Camille and Brady Orchard grow thin together

Camille and Brady Orchard took two different paths to get there, but the Idaho Falls, Idaho, couple both wound up in the same unhealthy place -- obesity.

For Camille, weight problems began when she had the first of the couple's four children. She gained 60 pounds with their first child, and a little bit more with each one after that. Eventually, her weight ballooned to 203 pounds.

Even more frustrating for Camille -- her entire family was thin. Camille had tried dieting in the past, even taking dangerous medications, but she never learned how to make a clean break from her unhealthy eating habits.

Brady gained weight consistently through college. When he graduated, he was up to 240 pounds. Brady's first job kept him in the office, stuck behind a computer for long hours. When he had time to eat, it was usually soda, candy, and other junk food.

Brady was heavy, but didn't know he had health problems until he was rejected for a blood drive. It turned out he was on the path to diabetes, and was forced to take a smorgasbord of prescription medications to control it.

The couple was spent. They couldn't stand being overweight any longer. They remembered something their friends had told them about: L A Weight Loss. They lost weight on the program, and were keeping it off.

So in February 2007, Camille and Brady went to their local Idaho Falls, Idaho, L A Weight Loss center and received one-on-one counseling to shed the pounds together. They learned about the healthy alternatives to their favorite foods, and how reducing portions sizes can reduce their clothes sizes, too.

Today, Brady and Camille have cut out the fast food, and grill or cook with the crock pot instead of frying. They're also drinking more water than ever before.

Brady's not a big vegetable guy, but he's working more greens into every portion. Breakfasts are filled with yogurt, pineapple, cottage cheese, and sometimes a protein bar for balance.

But Brady and Camille haven't changed just their diet. They're boosting their heart rates with consistent exercise. Camille is hitting the treadmill four to five days a week, and also works in crunches and bicep curls. Brady likes the bike better, and peddles 45 minutes, five days a week.

All the hard work is paying off for the Orchards. Brady's lost 81 pounds so far, and currently weighs 199 pounds. Camille has dropped 56, now weighing 147 pounds. Both have surpassed their goal weights. And while the couple's weight is steadily going down, their self confidence is soaring.

Camille says she's no longer embarrassed to play with her kids on the playground, or take them swimming. She loves buying new clothes to fit her new figure. Brady's off all of his medications and got a new job, which reduced his stress level quite a bit.

Best of all, the couple feels happier together now that they're 137 pounds lighter. The lessons they've learned with L A Weight Loss will stay with them forever, and the couple is setting a healthier example for their kids. Congrats, you two!

Here's Camille at 203 pounds:



And here she is today, at 147 pounds:



Here's Brady at his old 280 pounds:



And here he is is today at 199 pounds. Wow, looking great, guys!



FAST FACTS

Name: Camille Orchard
Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Age: 34
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 203 pounds
Goal weight: 148 pounds
Current weight: 147 pounds
Program start date: February 2007

Favorite food: Tilapia and Halibut.

Biggest temptation: Eating chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Weighing in three times a week, and getting support from her husband.

Biggest obstacle: Making time for exercise and the kids.

Old eating philosophy: Living to eat.

New eating philosophy: Eating to live.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling more confident and happy.

Best weight loss secret learned: Sugar-free Jell-o and two tablespoons of fat-free Cool Whip is a great, no-guilt snack.



Name: Brady Orchard
Hometown: Idaho Falls, Idaho
Age: 34
Height: 5'11"

Starting weight: 280 pounds
Goal weight: 210 pounds
Current weight: 199 pounds
Program start date: February 2007

Favorite food: Mexican food.

Biggest temptation: Chops and salt.

Biggest motivator: Getting healthier every week with Camille by his side.

Biggest obstacle: Having snacks around.

Old eating philosophy: Satisfying his appetite immediately.

New eating philosophy: Thinking before he eats.

Best thing about losing weight: Knowing that he's added years to his life.

Best weight loss secret learned: It's all about the right portion sizes.

A lifetime of weight gain, one year to take it off

Whether she was happy, sad, angry, or just plain bored, Louise Elske turned to food to comfort her emotions. In a letter she wrote to my colleague Katie, she describes how this emotional eating contributed to her lifelong weight battle.

She was wearing "chubby clothes" at 10 years old. She had her wedding dress custom made because she couldn't find larger sizes at bridal shops. And she was on high blood pressure medication.

Louise did something about her weight when she hit 294 pounds at age 30. She lost 115 pounds, then spent the next 17 years putting back on the pounds -- plus 20 more.

Then in May 2005, Louise, 57, joined her best friend on a trip to the L A Weight Loss Center in Madison, Wis. By the time she left the center, Louise had committed herself to losing 50 pounds in 25 weeks.

And commit she did. Louise wrote down everything she ate, and measured all her food to ensure proper portions. When she got her weight under 200 pounds, her doctor started weaning her off her blood pressure medication. She also started exercising three times a week.

She also learned to expand her love for food to include healthier choices, such as chicken, fruits, and vegetables.

When she hit her initial goal of losing 50 pounds, Louise kept going. After 12 months on the program, she had dropped 137 pounds!

Louise has now maintained her slender 177-pound figure for a year, and even inspired her two sons to join L A Weight Loss, too. They've lost a combined 88 pounds on the program so far.

That's Louise on the far right at 314 pounds:



And look at her now at 160 pounds!



FAST FACTS

Name: Louise Elske
Hometown: Columbus, Wis.
Age: 59

Starting weight: 314 pounds
Goal weight: 141 pounds
Current weight: 177 pounds
Program start date: May 2005

Favorite food: Chicken.

Biggest temptation: Sweets such as cheesecake.

Biggest motivator: Doing the program alongside her best friend.

Biggest obstacle: Learning to take things one day at a time.

Old eating philosophy: Eating fast food, big plates of pasta, and sweets to feed her emotions.

New eating philosophy: Controlling her portion sizes, reading labels, and filling her grocery cart with fruits and vegetables. When she entertains, she uses recipes from L A Weight Loss cookbooks.

Best thing about losing weight: Crossing her legs and fitting comfortably in restaurant booths.

Best weight loss secret learned: Giving away all your "big" clothes is a great motivator.