Labels: 141 pounds, Back pain, Canada, Hypothyroid, Knee pain, Ontario, Tammy Lara
posted by Jackie Zima-Evans @ 1:47 PM
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