Sandra Shedd sheds the pounds for a healthier life

Losing a loved one is a struggle all people go through at least once in a lifetime. It is devastating. But sometimes, if we are lucky, that death inspires us to live our own lives better.

Sandra Shedd understood the pain of death, and used her struggles to help herself live. Sandra had struggled with her weight her entire life. She was heavy when she was young, and got heavier after giving birth to her children.

Then tragedy struck. Sandra's sister and mother lost their battles with cancer. Sandra was devastated, and comforted herself with food. In the months following her sister's death, she gained another 40 pounds, putting her at 210 pounds.

Sandra felt huge. She had trouble breathing, and everyday tasks such as tying her shoes became a burden. Worse, Sandra wasn't motivated to get out of bed in the morning. And she could always be found in her recliner after work.

Sandra knew she needed to drop the pounds, because her weight put her at higher risk for fatal repercussions. Driven by the memory of her mom and sister, she tried a number of diets, but nothing lasted.

Sandra heard about L A Weight Loss and decided to give it a try. In January 2007, she marched into her local Rome, Ga., L A Weight Loss center, and worked with her personal weight loss counselors to revamp her eating habits.

Fried foods, fast foods, and junk foods were out. Instead, she enjoyed grilled lean meats, fresh fruits, yogurt smoothies, and vegetable drinks. And Sandra was thrilled she could still eat what she loved, just in smaller portions.

Sandra has lost 65 pounds on the program. Her husband supported her 100 percent, and is proud of her for all the weight she's knocked off -- and kept off!

Sandra also appreciates the constant compliments from friends and family. She's proud of how she looks, and isn't ashamed to look in the mirror. In fact, she loves what she sees when she does. ;)

Best of all, Sandra is healthier. She can do things she couldn't before, like play with her three grandchildren without getting winded. Plus, her decreased weight has taken her off the high-risk list for everything from heart disease to cancer, and for that she is truly thankful.

Here's 210-pound Sandra at her first L A Weight Loss weigh-in:



Here she is now looking a lot happier and healthier at 145 pounds. We're proud of you, Sandra!



FAST FACTS

Name: Sandra Shedd
Hometown: Rome, Ga.
Age: 52
Height: 5'5"

Starting weight: 210 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 145 pounds
Program start date: January 2007

Favorite food: Turkey patties.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Her husband.

Biggest obstacle: Finding it difficult to not revert to old eating habits when she became stressed.

Old eating philosophy: Snacking on junk food often.

New eating philosophy: Eating properly.

Best thing about losing weight: Having much more energy.

Best weight loss secret learned: You actually have to eat more to lose weight.

Canadian woman ditches those three little words

"The heavy one." Those three words can strike dread in the hearts of thousands. No one wants to be the heavy one.

But Heather Elliot was. She struggled with weight her entire life in a family with two skinny sisters. School was no different. Heather always felt she was the heavy one among all of her friends, too.

Once she graduated college, Heather treated herself to months of relaxation and celebration. She constantly chowed down on chips and sweets. The weight piled on.

Then her grandmother -- one of Heather's biggest supporters -- pointed out the young woman's weight gain. That's when Heather decided she was sick and tired of feeling heavy.

She joined her local L A Weight Loss center in Burnaby, British Columbia, in April 2006. But she was devastated at her weigh-in when the scaled tipped to 276 pounds. That convinced Heather to lighten her life.

She immediately connected with her personal L A Weight Loss counselors. Heather felt they understood her, and could motivate her through her weight loss journey, even when she hit a plateau.

Around the same time, Heather's dad was diagnosed with diabetes. So they took on the challenge of transforming their diets together. He offered her tons of support, and his compliments inspired her to keep losing.

Heather went through a complete lifestyle change with L A Weight Loss. She learned the importance of portion control, and didn't even want to eat unhealthy foods anymore. Plus, it became easier to make the right decisions.

Soon her diet was filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and lots of water. And the knowledge she learned at L A Weight Loss helped her make the right decisions when she ate out.

Her dedication paid off in a big way -- 65 pounds, in fact! Now Heather has a whole new life. Her relationships with family and friends are stronger than ever, and she can do all the things she loves.

For example, she has become a better baseball player (which thrilled her coach); rides all the amusement park rides; teaches children with disabilities; enjoys working out; and adores shopping and hiking.

Plus, Heather is enjoying her newfound confidence, which has launched her into the dating world for the first time ever! Best of all, she loves her new body and her new outlook. And she knows that she will never be the heavy one again.

Here's Heather weighing 276 pounds:



And here she is now, looking fantastic and feeling better than ever! Way to go, Heather!



FAST FACTS

Name: Heather Elliott
Hometown: New Westminster, British Columbia
Age: 22
Height: 5'7"

Starting weight: 276 pounds
Goal weight: 211 pounds
Current weight: 211 pounds
Program start date: April 2006

Favorite food: Salad.

Biggest temptation: Beer and chocolate sweets.

Biggest motivator: Seeing constant results with her weight loss.

Biggest obstacle: Cutting out bad foods from her diet.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever tastes good, especially sweets.

New eating philosophy: Eating healthy with the right portion sizes.

Best thing about losing weight: Watching her self-confidence skyrocket.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eat smaller portion sizes more often throughout the day.

Cancer survivor returns to nature to get out of the woods

When Ladonna Causey "got away from it all" last summer, she didn't take a Club Med vacation or mountain hiking trip. Not even a Caribbean cruise or European adventure would suffice this time. Instead, she went on a different kind of journey, one she started 32 years ago as a high school student.

That's when Ladonna's weight began to yo-yo. She continued to gain and lose weight in college and during her three pregnancies. But her health struggle became a battle in 2002 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Unfortunately, chemotherapy wasn't effective, so she underwent a double mastectomy. Still, cancer didn't release its grip on Ladonna. She was diagnosed with pre-uterine cancer in 2006, and had her uterus and ovaries removed.

Meanwhile, Ladonna was also trying to manage her full-time job, raise three children, and run a household. Worse, her marriage was on the rocks. The stress in her life was so great, she had to take sleeping pills at night to reduce her anxiety.

Ladonna also had a ruptured disc in her back and a torn meniscus in her knee. Her excess weight made it difficult to walk, and she couldn't go a day without pain medication.

It's no wonder she turned to food for comfort. Her diet consisted of high-fat and high-sodium foods. She regularly ate pizza, ice cream, and lots of carbs, pushing her weight to 225 pounds. Her health battle soon became a war.

Then something in Ladonna snapped last summer. The stress and pain were too much. She couldn't take it anymore. Ladonna knew she had to change her life immediately if she was going to be happy again. So she ventured into the wilderness to spend seven days alone in a cabin.

There she read books on health, nutrition, and spiritual growth and development. She learned how to become less dependent on her medications, and wrote extensively in a journal.

She also prayed to God for guidance. She learned that she was responsible for her health, and needed to focus on herself and her needs right now.

Ladonna returned from the cabin refreshed, and with a new outlook on life. She knew what she had to do to get her life back on track, starting with losing weight. So she quit her job and joined L A Weight Loss.

Working with the personal weight loss counselors, Ladonna learned how to eat healthy foods in proper portions. She also started eating more fresh foods, and drinking more water. And L A Weight Loss's weekly weigh-ins kept her accountable and on track.

Ladonna lost 35 pounds by December. She felt her health coming back, and saw a light at the end of the tunnel.

Proof of her new strength came the day after Christmas, when her husband of 14 years unexpectedly left the family. Ladonna was devastated at first, but at the same time, she felt at ease. For the first time in years, her health and sanity were returning.

She continued losing weight on the L A Weight Loss plan, and today is at her goal weight of 160 pounds!! She feels like a new person! Her knee is improved, and she no longer takes sleeping pills and pain medication. Ladonna also got her real estate license, and loves her new job.

Plus, she's more social, and enjoys going out. On weekends, Ladonna likes to go hiking, and is taking salsa and tango lessons. She's even testing the dating waters again!

With her life falling into place, Ladonna has considered having reconstructive surgery on her breasts. But she's not sure if she wants to go through more surgery, and besides, most people don't even notice -- they're too distracted by her smiling face!

The best part of Ladonna's weight loss journey is feeling healthier. She has a sense of accomplishment, and feels she can conquer anything now. Ladonna has created a new vision for her life, one with health, happiness, and peace.

Congrats, Ladonna! You're a great inspiration to people everywhere! Way to go!

This is Ladonna at her heaviest, clocking in at 225 pounds:



And here she is today, a new person at 160 pounds. Great job, Ladonna!!



FAST FACTS

Name: Ladonna Causey
Hometown: New Braunfels, Texas
Age: 46
Height: 5'5"

Starting weight: 225
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Program start date: July 2006

Favorite food: Mexican food and ice cream.

Biggest temptation: Chips and salsa.

Biggest motivator: Getting healthy.

Biggest obstacle: Having a fridge full of unhealthy food, and being stressed out.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever was convenient or what the family wanted.

New eating philosophy: Supporting her health with fresh, unprocessed foods.

Best thing about losing weight: Improving her health and eliminating body pains.

Best weight loss secret learned: When you reach a plateau, try eating only protein, fruits, and vegetables for two days. It can boost your body to lose the weight.

Firefighter burns fat, saves his own life

Couple hot flames with bulky suits and 60-pound oxygen tanks, and fighting fires can wipe out even the healthiest people. That's why firefighters need to be in tip-top physical shape to do their job safely and well.

But for volunteer firefighter Ryan Hargis of Kingston, Tenn., his physical shape was holding him back. At 253 pounds, Ryan had borderline high blood pressure and cholesterol. He couldn't keep up with his fellow East Roane County firefighters or his seven- and nine-year-old boys like he used to.

In fact, Ryan's doctor told him to get his blood pressure down in three months, or face medication. That was the final straw for Ryan.

You can hear about this moment of truth and more from an interview Janelle and I recently conducted with Ryan. We talked about being a firefighter, and how losing weight has affected his life. Warning: It's a scorcher!



Can't take the heat? Here's the short version of Ryan's journey:

After mulling over his diagnosis, Ryan remembered seeing TV commercials for L A Weight Loss, and thought the plan looked like something he could easily follow. So he took a short trip to the L A Weight Loss center in Knoxville, Tenn., on April 15, 2006 -- the first step toward dousing his high blood pressure and cholesterol.

Since that date, Ryan has lost 65 pounds and is now down to 188 pounds!! He credits his success to how little he had to change his life. The L A Weight Loss nutritionists taught Ryan how he could still eat his favorite foods, but in moderation. Ryan also learned how to overcome his carb cravings with healthier options such as fruits.

Ryan's blood pressure is now normal, and he has a lot more energy to fight fires and play with his kids.

When Ryan reached his initial goal weight of 200 pounds, he started to incorporate exercise into his healthy lifestyle to keep his muscles strong for just about any physical challenge.

In fact, it was Ryan's newfound energy and strength that enabled him to make a big difference for his firefighting squad and his county. Toward the end of last year, his team was called to put out a large house fire. Thanks to a fit and trim body, Ryan was able to support his team every step of the way without getting winded. The squad saved the house!

In recognition of his efforts, Ryan won the Firefighter of the Year Award for East Roane County. Way to go, Ryan and team!

Here's Ryan before, at 253 pounds:



And here's Ryan after, at 188 pounds. Looking hot, Ryan!!



FAST FACTS

Name: Ryan Hargis
Hometown: Kingston, Tenn.
Age: 36
Height: 5'11"

Starting weight: 253 pounds
Goal weight: 190 pounds
Current weight: 188 pounds
Program start date: April 15, 2006

Biggest motivator: Getting support and love from his wife.

Biggest obstacle: Finding a weight loss plan that fit into his hectic schedule.

Old eating philosophy: Burning through three big meals a day.

New eating philosophy: Eating several small meals throughout the day, and going for healthier options such as fruits and L A Lite bars.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better physically and emotionally. Now when he looks in the mirror, he doesn't see the same big person staring back.

Best weight loss secret learned: Everyone has periods when they get discouraged. The winners are the ones who keep at it. Keep going, and the results will come!