Shannon Klaas shows it's possible to beat the stereotype

As if physical problems weren't enough, overweight people often battle stereotypes, too. Some common misconceptions: They're heavy because they're lazy, they eat too much fast food, or they don't understand nutrition.

Shannon Klaas had struggled with her weight since adolescence, and was all too familiar with the assumptions that came with it. Throughout her teens and 20s, she steadily packed on the pounds, and weighed 275 pounds by age 26.

For Shannon, the worst part about being overweight was how others treated her. She noticed people staring when she was out in public, and their gazes made her feel unhealthy. Shannon wasn't lazy, but she knew others believed she was judging by their reactions to her.

To make matters worse, Shannon's extra weight gave her joint pain which kept her from exercising. Then a back injury put her out of work, making her even more sedentary.

The breaking point came when Shannon traveled to Disney World in July 2005, and had to ask for a seat belt extension on the plane. Her shame only grew when she was too overweight to fit on many of the park's rides. Then and there, Shannon knew she needed to change her life.

She tried a number of diet programs, but Shannon never felt committed or accountable on any of them. Then, in April 2006, a friend gave Shannon an L A Lite bar to snack on. She liked it so much, she immediately went down to her local L A Weight Loss center in Twin Falls, Idaho, and signed up!

Shannon discovered that the L A Weight Loss plan was easy to follow. With the help of her personal counselor, she added lots of fruit, vegetables, and lean meats to her diet, and cut out fatty foods. Shannon also cooked yummy meals from her L A Weight Loss cookbook, and loved indulging in L A Lite bars and powdered smoothies.

Since starting her L A Weight Loss program, Shannon lost 108 pounds! Now Shannon loves her new-found energy. She is more active than ever before, and enjoys riding her bike, walking on the treadmill, and playing with her nieces.

Plus, Shannon's outlook on life is more positive, and her outgoing personality has changed the relationships with everyone around her. Shannon's weight loss even inspired her dad and her friends to start eating healthier and leading more active lives.

Best of all, Shannon knows she will never have to face those old overweight stereotypes from others again. And since Shannon has been hired as an L A Weight Loss counselor, she'll be changing lives every day, the same way she changed her own.

We're proud of you, Shannon!

Here's Shannon (and Mickey) at her heaviest:



And here she is now, looking unbelievable at 167 pounds!



FAST FACTS

Name: Shannon Klaas
Hometown: Jerome, Idaho
Age: 27
Height: 5'8"

Starting weight: 275 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds
Current weight: 167 pounds
Program start date: April 2006

Favorite food: Mexican.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Being free of health problems.

Biggest obstacle: Hitting plateaus.

Old eating philosophy: Piling her plate with food, and eating more, even if when she wasn't hungry.

New eating philosophy: Knowing that she doesn't have to finish her plate, and saving what she doesn't eat.

Best thing about losing weight: Gaining back the self-confidence that she lost, being healthy and active, and spending more time with family and friends.

Best weight loss secret learned: Learn how to eat and be active.