Minn. mom's New Year's resolution comes full circle

Now that Christmas is behind us, one thing on everyone's mind (besides paying credit card bills) is a New Year's resolution.

It's no surprise that the most common resolution is to shape up and lose weight. And if you ask Angie Vesey, that's the best commitment you can make to yourself.

Weight wasn't a problem for Angie until after she gave birth to her two children, and gained 30 pounds during each pregnancy. After that, her metabolism slowed, and her weight gain became a slippery slope.

Angie gradually put on pounds over the years, reaching 156 pounds by December 2006. After a number of failed New Year's resolutions to lose weight, the Minnesota mom decided 2007 would be the year she got serious, and carried out her plan to drop the pounds.

Angie looked into her options, and decided L A Weight Loss would fit perfectly into her life. She joined the Eagan, Minn., L A Weight Loss center in the first week of 2007.

There, Angie was paired with a one-on-one weight loss counselor who helped get her diet in check by adding more fruits, vegetables, and water. Angie also opted for lean meats and protein, instead of fattier red meats. Most importantly, she learned portion control.

It's been nearly a year since Angie joined L A Weight Loss, and she couldn't be happier. She's reached her goal weight of 131 pounds, shaving off a total of 25 pounds!

Since losing weight, Angie's energy has increased. She now enjoys swimming and biking to stay fit. And her new energy motivates her to improve her fitness routine by doing new activities.

Plus, Angie feels good in a two-piece bathing suit. Dressing up is now a treat, not a chore. Best of all, Angie feels great!! Her confidence is high, and she's no longer embarrassed about feeling heavy.

Way to go, Angie! What a difference a year makes!

Here's Angie one year ago at 156 pounds:



And here she is today, looking fantastic at 131 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Angie Vesey
Hometown: Apple Valley, Minn.
Age: 39
Height: 5'5"

Starting weight: 156 pounds
Goal weight: 131 pounds
Current weight: 131 pounds
Program start date: January 2007

Favorite food: Pizza.

Biggest temptation: Homemade chocolate chip cookies.

Biggest motivator: Slimming down for a trip to St. Thomas.

Biggest obstacle: Choosing the right foods when cooking and eating out.

Old eating philosophy: Wanting it, and eating it.

New eating philosophy: Thinking about what she's eating.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better and looking better.

Best weight loss secret learned: Pay attention to how your body reacts to different foods, eat throughout the day, and drink plenty of water.

Dedicated golfer scores a hole in one with weight loss

Golf is a game of patience, dedication, and technique -- the same qualities that help a person lose weight.

That's what Joni Dye will tell you. An avid golfer for the past 20 years, Joni barely noticed the pounds she started packing on in her early fifties.

So she was shocked when she saw a picture of herself in a bathing suit -- weighing 160 pounds -- from a vacation in Hawaii. That's when she knew she wanted to change her body and health.

Joni had tried dieting before on different programs, but had no success. Then she visited her local L A Weight Loss center in Madison, Wis., and discovered her ideal method for losing weight.

While Joni used to frequently dine on fast foods, fried chicken, and mozzarella sticks (her favorite snack), L A Weight Loss helped her reshape her diet to include less junk and more fresh produce.

Plus, with individual support from her personal L A Weight Loss counselor, she learned proper portion control. This let her still eat the foods she loved, while watching the pounds disappear.

Her results were certainly below par: Joni dropped from 160 pounds to 135 pounds in 12 weeks! And in the process, she rediscovered her youthful zest.

Joni now has the energy she needs to golf three times a week, and also act as president and treasurer for a local youth program called the Madison Metro Youth Golf Initiative. This unique program offers disadvantaged kids golf lessons from professional golfers, in addition to academic mentoring.

Best of all, Joni has learned that challenges faced on the golf course might appear off the green, too. And in either case, you need patience and determination to swing at whatever life throws at you.

Thanks for driving that lesson home, Joni!! You're living proof it works :)

Here's a 160-pound Joni on vacation with her husband:



And here she is at 135 pounds -- slim, stunning, and ready to swing away on the golf course!



FAST FACTS

Name: Joni Dye
Hometown: Madison, Wis.
Age: 58
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 160 pounds
Goal weight: 135 pounds
Current weight: 135 pounds
Program start date: April 2006

Favorite food: Chicken.

Biggest temptation: Dark chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Knowing she is going to be in the public eye with her youth golf program, and wanting to look good for it.

Biggest obstacle: Resisting deep fried chicken and the temptation to eat rich foods.

Old eating philosophy: Seeing food and eating it.

New eating philosophy: Eating only in moderation.

Best thing about losing weight: Having more energy, more zest, and a better look!

Best weight loss secret learned: Be able to recognize and judge the right portion sizes.