Anne Brownfield takes weight loss to heart

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. That's a motto Anne Brownfield was all too familiar with. And unfortunately, it related to her weight loss.

Ann struggled with weight for most of her life. She remembers her struggle beginning when she was seven years old. Anne had tried losing weight countless times, but nothing worked.

At 230 pounds, she struggled with acid reflux and heart burn. And walking anywhere was difficult. Plus, she was always uncomfortable. Anne was embarrassed in public, and couldn't fit into restaurant booths.

She knew that if she wanted to live longer, she needed to get healthy. With a long list of failed diets behind her, in October 2005, she turned to L A Weight Loss.

Anne joined her local Terre Haute, Ind. L A Weight Loss center, and was paired up with a one-on-one weight loss counselor. Anne liked that all of her meetings were private, and she didn't have to get up in front of a group to be weighed.

And thanks to her weight loss counselor, for the first time, she learned about what she should and should not be eating. Anne cut back on her fast food and boxed food meals, and started incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and lean meats into her diet.

It wasn't long before the weight started coming off. Since joining L A Weight Loss, Anne has dropped 90 pounds. At 140 pounds, she's only 10 pounds away from her weight loss goal.

And as her weight decreased, so did her medical problems. Anne's acid reflux and heartburn are completely gone. And she has no problem going for walks. Even better, Anne loves going shopping for new, smaller clothes.

Best of all, her self-esteem has greatly improved. Anne is happier and healthier than ever before. Way to go Anne!

Here's Anne at 230 pounds:



And here she is today at 140 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Anne Brownfield
Hometown: Terre Haute, Ind.
Age: 46
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 230 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 140 pounds
Program start date: October 2005

Favorite food: Sweets.

Biggest temptation: Fast food.

Biggest motivator: Feeling better.

Biggest obstacle: Getting through the plateaus.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever was easiest.

New eating philosophy: Making sure she eats in the right portions.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better physically and mentally.

Best weight loss secret learned: You don't need candy if you snack on L A Lite bars.

Brenda Russell finds happiness in a smaller size

Finding someone who loves you unconditionally is one of life's greatest joys. But what happens when that love affects your health? Ask Brenda Russell.

Brenda never struggled with her weight until she gave birth to her son. She was 77 pounds heavier after her pregnancy, and staying at home with her son only gave her more time to eat.

Brenda eventually lost the baby weight. But after a painful split from her husband, she gained it all back. Years went by, and Brenda just couldn't drop the extra pounds.

Her eating habits didn't help. Brenda began each day with a large bowl of macaroni and cheese. Lunch was almost always McDonald's. Dinner meant more fried foods, mashed potatoes, and plenty of butter. She snacked on chips and cookies in between meals.

When Brenda remarried, her husband said he loved her for who she was. So at 227 pounds, Brenda still wasn't worried about her weight ... until her health started to suffer.

Brenda developed asthma, and her feet were constantly aching. Plus, diabetes ran in her family. When Brenda's mother had an obesity-induced stroke, Brenda knew it was time to do something about her own weight.

In May 2006, Brenda joined her local San Angelo, Texas, L A Weight Loss center. She worked with her one-on-one weight loss counselors, who helped her get her diet in line.

Brenda cut out her fast and fried food fixes, and replaced them with baked and grilled meats, vegetables, fruit, and plenty of water. Instead of chowing down on fatty red meats, Brenda opted for chicken or turkey.

Brenda quickly discovered that these lifestyle adjustments made a huge difference. After less than two years on the program, she's shed 90 pounds! At 137 pounds, Brenda does things she never would have dreamed of when she was heavier, like walking in a bathing suit, and shopping for cute clothes.

Plus, Brenda's husband loves to hike. And for the first time ever, Brenda can join him on his outdoor excursions. They're able to do more together and have grown even closer.

Brenda loves the way she looks now. She's much happier with her smaller size, and her confidence has improved greatly. Way to go, Brenda!

Here's Brenda at 227 pounds:



And here she is today at a healthy 137 pounds. You look 10 years younger, Brenda! Way to go!



FAST FACTS

Name: Brenda Russell
Hometown: San Angelo, Texas
Age: 44
Height: 5'2"

Starting weight: 227 pounds
Goal weight: 137 pounds
Current weight: 137 pounds
Program start date: May 2006

Favorite food: French fries.

Biggest temptation: Pizza.

Biggest motivator: Watching her body transform.

Biggest obstacle: Eating well when having other people's cooking.

Old eating philosophy: Eating it if it's there.

New eating philosophy: Eating until she's comfortable, then saving the rest.

Best thing about losing weight: Being able to play with her grandkids without getting winded.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can eat healthy and still enjoy you food.

Dedicated mom finds the prescription to health and happiness

Pregnancy means eating for two, right? Wrong. Thinking you can eat whatever you want is a common misconception for many mothers-to-be.

Zoorina Davis found that out the hard way. She never struggled with weight until her first pregnancy, when she packed on 60 pounds and reached an all-time high of 246 pounds. Then, Zoorina became so absorbed with taking care of her baby that she didn't take care of herself.

When she was pregnant a second time, Zoorina put on weight again. She would regularly dine on fatty foods, using her pregnancy as an excuse for eating poorly.

To make matters worse, her husband traveled often for his job. This prompted Zoorina to turn to food for comfort when she was lonely or overwhelmed with caring for her children.

Then came the last straw. In 2003, Zoorina underwent surgery to remove her failing gall bladder, which was also causing kidney problems, as a result of her weight.

After surgery, Zoorina gained another 20 pounds. She was depressed and concerned about her health. Her physician filled out a prescription: "Go to weight loss center."

Zoorina had tried dieting before, but without success. So when she joined L A Weight Loss, she was afraid she wouldn't meet her goals -- again.

But this time, one-on-one support from her personal L A Weight Loss counselors made the difference. They transformed her diet by teaching her to eat five to six small meals a day.

Zoorina also learned that whipping up a healthy meal with chicken or fish was easier than she thought. And whenever she needed something sweet, she indulged in an L A Lite bar.

Her counselors also helped Zoorina get on a regimented exercise program, where she worked out five times a week.

Thanks to these lifestyle changes, Zoorina now weighs 156 pounds, and is well on her way to her goal weight of 136 pounds!

Better yet, Zoorina's healthy example has inspired her entire family to adopt her eating and exercise habits. Her most important lesson for her kids: If Mom can overcome a huge challenge, then they can too.

Losing weight has definitely changed Zoorina's life. She's more active with her husband and children, and enjoys her newfound self-confidence. Way to go, Zoorina -- you look fantastic!

Here's Zoorina at 246 pounds with two of her biggest weight-loss supporters:



And here she is 90 pounds lighter in her first little red dress! Talk about a 'Lady in Red!' Hot stuff!



FAST FACTS

Name: Zoorina Davis
Hometown: Higley, Ariz.
Age: 31
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 236 pounds
Goal weight: 136 pounds
Current weight: 156 pounds
Program start date: July 4, 2006

Favorite food: Pizza, salad, and chicken.

Biggest temptation: Chowing down on chocolate bars.

Biggest motivator: Her children and husband.

Biggest obstacle: Overcoming her own discouraging fears of "I'm not losing enough" or "I'm not losing it quickly enough."

Old eating philosophy: Eating for comfort.

New eating philosophy: Eating to refuel her body, so she has more energy for more activities.

Best thing about losing weight: Seeing her husband's face -- especially when she dresses up!

Best weight loss secret learned: Use plateau breakers to keep losing the pounds. For example, for two days just eat fish, greens, and honeydew melon to break the plateau. It works!

Cindy Shank quits smoking -- and fad diets

Cindy Shank hit rock bottom in March 2005. She'd recently quit smoking and, after replacing cigarettes with food, packed on some extra pounds.

Then she was diagnosed with an under-active thyroid , a condition that can cause uncontrollable weight gain. She ballooned to 225 pounds -- which contributed to an onset of high blood pressure.

Cindy was at a loss. She ate fruits and veggies and worked out every day, but the weight wouldn't come off. In fact, she kept adding more. And now she was dealing with multiple medical issues as well.

She turned to a diet program that had worked before, but this time it didn't stick. So Cindy tried a "protein diet", which worked in the short term, yet wasn't something she could sustain for the long haul.

Cindy had seen several ads for L A Weight Loss, but unfortunately there were no centers near her home in Oakville, Ontario. Then one day her luck changed: L A Weight Loss had opened a new center in her hometown.

From the minute she walked into the center, Cindy knew the program was "tailor-made" for her needs, as she put it in a letter she sent to me. She especially liked the one-on-one counseling, which helped her build meal plans that were in step with her efforts to control her thyroid and high blood pressure. And getting weighed three times a week helped her keep a tight reign over her progress.

Clearly this double-barrel approach worked: In 38 weeks, Cindy dropped 75 pounds (!!), reaching her goal weight of 150 pounds! But that wasn't good enough. She really wanted to weigh 140 pounds -- a goal she also reached with the help of the Oakville center.

It's been over a year since Cindy lost those 85 pounds (plus five more!), and she's still working hard to keep it that way. She's back at the gym three to four times a week, where she enjoys the elliptical machine, yoga, and Pilates. She's now off two of her three blood pressure medications, and controls her thyroid with medication and diet.

Here is Cindy at 225 pounds:



And, here she is at a slimming 135 pounds. WOW!!!!



FAST FACTS

Name: Cindy Shank
Hometown: Oakville, Ontario
Age: 44

Starting weight: 225 pounds
Goal weight: 140 pounds
Current weight: 135 pounds
Program start date: March 2005

Favorite foods: Fruits and vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Cookies and candy.

Biggest motivator: Finding a realistic diet she could follow for life.

Biggest obstacle: Losing weight while dealing with an under-active thyroid and high blood pressure.

Old eating philosophy: Eating healthy fruits and vegetables, but not knowing how to balance them with other foods.

New eating philosophy: Understanding how to incorporate these nutritious foods into a balanced diet of proteins, carbs, and fiber.

Best thing about losing weight: Being a size 6 for the first time!

Best weight loss secret learned: Keep a food diary. Writing down every thing she ate helped Cindy track her daily intake, and plan accordingly for the next day.

Quick & Simple covers Jeanne Onken's long journey

L A Weight Loss client Jeanne Onken recently talked with the reporters at Quick & Simple magazine about the shame and embarrassment she endured as 252 pound woman. That was before she lost 90 pounds on the L A Weight Loss program.

Jeanne's inspirational and emotional story will appear in the December 5th issue of Quick & Simple. The story covers how fought her battle of the bulge head-on, and how her struggle to lose 90 pounds even changed the way she's raising her two teenage sons.

Here's Jeanne back in 2005, at 252 pounds:




















And here she is today in her new 162 pound figure:




















Quite a difference, wouldn't you say!!!???

Congratulations Jeanne!!