Minn. mom becomes mini mom

Losing weight doesn't just change your eating habits, it changes your life. For Jess Zacharias, life changed dramatically for the better.

Jess was never thin. She had bad eating habits, and rarely exercised. And after two pregnancies, she lost control completely.

Her weight soared to 217 pounds. She developed kidney and gall bladder stones, was constantly winded, and had high blood pressure. Jess was also embarrassed to be seen in public, and felt ugly compared to girls who weighed less.

In 2006, Jess was asked to be a bridesmaid in her sister-in-law's wedding. When she went to the dress fitting though, she realized she was "the heavy one."

Then and there, Jess decided to take control of her weight. So she joined her local St. Paul Park, Minn., L A Weight Loss center.

Jess worked with the center's one-on-one weight loss counselors, who offered her tips and tricks to revamp her diet and lifestyle. She added plenty of fruits, vegetables, and chicken to her diet. Jess also started making smarter snacking choices. Instead of chips, she reached for rice cakes or yogurt.

Since joining L A Weight Loss in Nov. 2006, Jess has shed 61 pounds. She passed her weight loss goal of 160 pounds, and now weighs in at 156!

Jess hasn't just changed her diet, she's changed her entire life. She can do things now she couldn't before, such as wear cute clothes. Jess no longer tries to hide her body, and enjoys swimming in public pools.

The best part about losing weight is the confidence she's gained. She's no longer shy, and loves going out to meet old friends -- many of whom don't even recognize her. She's smaller now than she was in high school!

Jess's success has even inspired others to join L A Weight Loss. Her cousin and mom's best friend are now on the program, too. Congrats, Jess! We knew you could do it!

Here's Jess at 217 pounds, shortly before she joined L A Weight Loss:



And here she is today, at a slender 156 pounds. You look fantastic, Jess!



FAST FACTS

Name: Jess Zacharias
Hometown: St. Paul Park, Minn.
Age: 29
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 217 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 156 pounds
Program start date: November 2006

Favorite food: Chicken breast.

Biggest temptation: Sweets.

Biggest motivator: Getting encouraging responses from everyone.

Biggest obstacle: Eating out and still eating healthy.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Making healthier choices.

Best thing about losing weight: Seeing people's reactions.

Best weight loss secret learned: It's not a diet, it's a healthy lifestyle.

N.C. woman drops the bulk for a tighter belt

Most of us have heard our parents say, "Finish your dinner, there are children starving all over the world." Kaysie Brown took those words literally.

Family meals were always super-sized in Kaysie’s home. Hence the reason for her life-long weight struggle. She grew up in a meat-and-potatoes household, eating burgers, fries, chili, and hot dogs nearly every day. High-calorie deli sandwiches, bread, and pasta were also bad addictions for Kaysie.

These habits spilled over into her own child-rearing years. A single mom, Kaysie cooked cheaper cuts of meat, fried just about everything, and continued to pack on the pounds. She also traveled a lot with her boyfriend and always ate out.

Making matters worse, Kaysie broke her back horseback riding in 2001. She was immobile for six months. The stress caused her to turn to food and her weight increased.

By October 2006, she weighed 217 pounds and had had enough. Her doctor was concerned about her rising cholesterol and put her on medication. She also suffered from asthma. She tried several diets and weight loss plans, but nothing worked for her.

Then she passed an L A Weight Loss center near her home one day. Kaysie decided to give it a shot. Working with the center’s personal weight loss counselors, Kaysie began losing weight immediately.

She now incorporates fresh vegetables, whole wheat pasta, and whole wheat bread into her diet. At restaurants, she eats only a portion of the entree, and takes home the rest for her next meal. She also drinks lots of water.

Kaysie now weighs 156 pounds and is well on her way to her goal weight of 145 pounds! Her son and daughter are very proud of her, and are thankful she’ll be around to meet her future grandchildren.

And the best part about being thinner: Her brand-new wardrobe! She’s given all her old clothes away.

She’s also more active and takes 30- to 45-minute walks three times a week, and does yoga every day.

Dropping the weight has infused Kaysie with self-confidence and given her a new purpose for living.

Awesome job, Kaysie!

Here is Kaysie at 217 pounds with her daughter, Amy, and son, Greg:



And her she is now, at a wonderful-looking 156 pounds! Looking fabulous, Kaysie!



FAST FACTS

Name: Kaysie Brown
Hometown: Clayton, N.C.
Age: 59
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 217 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds
Current weight: 156 pounds
Program start date: Oct. 11, 2006

Favorite food: Seafood such as scallops, shrimp, lobster, and fish, with fresh vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Pasta and bread.

Biggest motivator: Living to see her grandchildren.

Biggest obstacle: Maintaining self-discipline.

Old eating philosophy: Eating for now, and worrying about the consequences later.

New eating philosophy: Eating to live, not living to eat.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling healthier and fitting into smaller-sized clothing.

Best weight loss secret learned: Make healthy choices. It's not that hard!

Two hearts beat as one

For Wendy and Mark Wagler, joining L A Weight Loss together was a no-brainer. They've always had a solid marriage, and both had the same health concern: They didn't want their weight to get in the way of living a long, happy life.

They were also concerned about the health problems that run in their families. Wendy's father was diabetic who passed away before turning 60, and her mother suffered a few strokes. Mark's father recently had his lower intestines removed.

Being overweight themselves, Wendy and Mark knew they were heading down the wrong road. Wendy and Mark walked into the Oshawa, Ontario, L A Weight Loss center together on Aug. 1, 2005.

Through it all, working together was key. After listening to their story, I don't think they would have been so successful had they done it alone. They leaned on each other a lot for support, and bought new bikes for each other as a reward for losing weight.

They even surpassed their goal weights together! Wendy went from 190 pounds to 129 pounds (six pounds below her goal), and Mark went from 230 pounds to 168 pounds (seven pounds below his goal).

Now Wendy and Mark are planning a vacation to show off their new bodies. They made the commitment to lose weight, and ended up becoming more committed to each other. Wendy and Mark tell me they are more in love than ever! Ah, amore!

Here's the couple before, Wendy at 190 pounds, and Mark at 230 pounds:



And here's Wendy today at 129 pounds:



Here's Mark today at 168:



FAST FACTS

Name: Wendy Wagler
Hometown: Oshawa, Ontario
Age: 43

Starting weight: 190 pounds
Goal weight: 135 pounds
Current weight: 129 pounds
Program start date: Aug. 1, 2005

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Her husband, Mark.

Biggest obstacle: Staying disciplined.

Old eating philosophy: Atkins diet, which made her gain weight once she started eating carbs again.

New eating philosophy: Salad everyday, with good portions of protein.

Best thing about losing weight: Having the confidence to go back to school to be a medical lab technicians, and looking forward to the future with her family.

Best weight loss secret learned: Erase all the memories of weight loss failure. Focus on what the L A Weight Loss counselors tell you, and you'll succeed.



Name: Mark Wagler
Hometown: Oshawa, Ontario
Age: 44

Starting weight: 230 pounds
Goal weight: 175 pounds
Current weight: 168 pounds
Program start date: Aug. 1, 2005

Biggest motivator: His wife, Wendy.

Biggest obstacle: Revamping his eating style.

Old eating philosophy: Weight Watchers and Atkins, which were "too difficult to stay on."

New eating philosophy: Plan meals the day before, and watch sodium consumption.

Best thing about losing weight: Having the energy to spend more time with the kids, and being more in love with Wendy.

Best weight loss secret learned: You don't have to go it alone. It's OK to lean on others to help you through this major life change.