South Carolina songbird finds her wings

Alison Thackston has a passion for singing. And when someone loves stretching her vocal chords as much as she does, nothing can stop her from belting out a tune. Except, as Alison found out, extra weight.

It was a life-long struggle for Alison. And as she aged, the problems associated with being overweight worsened. Reaching 213 pounds in her 40s, Alison suffered from asthma, acid reflux, high blood pressure, joint and back pain, and lack of flexibility.

The extra pounds made her lethargic, and Alison couldn't bend over to touch her toes. She was depressed, and felt completely dependent on other people.

Worse, the weight on her lungs made singing at her church and community center difficult. She couldn't hold long notes or hit the ranges she knew she could reach.

Alison understood losing weight was the only way to get healthy. After trying a laundry list of unsuccessful fad diets, she visited a nutritionist. After her first consultation, she learned her diet was making her sick, and fad weight loss programs just wouldn't cut it.

So Alison signed up at her local Greenville, S.C., L A Weight Loss center in September 2006, ready to change her diet and life. She was paired with a one-on-one weight loss counselor who helped her see the error of her eating ways.

Alison's counselors designed a meal plan that fit her life. She eliminated trips to fast food stops and baked-good binges. She replaced fatty and fried foods with lean meats, vegetables, fruit, and plenty of water.

Even better, Alison incorporated exercise into her daily routine. She started walking 45 to 60 minutes six days a week, and joined a gym. Through it all, she received constant support from her mother and L A Weight Loss counselors, who kept her motivated through her weight loss plateaus.

It wasn't long before the diet change and exercise paid off. As Alison's weight dropped, she gained stamina to work out longer. Her health problems disappeared one by one.

Alison reached and surpassed her weight loss goal in February 2007. She's 80 pounds slimmer at 133! She feels the best she's ever felt. She can breathe easily, and is off all of her medications. She also has more energy and confidence, and never has trouble fitting into restaurant booths or plane seats. And Alison loves shopping for her new size 6 figure!

Overall, Alison feels like an entirely new woman. She's completely independent and at peace with herself. And she sings longer, louder, and better than ever before. Way to go, Alison!

Here's Alison at her heaviest of 213 pounds:



And here she is today, looking fantastic at 133 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Alison Thackston
Hometown: Simpsonville, S.C.
Age: 49
Height: 5'3"

Starting weight: 213 pounds
Goal weight: 138 pounds
Current weight: 133 pounds
Program start date: September 2006

Favorite food: Potatoes.

Biggest temptation: Family parties.

Biggest motivator: Her mom.

Biggest obstacle: Making smart food choices when away from home.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing down on fast food and sweets.

New eating philosophy: Eating more vegetables than ever before.

Best thing about losing weight: Not needing her medications anymore.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can maintain your weight after losing.