Louisiana woman makes family history by breaking it

There's no question that obesity can run in families. Unfortunately for Courtney Dawson, her family was one of them.

Weight was an issue for Courtney's family for generations -- and the genes didn't skip her. All of the extra helpings of fried food and soda didn't help. By age 12, she tipped the scales at a whopping 180 pounds.

Being young and overweight wasn't easy. Classmates in her 6th grade class teased her when she couldn't fit in her desk. Boys told her she was pretty, but too heavy to date.

Nevertheless, Courtney learned to live with her weight, and continued her bad eating habits into adulthood. After giving birth to her second child, Kaleb, she tipped the scales at 334 pounds.

Courtney's blood pressure was through the roof. Doctors were concerned, and told her she needed to go on medication to lower it if she didn't lose weight immediately.

Motivated by the threat of medication, Courtney decided to lose weight on her own by exercising. She shed some pounds, but reached a plateau. She realized she couldn't do it alone.

So in May 2006, she joined her local Bossier City Louisiana L A Weight Loss center with her mother, who was also suffering from obesity and high blood pressure.

Courtney was paired up with a one-on-one weight loss counselor, and learned how make her diet as healthy as possible. She added fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and water, and cut out many fried foods. She also learned the importance of portion control.

Courtney supplemented her weight loss by walking almost every day for 45 minutes at a local park, while her kids played at the playground. She also joined a gym where she took step aerobics classes and pilates, and did an hour of cardio a day, six times a week.

Now Courtney weighs 168 pounds -- half her size! The 31-year-old no longer suffers from high blood pressure or exhaustion. She can fit comfortably in movie theater seats and restaurant booths, and has energy to play with her kids in the park.

She is also shopping for her new size-10 figure, and glows from the inside out with pride of her accomplishment! She hopes she can start a new chapter in her family history -- one with healthy and slim figures! Great job, Courtney!

Here's Courtney at 334 pounds before she joined L A Weight Loss:



And here she is today, at a stunning 168 pounds. Looking great, Courtney!



FAST FACTS

Name: Courtney Dawson
Hometown: Princeton, La.
Age: 31
Height: 5'8"

Starting weight: 334 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 168 pounds
Program start date: May 2006

Favorite food: Cheeseburgers.

Biggest temptation: Fried foods.

Biggest motivator: Getting healthy.

Biggest obstacle: Resisting old eating habits.

Old eating philosophy: Eating out all the time, and feasting on fried and fast foods.

New eating philosophy: Preparing well-balanced meals at home.

Best thing about losing weight: Looking great and feeling even better.

Best weight loss secret learned: Portion control is everything.

Marina Vozarik beats her bullies

Getting bullied is one of childhood's worst experiences. Now imagine feeling that pain 24/7. This was Marina Vozarik's life for 35 years.

Marina was lonely growing up. She was an only child, with few friends. Her father passed away from a heart attack when she was five, and her mother went back to work when Marina was eight. She was often home alone, and had to care for herself.

The constant teasing by Marina's classmates, especially boys, only worsened her childhood. She turned to food for comfort.

Then she hit adolescence, which further fueled her weight gain. Marina reached 190 pounds by age 16. Her doctor put her on a strict diet of only 420 calories a day. Marina lost 35 pounds, but cheated, and gained it back.

Throughout adulthood, Marina still felt the pain of being bullied and rejected. People gave her mean looks because she was overweight. Her self-confidence dwindled.

She tried to lose weight on her own, but as a chronic stress eater, she only got bigger. Soon, Marina topped out at 336 pounds.

Her health was in jeopardy. Her blood pressure and cholesterol were high, and her thyroid was irregular. She had trouble sleeping, experienced severe knee pain, and felt exhausted all the time.

Those close to Marina told her that her life was spiraling out of control, and she had to do something about it. But no one really believed she could lose weight. That sparked her desire to prove them wrong. So she turned to L A Weight Loss.

There, the personal weight loss counselors taught her portion control, and how to avoid food when she felt depressed. Marina never felt like she had to cheat while on the L A Weight Loss program. She could still eat healthier versions of her favorite foods in the right portions.

The counselors were her cheerleaders, supporting her throughout her weight loss journey. She also did water aerobics and walked around her neighborhood to enhance her weight loss regimen.

Marina quickly started shedding pounds. Then her mother passed away of a massive heart attack. Not wanting to experience the same fate, Marina became even more determined to reach her weight loss goals.

The determination paid off. Today Marina is 166 pounds thinner, clocking in at 175 pounds! That's nearly half her weight!

Her blood pressure, cholesterol, and thyroid are now normal. She can sleep through the night comfortably, and has no knee pain. Plus, she can buy normal-sized clothing without getting nasty looks from other shoppers.

Best of all, Marina is finally social. She feels good about herself -- no longer the brunt of cruel jokes. She's confident in her appearance, and likes to go swimming in her community pool.

She certainly proved everyone wrong! As she says, "L A Weight Loss is not a diet -- it's a life-altering experience!"

Big congrats, Marina! You deserve it!

This is Marina before at 336 pounds:



And look at her transformation! She's all smiles at 175 pounds. Way to go, Marina!



FAST FACTS

Name: Marina Vozarik
Hometown: Alpharetta, Ga.
Age: 39
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 336 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 175 pounds
Program start date: January 2003

Favorite food: Roasted pork with cabbage and bread dumplings.

Biggest temptation: Her mother's cooking.

Biggest motivator: Her parents' health history.

Biggest obstacle: Avoiding food when stressed.

Old eating philosophy: Reaching for food for comfort.

New eating philosophy: Eating in moderation, and not sneaking unhealthy foods.

Best thing about losing weight: Being able to see a bright future.

Best weight loss secret learned: Follow portion control!