Pam Harper gets a healthy dose of weight loss

For some, to be happy and healthy is the ultimate goal in life. But as Pam Harper found out, it can be something simpler: To practice wise eating habits that prevent you from being either.

Pam had been on the heavy side for most of her life. But it wasn't until she became pregnant with her first child that weight became a serious problem. Pam started gaining, and just couldn't stop.

As the years flew by, her weight increased at a rapid pace. Before she knew it, Pam weighed 328 pounds. And her health suffered because of it. Pam lost her breath easily, and she couldn't comfortably work in her garden without breaking a sweat. She also suffered from lipedema, a condition that caused her legs to swell and made her tissue extremely sensitive to the touch.

Worst of all, Pam hated the way her weight made her feel emotionally. She was embarrassed when she was the heaviest person in the room, and never had any energy to do the things she wanted to do.

But then things took a turn for the worse. Pam was diagnosed with breast cancer, and treated the disease with surgery and radiation. Pam's doctors told her she absolutely needed to lose weight now, or risk being too large for the hospital machines that treated her cancer.

Pam had tried a number of diets in the past, but they all involved pre-packaged meals, and nothing taught her how to eat. As a result, she could never keep the weight off. So in September 2005, Pam joined her local Lexington, Ky., L A Weight Loss center. She was paired up with a one-on-one weight loss counselor, and for the first time ever, she learned what it takes to lead a healthy life.

Pam learned that how much you eat is just as important as what you eat. Her days of overindulgence were over, and portion control became her new mantra. Pam cut back on red meats and fast foods, and increased her intake of lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables.

When she needed a sweet treat, Pam treated herself to an L A Lite bar. And the supplement drinks added variety and convenience to her diet plan.

After less than two years on the program, Pam has shed an incredible 153 pounds! And she couldn't be happier about her results. Pam can now work all day in her garden and still feel great. She doesn't get winded when walking anymore, and the swelling in her legs has drastically decreased. Pam's health is back on track, and now she knows she'll be around for a very long time.

Throughout her entire weight loss journey, Pam has received nothing but support from friends and family. Best of all, she loves being able to shop in regular stores, and buy cute new clothes in smaller sizes.

Way to go Pam! We're so proud of you!

Here's Pam at 328 pounds:



And here she is today at a happier, healthier 175 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Pam Harper
Hometown: Lexington, Ky.
Age: 59
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 328 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds
Current weight: 175 pounds
Program start date: September 2005

Favorite food: Chocolate.

Biggest temptation: Sweets and fast food.

Biggest motivator: Losing weigh for herself and getting healthy.

Biggest obstacle: Resisting temptation.

Old eating philosophy: Overeating and chowing down on fast food and sweets.

New eating philosophy: Eating the right amounts of everything.

Best thing about losing weight: Not needing her medications anymore, and having so much more energy.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can still eat the foods you enjoy, as long as you eat them in moderation.

Dee Lindamood leaves her wedding weight in the dust

There's many women out there who wish they were the same size today as they were on their wedding day. But 28 years after her wedding, Dee Lindamood wanted to shed some major pounds, and leave her wedding weight in the dust.

Dee struggled with weight her entire life. As far back as she can remember, she had a few extra pounds to lug around. She hadn't been athletic, and her diet was lacking. Dee didn't eat particularly unhealthy foods, but she ate too much of everything on her plate.

In particular, she chowed down on breads and heavy starches. When Dee went out to eat, she could often eat an entire loaf of bread before the main course even arrived. And as her age increased, so did her weight.

Dee struggled emotionally and physically because of her weight. At 300 pounds, she had constant knee, joint, feet, and back pain. And she couldn't walk far without losing her breath. Plus, at her weight she knew it wouldn't be long before she was plagued with illnesses that ran in her family, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer.

Even worse, Dee was embarrassed to be seen in public, especially with her husband and daughter, who didn't have weight problems. She always felt like people were looking at her and judging her. And she hated never being able to shop in "regular" women's stores.

But Dee didn't want it to be this way. She knew she was a good mom, but she wanted to get healthy so she could be an even better one (and eventually, a great grandmother too). After a number of failed diet attempts, Dee decided to try L A Weight Loss.

In September 2007, she joined her local Hickory, N.C., L A Weight Loss center, where she was paired up with a one-on-one weight loss counselor. Her counselor helped Dee see the error of her eating ways, and create a diet plan that fit her life.

Dee cut back on all the carbs and starches, and she added more fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, and water to her diet. Now, instead of steak, Dee will have fish. Instead of a baked potato, she'll have a salad. And instead of a Dr. Pepper, she'll have a glass of water.

With these little changes, Dee saw big results. Almost immediately, Dee started to shed pounds. And as her weight decreased, her confidence and energy increased. Before long, Dee was sweating it out with other gym-goers at her local athletic club. Then the pounds really melted away.

After less than a year on the program, Dee has lost a total of 155 pounds! At 145 pounds, she's 5 pounds lighter than her goal weight (and 35 pounds lighter than she was on her wedding day almost 30 years ago)!

Dee she feels like her entire life has changed. Her relationship with her husband is better than ever, and she's thankful to him for his constant support throughout her entire weight loss process.

She can do things that she couldn't do before, such as ride amusement park rides, wear cute clothes, play with kids on the floor, fit into restaurant booths, and work out for extended periods of time.

Best of all, she feels great. She loves going shopping with her husband at regular department stores, and feels great when he picks our something totally feminine for her. Congratulations, Dee! We're proud of you!

Here's Dee weighing in at 300 pounds:



And here she is today, looking fit and fabulous at 145 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Dee Lindamood
Hometown: Newton, N.C.
Age: 47
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 300 pounds
Goal weight: 155 pounds
Current weight: 145 pounds
Program start date: September 2007

Favorite food: Flat Bread.

Biggest temptation: Resisting the bread at restaurants.

Biggest motivator: Getting constant support from her husband.

Biggest obstacle: Resisting brownies and other sweets in the lunch room at work.

Old eating philosophy: Constantly eating bread and butter, pasta, pizza, potatoes, nachos and soda.

New eating philosophy: Making meals with flat bread, salad, vegetables, and fish; and drinking more water

Best thing about losing weight: Fitting into a size 8.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can still eat what you love and lose weight.

Summer party fun without the fuss

Summer is almost over, but with Labor Day upon us there are still some great parties to be had! Only problem is, you’re beat! With all the summer grilling and partying, we know your exhausted. So we've put together some of our simpler summer snack recipes to make it through your last summer hurrah.

Creamed Crab & Veggie Dip

Ingredients:

2 oz. part-skim ricotta cheese
1 Tbsp. low-fat mayonnaise
4 oz. skim milk
2 cups fresh chopped artichoke hearts
3 green onions, chopped
1/4 red pepper, chopped
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup fresh raw spinach
1 oz. shredded reduced-fat cheese (recommend Monterrey Jack or Mozzarella)
4 oz. fresh crabmeat
1/4 tsp. hot sauce
Nonfat cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius).

Spray casserole dish with nonfat cooking spray.

In small bowl, combine ricotta, mayonnaise, and skim milk. Stir well and set aside.

Spray medium skillet with nonfat cooking spray. Add artichokes, onion, pepper, garlic powder, and garlic. Sauté 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Add spinach, hot sauce, vegetable mixture, and crabmeat to cheese mixture.

Stir in 3/4 oz. shredded cheese and place in a casserole dish.

Bake 15 minutes, stir mixture well and then top with remaining 1/4 oz. of cheese.

Bake 10 to 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.

Serve over roasted veggies or as a dip for crackers and fresh veggies.



Balsamic Grilled Bruschetta

Ingredients:

10 Roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

2 to 3 Tbsp. fresh basil, chopped

2 Tbsp. Parmesan cheese, shredded

1 Tbsp. olive oil

1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1/2 tsp. lite salt

1/8 tsp freshly ground pepper

1 loaf French bread, cut into 12 slices

In a bowl, toss together tomatoes, basil, garlic, cheese, oil, vinegar, and salt and pepper.

Cover and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours, to allow flavors to meld.

Meanwhile, grill bread until lightly browned.

Divide tomato mixture evenly among sliced bread before serving. If desired, garnish with extra basil and an extra drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

For more delicious summer dishes to squeeze in before white goes out of style, check out the L A Lite Cookbook.

North Carolina mom gets back into her "skinny clothes"

When your pre-baby weight is a not-so-distant memory, it can be great motivation to get back to what you once weighed. With clothes in the closet that once fit, and pictures proving it wasn't a dream, shedding the baby weight becomes a reachable goal, rather than a dreadful chore. That was exactly the motivation new mom Erin Crouse needed.

Although Erin didn't struggle with weight as a child, she fluctuated a bit after her marriage. She made wise food choices, but she overate at most meals. Despite her healthy diet, portion control was not something she knew how to get a grip of.

After the birth of her son, Landon, in April 2007, 173-pound Erin was determined to get back to her pre-baby weight of 140 pounds. She ate healthy foods and exercised as often as possible, walking at any chance she got. The first 20 pounds came off immediately, but then the scale was stuck.

Erin struggled to shed the pounds for a year, but nothing worked. She was set to be the maid of honor in her brother-in-law's wedding, and with Landon's first birthday quickly approaching, Erin knew it was time to get help with weight loss. So in March 2008, she joined her local Hickory, N.C., L A Weight Loss center.

For Erin, L A Weight Loss was a stab in the dark. She had heard good things, but didn't know anyone personally who had been on the program. Her trust was in the hands of her counselor. Erin admits the first couple of days were an adjustment, but after she became comfortable with the program, she realized she was eating more than she had before the program, and weight was coming off easily.

Soon after starting the program though, Erin was diagnosed with subacute cutaneous Lupus, and was put on a steroid medication with a common side effect of weight gain. Despite this possible setback, Erin kept her spirits high, and continued to see the pounds disappear as she worked with the L A Weight Loss program.

By May of this year, Erin's weight dropped down to 150 pounds, just in time for the wedding. Now Erin enjoys the healthy foods she loves, but knows how to control her portions. She loves high-fiber cereal with nuts and milk for breakfast, and grilled chicken with veggies for dinner. In between she eats yogurt, fruits, vegetables, and L A Lite bars for healthy snacks.

Erin's lost a total of 35 pounds, and feels great at her new weight of 138 pounds. She feels more confident and loves the response she's gotten from friends and family. Her husband now calls her "skinny mini!"

To celebrate her new weight, Erin's gone shopping ... in her closet! The "skinny" clothes that were once daunting are now her daily wardrobe. And Erin says it feels great to be able to buy whatever she wants when she does go shopping for something new.

Plus, her lower weight means more energy. Good thing Erin is getting her fill of exercise chasing after her son. Congratulations, Erin! You look great!

Here is Erin in March at 173 pounds:



And here she is looking slender at 138 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Erin Crouse
Hometown: Hickory, N.C.
Age: 29
Height: 5'7"

Starting weight: 173 pounds
Goal weight: 138 pounds
Current weight: 138 pounds
Program start date: March 2008

Favorite food: Popcorn.

Biggest temptation: Sweets, especially ice cream.

Biggest motivator: Seeing the scale go down and the supportive girls in her office.

Biggest obstacle: Taking a steroid notorious for weight gain.

Old eating philosophy: Limiting food, eating lots of salad, and not eating the right way.

New eating philosophy: Eating more frequently and having a larger variety of foods.

Best thing about losing weight: Loving that she's feel like her old self again.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eating smaller meals and snacks is a great way to keep your metabolism going.

Update: Arianna Chavez sticks with it

Last year, we introduced you to Arianna Chavez. Since joining L A Weight Loss in 2006, Arianna has lost 154 pounds. And after two years, she's kept it off -- every last pound!

Arianna's experience has shown her that L A Weight Loss isn't a diet, it's a life-long dedication to good health. Congrats on keeping it off! We're proud of you, Arianna!

Here she is today:



FAST FACTS

Name: Arianna Chavez
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 28
Height: 5'8"

Starting weight: 307 pounds
Goal weight: 147 pounds
Current weight: 153 pounds
Program start date: February 2006

Favorite food: Her homemade ground turkey salad.

Biggest temptation: French fries.

Biggest motivator: Her best friend Leslie.

Biggest obstacle: Learning how to cook.

Old eating philosophy: Eating on the run.

New eating philosophy: Planning meals ahead.

Best thing about losing weight: Having a lot more energy and feeling better every day.

Best weight loss secret learned: Drink lots of water! It can really make a big difference in your weight loss journey.

The truth about red meat

To eat or not to eat, that is the question about red meat. For years there have been varying opinions on the health benefits or disadvantages to eating red meat. Settle the question once and for all with our L A Weight Loss nutritionist, Sandra Maltzman.

Sydney Bowen empties the nest and dumps the weight

For parents, when all the kids move out and the nest is empty, it can be difficult adjusting to the new household dynamic. But it's also an opportunity to try to new things. For Sydney Bowen, the empty nest was the push to take control of her obesity and get her life back on track.

Weight had been an issue for Sydney since childhood. Sydney remembers being left home alone after school and turning to food for comfort. Her parents both worked and her siblings had their own lives. To fill the time, Sydney snacked.

She started her first diet program at age 11, attending a weight loss center with her mom. As the youngest of five, she became her mother’s dieting sidekick.

Still, she couldn't help but indulge in Chinese, Mexican, and McDonalds. Never a big fan of sweets, Sydney enjoyed "real" food, in large quantities. She enjoyed eating out, and loved to fill her plate at barbecues. But food was only a temporary comfort. Sydney was miserable most of the time, toting around at 283 pounds.

Then Sydney got one of the worst scares of her life. She was diagnosed with borderline type-2 diabetes. But she was immune to insulin, and had to take pills to maintain her health and prevent full development of the condition.

With a family history of diabetes, Sydney feared she was headed down the same unhealthy path. She also had borderline high blood pressure, but refrained from medication. She needed to lose weight to get her health back on track.

Sydney's doctor prescribed her a diet pill. She lost 80 pounds on the medication, although eventually became immune to its effects and gained back the 80 pounds, plus some.

She felt miserable and couldn’t bear to feel that way, especially after all of her children moved out. She didn't want to be alone, unhealthy, and depressed.

She considered gastric bypass surgery, but realized it was too expensive. Then she saw L A Weight Loss member Sharla Pincock on the cover of People Magazine's Half Their Size issue, and on TV. Sharla's success inspired Sydney, and she decided to join L A Weight Loss.

She was matched up with a personal weight loss counselor, who taught her how to eat her favorite foods in the right portions. Sydney learned to not eat for pleasure, but eat to live. She cut out fast food, and instead filled up on healthy amounts of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole-grain carbs.

Today, Sydney is 125 pounds lighter. She weighs 158, just three pounds away from her goal weight of 155 pounds. Sydney no longer needs diabetes medication and has stopped taking diet pills. She vows never to take a diet pill again, and encourages others to do the same.

The reaction of family members and friends who haven’t seen her for a while is enough to keep her going on her path to success. She’s gotten to this place by mentally committing to losing weight.

She continues to eat healthy foods, including fruits, veggies, chicken, and fish. A new habit of Sydney’s is preparing her own food. She still eats out occasionally, but enjoys having control of what goes into her meals, and how much. Now, when she goes to a barbecue, she doesn’t feel the need to fill her plate. Sydney also enjoys L A Lites to curb her occasional sweet craving.

Pleasure in the little things is what Sydney loves most about her weight loss. She can play with her grandkids, shop anywhere, and fit comfortably into a waiting room chair. She even got a trampoline! Sydney jumps daily, a pastime that she had forgotten when her weight got in the way.

Most impressive is Sydney’s recent accomplishment of running in two 5K marathons. She is now training for the 1/2 marathon next year in Salt Lake City. For Sydney, training for these marathons is a hobby. Great choice of a hobby! Good for you, Sydney!

Here is Sydney at 283 pounds:



And here she is today, looking great at 158 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Sydney Bowen
Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Age: 43
Height: 5'5"

Starting weight: 283 pounds
Goal weight: 155 pounds
Current weight: 158 pounds
Program start date: Jan. 2, 2007

Favorite food: Cheesy Taco Salad in the L A Weight Loss cookbook.

Biggest temptation: Mexican food.

Biggest motivator: Being able to pick up her grandchildren.

Biggest obstacle: Falling into a plateau.

Old eating philosophy: Eating tacos, enchiladas, chips and salsa, McDonalds, and Chinese daily.

New eating philosophy: Cooking chicken, turkey, fish, broccoli, spinach, salad, and strawberries instead of going out.

Best thing about losing weight: Getting off of type-2 diabetes medicine and feeling healthy.

Best weight loss secret learned: It's all about your mindset.

Tragedy inspires Judi Matts to drop half her size

Judi Matts didn’t wake up one morning and decide to lose weight. A series of events played out in her life which sparked her desire to get healthy.

As a child, Judi was overweight. She is one of five girls, and among them, three have been obese their whole lives. Two are “model skinny,” as Judi likes to put it.

When she reached 322 pounds, Judi felt all she could do was eat food and go to the movies. She wasn’t social at all. She was afraid that if she tried to do fun things, she would fail and be embarrassed. One her worst fears was sitting in a seat that was too small for her.

The side effects of Judi's obesity were largely fatigue and knee pain. Her sister, however, wasn't doing well. At age 46, Judi’s sister came down with pneumonia, bringing with it a host of negative side effects.

Then tragedy struck. She was discovered in a coma one day in her home, and passed away shortly thereafter in the hospital.

The sudden death of her sister in 2001 was an eye-opener for Judi. It made her wonder how much she might be cutting her life short by being overweight.

But she didn't take action to correct the situation until a year later. That's when she was in a life-threatening car accident. She survived, but it was by a mere chance. That made Judi finally realize how precious her life is, and important it is to be healthy and safe.

Around that time, a friend told her about the success she was having with L A Weight Loss. She was feeling great after losing 85 pounds, and Judi wanted to feel that way, too.

She joined L A Weight Loss in 2003, and hasn’t looked back. Judi remembers inspirational words from her L A Weight Loss counselor on her first day with the program: "You have done the hardest thing by walking through those doors," said her counselor. "We are here to help you with the rest. You can do it."

It was just what she needed to hear. From that point, adjusting her eating plan was easy. Judi used L A Lite bars to curb her sweet cravings. She also prepared food in advance so that it would fit her regimen. For Judi, it was all about conscious eating and making good choices. Drinking plenty of water was a staple, too.

A great source of motivation for Judi was pampering herself along the journey. With every milestone she treated herself with a facial, pedicure, spa visit, or shopping spree. And the result? She lost 172 pounds!

Today, at 150 pounds, Judi has maintained her weight loss for three years. She can walk and breathe freely. She can also shop stress-free, because she can fit into fashionable clothes.

Instead of living to eat, Judi now eats to live. She participates in life instead of watching it pass by. With her sister and friend as motivation, Judi was able to kick her bad habits and become healthy.

In fact, she recently went shopping with one of her “model thin” sisters and they had a great time. Family and friends have been great motivation for Judi.

Judi knows that if she goes back to how she ate before she will look that way, too. Her habits now are a way of life. Having maintained her weight loss for three years, this way of life is clearly working. What an inspiration Judi is for those at the start of their journey! Congrats, Judi!

Here she is at 322 pounds:



And here she is today, at 150 pounds, three years after reaching her goal. Wow, you still got it, Judi!



FAST FACTS

Name: Judi Matts
Hometown: Orem, Utah
Age: 52
Height: 5'3"

Starting weight: 322 pounds
Goal weight: 180 pounds
Current weight: 150 pounds
Program start date: 2003

Favorite food: Chocolate.

Biggest temptation: Sweets.

Biggest motivator: Recognizing the need to live life to the fullest.

Biggest obstacle: Thinking that food was in control.

Old eating philosophy: Eating as a way to experience emotions.

New eating philosophy: Thinking, "eat to live, not live to eat."

Best thing about losing weight: Getting to shop comfortably!

Best weight loss secret learned: Never forget this: If you weigh 300 pounds, it is because you eat that way. Eat the foods that support your lifestyle and your weight will reflect that.

Go ahead, fill up your plate!

A diet by definition is the sum of foods consumed. Your diet and "you going on a diet" are not one in the same. Yes, cutting back on snack foods such as French fries and chips can stop weight gain or even loosen a tight pair of pants, but it won't improve your "diet."

Eating the right foods to promote good health, strong bones, ample energy, and weight control should be the focus of your daily sum of foods consumed. Cutting back on foods that result in a poor diet might lower the number on the scale, but it won't improve your long-term health.

Rather, healthy foods and larger portions of the right foods can help you feel your best without hunger pains or the feeling of being on a diet. Go ahead, fill your plate, but be sure to include all the following in your diet on a daily basis:

Fresh fruits. Adding fresh fruits such as berries to your breakfast cereal or morning oatmeal (instead of table sugar) will add flavor, fiber, countless nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. Aim for two to three servings per day.

Fresh or frozen vegetables. Vegetables (not coated in butter or cheese sauce) are extremely low in calories and are super filling. Not to mention they also contain fiber, countless nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Your plate should be piled high (within reason) with fresh vegetables at both lunch and dinner. Hungry? Pack fresh veggies to go! Items such as cherry tomatoes and baby carrots fit easily in the gym bag or purse, and are a good choice when hunger strikes.

Whole grains. The low-carb craze has come and gone. They are called fad diets for a reason. Carbohydrates are necessary. They are your body's quickest source of energy. And omitting a food group in it’s entirely is not smart, and won’t lead to long-term weight control.

The thing to remember is that all breads and starches are not created equal. White breads and starches can lead to weight gain because they are not as filling as their fibrous counterparts, and are often over consumed. Instead of floppy white bread and pasta, choose multi-grain breads, whole-wheat pasta, and hearty grains. They are more filling and will increase your daily fiber intake.

Dairy. If you are not consuming skim milk or low-fat yogurt on a daily basis, you are missing out. Dairy is filling; nutrient packed; and a good source of calcium, vitamin D, and protein. Dairy also has a reported link to weight regulation and bone strength.

Take advantage and include two to three servings of low-fat dairy in your diet daily. Chocoholic? Make 8 oz. of skim milk into a chocolate treat with fat-free, sugar-free pudding. No one said your sum of foods consumed couldn’t include dessert!

This advice is something I tell all of our L A Weight Loss clients, which helps them learn lifelong good nutrition skills and form healthy habits. There's no hunger or deprivation, just plates full of the right foods in the right portions!