Marlene Bruce changes her lifestyle and her life

Any mom will tell you they fell in love with their babies before they even laid eyes on them. But besides gaining the loves of her life during her two pregnancies, Marlene Bruce gained some serious pounds that she just couldn't shake.

Marlene struggled with her weight all of her adult life. Her first pregnancy though, put her over the edge. Marlene was easily 50 pounds overweight, and couldn't shed it. After her second pregnancy and another 50 pounds, her doctor told her she was obese.

At 227 pounds, she was tired all the time, and couldn't keep up with her energetic kids. The extra pounds also gave Marlene backaches and headaches.

Marlene knew she needed to lose weight, but after a number of failed attempts, knew she couldn't do it alone. When Marlene's personal and emotional life took a hit with her divorce at the age of 31, she was ready for a full lifestyle change.

So in April 2007 she turned to her local Chico, Calif., L A Weight Loss center, where she was matched up with a one-on-one weight loss counselor. Marlene and her counselor worked together to design a diet plan that fit her lifestyle.

She cut out the frequent fast food runs, all-day snacking, and usual dessert indulgences. Now, her diet consists of lean meats and proteins, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. To satisfy her sweet tooth, Marlene indulges with lo-fat frozen yogurt and the occasional lite ice cream.

Marlene also joined a gym to get her body (and her metabolism) moving. Now, she puts in an easy 3.5 miles on the treadmill, and walks the neighborhood with her friend Jemma.

All of Marlene's healthy lifestyle adjustments did the trick. Marlene passed her weight loss goal of 150 pounds, and currently weighs 145 pounds. That's a total of 82 pounds!

Since slimming down, Marlene's entire attitude has improved. Her health problems have subsided. She's not ever embarrassed in public anymore, and she has no problem keeping up with her kids. In fact, they are able to spend more time doing fun things together now, such as roller blading and mini golfing.

Best of all, Marlene finally feels like her outside matches her inside. She's beautiful both inside and out! Way to go, Marlene!

Here's Marlene at 227 pounds:


And here she is now looking fabulous at 82 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Marleen Bruce
Hometown: Chico, Calif.
Age: 37
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 227 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 145 pounds
Program start date: April 2007

Favorite food: Chocolate.

Biggest temptation: Ice Cream.

Biggest motivator: Staying healthy for her kids.

Biggest obstacle: Getting past the emotional eating habit and changing her lifestyle.

Old eating philosophy: Grabbing her favorite fast food fixes whenever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Eating more lean meats, vegetables, and fruits.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling confident again in life.

Best weight loss secret learned: Controlling portion sizes can control your weight.

Horse farmer reigns in unhealthy eating

With all of the physical work farmers do, you'd probably imagine they're in good shape. But that wasn't the case for Floyd Pepper. As a horse farmer, Floyd was so busy taking care of his animals, that he lost sight of taking care of his health.

Floyd's weight steadily increased throughout his life. He had always been active on his South Carolina farm, but it didn't counteract his unhealthy eating habits. He often chowed down on fried chicken, burgers, and chili.

Everyday activities became difficult for Floyd. He had high blood pressure, and was at risk for diabetes. Worse, Floyd lost the energy needed to maintain the farm, and his work suffered because of it.

At 320 pounds, Floyd was very lethargic, and he figured something was seriously wrong with his health. But he denied that the issue was his weight, until things got worse.

He could barely lift bags of feed, and his horse struggled to carry him on long trail rides. Floyd realized he needed to drop the pounds.

Floyd tried dieting, even to the point where he'd starve himself. But he couldn't shed the weight. He was considering gastric bypass surgery when a friend told him about L A Weight Loss. Desperate to lose weight, Floyd decided to give it a shot. He joined his local Easley, S.C., L A Weight Loss center, and was paired with a personal weight loss counselor.

His counselor taught him the healthy way to lose weight, without starving himself. Floyd added more fruits and vegetables to his diet, and learned many delicious ways to grill his food instead of frying it.

He also incorporated L A Weight Loss supplements into his diet, and treated himself to L A Lite bars to curb his sweet cravings. Floyd also learned the importance of portion control.

It wasn't long before Floyd saw the results of his new diet plan. After one year on the program, he's lost 82 pounds. At 238 pounds, Floyd is only 18 pounds away from his weight loss goal.

Now in the homestretch of his weight loss journey, Floyd is realizing the overwhelming physical benefits of losing weight. He has more energy than he's had in years, and his farm work is fun again. Floyd's blood pressure and blood sugars have dropped to healthy levels.

Floyd is now enjoying activities that he's been unable to do for years, such as water sports. He can also go on longer trail rides with his horse, and tries to run every day.

Floyd loves that he can get out of bed in the morning pain-free, and do the things he loves. His son and girlfriend are happy he's taken the steps to better health -- and so is his horse! ;)

Floyd is so happy about his weight loss, he tells everyone he knows about it. He's motivated a few friends to join the program too. Way to go, Floyd! Keep up the great work!

Here's Floyd at 320 pounds:



And here he is today, looking and feeling 15 years younger at 238 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Floyd Pepper
Hometown: Easley, S.C.
Age: 46
Height: 6'

Starting weight: 320 pounds
Goal weight: 220 pounds
Current weight: 238 pounds
Program start date: February 2007

Favorite food: BBQ ribs.

Biggest temptation: Beer.

Biggest motivator: Seeing the results.

Biggest obstacle: Sticking to his meal plan while on trail rides.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing down on whatever he wanted, then trying to lose weight by starving himself.

New eating philosophy: Eating more to lose more.

Best thing about losing weight: Gaining his life back.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eating well involves both healthy portions and healthy foods.

Bride-to-be says "I do" to weight loss

If you're getting married and need to shed weight, take heart. It's a common bride-to-be problem. But some solutions are easier than others, as Nicole Marto of Green Bay, Wis., discovered.

Nicole led an active lifestyle, frequently playing softball and rollerblading. But when she was away from the field and sidewalks, she indulged in fast food, pizza, red meat, salty snacks, and whatever else satisfied her taste buds.

The extra calories pushed her weight to 217 pounds. She often felt uncomfortable in groups, and she would never be seen in a bathing suit. Instead, she hid behind baggy, dull clothing.

Though her eating habits were lacking, her love life was quite the opposite. She became engaged in June 2005, and couldn't wait to tie the knot. But it wasn't long before a dark cloud dampened her spirits.

It happened the following month when a D.J. on her local country music station talked about his success losing weight on the L A Weight Loss plan.

Nicole looked down at the sparkling diamond on her left hand. In a little more than a year, she'd be walking down the aisle. But at 217 pounds, would she be a beautiful bride?

Nicole didn't want to consider the negative. She resolved right then to lose enough weight to wear a size 6 wedding dress. And to do so, she'd join L A Weight Loss. Nicole called her local, Green Bay, Wis., center, and signed up that day.

She worked with her personal weight loss counselors, Carrie, Shannon, and Sarah, to develop a new eating routine. She incorporated more fish, vegetables, and fruit into her diet, while cutting back on fast food. L A Lite bars took care of her sweet cravings.

Nicole's counselors also taught her portion control. She knew just how much to eat to satisfy her hunger without over-indulging.

L A Weight Loss fit her lifestyle to a T. Amid planning her wedding (and two others she was standing in), juggling three jobs, and running a household, Nicole didn't have much time to devote to weight loss. But her counselors adapted the L A Weight Loss plan to her schedule, making it easy to drop the pounds.

After a year on the plan, Nicole shed 82 pounds, and reached her goal weight of 135 -- just in time for her wedding. She was so excited and happy to walk down the aisle in her size 6 dress, and say "I do" in front of family and friends.

Now happily married, Nicole continues to carry that energy with her. Even after working a nine-hour day, she enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband mowing the lawn and watering the flowers. And her husband loves to look at her even more ;)

She also recently sported a bikini for the first time in years, and loves wearing bright colors and tighter outfits. Overall, Nicole is more confident because she's discovered her true self. Nicole feels she's at the right weight, and can finally be herself: outgoing and vivacious!

But she isn't keeping her success a secret. She referred four people to the L A Weight Loss program, and they're all working toward their weight loss goals.

At her wedding, Nicole told her husband she would have and hold him forever. But there's something else she'll hold forever: the knowledge she gained about food and nutrition at L A Weight Loss. It's the key to helping her maintain her weight loss and healthy body for the rest of her life.

Way to go, Nicole! And good luck with your new marriage!

This is Nicole before, towing 217 pounds:



And this is Nicole after her transformation, now weighing 135. Wow, looking great, Nicole!



FAST FACTS

Name: Nicole Marto
Hometown: Green Bay, Wis.
Age: 24
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 217 pounds
Goal weight: 135 pounds
Current weight: 135 pounds
Program start date: July 2005

Favorite food: Italian.

Biggest temptation: Pizza.

Biggest motivator: Going to L A Weight Loss three times a week, and watching the number on the scale go down.

Biggest obstacle: None. Working with her counselors made losing weight. Simple!

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Balancing her diet with more more vegetables, fruits, and protein.

Best thing about losing weight: Having much more confidence.

Best weight loss secret learned: Drink plenty of water. It's your friend!

Junk-food junkie gets clean

Garbage in, garbage out.

These popular words might have started in the computer industry, but they hold true for eating, too. Consume unhealthy foods, develop unhealthy bodies.

Just ask Melissa Benavides. Growing up in San Antonio, Texas, she followed a poor diet of high-calorie Mexican dishes, chips, cakes, and cookies. And she had a pudgy figure as a result.

After getting married, Melissa gained 60 pounds with each of her two pregnancies. She had to wear plus-sized clothes, and cried because she couldn't fit into nice outfits. Her confidence was low, and she always looked at thin women, wishing she was them.

Then her dad was diagnosed with colon cancer. The news struck Melissa hard. Her dad was in great shape. How could this happen to him?

It also made her take a good look at her own body's condition. At 240 pounds, Melissa was no poster child for health. She had asthma, and was always out of breath. Worse, her knees ached to support the extra weight, and she suffered from constant headaches.

Melissa thought, if her otherwise healthy dad could get cancer, what could happen to her? And what would happen to her kids? The thought launched Melissa into action. She joined her local Bandera, Texas, L A Weight Loss center to change her life.

There, she found a new weight loss family. Melissa worked one-on-one with her counselor Michelle, who taught her a healthy eating routine and guided her through the weight loss journey.

Melissa cut back on sweets, while occasionally enjoying Jell-O. She also learned how to nix chips and caloric Mexican food -- and not miss it.

That's because she discovered healthy foods that tasted even better, such as fruits and vegetables, grilled chicken, shrimp, salmon, and salad. And she washed it all down with plenty of water.

L A Weight Loss was easier than other diets Melissa had tried because she didn't have to give up every food she loved. She just ate less of them. And the counselors never scolded her if she strayed. Instead, they helped her quickly get back on track.

Ten months later, Melissa is 100 pounds lighter, weighing in at 140! All of her health problems are improved, as she takes every opportunity to get out, socialize, and be active.

For instance, Melissa plays with her kids, running around and kicking the soccer ball. She and her family also like to go fishing, and she can enjoy it without feeling like she'll break the boat.

Friends and family are amazed at her transformation, and her husband is very proud of her. Melissa still cries when she tries on clothes, but now they're tears of joy ... because she's wearing a size 6!

Congratulations, Melissa! Keep it up!

This is junk-food junkie Melissa before at 240 pounds:



And here she is today, much healthier at 158! Way to go, Melissa!



FAST FACTS

Name: Melissa Benavides
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 37
Height: 5'5"

Starting weight: 240 pounds
Goal weight: 120 pounds
Current weight: 140 pounds
Program start date: January 2007

Favorite food: Salmon.

Biggest temptation: Tortillas and tacos.

Biggest motivator: Getting support from her dad and husband.

Biggest obstacle: Shedding the last few pounds.

Old eating philosophy: Indulging in junk food.

New eating philosophy: Being selective about what she eats.

Best thing about losing weight: Having more energy and a better outlook on life.

Best weight loss secret learned: Learn when to eat to keep your metabolism going.

Former swimmer waves good-bye to weighty worries

Sure, dropping excess pounds is weight off your body. But it's also weight off your mind. For Rodrigo Zavaleta of San Jose, Costa Rica, that freedom opened a new chapter in his life.

Rodrigo swam for Costa Rica's national team during his teenage years. Practicing twice a day burned a lot of calories and kept him in superb shape. But in his 20s, he stopped swimming, and his weight shot up.

He ate a lot of fast food and Chinese take-out. He rarely had home-cooked meals and avoided vegetables. And without any exercise to burn calories, Rodrigo ballooned to 200 pounds.

When his mother passed away six years ago, Rodrigo became depressed, and ate even more. Soon he weighed 297 pounds.

Breathing was difficult, especially at night. With all the excess weight on his chest, he couldn't lay down or get up easily, and always snored. He couldn't fit comfortably in his car, and his legs and knees constantly ached.

Rodrigo couldn't look in the mirror without feeling disgusted. He tried dieting, but couldn't stick to a plan because he had OCD. He became too anxious for the weight to come off, and when he didn't see immediate results, he quit.

Rodrigo nearly took the drastic step of having gastric bypass surgery. But then he heard about L A Weight Loss. He visited his local San Jose center, and was impressed by the friendliness and care the personal weight loss counselors showed him.

They told him how surgery wasn't necessary. Grateful that he found an easy alternative, Rodrigo signed up.

He worked one-on-one with the weight loss counselors to develop a healthy eating plan. Rodrigo cut out fast food, and learned how to make healthy, simple meals at home. For breakfast, he usually opted for two scrambled eggs with a slice of cheese, yogurt, and toast; while enjoying a sandwich, grilled chicken, or salad for lunch.

Dinners consisted of salad and fruit. And L A Lite bars and fruit rounded out Rodrigo's snacks for the day. Through it all, he leaned on his wife and weight loss counselors for support and motivation.

The weight started to come off quickly. In fact, Rodrigo lost nine pounds the first week! He's kept up his L A Weight Loss regimen, and today weighs 215 pounds! That's 82 pounds gone!

Rodrigo no longer carries the guilt of being heavy. He enjoys walking outside for an hour daily, and plays soccer and basketball with his friends. He can fit into his car without a struggle, and better control his OCD and anxiety. And much to his wife's happiness, he doesn't snore anymore!

The best part about being thinner is feeling alive. Rodrigo enjoys life -- and he's about to enjoy it even more with a new baby on the way. His wife is 12 weeks pregnant!

L A Weight Loss worked for Rodrigo because he learned how to eat healthy. He trusted the L A Weight Loss counselors, and followed their guidance. He loves to talk about L A Weight Loss, and has motivated many friends and family to join the program, too.

Rodrigo looks forward to being a great dad, and continuing to lose weight to regain his swimmer physique.

Great job, Rodrigo! Keep up the fantastic work!

Here's Rodrigo before, feeling guilty at 297 pounds:



Here's Rodrigo today, happy and carefree at 215! Way to go, Rodrigo!



FAST FACTS

Name: Rodrigo Zavaleta
Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica
Age: 35
Height: 5'8"

Starting weight: 297 pounds
Goal weight: 180 pounds
Current weight: 215 pounds
Program start date: March 21, 2006

Favorite food: Cereal.

Biggest temptation: French fries.

Biggest motivator: Getting support from his wife and L A Weight Loss counselors.

Biggest obstacle: Controlling his OCD.

Old eating philosophy: Indulging in junk food.

New eating philosophy: Eating the right foods for his body.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling happy.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eat more protein and cut down on carbs.

Rhonda Allen finds alternative to gastric bypass surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is an increasingly popular method for managing obesity, especially when diet and exercise aren't working. But the costs are well out of reach for many candidates, such as Rhonda Allen of Mesa, Ariz.

Rhonda comes from a family that likes to eat. All of her seven siblings have weight issues, as they gravitated toward high-fat and high-calorie foods throughout their lives.

Chips, soda, ice cream, and Mexican and Chinese food filled Rhonda's plates. She also ate big portions, and indulged even more when she was stressed out. Before long, she topped out at 332 pounds.

Rhonda was hypothyroid, too, and had sleep apnea, heart arrhythmia, and knee problems. She also had a family history of heart problems, and feared she'd pass away and lose her family. Plus, she was embarrassed to be seen in public, and didn't want her kids to be teased because of their obese mother.

Then she saw a photo of herself around Easter 2004, and knew she had a problem. Rhonda thought she looked awful. She researched gastric bypass surgery, but it was too expensive for her, and her insurance company wouldn't cover the costs.

Rhonda didn't know what else to do, until her husband encouraged her to try L A Weight Loss. So one day after dropping her kids off at school, she drove to her local L A Weight Loss center. She decided to join with her sister, who was also overweight.

Working with the L A Weight Loss counselors and nutrition experts, Rhonda cut out junk food and soda. Instead, she ate three healthy meals a day with small snacks in between. The weight loss counselors also taught her how to suppress her cravings for unhealthy foods, so she was no longer tempted by fast food.

Rhonda is now down to 250 pounds, and well on her way to her goal of 160! She can walk and breathe easily, and her medical conditions have improved. She now wears more flattering clothes, and has energy to exercise.

She also created a scrapbook of photos from when she was at her heaviest, and photos of herself now. She says her clothes are very different, and she feels motivated to keep going.

In fact, Rhonda's success inspired several other people to join L A Weight Loss, including her three sisters, three sister-in-laws, four friends, and brother-in-law! Now that's an L A Weight Loss family!

Feeling better about herself has made a huge difference in Rhonda's life -- and she got there without gastric bypass surgery. Way to go, Rhonda! Keep up the great work! We'll check in on Rhonda's progress soon ...

Here's Rhonda before, ballooning at 332 pounds:



And here she is now, dropping the pounds at 250. Great job, Rhonda!



FAST FACTS

Name: Rhonda Allen
Hometown: Mesa, Ariz.
Age: 40
Height: 5'2"

Starting weight: 332 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 250 pounds
Program start date: February 2005

Favorite food: Mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate ice cream.

Biggest motivator: Feeling better about herself as she lost the weight, and having her sister join L A Weight Loss with her.

Biggest obstacle: Being stressed from taking care of her kids, and putting them before herself.

Old eating philosophy: Grabbing whatever was quick and easy.

New eating philosophy: Having more vegetables, and making healthy choices.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling happier, having higher self-confidence, and being able to have a baby.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eat smaller portion sizes!