Cathy Lewis catches a case of happiness

The flu isn't the only thing getting passed around lately. So is a case of happiness, thanks to Cathy Lewis.

Cathy was always on the heavier side, but it wasn't until adulthood that she began seriously packing on the pounds. She loved fried food, and covered everything in gobs of dressings and sauces. And to finish off every meal, Cathy needed something sweet. She was a regular customer at her local bakery.

Cathy's weight gradually increased each year. She didn't notice that as her weight went up, her self-esteem went down. And as it did, she also began to lose her outgoing personality.

One holiday season, however, Cathy felt particularly out of sorts. She was depressed, and felt unattractive. So she made a New Year's resolution to lose weight.

Cathy joined her local Lawrenceville, Ga., L A Weight Loss center in January 2005. Her personal weight loss counselor worked with her to adjust her eating habits. Cathy learned that what she was eating was more important than how much she was eating.

She cut out her fast food indulgences and limited her baked goods intake, while adding fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and water to her diet. She found that the foods that were great for her, tasted great too.

Cathy couldn't believe how fast the weight came off, and neither could her friends and coworkers. After two years on the program, she's lost 104 pounds! And she feels like her entire life has changed.

Cathy has gained a tremendous amount of self-confidence, which made a positive impact on her personal and professional life. She realized that before, she loved herself despite how she looked. Now, she loves herself AND how she looks.

Cathy has regained her swagger, and is loving every second of her newfound life. In fact, Cathy's happiness is so contagious, she's convinced 12 of her friends and family members to give L A Weight Loss a try. Way to go, Cathy!

Here's Cathy before she started her weight loss journey:



And here she is today, 104 pounds lighter:



FAST FACTS

Name: Cathy Lewis
Hometown: Atlanta
Age: 37
Height: 5'8"

Total weight loss: 104 pounds
Goal weight loss: 104 pounds
Program start date: October 2005

Favorite food: Salad.

Biggest temptation: French fries.

Biggest motivator: Being happier.

Biggest obstacle: Getting over mental plateaus.

Old eating philosophy: Eating everything that tasted good.

New eating philosophy: Eating everything that tastes good and is good for her.

Best thing about losing weight: Getting a second chance at life.

Best weight loss secret learned: Start off your day with a balanced meal to keep you on track for the rest of the day.