Valentine's Day story: Rediscovering love after loss

In honor of Valentine's Day, here's the story of Steve and Lori Conger, who've been married for 25 years, and are raising seven children.

The Congers planned and saved for a once-in-a-lifetime Hawaiian vacation to mark their silver anniversary. But they spent most of the time crying in their hotel room, because their weight got in the way of their fun.

Steve, at 285 pounds, was mortified when he was charged for two seats on a helicopter ride. Lori, at 178 pounds, was depressed after struggling to fit into a sundress she wanted to buy.

Things got worse back home when they started flipping through their vacation photos. As Lori puts it in a letter she sent me, when she saw how heavy they were, she decided it was time for a change.

Lori heard about L A Weight Loss through a friend. Determined to get their bodies and their lives back, Lori and Steve went to the Nampa L A Weight Loss Center in Homedale, Idaho, last January.

There they found what Lori calls their "support team" of L A Weight Loss employees: Diane Maggard, Terry Harvey, and Irene Bassler. And with their help, the Congers saw immediate results.

In the first two days, Steve lost 7 pounds, and Lori lost close to 4! Over time, the Congers recouped the energy and fun they had as thinner newlyweds. On weekends, they now jet-ski, sail, and take their kids to water parks -- without running out of breath.

Today the happy couple are more in love than ever with each other, and their new bodies. Together they've lost 130 pounds: Steve 92, and Lori 38!!

Here's Lori at 178 pounds, and Steve at 285 pounds:



And here they are one year later, Lori at 140 pounds, Steve at 193 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Lori Conger
Hometown: Homedale, Idaho
Age: 42
Height: 5’7"

Starting weight: 178 pounds
Goal weight: 140 pounds
Current weight: 140 pounds

Program start date: Jan. 16, 2006

Biggest motivator: Losing weight for her daughter’s wedding on Oct. 16, 2006.

Biggest obstacle: Watching her diet while vacationing.

Old eating philosophy: Super-sized sandwiches, hot cakes, brownies, and Coke.

New eating philosophy: A healthier combination of fish, grilled chicken, veggies, and fruits.

Best thing about losing weight: All of the compliments she received at her daughter’s wedding.

Best weight loss secret learned: It is possible to incorporate your favorite foods into your diet and still lose weight.

Name: Steve Conger
Hometown: Homedale, Idaho
Age: 44
Height: 6’0"

Starting weight: 285 pounds
Goal weight: 190 pounds
Current weight: 193 pounds

Program start date: Jan. 16, 2006

Biggest motivator: Getting back the self-esteem and self-confidence he had before he gained weight.

Biggest obstacle: Regaining his zeal for life.

Old eating philosophy: Chocolate milk, burgers, tacos, and mashed potatoes.

New eating philosophy: A balanced diet of proteins, carbs, and vitamin-rich foods (although he does treat himself to a burger every now and then).

Best thing about losing weight: His energy level is through the roof.

Best weight loss secret learned: You don't have to sacrifice office lunches during the week. Just make smarter choices.

Debbie McKay transforms right before our eyes

Our final new blogger is Debbie McKay. With a husband and five kids under her watch, Debbie ballooned to 242 pounds before joining L A Weight Loss in July. With the help of her personal counselor, Debbie has already shed 38 pounds (!), but she's not done yet. She still needs to lose 22 more to hit her goal weight of 148 pounds.

Here's Debbie before:



And we can't wait to see her "after" photo!

In the meantime, listen to her talk to JackieZ and me about what it was like to be 242 pounds, and how she balances her family, career, and weight loss while still shedding pounds.

And don't forget to read about our other new bloggers Dana Shocaroff and Carolina Yepez!

U.S. soldier in Iraq battles weight loss

Lorraine Staton, 29, is in the U.S. Army, and stationed in Iraq. She came into the L A Weight Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, earlier this year, where she weighed in at 180 lbs. When she first joined the army, she weighed 115 lbs. She gained 50 lbs. in each of her two pregnancies.

At the Center, she was given a drink called the Take Off -- and it helped her lose four pounds in three days. That got her excited about weight loss. Renee, who runs the L A Weight Loss Center in Lorraine’s town, e-mails her in Iraq.

Renee helps keep her going, and offers a lot of support to someone in a very stressful situation. She even sends L A Weight Loss supplements, shakes, snack bars, and popcorn.

Lorraine really loves it when other soldiers say, “Sgt. Staton, you lost some weight!" Right now, she weighs 142 pounds. She’s motivated by her desire to wear her bathing suit on the beach for a special reason: She’s hoping to be stationed in Hawaii. See you in the surf, Lorraine!

Here's Lorraine now. Watch this space to see her after photo when she returns from Iraq in December. Can't wait to see what she looks like when she reaches her goal weight!