Shelli Ziegler finds happiness in a smaller size

Happy is as happy does. But Shelli Ziegler found that no matter what she was doing, she wasn't entirely happy. That's because worries about being overweight kept her self-esteem low.

Shelli was overweight for most of her life, and her eating habits were always to blame. She led a relatively active lifestyle, but she couldn't say no to the convenience of a fast food lunch or fried dinner. Plus, she rarely ate the right amount of fruits or vegetables.

At 223 pounds, she wasn't emotionally healthy either. Whenever Shelli was out in public, she felt like she was being judged. Her self-confidence was extremely low, and she assumed people thought less of her because of her weight.

After years of being unhappy with her appearance, Shelli decided to make a change. She had never successfully dieted before, so assumed it would be a long, hard battle. But then she found L A Weight Loss.

In October 2006, Shelli joined her local Eden Prairie, Minn., L A Weight Loss center. She was matched with a one-on-one weight loss counselor, who taught her about proper nutrition and portion sizes. Shelli realized that her diet was what was truly preventing her from being happy.

Thanks to her counselor, Shelli learned exactly what a healthy diet included. Now, she eats breakfast every day. And instead of eating large meals a few time a day, she eats smaller meals throughout the day. Shelli also cut back on her fried and fast food intake, and focuses on including fruits, vegetables, and lean meats into her daily meals.

With just a few diet adjustments, Shelli's weight started to decrease. And to speed up her weight loss process, she began exercising. Shelli exercises -- whether its walking, running, or lifting weights -- almost every day.

After less than two years on the program, Shelli's lost 79 pounds, and now weighs 144 pounds! Her confidence has greatly increased, and she's an overall happier person. She now has the energy to be more active with her son, which she didn't before.

Shelli feels like a much more active person. She loves going out and getting involved in everything she can now. And she doesn't hesitate to go out with her friends, because now she feels great about herself. And feeing great about herself reflects back on the way she feels about others. Everyone notices (and loves) the happier Shelli.

Way to go, Shelli!

Here's Shelli at 223 pounds:



And here she is today, looking fabulous at 144 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Michelle "Shelli" Ziegler
Hometown: Minnetonka, Minn.
Age: 31
Height: 5'3"

Starting weight: 223 pounds
Goal weight: 144 pounds
Current weight: 144 pounds
Program start date: October 2006

Favorite food: Pizza.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Receiving constant support from family, friends, and co-workers.

Biggest obstacle: Getting passed the plateaus.

Old eating philosophy: Seeing it and eating it.

New eating philosophy: Watching what she eats.

Best thing about losing weight: Looking and feeling so much better.

Best weight loss secret learned: Once you learn the amount of food to have and how to break it down, losing weight is easy.