Connie Kelly makes losing weight look easy

High school can be hard enough. But when adding "overweight" to the list of teenage pressures, doesn't help. Just ask Connie Kelly.

As a 180-pounds high school student, Connie thought the less she ate the more weight she would lose. Connie wouldn't eat all day then eat a huge dinner (and graze throughout the day).

But she was gaining weight instead of losing it. Connie's body started to store the fat because she would starve herself during the day.

After high school, Connie's weight dropped to 130 pounds. She lost the weight on her own by exercising. Soon after Connie got married. At 22, Connie became pregnant with her first child and gave up smoking, which contributed to Connie gaining back the weight, plus some.

Connie gained 70 pounds with her first child, and never lost it. When Connie was pregnant with her second child, she gained another 70 pounds. Before she knew it, Connie was topping the scales at 280 pounds.

She woke up one morning and knew she had to make changes. Connie was worried about her family's health. High blood pressure was a concern on her father's side, and both parents struggled with their weight.

Connie's downfall was her sodium intake. She ate a lot of fast food (sometimes four times a week, ordering the super sized meals), big bags of chips, and a lot of soda.

Now Connie has given up fast food and soda completely. She was even allowed two diet sodas a day while on the LA Weight Loss program and decided to reach for more water instead. She drinks four liter bottles of water a day, sometimes adding lemon or lime for flavor.

LA Weight loss has taught Connie how to grocery shop and buy foods that she could prepare. She cooks dinner every night for her family with the LA Weight Loss Cookbook.

Thanks to Connie's new healthy cooking habits, her husband even lost 10 pounds without even trying! When she's hungry, Connie now craves fruit, especially bananas.

The LA Weight Loss program has helped Connie develop eating habits she never imagined following. Just recently, she made herself squash spaghetti, something she thought she would never eat.

Connie has a lot more energy now. She is able to keep up with her kids, going sledding, skating or just walking around the neighborhood with them. Connie also exercises more. She works with a personal trainer two to three times a week, and does an hour and a half of cardio four to five times a week. She also enjoys yoga.

Connie's confidence increases every time she steps on the scale. She's excited to put on a bathing suit with no shorts this summer. There was even another woman who joined Connie's LA Weight Loss Center and asked for a picture of Connie to put on her refrigerator for motivation!

Connie, you look fabulous! You are an inspiration to many!

Here's Connie at 257 pounds:



And here she is looking fantastic at 125 pounds:



Name: Connie Kelly
Hometown: Calgary, Canada
Age: 32
Height: 5’6”

Starting weight: 257 pounds.
Goal weight: 130 pounds.
Current weight: 125 pounds.
Program start date: January 2008

Favorite food: Lean Cuisines

Biggest temptation: Potato chips

Biggest motivator: Staying healthy for her two children.

Biggest obstacle: Staying motivated and not giving up.

Old eating philosophy: Eating unhealthy, fried foods whenever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Cooking at home with squash, fish, grilled chicken breast, yogurt, and bananas; and drinking plenty of water.

Best thing about losing weight: Watching the pounds and inches come off each week.

Best weight loss secret learned: Reduce your sodium intake in foods.