Wisconsin native hears motivation ringing in her wedding bells

Looking perfect on the big day is something that every bride dreams about. But as her wedding day approached, Mary Behnke couldn’t quite find that "beautiful bride" feeling.

Mary has been overweight since childhood. Since the fourth grade, her weight has consistently been 30 to 40 pounds above average. Her mother was overweight, and as she jokes now, living in Wisconsin meant eating a lot of cheese all the time.

But it wasn't just the cheese. Mary regularly dined on fast foods and anything else that was convenient. She went weeks without eating a fresh piece of fruit or vegetable.

And her unhealthy diet took a toll on her body. Mary had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a family history of diabetes and heart problems. But she suffered emotionally too. Mary was jealous of skinny girls she saw when she was out, and felt introverted, sluggish, and self-conscious.

When Mary got engaged, she couldn't find a dress that fit right. She tried on dress after dress, but couldn't find anything she liked. When she finally had to buy a plus-sized wedding dress, she was crushed. With a weight of 200 pounds, she knew she had to do something.

So in January 2006, Mary joined her local Menasha, Wisc., L A Weight Loss center. She was paired up with a one-on-one weight loss counselor who taught her the ins and outs of eating healthy.

Mary kicked her fast food habits to the curb, and stocked up on fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats and proteins, and water. And the simple, healthy adjustments to her diet made a big difference.

During her year and a half on the program, Mary dropped 60 pounds, and currently weighs 140 pounds. She went from a size 18 to a size 6, just in time for the wedding. She had to buy another wedding dress, but it was well worthwhile.

Mary now has the attitude she once desired. She is outgoing, sociable, fun, and energetic. She can also do the things she couldn't before because her weight physically held her back. Mary loves being able to go out dancing. And when she goes out with her husband, Mary never gets jealous of the "cute" girls, because she is one! And all of her medical problems have disappeared.

Mary’s success inspired her mother and co-workers to join L A Weight Loss. They've already seen results, and hope to see more. Aside from encouraging others to get involved, Mary has gotten more involved with L A Weight Loss herself. She became a counselor, and is now manager of the Osh Kosh, Wisconsin center.

Keep up the positive attitude, Mary! Congratulations!

Here's Mary at 200 pounds in 2005:



And here she is today at a happy, healthy 140 pounds:



FAST FACTS:

Name: Mary Behnke
Hometown: Menasha, Wisc.
Age: 27
Height: 5’6"

Starting weight: 200 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 140 pounds
Program start date: January 2006

Favorite food: Chicken breast.

Biggest temptation: Pizza.

Biggest motivator: Slimming down for her wedding.

Biggest obstacle: Staying away from old patterns.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever, whenever.

New eating philosophy: Using food for fuel, not for comfort.

Best thing about losing weight: Having a much more positive attitude.

Best weight loss secret learned: If you fuel your body with the right foods and the right portions you really won’t be hungry.

Georgia man ends weighty family tradition

Hair color, skin complexion, and height all run in families. Unfortunately for Joe Bellino, being overweight runs in his family, too.

Though Joe's parents were heavy, Joe didn't have a problem with his weight until his 30s and 40s. That's when his bad eating habits, lack of exercise, and genes caught up with him, pushing him to 294 pounds.

As Joe's weight increased, so did his blood pressure. He also had high cholesterol, and suffered from back, knee, and joint pain. And he always felt tired and out of breath.

Worse, Joe had enjoyed being a softball umpire for years, but found his weight made it much more difficult. He knew if he didn't lose weight, he would have to retire his umpire helmet forever.

Joe didn't think he could do it alone, so he signed up at his local Conyers, Ga., L A Weight Loss center. There, he worked with several one-on-one counselors who coached him through his weight loss journey.

Joe learned the importance of portion control, and ate small meals throughout the day to keep his metabolism working. He also incorporated more fruits, vegetables, water, and lean meats into his diet. And to satisfy his sweet tooth, Joe snacked on L A Lite bars.

After less than a year on the program, Joe lost 60 pounds, and now weighs 234 pounds! Since losing weight, he enjoys buying new clothes, because he doesn't have to order from catalogs that carry extra large sizes.

Almost all of his medical problems have subsided as well. And Joe feels even closer to his wife, as they enjoy cooking together from the L A Lite cookbook. In fact, following Joe's good example helped her shed a few pounds, too!

But for Joe, the best part about losing weight is all the new energy he has. He's more active than he's been in years, and doesn't have to worry about hanging up his umpire helmet any time soon.

Obesity might run in Joe's family, but he found the secret to breaking the trend. Way to go, Joe!

Here's Joe at 294 pounds:



Here he is today, 60 pounds lighter, at 234 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Joe Bellino
Hometown: Covington, Ga.
Age: 55
Height: 5'10"

Starting weight: 294 pounds
Goal weight: 234 pounds
Current weight: 234 pounds
Program start date: December 2006

Favorite food: Sweets.

Biggest temptation: Eating out too often.

Biggest motivator: Receiving constant support from his wife.

Biggest obstacle: Avoiding sweets.

Old eating philosophy: Eating anything he wanted.

New eating philosophy: Eating balanced meals and drinking more water.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better about himself.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eat smaller meals throughout the day, and don't starve yourself.

Dana Shocaroff shares her weight loss with the world

We've got three new bloggers coming on board, and they're all actual L A Weight Loss Clients who'll be sharing their weight-loss journey with you over the next few months.

First up is Dana Shocaroff, who was 264 pounds when she joined L A Weight Loss last March. She's already lost an incredible 60 pounds, with just 40 more to go before reaching her goal weight!!

Here she is, just starting out on the program.



Listen as Jackie Z and I talk to her about life before L A Weight Loss, where she is now, and what she hopes for the future.



Also check out our other new contributors Carolina Yepez and Debbie McKay.

For heavier or lighter, 'till weight do us part

A trip to the Field of Dreams in Iowa turned into a nightmare for Jeff and Danita Dostalek when they got their photos back, and saw how heavy they had become. They decided to tackle the weight issue as a team by changing their lifestyle and learning how to eat right.

After a string of failed diet attempts, the couple discovered L A Weight Loss, which let them eat real food, but with the right balance and portions. Together, they lost a total of 90 pounds!!

Now Danita is much more outgoing in her social life -- her son’s friends say she’s hot! And Jeff finally had the energy and confidence to join the local over-30 baseball league. Now that’s what I call a field of dreams.

The happy couple before:



And the even happier--and healthier--couple now:



FAST FACTS

Name: Danita and Jeff Dostalek
Hometown: McFarland, Wis.
Age: 42; 43

Starting weight: Danita -- 195 lbs.; Jeff -- 229 lbs.
Goal weight: 145 lbs.; 200 lbs.
Current weight: 135 lbs.; 200 lbs.
Program start date: August 2004; October 2004

Biggest temptation: Chocolate and donuts.

Biggest motivator: Wanted to increase their energy levels.

Biggest obstacle: Occasional lack of discipline about the program.

Old eating philosophy: Grab chips or donuts for a snack.

New eating philosophy: Reach for the apple or carrot!

Best thing about of losing weight: More energy, better sleep, improved relationships.

Best weight loss secret learned: You begin the journey just by walking in and getting information -- it's definitely the right choice.