Cory Thomas follows golden weight loss rule

California is the Golden State, but if you're an overweight resident, you're probably not feeling so radiant. Meet Cory Thomas.

Cory started packing on the pounds in her 20s. Between school and work, there was little time to eat healthy or exercise. Often, she'd grab a burger, fries, and soda for meals; and snacked on chips and candy.

Cory's unhealthy eating routine followed her into marriage and motherhood, where she topped out at 198 pounds.

She struggled to get out of bed in the morning, and lacked the energy to play with her two kids. She felt uncomfortable in public, and made excuses to not go out. Buying clothes was depressing.

But Cory didn't consider how much weight she packed on until three years ago. It wasn't until her son, looking at her wedding picture on the wall, asked her who the lady in the photo was.

Cory was shocked that her son didn't recognize her, and realized how serious her weight problem was. She needed to do something about her eating habits right away.

So she tried a few diet programs. Cory didn't like the first one, because she felt uneasy sharing her weight struggles in front of strangers. The second program was no better, because Cory had to cut out carbs and eat more protein, which made her concerned about her cholesterol.

Then she learned about L A Weight Loss's one-on-one counseling and portion control. It sounded like the right plan for her, and she signed up.

She worked with personal weight loss counselor Sandra at the Oceanside, Calif., center to modify her eating habits. Cory added more vegetables, fruit, and chicken to her diet, while minimizing fried foods.

She liked to start her day with a bowl of oatmeal accompanied by a smoothie with mango, non-fat yogurt, and skim milk. She had L A Lite bars for snacks, and plenty of water throughout the day.

The result was a 180-degree flip. Cory dropped 51 pounds, and now weights 147! She has a more positive outlook on life, and can't wait to start her day. Shopping for clothes is fun again, as plus-sized clothes are a thing of the past.

Cory motivated her dad to join L A Weight Loss, too. He's lost 30 pounds! But that's not all she can impart to others struggling to lose weight. She says the secret is to stick with your L A Weight Loss plan and let it work for you. The counselors are your compass!

And it looks she's discovered the gold! Way to go, Cory!

Here's Cory before, at 198 pounds:



And here she is now, glowing at 147! Great job, Cory!



FAST FACTS

Name: Cory Thomas
Hometown: Oceanside, Calif.
Age: 36
Height: 5'2"

Starting weight: 198 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 147 pounds
Program start date: February 2005

Favorite food: Mexican food.

Biggest temptation: Cheesecake.

Biggest motivator: Starting the program and not wanting to let herself down.

Biggest obstacle: Trying to stay on track while her husband is fighting in Iraq.

Old eating philosophy: Eating without thinking.

New eating philosophy: Learning how to eat healthy while fitting her favorite foods into her plan.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better about herself.

Best weight loss secret learned: Freeze some L A Lite bars and take them with you! They help when you're going out.