Joann Westfall wins big with a big loss

In the midst of March Madness, one word on every fan's mind is "win." But the only thing Joann Westfall can think about is losing -- weight, that is.

Until recently, weight was a serious issue for Joann. She was constantly yo-yoing, and never content with her looks. But she wasn't alone. Joann's entire family was overweight as well.

At 293 pounds, Joann knew she needed to lose weight. None of her clothes fit properly, and even sitting and lying were uncomfortable. Joann's blood pressure was through the roof, her knees and back were aching, and she was constantly catching her breath.

She tried every fad diet on the market, but nothing worked. But in 2006, she noticed a friend from church literally shrinking each week. When Joann discovered her friend was following the L A Weight Loss program, she decided to give it a try.

Joann joined her local Charlotte, N.C., L A Weight Loss center in September 2006, hopeful that this would be the plan for her.

Each week, Joann worked with her one-on-one weight loss counselor, who helped her transform her diet from hefty to healthy. She realized practically nothing she was eating had nutritional benefits.

Joann cut back on candy, baked goods, and salty snacks. And instead of quick-fix grabs, she began planning her meals and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables.

She also reduced her intake of red meat, while increasing her consumption of lean meats, such as chicken and turkey. Joann was always sure to drink the right amount of water each day.

With this recipe for success, it's no wonder Joann's weight started to drop. Once it did, she found she had the energy and the stamina to exercise, which helped her shed weight faster and tone up.

After 18 months on the program, Joann lost 109 pounds. Wow! Today she weighs 184 pounds, and is getting close to her goal of 150 pounds.

Since losing weight, Joann is enjoying so many things that had been tedious before, such as shopping for new clothes. She likes exercising, and is much more social.

At her new weight, Joann is able to make the most of every day. She can't wait to go to the pool this year in a cute new bathing suit.

Best of all, Joann feels like a weight was lifted from her shoulders -- physically and emotionally. Her health problems have been resolved, and she's no longer worried about the effects of obesity on her health. Way to go, Joann! Keep up to good work!

Here's Joann in 2006 at 293 pounds:



And here she is today at a healthy and happy 184 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Joann Westbrook
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Age: 50
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 293 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 184 pounds
Program start date: September 2006

Favorite food: Sushi.

Biggest temptation: Carbs.

Biggest motivator: Keeping a "before" photo of herself on her refrigerator.

Biggest obstacle: Going out with friends and not being able to eat what they're having.

Old eating philosophy: Eating anything and everything.

New eating philosophy: Choosing fresh fruits and vegetables every day.

Best thing about losing weight: Watching herself shrink.

Best weight loss secret learned: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Husband and wife pair up for double the weight loss

A marriage bonds two people together for better or for worse, in sickness and in health. When Christa and Justin Erp said their vows, they had no idea they'd stick so closely to those words by becoming inspirations for each other and models of good health.

Christa and Justin had been overweight since childhood. Their bad eating habits and fast food fixes followed them into adulthood, and so did the extra pounds. After their wedding in 2003, their bad eating habits combined, and they each gained an additional 30 pounds.

They rarely cooked meals at home. Most dinners were eaten at Mexican, pizza, and burger joints. And everything was smothered in calorie-laden sauces and dressings. Even their drinks were high in calories.

By 2005, Christa weighed 267 pounds. Justin weighed 408 pounds. Their weight made it difficult to be active, so nights out usually didn't extend much farther than their local movie theater. They couldn't shop at regular stores, settling instead for less stylish garb at stores that carried their sizes.

On Jan. 1, 2006, Christa and Justin had enough. They went to their local Burnsville, Minn., L A Weight Loss center and signed up. They knew that this challenge would be easier as a team.

Christa and Justin worked with their personal weight loss counselor, who taught them the ins and outs of healthy living. They learned that dropping the pounds meant dropping most of their fast food habits.

Justin took over most of the cooking responsibilities, and prepared meals with lean meats and vegetables. Their grill was in use year-round. Snacks usually centered around fruit, and they drank plenty of water throughout the day.

When Christa and Justin went out to eat -- usually only one or two times a week -- they knew which smart choices to make to stick with their healthy lifestyle change. They still ate the foods they loved, but learned how to eat them in the proper portions.

In a year, Christa lost 109 pounds, and currently weighs 158 pounds. And Justin weighs 297 pounds, down 111 pounds from his starting weight. Since dropping the pounds, life has gotten much better for the weight loss duo.

They've become more active, enjoying everything from walking their dogs to working out at the gym. Their couch potato days are definitely behind them. They can also shop wherever they want, and don't have to worry about not fitting into clothes.

Christa and Justin have definitely taken every step to make sure they'll be together in health. Way to go, you two!

Here are the love birds at 267 and 408 pounds:



And here they are today, collectively 220 pounds lighter, at 158 and 297 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Christa Erp
Hometown: Burnsville, Minn.
Age: 30
Height: 5'9"

Starting weight: 267 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 158 pounds
Program start date: January 2006

Favorite food: Mexican.

Biggest temptation: Pizza and ice cream.

Biggest motivator: Trying on smaller sizes at the store after losing weight.

Biggest obstacle: Eating right when not eating at home.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever tasted good.

New eating philosophy: Making meals with grilled chicken, vegetables, and fruits.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling confident with who she is.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can eat your favorite foods and still lose weight.



Name: Justin Erp
Hometown: Burnsville, Minn.
Age: 29
Height: 6'2"

Starting weight: 408 pounds
Goal weight: 225 pounds
Current weight: 297 pounds
Program start date: January 2006

Favorite food: Grilled chicken.

Biggest temptation: Sweets.

Biggest motivator: Losing weight with Christa.

Biggest obstacle: Getting past plateaus.

Old eating philosophy: Eating too much of the wrong foods.

New eating philosophy: Eating everything in proper portions.

Best thing about losing weight: Knowing how much weight loss has changed his life.

Best weight loss secret learned: Fruit is a great snack that also helps you lose weight.

Update: Georgina Fowler surpasses her goal weight!

Last November we brought you heart-wrenching the story of Georgina Fowler, the Texas mom who beat thyroid cancer, then lost 98 pounds on the L A Weight Loss program.

Now Georgina has a new milestone to be proud of: Since November, she's dropped another 29 pounds, surpassing her goal weight by 9 pounds!!

She's now a stunning 148 pounds -- and still cancer-free. What an amazing and inspiring journey!

And here she is in the most recent picture she sent me, proudly showing off her 109-pound weight loss! WAY TO GO, GEORGINA!

FAST FACTS

Name: Georgina Fowler
Hometown: Weslaco, Texas
Age: 36
Height: 5'1"

Starting weight: 257 pounds
Goal weight: 157 pounds
Current weight: 148 pounds
Program start date: July 2005

Favorite food: Pizza.

Biggest temptation: Hitting the drive-thru.

Biggest motivator: Getting healthy so she will be around to see her kids grow up.

Biggest obstacle: Learning to be happy with herself.

Old eating philosophy: Eating one salad a week, and calling that a "healthy diet." She also had a daily diet of fast food meals.

New eating philosophy: Eating fruits and vegetables every day.

Best thing about losing weight: Having tons of energy, and buying smaller-sized clothes. Before, Georgina wore a size 3X. Today she wears a medium.

Best weight loss secret learned: Don't get discouraged! It might seem hard at first, but eventually all the pieces will come together.

Melissa Kellogg chronicles her yo-yo-dieting

Sometimes the stories I hear are so raw and real, they're best expressed by the storyteller. That's why I'm sharing a letter written by Melissa Kellogg, and e-mailed to me by Cheryl LeMar, manager of the L A Weight Loss Center in Evansville, Ind.

Melissa joined L A Weight Loss in the summer of 2005. This is her actual e-mail, in her own words, untouched by me. My only additions are Melissa's before and after photos, and Fast Facts. (Usually I post a PDF of the original letter, but all I have this time around is the e-mail text.)



Hi Cheryl,

I was tall and thin as a young girl, but because I was taller than the rest of my classmates, I always felt fat even though I wasn't. I was always self-conscious about being "big". After I married and had three children, I gradually added the pounds. I eventually lost those pounds, got divorced and gained again. Everytime I had a major life change, I would gain weight. As I got older, I married again and got heavy, then lost the weight again and divorced. I vowed never again for both, but guess what. I got married again, moved from the Evansville area and gained weight. This time I married my best friend and soulmate. It was a fairy tale romance and meeting. We met at my daughter's and son-in-law's wedding. He was my son-in-law's uncle. The nicest man you would ever want to meet. I lived in Evansville and he lived in Massachusetts. We had a long distance romance and married 8 months later. There were adjustments to the marriage-moving again, dealing with 2 step-children and teen-agers at that. . You guessed it, I again gained weight. Then lost some.

I felt like I was the luckiest person in the world. He was truly the love of my life. He loved life, was intelligent, fun and easy-going. Best of all, he loved to dance-one of my passions.

This fairy tale did not have a happy ending. He died suddenly of a heart attack on May 14, 1999 just 3 years after we met. I was devastated. I had a wonderful support group from the church, but I consoled myself with food. I again gained the weight. After my husband's passing, I had so many life changing decisions to make. Should I stay in Mass and stay in the job I loved or move back to Indiana to be closer to my children and grandchildren. I decided on the latter. I moved back in May of 2000 to Ft. Wayne, In. I transferred with my company. I bought a house and was just getting settled. But I was driving to Evansville every 2 weeks to see my children and grandson. Just a couple of months later, I was told my job was being eliminated. AGAIN, another major life change. I moved temporarily to Evansville and stayed with my daughter until I could decide if I wanted to hunt for work in Ft. Wayne or move back to Evansville. I moved. I got a new job, new house and was settled in Evansville again. However, the weight was still there. I would drop a few pounds and gain a few more. After 5 years of being heavy, I made a decision to try LA Weight Loss. I had decided to do this so I could be around to see my grandchildren grow up and to be able to enjoy doing things with them.
On June 1, 2005, I started the program and lost almost 90lbs by the end of January 2006. I am now at 109 lbs lost and feel incredible. I ran the other day for the first time in years. I am able to keep up with the grandkids and have such fun taking them to the park or playing putt- putt, baseball or bowling. I feel like a new woman and I am 55 years young. I say young because I haven't felt this young in years. With all the life changes and the weight, I felt much older than my years. I just recently went to Florida and went out on a wave runner (first time ever). The courage to do this is because I feel so self-confident.

The best part is I have bought all new clothes and I am dancing again. LA Weight Loss is wonderful. It has taught me how to eat right. I am so thrilled that I made that decision last year.

Melissa Kellogg



Here's Melissa before, at 271 pounds:



Look at her now! She looks AMAZING at 162 pounds!!



FAST FACTS

Name: Melissa Kellogg
Hometown: Evansville, Ind.
Age: 55

Starting weight: 271 pounds
Goal weight: 221 pounds
Current weight: 162 pounds
Program start date: June 1, 2005

Biggest temptation: Ice cream.

Biggest motivator: Ending the cycle of yo-yo dieting.

Old eating philosophy: Lots of sweets.

New eating philosophy: More lean meat proteins like chicken and fish.

Best thing about losing weight: Getting back to the things she enjoys, like country line dancing and long walks by the riverfront.

Best weight loss secret learned: Exercise is the key to losing weight and boosting your confidence.