No challenge too tough for Canadian mom

Life doesn't always follow a plan, but the difficult times are often the most inspirational.

Diane Dobson, for example, used brain surgery as the motivation to tackle her weight problem and win her life back.

She had been overweight her entire life. She tried every diet on the market, but nothing worked. Diane usually felt she was losing weight to please other people, and the scale dial bounced back and forth for years.

After giving birth to two children, her weight climbed to 315 pounds and stayed there for 15 years. Diane preferred water over soft drinks or juice. But heaping portions of bread, chocolate, pastries, and pasta always made their way to her plate.

And she often indulged in late-night binges and sugar-filled quick fixes. As her weight increased, her happiness decreased.

In her 30s and 40s, Diane began having seizures. When she got it checked out, her doctors found that a mass in her brain, which she had had her entire life, was a tumor. It was causing the seizures, and she needed surgery immediately to remove part of it.

Diane underwent the operation on April 11, 2006. She was awake during the procedure, as is common during brain surgeries. Fortunately, it was a success. And it also inspired her to tackle her weight problem.

With a renewed commitment to lose weight, Diane decided to not tell anyone about her plans to lose weight. She thought it would keep the pressure off her, so she could focus on her weight loss goal.

Diane heard about L A Weight Loss, and decided to try it. In May 2007, she joined her local Hamilton, Ontario, L A Weight Loss center. She met with a one-on-one weight loss counselor, who taught her how to eat smaller meals five times a day.

Diane made donuts and over-stuffed sandwiches history. Instead she dined on yogurt, rice, tuna, and plenty of healthy, low-fat chicken. If she wanted a snack, she grabbed some fruit.

Since joining L A Weight Loss, Diane has lost 136 pounds! She currently weighs 178 pounds, and is closer than ever to her weight loss goal of 160 pounds.

Diane's not just eating right, she's racking up the miles every day by walking. She's logging up to six hours, three to four days a week. When the Canadian winter thaws, Diane says she'll step it up to five or six days a week.

In the meantime, she's doing push ups, sit ups, and churning out 45 minutes on a stationary bike. She's definitely caught the workout bug.

Even though Diane had originally kept her weight loss a secret, when you lose 136 pounds, people take notice. Her confidence has grown enormously, and she feels like everyone finally notices her. Her new boyfriend certainly did! ;)

Best of all, Diane looks in the mirror every day and knows she looks good and feels great. Way to go, Diane! We're proud of you!

Here's Diane at 315 pounds:



Here's a happy and healthy Diane today at 178 pounds:



Fast Facts

Name: Diane Dobson
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
Age: 44
Height: 5'5"

Starting weight: 315 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 178 pounds
Program start date: May 15, 2007

Favorite food: Bread and pastries.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Surviving brain surgery.

Biggest obstacle: Making sure she ate three meals a day.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing down on pasta, bread, donuts, and chocolate candy bars.

New eating philosophy: Including plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling alive and living life to the fullest.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can eat five times a day and lose weight.

Fargo native forgoes flab for fab

Quitting smoking is great for your health, right? Of course it is -- although many turn to food as a replacement. But eating the wrong foods and gaining weight comes with its own set of health issues.

That's what happened to Marla Eggen of Fargo, N.D. Though Marla struggled with weight all her life, she packed on 75 extra pounds after she quit smoking, and hit a scale-tilting 325 pounds.

In the midst of this weight gain, Marla received two very different pieces of news: Her younger son was getting married within a year, and she was diagnosed with diabetes.

That was enough to convince her to get some help, and become the healthiest, fittest mother of the groom she could be.

Marla had tried every diet under the sun -- hypnosis, pills, even a sunflower-seed diet. She knew that this time around, she needed a well-balanced approach to weight loss.

On a coworker's recommendation, Marla decided to check out L A Weight Loss. She immediately liked the emphasis on real foods and gradual weight loss, plus the one-on-one support from her counselors Sue and Deb.

Under their guidance, Marla moved away from buying salty fried foods and drinking soda, and started eating fresh vegetables and fruits, and drinking water.

She also began exercising on her treadmill at home, going from only .15 miles to a full mile daily, six days a week. (Marla has noticed that the more weight she loses, the faster she walks, so she plans to ramp up the speed!)

Now, after losing 136 pounds (!!), Marla is not only lighter, but also more flexible. She can easily get in and out of the bathtub, tie her shoes, and stay energetic throughout the day.

Even better, she was able to stop her diabetes medication after losing 100 pounds! And best of all, she walked down the aisle at her son's wedding as a healthy woman. Marvelous job, Marla!

Check out Marla at 325 pounds before she joined the program ...



And behold the transformation! Here she is at 189 pounds. Great work, Marla!



FAST FACTS

Name: Marla Eggen
Hometown: West Fargo, N.D.
Age: 48
Height: 5’6”

Starting weight: 325 pounds
Goal weight: 140 pounds
Current weight: 192 pounds
Program start date: March 2005

Favorite food: Chicken.

Biggest temptation: Fried food.

Biggest motivator: Getting in shape before her son's wedding.

Biggest obstacle: Maintaining her commitment to the plan.

Old eating philosophy: Super-sizing everything, and picking up fast food for breakfast.

New eating philosophy: Choosing vegetables, fruit, chicken, and fish over breaded foods and soda.

Best thing about losing weight: Going off her diabetes medication entirely, and shopping for fashionable clothes in her new size!

Best weight loss secret learned: Watch your portion sizes, reduce your sodium intake, and drink a lot of water.