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.

"Queen of Sweets" gives her health the royal treatment

Sweets are a common temptation for many people struggling to lose weight. But they were more than that for Margaret Mondragon, as she gorged on cookies and ice cream daily.

She called herself the "Queen of Sweets," but it was really the cakes and cookies that were in control -- until she found the way to defeat the enemy.

Margaret had a petite, 5'2", 97-pound frame as a teenager growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas. Then she had her first daughter, Monica, at age 17. Her weight crept up a little. She went from a size 16 girls before pregnancy, to a size 13 juniors afterward.

Margaret had her second daughter Amanda five years later. Then, four months after she gave birth, her doctor discovered her colon was lined with millions of polyps. If Margaret didn't have surgery right away, she wouldn't live to see 30.

She was rushed into surgery, and had her colon removed. But it was such a shock for her body that her thyroid became inactive. Her metabolism dropped, and over the years, the pounds came on.

Her intense cravings for sweets didn't help matters. She considered her daily intake of cookies, cakes, donuts, and ice cream one of her food groups. Margaret also developed arthritis in her knees, and just wanted to sleep all the time.

Then one day last year, Margaret stepped on her scale. She was shocked when it read 250 pounds. She was bigger than her husband!

She had heard about L A Weight Loss's one-on-one counseling and real-food eating, and thought she'd give it a try.

Margaret joined the San Antonio center, and worked with her personal weight loss counselor, Michelle, to transform her eating habits. She still has a "sweet" food group, but now it includes fresh fruits and no cookies or cakes. She also drinks at least 64 oz. of water daily.

All told, Margaret lost 111 pounds, and is now down to 139 pounds. She weighs less than her husband again, and she's showing it off!

You can find her running 5k's (her fastest time is 37 minutes and 51 seconds for "Race for the Cure"), and playing basketball and soccer with her 11-year-old grandson Andrew.

Plus, her arthritis is gone, and her metabolism has increased. Margaret also motivated three friends to join L A Weight Loss, and get their health back on track. This queen really has conquered it all! Congrats, Margaret!

UPDATES: Margaret's husband recently bought a motorcycle and the couple enjoys riding it together. He refers to her as his "teenage-college wife" -- which Margaret loves!

Margaret also just ran in the Beach-to-Bay Relay Marathon in Corpus Christi, and finished her 4-mile leg in 51 minutes and 47 seconds without skipping a breath. She says she owes her accomplishment all to L A Weight Loss. She's already created a team for next year’s race!

This is Margaret before, at 250 pounds:



And this is the new Margaret, regal at 139 pounds. WOW! Great job, Margaret!



FAST FACTS

Name: Margaret Mondragon
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 49
Height: 5'2"

Starting weight: 250 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 139 pounds
Program start date: Jan. 18, 2006

Favorite food: Seafood.

Biggest temptation: Sweets.

Biggest motivator: Watching the pounds come off each week when she weighed in.

Biggest obstacle: Overcoming cravings for sweets, and fighting hypothyroidism.

Old eating philosophy: Consuming lots of cookies, cakes, ice cream, and soda.

New eating philosophy: Incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and water into her diet.

Best thing about losing weight: Weighing less than her husband.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can lose weight by replacing cookies and cakes with fruits. They're sweet like candy without the calories.