Theresa Painter becomes the picture of health

Many mothers see the birth of a baby as the perfect motivation to lose weight and get healthy for the sake of their children. For Theresa Painter, that motivation came a little bit later, in the form of her first-born grandson.

Theresa was overweight her entire life. She struggled with her weight growing up, and her bad eating habits kept her weight high as an adult. She constantly snacked throughout the day, and meals usually consisted of heavy pastas, greasy pizzas, and anything fried.

When Theresa's husband lost weight after a bad case of food poisoning, Theresa ate with him as he tried to rebuild his figure. Unfortunately for her, that meant a lot of cakes, pies, and fatty foods. It's not surprising that her husband wasn't the only one putting on the pounds.

Being overweight left Theresa physically and emotionally drained. She hated that she had let herself go, and she struggled with daily activities. Her back and knees were constantly aching from the extra weight. Theresa tried dieting, but couldn't shed any weight.

When her first grandchild was born, Theresa was determined to get healthy for good. She knew if she didn't get healthy then, she never would. In July 2007, Theresa joined her local Knoxville, Tenn., L A Weight Loss center.

With help from her one-on-one weight loss counselors, Theresa learned how eating right could transform her life. Her counselors helped her change her diet from heavy to healthy. She cut back on the carbs, thick sauces, and greasy dishes, and replaced them with grilled meats, stir fry, and fresh fruits and vegetables.

Theresa learned the importance of portion control, and broke her diet down to three meals and three snacks each day. Whenever she was hungry between meals, Theresa found L A Lite bars hit the spot.

It wasn't long before the weight starting melting away. After exactly one year on the program, Theresa has lost 108 pounds, and currently weighs 171 pounds. She's only 21 pounds away from her weight loss goal of 151 pounds!

Theresa has found that everyday activities are so much easier with a smaller body. Even chores are more enjoyable. Theresa has fun shopping, and loves all the new styles and sizes that are available to her now. And she's able to devote at least 30 minutes each day to new exercises, such as dance videos.

Even better, she feels great about herself, physically and mentally. Theresa's confidence has increased, and she feels like she can do anything. And now, she knows she'll be around for her grandkids. She loves taking them on walks and playing with them at the park.

Way to go, Theresa!

Here's a 279-pound Theresa with her first grandson in 2007:



And here she is today at 171 pounds with her second grandchild. What a difference! Great job, Theresa!



FAST FACTS

Name: Theresa Painter
Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
Age: 49
Height: 5'0"

Starting weight: 279 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 171 pounds
Program start date: July 2007

Favorite food: Vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Pizza.

Biggest motivator: Staying healthy for her grandchildren.

Biggest obstacle: Eating well when her husband doesn't.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever, whenever.

New eating philosophy: Focusing on herself and making wise decisions.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better and happier.

Best weight loss secret learned: It's all about portion control!

Becky Hallstrom finds herself the perfect pair

Certain things go together. Tables and chairs. Razors and shaving cream. And for Becky Hallstrom, TV and junk food.

Growing up, Becky constantly parked herself in front of the TV, nibbling on snacks for hours at a time. This sedentary childhood led to an overweight adulthood, barring a brief period when she was able to slim down.

However, it wasn't long before Becky's weight began creeping back up. Her old eating habits never truly died, and Becky found herself dining on fried and fatty foods more frequently.

Soon, Becky was tipping the scales at 278 pounds. Her weight slowed her down and made her short of breath. She couldn't keep up with her three kids. Becky felt depressed too, and though she was on anti-depressants, nothing made her happy about her weight.

This led Becky to avoid mirrors and scales -- a habit that caught up with her when she saw pictures of herself on vacation, and was shocked by her size. But she reached her breaking point when a man approached her in the grocery store and mistook her for his sister, who was "big, just like you."

Becky tried countless diets, yet nothing taught her how to eat healthy foods properly. She needed a realistic plan to teach her accountability, and enable her to lose weight and keep it off for life.

When Becky discovered L A Weight Loss in December 2005, it seemed different than the fad diets she had tried. So she joined her local Forest Lake, Minn., center to give it her best shot.

There, she was paired with a personal weight loss counselor who taught her everything she needed to know about a healthy diet. Out were the deep fried dinners and high calorie snacks in front of the TV. In were lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.

Most importantly, Becky learned about portion control. She put an end to eating until she felt sick, and learned how to say no when she became comfortably full. Becky was surprised at how much better this made her feel.

Since beginning her weight loss program, Becky has dropped 108 pounds! She can now shop in any store for cute clothes. And while getting dressed used to be a chore, Becky now finds picking out new clothes each morning is fun again.

Her waistline isn't the only thing that's changed. Her relationships with everyone in her life have improved, and she feels like she can handle any problem.

Plus, Becky's energy level is way up -- so high, in fact, that she ran two marathons this past summer! And she's completely off the anti-depressants, making her feel like she's finally the happy person she was meant to be.

Best of all, Becky's success has inspired her mom and a few friends to join L A Weight Loss too. That's team work, ladies!

Now if you ask Becky about things that go together, she'll say weight loss and happiness. Way to go, Becky!

Here's Becky at 278 pounds in 2005:



Here she is today, looking fit and fantastic at 170 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Becky Hallstrom
Hometown: Mora, Minn.
Age: 37
Height: 5'8"

Starting weight: 278 pounds
Goal weight: 170 pounds
Current weight: 170 pounds
Program start date: December 2005

Favorite food: Seafood.

Biggest temptation: Cheesecake.

Biggest motivator: Going to weekly meetings.

Biggest obstacle: Not eating while watching TV.

Old eating philosophy: Comforting herself with food.

New eating philosophy: Being kinder to herself, and choosing healthy foods.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling good about herself.

Best weight loss secret learned: Endorphins from exercise are addicting.

Iere Collins falls off the weight gain wagon

Growing up is difficult enough without tacking on sudden weight gain in the middle of adolescence, and things certainly don't get easier. Just ask Iere-Anne Collins.

Weight was a problem for her during most of her life. When she was 12 years old, she had a tumor removed from one of her ovaries. The drastic physical change made her gain 40 pounds following surgery.

From there, it only got worse. Her family, most of whom were also overweight, didn't encourage healthy eating habits. Instead, fast food, fried food, and take-out were daily staples of Iere's diet. She ate too many carbohydrates, drank too much soda, and rarely incorporated fruits and vegetables into her meals.

The more weight Iere gained, the more depressed she became. And the more depressed she became, the more she ate. Iere was caught in a vicious weight-gain cycle that continued into her twenties.

Iere's weight exacerbated her asthma, and walking up the steps was difficult. She suffered from high blood pressure, joint pain, and two herniated discs in her back. Her weight also put her at risk for diabetes, which runs in her family.

Then Iere moved to Indiana for college, where she landed in the hospital multiple times for shortness of breath and overheating. She was carrying too much weight for her lungs to bear.

The last time Iere was released from the hospital, she decided she wasn't going to live that way any more. She tried a number of diets, but nothing worked. Finally, in February 2005, she joined her local Winnepeg, Manitoba, L A Weight Loss Center.

Iere was paired with a personal weight loss counselor who helped her make adjust her diet. She split her three large meals into six smaller meals daily. She increased her intake of fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and water, and cut out her fried food affinity. And she learned the most important weight loss tip of all: portion control.

Since joining L A Weight Loss, Iere has dropped 108 pounds! At 171 pounds, she's only six pounds away from her weight loss goal of 165 pounds.

Iere's entire life has changed. Almost all of her medical problems have subsided. She can now do things she never could before, such as running and working out at the gym. And she has plenty of energy to take care of her one-year-old son.

Iere's self-esteem has dramatically increased too. Now she loves herself inside and out. She enjoys shopping, and can fit into cute clothes she would have never dreamed of wearing two years ago.

Iere's weight loss success story inspired her aunt to join L A Weight Loss too. Way to go, Iere! We're proud of you, and best of luck to your aunt!

Here's Iere at 279 pounds:



And here she is today, looking great at 171 pounds. Great job, Iere!



FAST FACTS

Name: Iere-Anne Collins
Hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Age: 24
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 279 pounds
Goal weight: 165 pounds
Current weight: 171 pounds
Program start date: February 2005

Favorite food: Chocolate.

Biggest temptation: Asian food.

Biggest motivator: Staying active for her one-year-old son.

Biggest obstacle: Resisting the temptation to get take-out.

Old eating philosophy: Eating for emotional comfort.

New eating philosophy: Eating as healthy as possible because you are what you eat.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling free.

Best weight loss secret learned: Break up your meals into more frequent, smaller portions.

Shannon Klaas shows it's possible to beat the stereotype

As if physical problems weren't enough, overweight people often battle stereotypes, too. Some common misconceptions: They're heavy because they're lazy, they eat too much fast food, or they don't understand nutrition.

Shannon Klaas had struggled with her weight since adolescence, and was all too familiar with the assumptions that came with it. Throughout her teens and 20s, she steadily packed on the pounds, and weighed 275 pounds by age 26.

For Shannon, the worst part about being overweight was how others treated her. She noticed people staring when she was out in public, and their gazes made her feel unhealthy. Shannon wasn't lazy, but she knew others believed she was judging by their reactions to her.

To make matters worse, Shannon's extra weight gave her joint pain which kept her from exercising. Then a back injury put her out of work, making her even more sedentary.

The breaking point came when Shannon traveled to Disney World in July 2005, and had to ask for a seat belt extension on the plane. Her shame only grew when she was too overweight to fit on many of the park's rides. Then and there, Shannon knew she needed to change her life.

She tried a number of diet programs, but Shannon never felt committed or accountable on any of them. Then, in April 2006, a friend gave Shannon an L A Lite bar to snack on. She liked it so much, she immediately went down to her local L A Weight Loss center in Twin Falls, Idaho, and signed up!

Shannon discovered that the L A Weight Loss plan was easy to follow. With the help of her personal counselor, she added lots of fruit, vegetables, and lean meats to her diet, and cut out fatty foods. Shannon also cooked yummy meals from her L A Weight Loss cookbook, and loved indulging in L A Lite bars and powdered smoothies.

Since starting her L A Weight Loss program, Shannon lost 108 pounds! Now Shannon loves her new-found energy. She is more active than ever before, and enjoys riding her bike, walking on the treadmill, and playing with her nieces.

Plus, Shannon's outlook on life is more positive, and her outgoing personality has changed the relationships with everyone around her. Shannon's weight loss even inspired her dad and her friends to start eating healthier and leading more active lives.

Best of all, Shannon knows she will never have to face those old overweight stereotypes from others again. And since Shannon has been hired as an L A Weight Loss counselor, she'll be changing lives every day, the same way she changed her own.

We're proud of you, Shannon!

Here's Shannon (and Mickey) at her heaviest:



And here she is now, looking unbelievable at 167 pounds!



FAST FACTS

Name: Shannon Klaas
Hometown: Jerome, Idaho
Age: 27
Height: 5'8"

Starting weight: 275 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds
Current weight: 167 pounds
Program start date: April 2006

Favorite food: Mexican.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Being free of health problems.

Biggest obstacle: Hitting plateaus.

Old eating philosophy: Piling her plate with food, and eating more, even if when she wasn't hungry.

New eating philosophy: Knowing that she doesn't have to finish her plate, and saving what she doesn't eat.

Best thing about losing weight: Gaining back the self-confidence that she lost, being healthy and active, and spending more time with family and friends.

Best weight loss secret learned: Learn how to eat and be active.

Barry Ojers gets a new body -- and a new car!

The turning point for Barry Ojers came when he was in the waiting room of a gastric bypass clinic. He was already worried about the surgery's risks. Then he looked around and realized that, at 356 pounds, he was the smallest one in the room -- and the only one not dependent on oxygen or other breathing equipment.

When he talked to his doctor about canceling the surgery, he got another reality check: His doctor said it didn't matter either way. The risks of dying from the surgery were the same as those stemming from his continued obesity.

Barry decided to take his chances, and canceled the surgery. Then he found out that his brother-in-law, age 39, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS). Barry felt helpless, and kept wishing there was a way they could switch bodies. That's when it hit him. His brother-in-law had no way to fix his disease, but Barry had a healthy body that he was slowly destroying.

Barry turned to L A Weight Loss. After he lost seven pounds in the first week, he decided to put all of his effort into sticking with the plan established by his personal counselor. He cut out sweets and desserts, and started walking 45 minutes a day, which eventually turned into running.

Now, seven months later, Barry's dropped 108 pounds! He's active with his wife and kids (he ran a 5k at his kids' school), and isn't embarrassed to take off his shirt at the beach. But the biggest change is his new ride: Barry rewarded himself with a brand new sports car to complete his transformation!

Here's Barry before, sputtering out at 356 pounds:



Here he is after, with a high-performance car to match his energetic 248-pound body. Now he can take off on the road -- and on his waistline!



FAST FACTS

Name: Barry Ojers
Hometown: Reno, Nev.
Age: 44
Height: 6'1"

Starting weight: 356 pounds
Current weight: 248 pounds
Program start date: July 2006

Biggest temptation: Sweets and desserts.

Biggest motivator: Avoiding gastric bypass surgery.

Biggest obstacle: Getting past people's perceptions. When Barry started running, younger guys on the street would yell, "Give it up, fatso!" He eventually bought an iPod to use when running, so he could drown out teasing or nasty remarks.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever he wanted, without much thought.

New eating philosophy: Proper portion sizes and the right balance of proteins, carbs, fiber, fruits, and vegetables.

Best thing about losing weight: There's less of an effort to do everyday things, like putting on his socks and tying his shoes.

Best weight loss secret learned: The L A Weight Loss plan is simple. Stick with it and exercise, and the weight will come off.

Virginia Owens Justice nets a new husband -- and a job with L A Weight Loss

When she was heavy, Virgina Justice wouldn’t wear dresses above her knees. She told me her clothes looked terrible and made her feel old. But she went from being seriously overweight to being hired as a counselor at L A Weight Loss. That’s success, don’t you think?

Virginia got married in October. She’s 30, and lives in Tennessee. She’s a long-term success story, on maintenance for five years. Even in her early 20’s, her 240 lbs. was a serious health risk (considering she's only 5’5”). Today she weighs 132 -- down 108 lbs. on her way to her goal of 115 lbs.

Virginia says her entire family is overweight. They’ve had strokes and heart attacks. She had high cholesterol, was a borderline diabetic, and had high blood pressure. She knew she was making bad food choices, but couldn’t help herself.

One-on-one counseling helped her get control. Before, she had never exercised a day in her life. Now, she walks three or four times a week, and has more energy than ever before! Great job, Virginia.

Here's Virginia at 240 pounds:



And after, 108 pounds lighter: