Life gets a little easier for this Kentucky mother

Heather Scott is a 25-year-old mother from Mayfield, Ky. She struggled with her weight all of her life, leaving her uncomfortable and insecure. Weighing as much as 260 pounds as a teenager made high school anything but easy. In fact, if you ask Heather, she'll tell you the only good thing that came out of high school was the day she met her future husband.

Heather's husband has never judged her, even when she continued to gain weight after high school. But that still did not ease Heather's insecurities. Wherever Heather went, she felt like people were pointing at "the fat girl."

As if dealing with the thought of people stereotyping her wasn't enough, Heather also had to deal with the physical demands of being heavy. She was always out of breath, and her joints constantly ached.

She had a hard time doing everyday tasks. Getting out of bed every morning was an obstacle for Heather. When she was nine months pregnant with her daughter, she was so large she couldn't even fit in a booth at a restaurant.

Shopping was never a good experience. Heather used to go shopping with her older sister, and would be jealous of all the cute clothes her sister could wear and how much more items she could buy. Heather's clothes cost more, and she was always stuck wearing whatever was made in her size, which was generally big t-shirts and sweats.

Heather never quite understood why she was so much bigger. She didn't eat much, but she would justify a day of starving for a late night batch of brownies. She chose pizza and fast food or cooked dinners loaded with starches. Healthy was never an option for Heather.

She finally had enough when she couldn't even play with her young daughter. Heather's mom had joined the LA Weight Loss program and was very successful. So along with the support from her mother and husband, Heather made the commitment to the LA Weight Loss program in May 2007.

LA Weight Loss worked for Heather because she joined for herself. She didn't want to lose weight because someone else wanted her to -- she wanted to lose weight for her health and her children.

Heather preferred the one-on-one counseling LA Weight Loss provided. She kept a food journal to keep track of her meals, and the counselors worked with her to realize what foods helped her gain or loose.

Now Heather's diet consists of turkey bacon and yogurt for breakfast, plain turkey burger for lunch with no bread, a salad for dinner and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in between. She also started walking at least one mile a day.

And the results have shown. Heather's lost over 100 pounds! She now feels like she can communicate better with people. She realizes her insecurities lead her to believe everyone was judging her. She also has more options to chose from when she goes shopping, and can shop at any store, not just the stores that carry plus sizes. She can even wear heals!

Heather's biggest obstacle was resisting temptations. She learned that eating foods that are bad for you is not worth the five minutes you can actually taste it in your mouth. Anytime Heather would get off course, especially around the holidays, she would walk extra and work harder to get back on the right mindset.

Way to go, Heather! We're proud of you!

Here's Heather at 301 pounds:



And here she is today at a much slimmer 197 pounds.



You look great Heather! All your hard work has paid off! Keep it up!

FAST FACTS

Name: Heather Scott
Hometown: Mayfield, Ky.
Age: 25
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 301 pounds
Goal weight: 170 pounds
Current weight: 197 pounds
Program start date: May 2007

Favorite food: Pizza.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate or sweets.

Biggest motivator: Shrinking into a smaller size and watching the numbers dropping on the scale.

Biggest obstacle: Being around other people who were not dieting.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing on pizza, brownies, cookies, candy bars, chips, and soft drinks.

New eating philosophy: Eating meals with fish, yogurt, turkey, chicken, and fresh vegetables and fruit.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling good about herself, and knowing that she is healthier to play with her daughter.

Best weight loss secret learned: Reducing intake of sodium will help you drop the pounds.

Cathy Lewis catches a case of happiness

The flu isn't the only thing getting passed around lately. So is a case of happiness, thanks to Cathy Lewis.

Cathy was always on the heavier side, but it wasn't until adulthood that she began seriously packing on the pounds. She loved fried food, and covered everything in gobs of dressings and sauces. And to finish off every meal, Cathy needed something sweet. She was a regular customer at her local bakery.

Cathy's weight gradually increased each year. She didn't notice that as her weight went up, her self-esteem went down. And as it did, she also began to lose her outgoing personality.

One holiday season, however, Cathy felt particularly out of sorts. She was depressed, and felt unattractive. So she made a New Year's resolution to lose weight.

Cathy joined her local Lawrenceville, Ga., L A Weight Loss center in January 2005. Her personal weight loss counselor worked with her to adjust her eating habits. Cathy learned that what she was eating was more important than how much she was eating.

She cut out her fast food indulgences and limited her baked goods intake, while adding fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and water to her diet. She found that the foods that were great for her, tasted great too.

Cathy couldn't believe how fast the weight came off, and neither could her friends and coworkers. After two years on the program, she's lost 104 pounds! And she feels like her entire life has changed.

Cathy has gained a tremendous amount of self-confidence, which made a positive impact on her personal and professional life. She realized that before, she loved herself despite how she looked. Now, she loves herself AND how she looks.

Cathy has regained her swagger, and is loving every second of her newfound life. In fact, Cathy's happiness is so contagious, she's convinced 12 of her friends and family members to give L A Weight Loss a try. Way to go, Cathy!

Here's Cathy before she started her weight loss journey:



And here she is today, 104 pounds lighter:



FAST FACTS

Name: Cathy Lewis
Hometown: Atlanta
Age: 37
Height: 5'8"

Total weight loss: 104 pounds
Goal weight loss: 104 pounds
Program start date: October 2005

Favorite food: Salad.

Biggest temptation: French fries.

Biggest motivator: Being happier.

Biggest obstacle: Getting over mental plateaus.

Old eating philosophy: Eating everything that tasted good.

New eating philosophy: Eating everything that tastes good and is good for her.

Best thing about losing weight: Getting a second chance at life.

Best weight loss secret learned: Start off your day with a balanced meal to keep you on track for the rest of the day.

Sonya Jefferson gets choosy about chowing down

Kids are notorious for being picky eaters. Adults not so much. But when they are, they can be doing a good thing for themselves, as in Sonya Jefferson's case.

But she wasn't always so choosy at the table. People with poor eating habits surrounded Sonya while growing up, and she enjoyed whatever, whenever. Her dad and brother were overweight, and she soon joined the plus-sized party. Kids made fun of her in high school, and she retreated into her shell.

Things worsened in college. Sonya gained the freshman 15, and much more. She felt stressed living away from home, and turned to food as a diversion. Topping that was her erratic eating schedule common to college students, and Sonya ballooned to 250 pounds by senior year.

But her stress didn't leave. Sonya put on more weight after her dad died of a heart attack, and she was laid off. Depressed, Sonya didn't care what she ate. Her diet consisted largely of quick grabs at fast-food joints, sweets, and candy -- all of which gave her indigestion. She rarely cooked at home, and her weight soared to 339 pounds.

The extra weight caused her skin to break out, and Sonya felt old and sluggish. Living in Georgia, Sonya sometimes thought is was OK to be big. Many people were heavier, and happy -- love yourself no matter what! But Sonya wasn't happy. Her health was out of control, and she had to do something about it.

She researched local weight loss centers, and made a few phone calls. When she spoke to counselors at L A Weight Loss, she immediately felt at ease, and joined the Camp Creek, Ga., center the next day.

Sonya worked with personal weight loss counselors Sarah and Louise to adjust her eating plan. They taught her how to cook simple, healthy meals at home, such as rice casserole and vegetable dishes. She also started grilling food, and incorporating nuts and water into her day.

Soon she became a picky eater, and paid attention to what passed her lips. As she discovered how good healthy food tastes, Sonya forgot about greasy burgers and fries.

After 14 months on the L A Weight Loss plan, Sonya lost 104 pounds! Now at 235, she's quickly closing in on her goal of 170 pounds.

Sonya feels and looks 10 years younger. Without processed foods running through her system, her indigestion stopped and her acne cleared up. She shops in regular-sized stores, and enjoys teaching aerobics. In fact, some her students barely recognize her anymore!

And best of all, Sonya has new self-esteem and control of her life. She won't go back to fast food or the unhappy place she once was.

Way to go, Sonya! Keep up the great work, and we'll check back soon!

Here's Sonya before L A Weight Loss, at 339 pounds:



Here she is today, at 235. Keep losing, Sonya!



FAST FACTS

Name: Sonya Jefferson
Hometown: Fairburn, Ga.
Age: 40
Height: 5'7"

Starting weight: 339 pounds
Goal weight: 170 pounds
Current weight: 235 pounds
Program start date: Aug. 18, 2006

Favorite food: Seafood.

Biggest temptation: Cheesecake.

Biggest motivator: Wanting to wear stylish clothes that fit her.

Biggest obstacle: Hitting a weight loss plateau.

Old eating philosophy: Filling up on super-sized fast food meals.

New eating philosophy: Balancing her meals with healthy foods, such as boiled eggs, yogurt, and cherry tomatoes.

Best thing about losing weight: Learning how to satisfy your hunger while losing weight.

Best weight loss secret learned: Losing weight can make you look years younger!

Cathy Turner learns the secret to weight loss success

Weight loss means different things to different people. Looking thinner, wearing smaller sized clothes, and having more energy, to name a few. Cathy Turner began her weight loss journey with only one thing in mind: getting healthy.

Cathy struggled to lose weight most of her life. Growing up in a house filled with overweight family members gave her the foundation to eat poorly at an early age. Cathy ate the way her family ate, and never thought about what she was consuming.

Working as a cook at an assisted living community gave Cathy access to food. And constant snacking led to weight gain. Cathy's weight increased steadily throughout the years, and by the time she reached her forties, she weighed a sturdy 259 pounds.

She had little energy, and was exhausted by the time she got home from work. All she could do was sit on the couch. Then tragedy struck. Cathy's brother was overweight and suffered the health effects. His passing at age 43 prompted Cathy to get healthy.

Cathy tried a number of diet programs, but couldn't find one that worked for her. She never established a healthy eating plan, and no one taught her how to eat properly. Then she decided to give L A Weight Loss a try.

At L A Weight Loss, Cathy found the secrets to healthy eating she was searching for. Her personal weight loss counselors taught her all about the importance of portion control and balance.

Cathy replaced her junk-food diet with a healthy eating plan. Her usual consumption of too many sweets, snacks, and carbs was cut down, and complemented with more fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.

Before Cathy knew it, the weight began to melt away. She found that eating healthy was easier to integrate into her life than she ever thought. And she used L A Lite bars as sweet treats to get her through the day.

In fact, L A Weight Loss helped Cathy so much that she sailed past her goal weight, and currently weighs 155 pounds. That's a 104-pound loss! Since losing weight, Cathy feels much better about herself.

For the first time, she has plenty of energy when she gets home from work. She can play with her grand kids and get work done around the house.

The best part about being thinner for Cathy: buying new clothes! Cathy has gotten a whole new wardrobe, and loved every second of shopping for smaller sizes. Her confidence is at an all-time high.

And she receives constant compliments from the people she cooks for every day. Most importantly, Cathy is a happier healthier person today. Way to go, Cathy!

Here's Cathy at her starting weight of 259 pounds:



And here she is today, looking fantastic at 155 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Cathy Turner
Hometown: Casper, Wyo.
Age: 51
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 259 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 155 pounds
Program start date: February 2005

Favorite food: Bread.

Biggest temptation: Work.

Biggest motivator: Wanting to be healthier.

Biggest obstacle: Controlling her urge her to snack at work.

Old eating philosophy: Eating as something to do, not because she was hungry.

New eating philosophy: Making conscientious decisions about her food choices.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling great, and getting compliments.

Best weight loss secret learned: Ask yourself, Do I need this?

Texas man becomes the life of every party

Food is often the center of parties, and linked to good times and people you love. Just think birthday cake and grandma's apple pie.

But food comes into play during negative experiences and emotions as well, to comfort and console. This is typically called emotional eating. Before you know it, that bag of chips or carton of ice cream is gone.

Take Allen Gaines. Allen was skinny his entire life. A track runner in high school and college, his dad fondly nicknamed him "bones" because he was so trim.

After college, however, Allen went through some turbulent experiences, including a near-fatal car accident, a stressful divorce, and custody battle. Allen turned to food for comfort. After all, what's a pity party without the eats?

But even when his life started looking up after overcoming these setbacks, Allen ate. His second wife was his emotional rock, and incidentally, an amazing cook. Over the years, he packed on the pounds.

By 2005, Allen was weighing in at a hefty 317 pounds -- and suffering the consequences. His cholesterol and blood pressure were dangerously high, he could barely climb the stairs without becoming winded, and had to undergo three different surgeries to treat a varicose vein and two kidney stones.

Allen knew he needed to lose weight, and tried a number of diets. After years of eating prepared foods, counting calories, cutting carbs, and always feeling hungry, nothing worked. None of the diets showed Allen simply how to eat right, and he gained the weight back.

On New Year's Eve, Allen resolved to lose weight. And two days later, Allen joined his local Lubbock, Texas, L A Weight Loss center.

Allen's one-on-one weight loss counselors helped him transform his diet and his life. He learned the importance of portion control, and eating more meals but in smaller sizes. He cut out a lot of fatty foods, and started paying attention to nutrition labels.

His diet now consists of fresh fruits and vegetables, baked fish and chicken, lots of water, and an occasional steak. Allen never skips breakfast, and he cut out all late-night snacking.

The best thing Allen learned from his counselors is he can still eat the things he loves while losing weight. He enjoys eating out, and he treats himself to his favorite candy bar (just not every day).

Since joining L A Weight Loss, Allen has lost 104 pounds. His cholesterol is down, his blood pressure is normal, and his energy level has sky-rocketed. He walks every morning, and hikes trails that he hasn't been able to tackle in years. He also runs and plays with his dog.

For the first time in 20 years, Allen is spiritually, mentally, and physically in great shape. And the constant compliments about his weight loss aren't too bad to hear, either. Food is no longer the center of the party ... Allen is! Way to go, Allen!

Here's Allen before his life-changing New Year's resolution, at 317 pounds:

Here he is 104 pounds lighter, and 110 percent healthier. Looking great, Allen! Great job!



FAST FACTS

Name: Allen Gaines
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
Age: 56
Height: 6'1"

Starting weight: 317 pounds
Goal weight: 213 pounds
Current weight: 215 pounds
Program start date: January 2006

Favorite food: Steak and baked tilapia.

Biggest temptation: Snacks.

Biggest motivator: Receiving support from family and friends every day.

Biggest obstacle: Standing in his own way.

Old eating philosophy: Eating for the sake of eating.

New eating philosophy: Eating to live, not living to eat.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling great about himself.

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

The deal that changed Catherine Brockman's life

The phrase, "deal or no deal" might conjure the popular TV show or casinos. But for Catherine Brockman of Birmingham, Ala., it conjures weight loss and a chance at a new life.

Catherine came from a "meat and potatoes" family. They ate a lot of pasta, breads, and rice, but few vegetables. Catherine also couldn't help treating herself to candy. When she graduated high school, Catherine weighed 235 pounds, and suffered from back pain.

Throughout adulthood, she tried popular weight loss programs, but came up with excuses and cheated. She just gained back the little weight she lost.

She hit 265 pounds last year, and was ready to discuss gastric bypass surgery with her doctor. But then her parents offered her a proposition. They told her if she was willing to try L A Weight Loss instead, they would help her get started.

Her parents were already having success on the L A Weight Loss program. So with their encouragement and support, Catherine joined L A Weight Loss in May 2006. She started eating the right foods in the right portions. A few weeks later, while on vacation at Disney World, she was well-prepared, and lost seven pounds that week!

Catherine continued with L A Weight Loss, as the one-on-one counseling and accountability kept her committed to her weight loss goals. She never felt like quitting because the counselors helped her through her trouble spots.

The weight loss counselors taught her how to eat regular food while losing weight. She learned to love vegetables and salads, and soon left the carbs behind.

Her husband also motivated her. She loved his looks of admiration as the pounds melted away.

The time seemed to fly by for Catherine, and in 12 months, she lost 104 pounds with L A Weight Loss! She's now at 161 pounds, and feels like a new woman. She can play with her kids, and walks faster than they can!

She can also buy more form-fitting clothes, and loves wearing bright colors to show off her new figure. And she has no back aches!

Catherine's success has filtered through the family. Her mom is now on maintenance, and her dad is six pounds away from his goal. During the course of her program, Catherine motivated her husband, sister-in-law, niece, and two of her three children to join. Talk about a family affair!

Congrats, Catherine on your winning hand! Keep up the great work!

Here's Catherine before, at 265 pounds:



And here's the new Catherine, fabulously fit at 161! Way to go, Catherine!



FAST FACTS

Name: Catherine Brockman
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
Age: 43
Height: 5'7"

Starting weight: 265 pounds
Goal weight: 158 pounds
Current weight: 161 pounds
Program start date: May 7, 2006

Favorite food: Green beans and sirloin steak.

Biggest temptation: Cheese and popcorn.

Biggest motivator: Getting support from her husband, and congratulations from her doctor.

Biggest obstacle: Being overconfident and thinking she doesn't have to follow the program so strictly.

Old eating philosophy: Consuming anything around.

New eating philosophy: Eating in moderation and smaller portion sizes.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling and looking great.

Best weight loss secret learned: Weigh in and talk to the counselors every three days to gain accountability.

For Indiana's Bobbi Fields, new habits die hard

Talk about a monkey on your back. That's what Bobbi Fields' weight problem was like, literally. Carrying 236 pounds put a lot of stress on her back, and led to surgery in 2000.

After the operation, she still had back problems (!), and bad charlie horses in her legs. Doctors told Bobbi she had to lose weight. But her cravings for chocolate and sweets always won out.

Then she tried L A Weight Loss. She says the L A Weight Loss program, and her counselor, Amy Kazwell, gave her the support and guidance she needed to lose 104 pounds.

That was four years ago. Today, Bobbi still uses the lessons she learned from L A Weight Loss to eat properly, pay attention to her portions and nutrients, and keep the weight off.

Today Bobbi's no longer the shy and quiet person who disliked shopping and wearing bathing suits. She's outgoing and enthusiatic about life. She loves taking her kids to amusement parks, knowing she won't have a problem fitting into seats.

Bobbi feels like a better mom and a better person, and owes it all to believing in herself. Way to go, Bobbi!

Here's Bobbi before, at 236 pounds:



And the beautiful 132-pound Bobbi now! AMAZING! Doesn't she look 10 years younger??



FAST FACTS

Name: Bobbi Fields
Hometown: Montgomery, Ind.
Age: 36

Starting weight: 236 pounds
Goal weight: 132 pounds
Current weight: 132 pounds
Program start date: January 2002

Favorite food: Fruit.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Gaining more energy as the weight came off.

Old eating philosophy: Chocolate, candy, and sweets.

New eating philosophy: Correct portions of meats, fruits, and veggies.

Best thing about losing weight: Being able to bounce out of bed at 5 a.m., ready to take on the day.

Best weight loss secret learned: It's all about attitude. If you believe you can't lose weight, you won't. But if you believe you can, you'll do it!