Somer Lorenz debunks the law of threes

Some superstitious people believe momentous events happen in threes. And it just so happens when Somer Lorenz graduated from college, she experienced three incidents that significantly impacted her life. She got a job, met her husband, and put on weight.

Somer began working as a marketer in a South Carolina hospital and dating her husband around the same time. Involved in full-time work and a budding relationship, Somer found herself increasingly eating out.

As her schedule tightened, Somer spent less time making sure she had a balanced diet. Her weight increased. Somer thought she'd be able to shed the pounds, but after the birth of her first child, she found it difficult. After having her second child, she found it impossible.

Before she knew it, Somer weighed 163 pounds. She wanted to lose weight, but wasn't sure where to begin. A colleague at the hospital suggested L A Weight Loss, and Somer decided to give it a try.

In June 2006, Somer joined her local Greenville, S.C., L A Weight Loss center. She was paired with a personal weight loss counselor, who created a healthy eating program that fit her busy lifestyle.

Somer cut out the frequent fast and fried food stops, and added plenty of fruit, vegetables, and lean proteins to her diet.

Now, Somer is craving these healthy foods because they made her feel good. Two years ago, if you had asked her what her favorite food was, she would have told you a quarter-pounder with cheese. Today, she'll tell you it's a fresh salad with grilled chicken.

Since her days are fast-paced, she's also learned how to make the right decisions when grabbing a meal on the go. Her smart choices have carried over to her family. Somer's husband has lost 20 pounds just by eating what she eats.

And Somer's weight loss? She's down 31 pounds, and is on maintenance. She sailed past her goal weight, and now weighs 132 pounds.

Losing weight has made Somer's life easier. She has more energy to devote to home and work, and chasing her children around doesn't wear her out like it used to. In fact, Somer feels 10 years younger.

Best of all, Somer feels so much healthier. And she knows how to make the right choices to stay that way. The superstitious may swear by the law of threes, but Somer proves everyone can take control of their lives. Great job, Somer!

Here's Somer in 2006 at 163 pounds:



And here she is today, looking fantastic at 132 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Somer Lorenz
Hometown: Greenville, S.C.
Age: 31
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 163 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds
Current weight: 132 pounds
Program start date: June 2006

Favorite food: Grilled chicken salad.

Biggest temptation: Breads and pasta.

Biggest motivator: Seeing results.

Biggest obstacle: Learning how to lose weight with a busy schedule.

Old eating philosophy: Grabbing whatever is convenient.

New eating philosophy: Making choices that are healthy and satisfying.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better about herself.

Best weight loss secret learned: Take time to test the right foods for you to find the right balance.

Colorado couple's winter woes become spring successes

Spring is the typical season to clean. But winter cleaning was in order for Andy and Sheri Collier of Thornton, Colo., when their weight troubles hit rock bottom in the Rocky Mountain state last December.

Andy's struggle began when his five-year Navy career ended. At home, he regularly ate fast food, mac and cheese, and canned chili, and slacked on his workout routine. He figured he could live this lifestyle since he was young. He was right -- at first.

Before long, his muscles diminished and his stomach grew. His desk job made him sedentary during the day. At night, he took care of family responsibilities, and had little time to focus on eating right or exercising.

The effects took their toll. His weight increased to 222 pounds, and he developed a bad knee and high cholesterol.

Meanwhile, Sheri's weight struggle started after having two kids. She didn't have the energy to workout or shed her pregnancy weight, and the stress of raising young children wore her down. She indulged in fast food and sweets to escape.

When her clothes starting fitting tight, she thought they had shrunk in the wash. But then she stepped on the scale and realized she had gained weight. Her petite 5'2" frame was up to 148 pounds.

The couple tried several diets, but quickly got bored and gave up. Sheri became severely depressed, and her doctor put her on medication.

Then one night last winter, Sheri was getting ready to go out with her husband, but she couldn't fit into any nice-looking clothes. She felt more depressed than ever.

Sheri thought about calling L A Weight Loss, and talked to Andy about it. Also wanting to drop the excess weight, Andy agreed L A Weight Loss might be the answer for both of them. So Sheri scheduled a consultation with their local center.

The couple met with L A Weight Loss's personal weight loss counselors, and developed healthy eating plans that worked with their busy lifestyles. The couple started eating proper portions of lean meats such as chicken or pork, fruit, and a salad with every meal.

They visited the center three times a week to stay accountable, and get one-on-one guidance from the counselors when they experienced a challenge or obstacle. And at home, they leaned on each other for support.

Sheri and Andy also got rid of the junk food in the house. When eating out, they ordered low-fat meals that were baked or broiled, not fried. They carried their good eating habits over to their kids, and made sure they got their proper nutrition too.

The couple felt better every day they were on the L A Weight Loss program. In fact, Andy says, "We were cleansed by the healthy diet."

No doubt! Andy lost 40 pounds, and now weighs 182 pounds; and Sheri lost 31 pounds, and is 117 pounds! L A Weight Loss was so effective for them, that they both exceeded their goal weights by three pounds each.

Sheri and Andy now have the energy and flexibility to exercise and play with their kids more. And they can wear and look great in more stylish clothes!

Even better, Andy and Sheri have brought back the love and affection that was waning when they were at their heaviest. Andy feels more confident and in control of his life. And Sheri feels free from the harsh prejudice she felt when in public.

Way to go, guys! You're certainly living the springtime of your lives!

Here's Andy before, at 222 pounds:



And here's Sheri before, at 148 pounds:



This is the happy couple today, a collective 71 pounds lighter! Looking great, Andy and Sheri!



FAST FACTS

Name: Andy Collier
Hometown: Thornton, Colo.
Age: 32
Height: 5'10"

Starting weight: 222 pounds
Goal weight: 185 pounds
Current weight: 182 pounds
Program start date: Dec. 27, 2006

Favorite food: Chinese.

Biggest temptation: Finger foods.

Biggest motivator: Seeing the program work.

Biggest obstacle: Changing the way he grocery shops.

New eating philosophy: Making smart choices, and thinking before he eats.

Best thing about losing weight: Gaining more self-confidence.

Best weight loss secret learned: Intelligent eating is the secret! Realize what you put in your mouth will affect you later, so think about it first.



Name: Sheri Collier
Hometown: Thornton, Colo.
Age: 32
Height: 5'2"

Starting weight: 148 pounds
Goal weight: 120 pounds
Current weight: 117 pounds
Program start date: January 2007

Favorite food: Mexican.

Biggest temptation: Chips and guacamole.

Biggest motivator: Dropping clothing sizes.

Biggest obstacle: Realizing she will lose weight at her own pace, and not trying to lose as fast as her husband.

Old eating philosophy: Eating anything that was there.

New eating philosophy: Thinking if the food is really worth it before indulging.

Best thing about losing weight: Knowing how to make smart food choices.

Best weight loss secret learned: The take-off.

Tennessee mom drops the baby ...

... er, weight that is.

The average weight of a newborn baby is 7.5 pounds. The average weight a mother needs to gain for a healthy baby is 20 to 30 pounds. But once baby is born, many mothers find it difficult to lose that extra 20, 30, or 40 pounds they packed on over the previous nine months.

Take Jeanette Henderson. She never struggled with her weight until she became a mom. With each of her four pregnancies, Jeanette found it impossible to shed the extra weight. By the time she gave birth to her fourth child, she had gained 40 pounds she just couldn't shake.

To make matters worse, Jeanette constantly snacked with her kids. Her diet consisted of large portions, a lot of starches, and too much fried and junk food. And whenever she became depressed about her weight, Jeanette only ate more.

She knew she wanted to lose weight, but didn't know how. Jeanette tried a number of different diets that didn't stick, causing her weight to yo-yo. Then her two closest friends each lost 100 pounds on L A Weight Loss. Jeanette became determined to make it work for her, too.

Working closely with her personal weight loss counselors from her local Hermitage, Tenn., L A Weight Loss center, Jeanette transformed her diet. She replaced her usual unhealthy habits with more fruits and vegetables, and more steamed and baked dinners, rather than fried. Jeanette also loved L A Weight Loss food options, such as L A Lite bars and Slim Downs.

Since starting her L A Weight Loss program, Jeanette lost 31 pounds -- one pound more than her goal weight! Her self-esteem and confidence are soaring. Plus, Jeanette's busy schedule doesn't wear her out any more, and she has plenty of energy left to exercise.

In fact, Jeanette is so happy with her weight loss results, she's trying to convince her husband to join the program! Now that's what I call spreading the good word. Way to go, Jeanette!

Here's a 160-pound Jeanette before L A Weight Loss:



And here she is 31 pounds later! WOW!



FAST FACTS

Name: Jeanette Henderson
Hometown: Hermitage, Tenn.
Age: 42
Height: 5'3"

Starting weight: 160 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 129 pounds
Program start date: July 2006

Favorite food: Turkey tacos.

Biggest temptation: Mexican food.

Biggest motivator: Knowing the plan works.

Biggest obstacle: Admitting she needed to lose the weight.

Old eating philosophy: Paying little attention to portion control.

New eating philosophy: Learning portion control.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling great about herself.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eat six times a day, don't starve yourself, and drink water.

Policewoman delivers another round of shots

I recently posted the amazing transformation of our California cop Elizabeth Hundley. She lost 31 pounds on the L A Weight Loss program, and is now a fit 140 pounds.

She just sent me some more after photos. She's looks great, and I wanted to share them with My L A Weight Loss Diary readers!

These shots really show why she’s the talk of the precinct.

You look terrific, Elizabeth. Great job!

Calif. cop can take ribbing in stride after losing 31 pounds

Rest easy, your donuts are safe.

This is the punch line under a picture of a row of police cars stationed outside a donut chain. You've probably heard jokes like this about police and fast-food joints before.

But Elizabeth Hundley isn't laughing. She's a policewoman from San Marcos, Calif., whose schedule made her a prisoner of fast food. She also turned to comfort food to deal with her emotional problems, increasing her weight gain.

She soon reached 171 pounds. Although her weight didn't severely threaten her health, she knew she needed to uncuff herself from poor eating habits.

She was able to drop 10 pounds on her own. Then she heard about L A Weight Loss through a friend who worked at the Encinitas, Calif., center. She explained how the program worked, and Elizabeth joined in June 2005.

With the help of her personal counselor Imee Rutnovich, Elizabeth lost four pounds in her first week. She made the difference by patrolling her fast-food intake, and replacing the greasy foods at lunch with a sandwich and a lot of vegetables.

In addition to eating right, Elizabeth started a free-weight and cardiovascular program at the gym three to four days a week. She increased her fitness level to where she no longer gets winded walking up the stairs at work.

After two years on the program, Elizabeth hit her goal weight of 140 pounds. She now sees a pretty 39-year-old woman looking back at her in the mirror. It's the perfect motivation to keep her going!

Plus, she now takes donut jokes in stride! Great job Elizabeth -- I bet the guys don't mind being pulled over by you now! ;)

Here is Elizabeth with a friend at 171 pounds:



And here she is dressed in blue and looking bright at 140 pounds!



FAST FACTS

Name: Elizabeth Hundley
Hometown: San Marcos, Calif.
Age: 39
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 171 pounds
Goal weight: 140 pounds
Current weight: 140 pounds
Program start date: June 13, 2005

Favorite food: Vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Fast food.

Biggest motivator: Staying healthy.

Biggest obstacle: Eating healthy on the job.

Old eating philosophy: Consuming high-calorie foods whenever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Finding the right balance of healthy eating while at work and home.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling good about herself when she looks in the mirror.

Best weight loss secret learned: People notice when you make a major change in your life.