New life blossoms for Monique Bloomfield

Life is all about the little things -- a smile, a warm cup of tea, a sunny summer day. And if you ask Monique Bloomfield, she'll tell you it's the little things that made losing weight worth it.

Weight was never a problem for Monique until she reached her 40s. That's when her activity level and metabolism slowed, but her eating did not. Monique didn't think about what she was eating, only whether it tasted good.

By her mid-50s, she weighed 166 pounds. That was too much weight for her 5'1" inch frame to support. Monique suffered from knee pain whenever she walked up the stairs, and couldn't bend down to paint her toes or play with her dog. She also had high cholesterol, and was on medication for high blood pressure.

But it wasn't until Monique saw a picture of herself on vacation that she started seriously considering losing weight. She knew she needed more support than any self-help book could offer, and found L A Weight Loss to be an ideal fit.

Each week, Monique went to a one-on-one weight loss counseling session at the Nepean, Ottawa, L A Weight Loss center. Her counselors taught her how to make healthy choices.

For Monique, it all came down to planning her meals and thinking about what she was eating before putting it in her mouth. She added more fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and water to her diet, and eliminated many greasy, fried, and sweet foods.

It wasn't long before Monique's weight began to drop. As the numbers on the scale decreased, her energy level increased. Everyday activities became easier, and she no longer needed a nap to make it through the day.

Since joining L A Weight Loss in March 2006, Monique has lost 37 pounds! She's inched past her weight loss goal of 130 pounds, currently weighing 129.

Monique appreciates the little things she can do now, such as getting on the floor to play with her dog, crossing her legs, and walking up the steps without getting winded.

And Monique is looking as good as she feels these days. Shopping for smaller sizes fun, not to mention constant motivation to stay healthy. Monique's family is proud of the progress she's made, and so are we. Way to go, Monique!

Here's Monique at 166 pounds:



And here she is today, looking great at 129 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Monique Bloomfield
Hometown: Pemptbille, Ontario
Age: 57
Height: 5'1"

Starting weight: 166 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 129 pounds
Program start date: March 2006

Favorite food: Sugar pie.

Biggest temptation: Sweets.

Biggest motivator: Fitting into smaller-sized clothes.

Biggest obstacle: Making herself go to the center every week.

Old eating philosophy: Not thinking about what she was eating.

New eating philosophy: Maintaining control and a healthy balance.

Best thing about losing weight: Gaining lots of energy!

Best weight loss secret learned: Drink plenty of water and eat often to keep your metabolism going.

Cancer survivor fights for ultimate health

People are natural-born fighters. But it usually takes a challenge to bring out their fighting spirit.

Lynn Wiggins showed hers when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. Fortunately, the doctors found and removed all of the cancer, and she won the battle. After her recovery, however, Lynn used the perseverance she learned in the hospital to get healthy in a new way -- by losing weight.

Lynn's weight fluctuated her entire life. She cooked potatoes almost every night, and always helped herself to second helpings of macaroni and cheese. Worse, Lynn often ate chicken and fish fried and covered in salt.

She tried dieting before she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but stopped when she started undergoing treatment. Even so, Lynn didn't feel out of place among her four sisters, all of whom were overweight.

Then her family began to slim down, and Lynn didn't like being the only one that was still overweight. So in October 2006, she joined her local Round Rock, Texas, L A Weight Loss center.

Using her niece's upcoming wedding as motivation, Lynn set her goals high. She was determined to drop from 197 pounds to 145 pounds. And her personal weight loss counselors taught her how to do it.

She cut back on fried foods, fast foods, and carbs. Instead of double helpings of potatoes and macaroni and cheese, Lynn ate the foods she loved in moderation, and added even more vegetables to her diet.

It didn't take long for the weight to drop. Lynn has lost a total of 37 pounds, and currently weighs 160 pounds!

While her weight is decreasing, her energy is increasing. Everything is easier for Lynn now, from walking up the steps, to tying her shoes, to playing with children. And she enjoys walking as much as possible.

For Lynn, the best part about losing weight is looking good and feeling even better. She fits into clothes she loves. And at 58 years old, Lynn feels healthier than she has in years. She can get up in front of crowds comfortably, and enjoys going out with friends and family.

Losing weight has truly improved Lynn's life. She looked fantastic with her family at the wedding!

Best of all, Lynn has proved that getting healthy is the most important thing to fight for. Way to go, Lynn! We're so proud of you!

Here's Lynn in 2006 at 197 pounds:



And here she is today, bearing down on her weight loss goal at 160 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Lynn Wiggins
Hometown: Round Rock, Texas
Age: 58
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight:197 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Program start date: October 2006

Favorite food: Fish and rice.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Losing weight for her niece's wedding.

Biggest obstacle: Resisting her family's eating habits.

Old eating philosophy: Eating huge servings of macaroni and cheese and potatoes almost every night.

New eating philosophy: Filling up on cereal, fish, and rice.

Best thing about losing weight: Looking better than she has in 20 years.

Best weight loss secret learned: Learn how to control your portions, and you'll still be able to eat your favorite foods.

Not one, but TWO hurricanes bring winds of change to Patti Och

It was a one-two punch that changed Patti Och's life. On Aug. 24, 2004, Hurricane Frances swept through her Florida hometown. Fortunately, she and her husband were able to stay in their home as they cleaned up the damage.

But their luck ran out three weeks later on Sept. 13th, when the wind and rain of Hurricane Jeanne caused their roof to cave in. Their possessions lost, Patti and her husband moved into an RV in their front yard.

This 'temporary shelter' became their home for a year. And the longer they lived there, the harder it became for Patti to cook proper meals on the RV's tiny stove. Pair that with the stress of losing and rebuilding her home, and Patti herself leaning on junk food (such as donuts) to get her through the days.

By the time she was finally able to move out of the RV and back into her house, she had put on 37 pounds. This was hard for Patti to handle, having always been a slender, active person. She just couldn't get used to being overweight, and the change taxed her physically and emotionally.

Then one morning she caught a newspaper ad for L A Weight Loss. That triggered a memory about a woman from her church who told her she lost weight on the program. Patti decided to give it a try.

She was quickly sold on the idea of learning how to eat the regular foods she loved, instead of swearing them off entirely. That was over a year ago. Today, Patti is still at her goal weight of 114 pounds -- the same weight she was in high school!

And now that her life -- and home!-- is back on track, Patti can focus on taking care of herself so she doesn't gain back the weight she worked to lose. She focuses on eating healthy foods, and incorporates some exercise into her life.

She walks on the treadmill, swims, gardens, and takes walks and hikes with her husband. Quite a journey!

Here's Patti before, at 151 pounds:



And after, at a more comfortable 114 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Patti Och
Hometown: Florida
Age: 64

Starting weight: 151 pounds
Goal weight: 114 pounds
Current weight: 114 pounds
Program start date: September 2005

Biggest motivator: Feeling better about herself. Gaining the extra weight took an emotional toll on Patti.

Old eating philosophy: Whatever was easiest to prepare in her tiny RV kitchen.

New eating philosophy: Makes conscious choices about what goes into her body. She eats lots of fruits and vegetables, avoids the junk food aisles at the supermarket, and strives to eat from the five basic food groups every day. She also learned how to make simple substitutions, like using whole wheat flour instead of white, and soy milk instead of regular.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling free to tackle whatever challenges lie ahead.

Best weight loss secret learned: If you focus on eating foods that are good for you, it will become a natural part of your lifestyle.