North Dakota mom makes sure her future's slim

There's a lot of care that goes into having a child. And every mom knows that care takes a lot of work. Amanda O'Connor wanted to take that basic baby care one step further, but knew she needed to lose weight to do it.

Amanda had been overweight her entire life. She came from a family of eaters, and knew the health risks associated with being overweight because she saw them first hand. Luckily, Amanda had always been healthy, so never had a driving motivation to slim down.

After the birth of her first baby however, Amanda wanted to able to move around easier than she could at 197 pounds. She needed more energy, and wanted to be able to chase around her son, without the health risks her parents had dealt with.

Amanda had tried dieting in the past, but couldn't keep the weight off. In September 2007, she signed up at her local Minot, N.D., L A Weight Loss center. Her one-on-one weight loss counselor taught her everything she needed to know about losing weight and keeping it off.

Amanda added more fruits and vegetables into her diet, which had been a bit scarce before. She also added more lean meats and proteins, and cut back on her sodium intake.

But adjusting her diet wasn't enough for Amanda. She was serious about losing weight and getting in shape. Now, every day she spends some quality time on the treadmill. And when the weather's fine, she takes her morning workouts to the streets.

After one year on the L A Weight Loss program, Amanda has dropped 55 pounds, and currently weighs 142 pounds. Amanda has had so much success on the program, she even motivated a friend to join L A Weight Loss as well. And I'm happy to report, her friend is doing great too.

Now that she's reached her goal weight, life is much easier for Amanda. Shopping is no longer a hassle. And she had no problem fitting into cute clothes.

Best of all, Amanda has the energy and stamina she needs to keep up with her young son. And she knows she's done everything she can to stay healthy for him in the long term.

Plus, she enjoys the extra time she can spend with her husband walking the dog and pushing the stroller. Even better, her relationship with her husband has even improved, as he never hesitates to tell her how beautiful she looks.

Way to go, Amanda! We're thrilled!

Here's Amanda on her wedding day at 197 pounds:



And here she is today, looking happy and healthy at 142 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Amanda O'Connor
Hometown: Sawyer, N.D.
Age: 28
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 197 pounds
Goal weight: 142 pounds
Current weight: 142 pounds
Program start date: September 2007

Favorite food: Chicken alfredo.

Biggest temptation: Pasta.

Biggest motivator: Looking at old pictures.

Biggest obstacle: Getting up and getting on the treadmill in the beginning.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever, whenever, especially if she was bored.

New eating philosophy: Stay busy, and only eating when she needs to.

Best thing about losing weight: Fitting into smaller clothes.

Best weight loss secret learned: Get help. Don't do it alone.

Aspiring actress makes it onto the TODAY Show with L A Weight Loss

For Kymm Hansen, weight gain had been a continual seesaw. Whenever she was down, she always went back up. But after more than 30 years of rising and falling, this was one ride Kymm wanted off.

Weight had been a life-long struggle for Kymm. Growing up, she was tortured with names such as "Butterball" and "Fatty Fatty 2x4." So it's no surprise her weight was a constant source of angst.

And it didn't get easier as she got older. Kymm's weight increased with her age. In middle school, Kymm's weight reached 160 pounds, by high school she was 195 pounds, and by the time she graduated college, she was 235 pounds.

She tried just about every diet in the book, but nothing worked. Her weight rose and fell constantly for 10 years. No matter how much Kymm lost, she couldn't keep it off. And often, she gained even more back. After her marriage, in 1999, she gained even more weight to reach an all-time high. It seemed like before she even realized it, Kymm was in her 30s, and weighed 308 pounds.

Kim recently returned to school at San Diego University, where she felt completely invisible. And she was embarrassed whenever someone would have to touch her in one of her acting classes. No one held doors for her, and she was constantly aware of people's judgments.

When Kymm broke her foot a number of years ago, her doctor was surprised she could even walk at her weight. She suffered from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and hypothyroid disease. Her breathing was always labored, and her ankles and knees were constantly sore. Kymm knew that if she ever wanted to have children, she was running out of time to get healthy.

So in September 2006, Kymm joined her local Mission Valley, Calif., L A Weight Loss center. Her personal weight loss counselors taught her how to adjust her diet to maximize health. Kymm replaced her fast food meals, frozen TV dinners, and sweet binges with lean proteins, vegetables, and fruit.

She soon found that eating well felt good. It's true when they tell you, you are what you eat. As a vegetarian, Kymm was worried she would have trouble finding the right foods to keep her healthy and satisfied, but that was never a problem with L A Weight Loss.

Her counselors taught her hundreds of new recipes, and she enjoys creating new combinations every day.

As Kymm's weight began to decrease, she felt her energy increase. It wasn't long before she was doing something she'd never done before: exercising. Kymm started walking, and now works out every day. She enjoys running, working out on machines at the gym, and doing yoga and Pilates.

And all of her hard work has paid off. After 18 months on the L A Weight Loss program, Kymm has lost 144 pounds -- that's half her size! At 164 pounds, Kymm has found an entire world has opened up to her.

She can do things she never could before, such as ride all the attractions at Disneyland, and get on the floor to play with her dog. Her new energy is amazing, and Kymm feels like an entirely new woman. Plus, her health has improved. Kymm's blood pressure and cholesterol are at normal levels, and her joints are no longer sore.

After experiencing a lifetime of rollercoaster weight gain and loss, Kymm still has to remind herself that she's no longer overweight. This is the new Kymm, and she plans on staying this way.

Kymm's outstanding success has attracted a lot of attention. And today, she was featured on NBC's TODAY Show as part of their Joy Fit Club. Looks like this actress had her dream come true as she made her way into millions of television sets across the country, and told her incredible weight loss story.

Congratulations, Kymm! We're so proud of you!

Here's Kymm at 306 pounds:



Here she is today, looking fit and fabulous at 162 pounds:



And here I am with Kymm at her TODAY Show taping:



FAST FACTS

Name: Kymm Hansen
Hometown: Julian, Calif.
Age: 36
Height: 5'9"

Starting weight: 306 pounds
Goal weight: 165 pounds
Current weight: 162 pounds
Program start date: September 2006

Favorite food: Peanut butter.

Biggest temptation: Peanut butter.

Biggest motivator: Seeing her weight each week on the scale.

Biggest obstacle: Overcoming sweet cravings.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing down on anything and everything sweet.

New eating philosophy: Making well-balanced meals with lots of vegetables and whole grains.

Best thing about losing weight: Being able to fit in fashionable clothes.

Best weight loss secret learned: Diet and exercise is the only way to lose weight.

Marlene Bruce changes her lifestyle and her life

Any mom will tell you they fell in love with their babies before they even laid eyes on them. But besides gaining the loves of her life during her two pregnancies, Marlene Bruce gained some serious pounds that she just couldn't shake.

Marlene struggled with her weight all of her adult life. Her first pregnancy though, put her over the edge. Marlene was easily 50 pounds overweight, and couldn't shed it. After her second pregnancy and another 50 pounds, her doctor told her she was obese.

At 227 pounds, she was tired all the time, and couldn't keep up with her energetic kids. The extra pounds also gave Marlene backaches and headaches.

Marlene knew she needed to lose weight, but after a number of failed attempts, knew she couldn't do it alone. When Marlene's personal and emotional life took a hit with her divorce at the age of 31, she was ready for a full lifestyle change.

So in April 2007 she turned to her local Chico, Calif., L A Weight Loss center, where she was matched up with a one-on-one weight loss counselor. Marlene and her counselor worked together to design a diet plan that fit her lifestyle.

She cut out the frequent fast food runs, all-day snacking, and usual dessert indulgences. Now, her diet consists of lean meats and proteins, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. To satisfy her sweet tooth, Marlene indulges with lo-fat frozen yogurt and the occasional lite ice cream.

Marlene also joined a gym to get her body (and her metabolism) moving. Now, she puts in an easy 3.5 miles on the treadmill, and walks the neighborhood with her friend Jemma.

All of Marlene's healthy lifestyle adjustments did the trick. Marlene passed her weight loss goal of 150 pounds, and currently weighs 145 pounds. That's a total of 82 pounds!

Since slimming down, Marlene's entire attitude has improved. Her health problems have subsided. She's not ever embarrassed in public anymore, and she has no problem keeping up with her kids. In fact, they are able to spend more time doing fun things together now, such as roller blading and mini golfing.

Best of all, Marlene finally feels like her outside matches her inside. She's beautiful both inside and out! Way to go, Marlene!

Here's Marlene at 227 pounds:


And here she is now looking fabulous at 82 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Marleen Bruce
Hometown: Chico, Calif.
Age: 37
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 227 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 145 pounds
Program start date: April 2007

Favorite food: Chocolate.

Biggest temptation: Ice Cream.

Biggest motivator: Staying healthy for her kids.

Biggest obstacle: Getting past the emotional eating habit and changing her lifestyle.

Old eating philosophy: Grabbing her favorite fast food fixes whenever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Eating more lean meats, vegetables, and fruits.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling confident again in life.

Best weight loss secret learned: Controlling portion sizes can control your weight.

The bout against belly fat

For many men and women, the mid section can be one of the trickiest areas to fight the fat. To make things even more difficult, there are a lot of myths out there about what it really takes to avoid putting on the extra pounds around the waist line. So what's the real skinny on belly fat?

Sandra Maltzman, nutritionist for L A Weight Loss, recently sat down with us to tell us what she knows.

Time to celebrate the sweetest month of the year

October is L A Weight Loss’s favorite month. Why? It's National Dessert Month! We know it can be hard to give up those favorite sweet treats, so with the L A Weight Loss program, you don’t have to!

The L A Lite Cookbook offers dozens of healthy desserts to keep cravings under control while keeping you on track to a healthier you. Try one of our favorite dessert recipes below for a smart indulgence. These are two of our favorites.

Raspberry Peach Melba Crepe

Ingredients:
1/2 peach, diced
1 packet sugar substitute
1/4 tsp. ginger
1 Tbsp. sugar-free raspberry jelly or jam
1/4 cup raspberries
1 Tbsp. fat-free whipped topping
1 crepe

Place diced peach, ginger, and 1/2 packet of sugar substitute in microwave-safe dish.

Heat on high 2-3 minutes, or until hot.

Spread Raspberry jelly over crepe.

Place peach mixture over half of the crepe and fold over filling.

Sprinkle remaining sugar substitute over raspberries.

Top crepe with raspberries and whipped topping.



Baked Custard

Ingredients:
1 egg
1 cup skim milk
1 Tbsp. sugar substitute
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp. low-sodium salt
1-2 Tbsp. orange or lemon zest
Nutmeg for garnish, optional

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

Break egg into small mixing bowl and beat lightly.

Add milk, sugar substitute, vanilla, zest, and salt. Beat well.

Pour into damp custard cups and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Place cups in a shallow pan of water and bake for 40-50 minutes, or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

For even more delicious desserts, pick up a copy of the L A Lite Cookbook, available in a L A Weight Loss center near you!

Herbert Lang tips the scales in a favorable direction

For people who struggle with their weight, it sometimes only takes a single event to knock them off the see-saw into the major weight gain ground. For Herbert Lang, it was a single sentence.

Herbert struggled with his weight for all of his adult life. His retirement from the army however, finally tipped the scale to the side of major weight gain. After being told he was too big to be a good army instructor, he lost all motivation to stay in shape.

Herbert suffered from asthma and plantar fasciitis. He stopped exercising and his diet took a turn for the worse. Herbert's days were bookmarked by fast food meals, beginning with a drive-thru breakfast, and ending with a fast food dinner. For lunch, he would usually have a frozen meal. Before long, Herbert was tipping the scales at 322 pounds.

As a registered nurse, his desire to lose weight was no secret. He had tried a number of diets, but nothing worked. One day, Herbet's boss suggested he give L A Weight Loss a try. He looked into the program, and decided that the one-on-one meetings and personal accountability could be the motivation he needed to actually lose the weight.

Herbert joined his local Live Oak, Texas, L A Weight Loss center in April 2007. He was paired up with a personal weight loss counselor whom he met with several times a week. Herbert's counselor taught him the importance of a proper diet eaten in the right proportions.

For sweet treats and snacks, Herbert would munch on L A Lite bars. And when baking, he would mix Controltrim into his foods for an extra metabolism boost.

And it worked! Herbert shed the extra pounds. As his weight went down, his energy went up. Exercising became a possibility, and Herbert started hitting the gym again. He now goes to the gym three to four times a week, and meets with a personal trainer during two of those visits. Herbert also does little things every day to stay active, such as walking his dogs.

Since joining L A Weight Loss, Herbert has dropped 123 pounds. At 199 pounds, he's well on his way to his weight loss goal of 165 pounds. Herbert says he enjoys life more than he has in years.

Congratulations, Herbert! We're proud of you! Keep up the good work!

Here's Herbert pushing the scales at 322 pounds:



And here he is today, a much happier and healthier 199 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Herbert Lang
Hometown: Windcrest, Texas
Age: 49
Height: 5'7"

Starting weight: 322 pounds
Goal weight: 165 pounds
Current weight: 199 pounds
Program start date: April 2007

Favorite food: Cannolis.

Biggest temptation: Ice cream.

Biggest motivator: Watching the weight come off.

Biggest obstacle: Planning meals while on the road.

Old eating philosophy: Eating everything he saw.

New eating philosophy: Knowing when enough is enough.

Best thing about losing weight: Having more energy and appreciating life.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eat the right proportions.