Libby Rubacha portions out self-confidence

What's a healthy portion of chicken? The correct serving for a bowl of cereal? Or a proper amount of string beans?

If you're unsure, you're not alone. Many people struggle with proper portion sizes. Not knowing how much to eat, they often eat too much, and pack on the pounds as a result.

Portion size was Libby Rubacha's biggest problem. In high school, she rarely ate breakfast or lunch because she didn't like to eat first thing in the morning or at school. By the time dinner rolled around, Libby was starving, and piled extra portions on her plate.

She became accustomed to eating large meals, which continued throughout her 20s. She ate a lot of starches and fried food. And chocolate was her biggest weakness.

But her large figure became even larger after having two kids. She lost most of her baby weight after each birth, but quickly gained 30 pounds back after her second child.

Libby reached 202 pounds. Her blood pressure was borderline high, and she had back problems. She dieted, but didn't have the motivation to see it to the end.

She became very self-conscious about how she looked, and had low self-esteem.

Then she investigated L A Weight Loss. Libby went to her local center and learned she could still eat her favorite foods, just in proper portions. She also liked having one-on-one counselors to guide her through her weight loss.

Libby joined L A Weight Loss in October 2005, and began eating balanced, healthy-sized meals. She also incorporated more fruit and vegetables into her regimen, and drank lots of water.

The L A Weight Loss counselors' individual support kept Libby on track, and inspired her to reach her weight loss goals. Libby's husband also supported her. Her determination to lose weight impressed him, and he loved seeing the pounds melt away. He told people he was getting a new wife!

After dropping 20 pounds, Libby's blood pressure was normal. And 10 pounds later, her back problems were gone! She continued losing weight, and now weighs 147 pounds.

Libby's relationship with her husband is much better now, and they are more comfortable with each other. She can also run and play with her kids more, including tennis with her son.

Her self-confidence has also skyrocketed. She doesn't second-guess how she looks or what she's wearing. In fact, she became a speaker for her local nonprofit crisis pregnancy center, Care Net. Libby feels cool and confident standing in front of a crowd.

Now she can't wait for her high school reunion! Way to go, Libby!

This is Libby before, at 202 pounds, with family:



And here she is now, confident and healthy at 147. Fantastic job, Libby! Looking great!



FAST FACTS

Name: Libby Rubacha
Hometown: Terre Haute, Ind.
Age: 28
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 202 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds
Current weight: 147 pounds
Program start date: October 2005

Favorite food: Pizza.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Getting support from her husband throughout her weight loss journey.

Biggest obstacle: Having the instinctive habit of eating more than she should.

Old eating philosophy: Ignoring portion sizes and eating whatever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Eating healthier foods in smaller portions, and more fruits and vegetables.

Best thing about losing weight: Boosting her confidence level.

Best weight loss secret learned: The program can be easily adapted to your lifestyle. Follow it, and you'll see steady results.

The deal that changed Catherine Brockman's life

The phrase, "deal or no deal" might conjure the popular TV show or casinos. But for Catherine Brockman of Birmingham, Ala., it conjures weight loss and a chance at a new life.

Catherine came from a "meat and potatoes" family. They ate a lot of pasta, breads, and rice, but few vegetables. Catherine also couldn't help treating herself to candy. When she graduated high school, Catherine weighed 235 pounds, and suffered from back pain.

Throughout adulthood, she tried popular weight loss programs, but came up with excuses and cheated. She just gained back the little weight she lost.

She hit 265 pounds last year, and was ready to discuss gastric bypass surgery with her doctor. But then her parents offered her a proposition. They told her if she was willing to try L A Weight Loss instead, they would help her get started.

Her parents were already having success on the L A Weight Loss program. So with their encouragement and support, Catherine joined L A Weight Loss in May 2006. She started eating the right foods in the right portions. A few weeks later, while on vacation at Disney World, she was well-prepared, and lost seven pounds that week!

Catherine continued with L A Weight Loss, as the one-on-one counseling and accountability kept her committed to her weight loss goals. She never felt like quitting because the counselors helped her through her trouble spots.

The weight loss counselors taught her how to eat regular food while losing weight. She learned to love vegetables and salads, and soon left the carbs behind.

Her husband also motivated her. She loved his looks of admiration as the pounds melted away.

The time seemed to fly by for Catherine, and in 12 months, she lost 104 pounds with L A Weight Loss! She's now at 161 pounds, and feels like a new woman. She can play with her kids, and walks faster than they can!

She can also buy more form-fitting clothes, and loves wearing bright colors to show off her new figure. And she has no back aches!

Catherine's success has filtered through the family. Her mom is now on maintenance, and her dad is six pounds away from his goal. During the course of her program, Catherine motivated her husband, sister-in-law, niece, and two of her three children to join. Talk about a family affair!

Congrats, Catherine on your winning hand! Keep up the great work!

Here's Catherine before, at 265 pounds:



And here's the new Catherine, fabulously fit at 161! Way to go, Catherine!



FAST FACTS

Name: Catherine Brockman
Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.
Age: 43
Height: 5'7"

Starting weight: 265 pounds
Goal weight: 158 pounds
Current weight: 161 pounds
Program start date: May 7, 2006

Favorite food: Green beans and sirloin steak.

Biggest temptation: Cheese and popcorn.

Biggest motivator: Getting support from her husband, and congratulations from her doctor.

Biggest obstacle: Being overconfident and thinking she doesn't have to follow the program so strictly.

Old eating philosophy: Consuming anything around.

New eating philosophy: Eating in moderation and smaller portion sizes.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling and looking great.

Best weight loss secret learned: Weigh in and talk to the counselors every three days to gain accountability.

Richard Dunn puts the brakes on lifelong weight battle

School kids find it easy to harass overweight classmates. But when you’re the heavy one, taking the teasing is much harder.

That’s what Richard Dunn faced as a child when his weight struggles began. He tried to shrug off the name-calling and humiliation, but it often made him sad.

Fast-forward 20 years. Richard was 30 years old, and a truck inspector for a trucking company in Strafford, Mo. But he'd never had anyone put the brakes on his eating.

A self-described carb addict, Richard ate a lot of pasta, potato chips, and bread. He also packed away spuds and steaks by the pound -- a true meat-and-potatoes man. And he'd wash it all down with a 2-liter bottle of soda and a half gallon of whole milk every day.

It was a heart attack waiting to happen -- and it nearly did. Richard began complaining about a sore foot and back pain, and visited his doctor. The diagnosis: plantar fasciitis, a bad back, and borderline high blood pressure.

At the time, Richard weighed a whopping 328 pounds. His doctor urged him to lose weight before it was too late.

Richard researched several weight loss plans, and ultimately joined L A Weight Loss at the Springfield, Mo., center because their portion-control philosophy made sense to him.

He worked closely with his personal counselor Amy and center manager Kendra to develop a healthy, balanced meal plan. Soon he was eating well-rounded meals with plenty of fruit, vegetables, and lean protein.

The changes made the difference: Richard surpassed his goal weight of 197, and has dropped to a slim 194 pounds!!

Now Richard's no longer the couch potato he was two years ago. He has lots of energy to clean and work around the house. And the best part: wowing his old classmates at his next high school reunion!!

Awesome job, Richard!

Here is Richard at 328 pounds:



And here he is at a fantastic 197 pounds! Keep on truckin’, Richard!



FAST FACTS

Name: Richard Dunn
Hometown: Strafford, Mo.
Age: 30
Height: 6'1"

Starting weight: 328 pounds
Goal weight: 197 pounds
Current weight: 194 pounds
Program start date: Sept. 20, 2005

Favorite food: Pasta and potato chips.

Biggest temptation: Carbs.

Biggest motivator: Getting support from his fiancee Lorie.

Biggest obstacle: Being offered food from other people.

Old eating philosophy: Consuming high-calorie foods and drinking a 2-liter bottle of soda every day.

New eating philosophy: Incorporating vegetables, lean chicken, and fruits.

Best thing about losing weight: Being more active, and feeling he’ll live much longer.

Best weight loss secret learned: It takes time to lose weight, but once it's gone, you can keep it off.

For Indiana's Bobbi Fields, new habits die hard

Talk about a monkey on your back. That's what Bobbi Fields' weight problem was like, literally. Carrying 236 pounds put a lot of stress on her back, and led to surgery in 2000.

After the operation, she still had back problems (!), and bad charlie horses in her legs. Doctors told Bobbi she had to lose weight. But her cravings for chocolate and sweets always won out.

Then she tried L A Weight Loss. She says the L A Weight Loss program, and her counselor, Amy Kazwell, gave her the support and guidance she needed to lose 104 pounds.

That was four years ago. Today, Bobbi still uses the lessons she learned from L A Weight Loss to eat properly, pay attention to her portions and nutrients, and keep the weight off.

Today Bobbi's no longer the shy and quiet person who disliked shopping and wearing bathing suits. She's outgoing and enthusiatic about life. She loves taking her kids to amusement parks, knowing she won't have a problem fitting into seats.

Bobbi feels like a better mom and a better person, and owes it all to believing in herself. Way to go, Bobbi!

Here's Bobbi before, at 236 pounds:



And the beautiful 132-pound Bobbi now! AMAZING! Doesn't she look 10 years younger??



FAST FACTS

Name: Bobbi Fields
Hometown: Montgomery, Ind.
Age: 36

Starting weight: 236 pounds
Goal weight: 132 pounds
Current weight: 132 pounds
Program start date: January 2002

Favorite food: Fruit.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Gaining more energy as the weight came off.

Old eating philosophy: Chocolate, candy, and sweets.

New eating philosophy: Correct portions of meats, fruits, and veggies.

Best thing about losing weight: Being able to bounce out of bed at 5 a.m., ready to take on the day.

Best weight loss secret learned: It's all about attitude. If you believe you can't lose weight, you won't. But if you believe you can, you'll do it!

Wedding day slim down leads to lifelong changes

Every bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day, and Angela Ganey was no exception, though her transformation was certainly exceptional! In the two years preceeding her big day she worked hard to drop a whopping 140 pounds.

And lest she get too comfortable with married life, she's maintained her new figure to this day -- even dropping another five to meet her goal weight of 145 pounds. This was no easy feat.

Angela, like her mother, struggled with her weight all her life, and says she can’t remember the last time she was this thin. Her mom had several surgeries for her weight, and her dad suffered a stroke.

While Angela herself never suffered anything as serious as a stroke or diabetes, she did experience back problems because of her weight, and she sought the help of a chiropractor.

Though she’s come a long way, Angela still sees a 200-pound woman when she looks in the mirror. The images of that period of her life are hard to erase.

But that hasn't stopped her from playing with her four-year-old son, Trystan, without losing her breath, and happily greeting her husband, who just returned from Iraq.

Before, at close to 300 pounds:


Now a true hot momma at 150 pounds!!


FAST FACTS

Name: Angela Ganey
Hometown: Ball, La.
Age: 27

Starting weight: 290 pounds
Goal weight: 145/140 pounds
Current weight: 150 pounds
Program start date: 2001

Favorite food: Baked chicken and mixed vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Hamburgers and fries.

Biggest motivator: Wanted to lose weight before her wedding, March 15, 2003.

Biggest obstacle: Family history of weight and health issues.

Old eating philosophy: Breakfast: 3 bowls of cereal, biscuits, sausage, and eggs. Lunch: 2-3 Taco Bell bean burritos plus nachos, or hamburgers and fries -- all super-sized. Dinner: Anything goes! Fried fish, mashed potatoes, or vegetables drowned in butter.

New eating philosophy: Much healthier! A typical breakfast is a half-cup of cereal with fat-free milk and some fruit. And she still hits the drive-through, but goes for the salads instead of the grease.

Best thing about of losing weight: Running and playing with her son without feeling out of breath.

Best weight loss secret learned: Realizing that losing weight is not an overnight success, and there will be ups and downs.