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.