North Dakota mom makes sure her future's slim

There's a lot of care that goes into having a child. And every mom knows that care takes a lot of work. Amanda O'Connor wanted to take that basic baby care one step further, but knew she needed to lose weight to do it.

Amanda had been overweight her entire life. She came from a family of eaters, and knew the health risks associated with being overweight because she saw them first hand. Luckily, Amanda had always been healthy, so never had a driving motivation to slim down.

After the birth of her first baby however, Amanda wanted to able to move around easier than she could at 197 pounds. She needed more energy, and wanted to be able to chase around her son, without the health risks her parents had dealt with.

Amanda had tried dieting in the past, but couldn't keep the weight off. In September 2007, she signed up at her local Minot, N.D., L A Weight Loss center. Her one-on-one weight loss counselor taught her everything she needed to know about losing weight and keeping it off.

Amanda added more fruits and vegetables into her diet, which had been a bit scarce before. She also added more lean meats and proteins, and cut back on her sodium intake.

But adjusting her diet wasn't enough for Amanda. She was serious about losing weight and getting in shape. Now, every day she spends some quality time on the treadmill. And when the weather's fine, she takes her morning workouts to the streets.

After one year on the L A Weight Loss program, Amanda has dropped 55 pounds, and currently weighs 142 pounds. Amanda has had so much success on the program, she even motivated a friend to join L A Weight Loss as well. And I'm happy to report, her friend is doing great too.

Now that she's reached her goal weight, life is much easier for Amanda. Shopping is no longer a hassle. And she had no problem fitting into cute clothes.

Best of all, Amanda has the energy and stamina she needs to keep up with her young son. And she knows she's done everything she can to stay healthy for him in the long term.

Plus, she enjoys the extra time she can spend with her husband walking the dog and pushing the stroller. Even better, her relationship with her husband has even improved, as he never hesitates to tell her how beautiful she looks.

Way to go, Amanda! We're thrilled!

Here's Amanda on her wedding day at 197 pounds:



And here she is today, looking happy and healthy at 142 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Amanda O'Connor
Hometown: Sawyer, N.D.
Age: 28
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 197 pounds
Goal weight: 142 pounds
Current weight: 142 pounds
Program start date: September 2007

Favorite food: Chicken alfredo.

Biggest temptation: Pasta.

Biggest motivator: Looking at old pictures.

Biggest obstacle: Getting up and getting on the treadmill in the beginning.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever, whenever, especially if she was bored.

New eating philosophy: Stay busy, and only eating when she needs to.

Best thing about losing weight: Fitting into smaller clothes.

Best weight loss secret learned: Get help. Don't do it alone.

Gadzooks! Donna Gaddy's lost again!

Donna Gaddy is back with another weight loss update, just in time for summer! Donna faced a few challenges last month, such as not being able to exercise after undergoing surgery, but she still managed to stay on track. She's lost a total of 55 pounds, and hopes to ramp up her exercise routine this month to drop even more during the summer months ahead. Way to go Donna!

Libby Rubacha portions out self-confidence

What's a healthy portion of chicken? The correct serving for a bowl of cereal? Or a proper amount of string beans?

If you're unsure, you're not alone. Many people struggle with proper portion sizes. Not knowing how much to eat, they often eat too much, and pack on the pounds as a result.

Portion size was Libby Rubacha's biggest problem. In high school, she rarely ate breakfast or lunch because she didn't like to eat first thing in the morning or at school. By the time dinner rolled around, Libby was starving, and piled extra portions on her plate.

She became accustomed to eating large meals, which continued throughout her 20s. She ate a lot of starches and fried food. And chocolate was her biggest weakness.

But her large figure became even larger after having two kids. She lost most of her baby weight after each birth, but quickly gained 30 pounds back after her second child.

Libby reached 202 pounds. Her blood pressure was borderline high, and she had back problems. She dieted, but didn't have the motivation to see it to the end.

She became very self-conscious about how she looked, and had low self-esteem.

Then she investigated L A Weight Loss. Libby went to her local center and learned she could still eat her favorite foods, just in proper portions. She also liked having one-on-one counselors to guide her through her weight loss.

Libby joined L A Weight Loss in October 2005, and began eating balanced, healthy-sized meals. She also incorporated more fruit and vegetables into her regimen, and drank lots of water.

The L A Weight Loss counselors' individual support kept Libby on track, and inspired her to reach her weight loss goals. Libby's husband also supported her. Her determination to lose weight impressed him, and he loved seeing the pounds melt away. He told people he was getting a new wife!

After dropping 20 pounds, Libby's blood pressure was normal. And 10 pounds later, her back problems were gone! She continued losing weight, and now weighs 147 pounds.

Libby's relationship with her husband is much better now, and they are more comfortable with each other. She can also run and play with her kids more, including tennis with her son.

Her self-confidence has also skyrocketed. She doesn't second-guess how she looks or what she's wearing. In fact, she became a speaker for her local nonprofit crisis pregnancy center, Care Net. Libby feels cool and confident standing in front of a crowd.

Now she can't wait for her high school reunion! Way to go, Libby!

This is Libby before, at 202 pounds, with family:



And here she is now, confident and healthy at 147. Fantastic job, Libby! Looking great!



FAST FACTS

Name: Libby Rubacha
Hometown: Terre Haute, Ind.
Age: 28
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 202 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds
Current weight: 147 pounds
Program start date: October 2005

Favorite food: Pizza.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Getting support from her husband throughout her weight loss journey.

Biggest obstacle: Having the instinctive habit of eating more than she should.

Old eating philosophy: Ignoring portion sizes and eating whatever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Eating healthier foods in smaller portions, and more fruits and vegetables.

Best thing about losing weight: Boosting her confidence level.

Best weight loss secret learned: The program can be easily adapted to your lifestyle. Follow it, and you'll see steady results.

Washington couple trades fast food for fast track

The secret to boosting your career might lie in your talents, skills, connections, and ability to seize opportunities. But it might also lie in something simpler.

Your physical appearance. Dropping some weight and improving your appearance can make a big impact on your career success and productivity.

Take married couple Kevin and Janetta Rose of Battleground, Wash. Both retail managers, and both overweight.

Kevin's weight gain began when he was in grad school, and continued while he was in law school. He studied a lot, leaving little time to have well-rounded meals or exercise. He usually grabbed fast food, or ate one large meal for the day. Kevin's weight increased to 223 pounds, he and was more sedentary than ever.

Janetta's eating habits were no better. She too ate fast food or whatever was convenient. Also busy with work, Janetta ate when she could, sometimes late at night. Janetta's weight quickly rose to 187 pounds.

She was also looking at photos of herself, and wasn't happy with her appearance. Around that time, Janetta's doctor found her blood pressure was high and she needed to lower it.

The couple didn't want to gain more weight and increase their health risks. Kevin heard about L A Weight Loss and went to their local center to see if it was right for them.

Kevin was thrilled to find out that the L A Weight Loss program is for men too, and Janetta liked having weight loss counselors to help support her throughout the program. They decided to join.

The couple changed their eating habits, and now eat more consistently. They have six smaller meals a day, which prevents them from getting hungry and overeating. They nixed fast food and soda, and now cook healthy foods together.

L A Weight Loss worked like a charm! Kevin shed 55 pounds, and now weighs 168. Janetta lost 48 pounds, and is a trim 139.

The couple feels much happier about their appearance, health, career, and life. Kevin feels more confident interacting with people, and it's paying off. He recently signed five new customers! Plus, he doesn't have to forgo business lunches because the L A Weight Loss counselors taught him healthy foods to order on the menu.

Kevin also enjoys buying new clothes, and playing basketball and doing martial arts to stay active.

Janetta's new appearance is also helping her at work. With a more positive outlook on life, she feels more productive. And her new look is turning heads. People who haven't seen her in a while do a double-take!

She's also more active and energetic, taking time to walk, ride a bike, and play volleyball and softball. And buying clothes that fit is no longer a struggle. She has curves in all the right places, and none in the wrong places!

Losing weight together helped Kevin and Janetta stay disciplined. It was also easy to plan meals together because they have similar work schedules.

And now those schedules include better careers for the two of the them! Way to go, Kevin and Janetta!

This is Kevin before, at 223 pounds:



And this is Janetta before, at 187:



But look at the couple now! Here's the 168-pound Kevin:



And Janetta, at 139. Looking great, guys! Fantastic job!



FAST FACTS

Name: Kevin Rose
Hometown: Battleground, Wash.
Age: 31
Height: 5'10"

Starting weight: 223 pounds
Goal weight: 175 pounds
Current weight: 168 pounds
Program start date: July 2006

Favorite food: Chicken.

Biggest temptation: Sweets.

Biggest motivator: Being successful with the program.

Biggest obstacle: Avoiding big meals.

Old eating philosophy: Eating when he had time.

New eating philosophy: Eating healthy foods and planning meals ahead.

Best thing about losing weight: Having renewed confidence.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eat throughout the day and control your portions.



Name: Janetta Rose
Hometown: Battleground, Wash.
Age: 30
Height: 5'9"

Starting weight: 187 pounds
Goal weight: 142 pounds
Current weight: 139 pounds
Program start date: July 2006

Favorite food: Mexican food.

Biggest temptation: Cinnamon rolls.

Biggest motivator: Stepping on the scale and realizing how heavy she was.

Biggest obstacle: Fitting a healthy diet into her work schedule.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever, whenever.

New eating philosophy: Staying away from fried food and taking time to eat several smaller meals throughout the day.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling good about herself.

Best weight loss secret learned: Make your weight loss plan a lifestyle, not just a quick fix, and you'll have life-long success.