Texas couple team up for combined weight loss challenge

For a marriage to work, husbands and wives must work well together. And many couples work so well together, they adopt one another's habits, likes, and dislikes. That's a wonderful relationship -- unless, of course, you're talking about bad eating habits.

That's the problem Elsa and Carlos Cavazos faced. Married for 29 years, Elsa and Carlos did everything together. They started a home, raised their children, and shared everything ... including their unhealthy eating habits.

Elsa had never struggled with her weight before. She was small throughout adolescence and into adulthood. Plus, being constantly on the move with her young children kept her active.

But when Elsa reached her 30s and 40s, her lifestyle slowed down, and so did her metabolism. She was no longer chasing her children around the house, and her job at the U.S. Air Force training center sat her behind a desk all day.

Elsa's affinity for salty and high-calorie foods didn't help. She was the potato chip queen. She rarely cooked healthy meals, and ate fried foods and chips instead.

Her husband Carlos was in the same boat. He never worried about his weight when he was younger, but gradually gained pounds after their wedding. As the years stretched on, his waistline stretched out. Carlos always helped himself to multiple servings of everything Elsa cooked, which was usually Mexican food high in sodium and calories.

Their weights made them feel sluggish. Elsa and Carlos never had any energy to do anything together after work. Their clothes fit them uncomfortably, they were winded walking up their stairs, and they hated lugging around their extra pounds.

One year, Elsa and Carlos had appointments for their routine physicals around the same time. Elsa's cholesterol was dangerously high for someone her size. Carlos also had high cholesterol, and suffered from knee pain. He had a high level of liver enzymes as well, making him susceptible to diabetes later in life. Their doctors gave the same prescription: lose weight.

Elsa and Carlos decided their doctors were right. So in April 2006, they signed up at the San Antonio, Texas, L A Weight Loss center, determined to get healthy together. They worked with their personal weight loss counselors, and set goals for their ideal weights.

Elsa and Carlos learned valuable lessons from their counselors, who taught them the trick to a healthy diet, and the importance of portion control. They added fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean meats to their meals, and cut out starches.

Now, when Elsa cooked dinner, she included lots of vegetables, poultry, and fish. And the grocery cart was no longer filled with potato chips and other junk, unless Elsa was enjoying them in moderation.

And at the dinner table, Carlos no longer kept coming back for more. He stuck to proper portions, and ate multiple times throughout the day.

Before they knew it, the pounds starting dropping. Since joining L A Weight Loss, Elsa and Carlos have lost 83 pounds! Elsa went from 143 pounds to 117 pounds -- just two pounds away from her goal weight. And Carlos is weighing in at 208 pounds, compared to his original 265 pounds. He's also getting close to his goal of 185 pounds.

Their health problems have subsided, and they have much more energy. Neither Elsa nor Carlos feel sluggish at work anymore, and they still have energy left over when they get home. Plus, they love the compliments they receive from friends and family.

Even better, getting healthy is a family affair for the Cavazos. Thanks to Elsa's new cooking style, their children are enjoying the benefits of a healthy diet, too.

But for Elsa and Carlos, the best thing about losing weight is feeling closer to each other. Working together and losing weight as a team made their relationship stronger than ever. They loved the feeling of accomplishment, and used each other as motivation.

Elsa and Carlos still do everything together, but they've replaced their habit of sharing bad eating tendencies to sharing romantic evening walks. Just another benefit from their L A Weight Loss experience. Way to go, Elsa and Carlos! We're proud of you!

Here's Elsa at 143 pounds and Carlos at 265 pounds, before joining L A Weight Loss:



And here they are now at 117 pounds and 208 pounds. Looking good, kids!




FAST FACTS

Name: Elsa Cavazos
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 48
Height: 5'1"

Starting weight: 143 pounds
Goal weight: 115 pounds
Current weight: 117 pounds
Program start date: April 2006

Favorite food: Fried chicken.

Biggest temptation: Potato chips.

Biggest motivator: Losing weight with Carlos, and seeing the pounds come off.

Biggest obstacle: Staying within the plan and not cheating, and eating the right foods.

Old eating philosophy: Eating many fried food and carbs.

New eating philosophy: Eating grilled instead of fried, and loading up on vegetables.

Best thing about losing weight: Fitting into a size 4.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can still eat potato chips and lose weight!



Name: Carlos Cavazos
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 49
Height: 5'8"

Starting weight: 265 pounds
Goal weight: 185 pounds
Current weight: 208 pounds
Program start date: April 2006

Favorite food: Everything on the dinner table.

Biggest temptation: More servings.

Biggest motivator: Watching Elsa lose weight, and hit her goal weight.

Biggest obstacle: Being tempted to have second servings.

Old eating philosophy: Eating anything in sight.

New eating philosophy: Eating grilled chicken and vegetables.

Best thing about losing weight: Watching his waistline shrink.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can still eat the foods you love while you lose weight.

Ice, elevation, and weight loss for one Canadian mom

An injury can be a devastating event for someone who leads an active lifestyle. A broken arm is a basketball player's worst nightmare, while a torn ACL is pure unhappiness for a hiker.

So it's no wonder many people take extreme care to stay off the injury list. That's what Estelle Moynes learned the hard way.

Throughout her life, Estelle was never considered skinny. Fortunately, her active lifestyle kept her fit through college. Once she reached her early 20s, however, Estelle began putting on the pounds.

As the years rolled by, her gradual weight gain pushed the scale dial further to the right. By the time Estelle turned 40, she weighed in at 239 pounds.

She still maintained an active lifestyle, but her hobbies frequently landed her on the couch with a sprained ankle. The usual prescription: ice, elevate, and keep the weight off it.

At age 40, she knew that losing weight was the best bet for keeping herself injury-free. More importantly, she wanted to enjoy life with her three children; and play, bike, and hike with them without getting winded.

So Estelle decided to take the doctor's orders one step further, and really keep the weight off.

That's what brought her to the local L A Weight Loss center in Ottawa, Canada, in April 2006. Working closely with her personal L A Weight Loss counselors, Estelle learned the importance of a balanced diet and smaller portions.

She replaced her usual starches, fast food, chips, and desserts with healthy home cooking, lean meats, fruits, and vegetables.

Estelle was determined to make it work, and became aware of everything she ate. Her husband and children offered constant support and encouragement. The weight melted away, and soon Estelle hit her goal weight of 182 pounds!!

Now she glows with confidence, and has re-vamped her entire wardrobe. Better yet, she has plenty of energy for her children. Estelle loves her family bike rides, and enjoys walking the trails near her Ontario home.

Clearly, Estelle's weight isn't keeping her on the sidelines anymore. Awesome job, Estelle!

Here's Estelle at 239 pounds:



And here she is 57 pounds lighter after 31 weeks on the program. Doesn't she look great?!



FAST FACTS

Name: Estelle Moynes
Hometown: Casselman, Ontario, Canada
Age: 41
Height: 5'8"

Starting weight: 239 pounds
Goal weight: 182 pounds
Current weight: 182 pounds
Program start date: April 2006

Favorite food: BBQ steak with a big salad and a baked potato.

Biggest temptation: Potato chips.

Biggest motivator: Relieving her ankle pain by carrying less weight.

Biggest obstacle: Changing her routine.

Old eating philosophy: Eating large portion sizes -- the bigger the better.

New eating philosophy: Maintaining a healthy balance of everything she eats.

Best thing about losing weight: Having more confidence.

Best weight loss secret learned: You have to eat to lose weight!

Bride-to-be commits to weight loss

There's not a woman on the planet who doesn’t want to look her very best the day she says "I do." But for overweight women, it’s often the occasion that makes them say "I don't" to their extra pounds.

This was the case for Julia Stoy. She was 23 years old -- and 230 pounds heavy -- when she said "yes" to fiance Nathan.

Losing weight had always been on Julia's mind. But it was never a priority until she was diagnosed with high blood pressure and dangerously high cholesterol -- conditions she believed a young person shouldn't have to face.

Julia also watched her mother struggle with diabetes for years, and feared she was headed down the same path.

This fear, coupled with her engagement to Nathan, motivated her to join L A Weight Loss and get healthy. Julia joined the program in September 2005, a month after her engagement, and lost five pounds in the first week!

She incorporated healthier foods into her diet, such as eating yogurt for breakfast instead of sugary cereals or frozen breakfast foods. And for dinner, she substituted extra portions of vegetables for the dinner rolls she usually ate.

Sticking to the plan, Julia lost more weight, and soon discovered she could cross her legs. She also felt more comfortable wearing professional clothes to work. And she had enough energy to exercise by walking and lifting weights three to four times a week.

Best of all, Julia looked fabulous on her wedding day in October 2006, when she strutted down the aisle over 50 pounds lighter!

Now, at 173 pounds, she's well on her way to her 160-pound goal weight. Her husband is proud of her accomplishment, and notices his blushing bride is much happier, more confident, and more energetic, too.

Keep up the awesome work, Julia!

Here is Julia at 230 pounds with Nathan:



And here she is last summer. You look great, Julia!



And here are Mr. and Mrs. Stoy on their wedding day. Good luck, you lovebirds!



FAST FACTS

Name: Julia Stoy
Hometown: Raleigh, N.C.
Age: 25
Height: 5’7"

Starting weight: 230 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 173 pounds
Program start date: September 2005

Favorite food: Apples dipped in peanut butter.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivators: Fearing health problems, and wanting to fit into a smaller bridal gown.

Biggest obstacle: Working long hours, which kept her from exercising.

Old eating philosophy: Eating healthily during the day, then binging at night.

New eating philosophy: Spreading out meals during the day, and eating starches earlier in the day.

Best thing about losing weight: Shopping for new, smaller clothes.

Best weight loss secret learned: Weight loss is easy when you eat the right portions from each food group.