Cancer survivor fights for ultimate health

People are natural-born fighters. But it usually takes a challenge to bring out their fighting spirit.

Lynn Wiggins showed hers when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. Fortunately, the doctors found and removed all of the cancer, and she won the battle. After her recovery, however, Lynn used the perseverance she learned in the hospital to get healthy in a new way -- by losing weight.

Lynn's weight fluctuated her entire life. She cooked potatoes almost every night, and always helped herself to second helpings of macaroni and cheese. Worse, Lynn often ate chicken and fish fried and covered in salt.

She tried dieting before she was diagnosed with breast cancer, but stopped when she started undergoing treatment. Even so, Lynn didn't feel out of place among her four sisters, all of whom were overweight.

Then her family began to slim down, and Lynn didn't like being the only one that was still overweight. So in October 2006, she joined her local Round Rock, Texas, L A Weight Loss center.

Using her niece's upcoming wedding as motivation, Lynn set her goals high. She was determined to drop from 197 pounds to 145 pounds. And her personal weight loss counselors taught her how to do it.

She cut back on fried foods, fast foods, and carbs. Instead of double helpings of potatoes and macaroni and cheese, Lynn ate the foods she loved in moderation, and added even more vegetables to her diet.

It didn't take long for the weight to drop. Lynn has lost a total of 37 pounds, and currently weighs 160 pounds!

While her weight is decreasing, her energy is increasing. Everything is easier for Lynn now, from walking up the steps, to tying her shoes, to playing with children. And she enjoys walking as much as possible.

For Lynn, the best part about losing weight is looking good and feeling even better. She fits into clothes she loves. And at 58 years old, Lynn feels healthier than she has in years. She can get up in front of crowds comfortably, and enjoys going out with friends and family.

Losing weight has truly improved Lynn's life. She looked fantastic with her family at the wedding!

Best of all, Lynn has proved that getting healthy is the most important thing to fight for. Way to go, Lynn! We're so proud of you!

Here's Lynn in 2006 at 197 pounds:



And here she is today, bearing down on her weight loss goal at 160 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Lynn Wiggins
Hometown: Round Rock, Texas
Age: 58
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight:197 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Program start date: October 2006

Favorite food: Fish and rice.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Losing weight for her niece's wedding.

Biggest obstacle: Resisting her family's eating habits.

Old eating philosophy: Eating huge servings of macaroni and cheese and potatoes almost every night.

New eating philosophy: Filling up on cereal, fish, and rice.

Best thing about losing weight: Looking better than she has in 20 years.

Best weight loss secret learned: Learn how to control your portions, and you'll still be able to eat your favorite foods.

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.

Cancer survivor gets a new life with a new weight

No one ever wants to hear their doctor say cancer. But being diagnosed twice in your lifetime is a nightmare few can say they've survived. Jennifer Clement is one of those people.

In July 1999, Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer, and treated with a regular series of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Her spirits hit an all-time low when her hair fell out just a week before her daughter's wedding.

While her morale was sinking, her weight was rising. Jennifer's cancer treatments drained her of energy, and she often found herself slumped on the couch with a bag of fast food.

Six months after the breast cancer diagnosis, tragedy struck again. Jennifer's doctor told her she also had uterine cancer -- a reaction to her breast cancer medication that affects about one in a million people.

She underwent a double mastectomy for her breast cancer, and continued chemo and radiation for the uterine cancer until January 2000.

When Jennifer finally completed her treatment, she was 75 pounds heavier. And her existing hypothyroid problem made the prospect of losing weight seem a distant possibility.

To add insult to injury, Jennifer went through a divorce, which caused her to eat even more. But the worst thing about being heavy was feeling heavy. She had trouble playing with her grandchildren, and had difficulty breathing.

Then, Jennifer heard about L A Weight Loss. Because she had tried other weight loss methods that didn't work for her, Jennifer was hesitant to try something new.

But try she did, and Jennifer watched the pounds melt away. Jennifer's personal L A Weight Loss counselors helped her ditch her fast food habits for lots of fruits, vegetables, chicken, and fish.

With L A Weight Loss, she learned that eating the right portions of the right foods was the key to a healthy lifestyle. And after such a turbulent year, healthy is the only thing Jennifer wanted to be.

Since starting the program in May 2007, Jennifer has shed a total of 51 pounds! She's happier, more social, confident, and -- best of all -- cancer-free! Jennifer has plenty of energy for exercising now, and has even started dating.

Losing weight has changed Jennifer's life in more ways than she could have imagined. She truly feels like she has a new lease on life. Great job, Jennifer!

Here's a 264-pound Jennifer with two of her adorable grandchildren:



And here's a much happier and healthier Jennifer today. You look fantastic, Jennifer!



FAST FACTS

Name: Jennifer Clement
Hometown: Appleton, Wis.
Age: 54
Height: 5'5"

Starting weight: 264 pounds
Goal weight: 200 pounds
Current weight: 213 pounds
Program start date: May 2007

Favorite food: Vegetable pizza, or chicken and broccoli.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Enjoying her new self and her new life, and looking forward to everything that's in store!

Biggest obstacle: Worrying that if she stops the program, she will pick up old habits.

Old eating philosophy: Eating quick and easy foods -- fast food, meaty pizza, junk food.

New eating philosophy: Eating right -- salads, vegetables, fresh fruits, and lots of water.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling good inside, and looking good outside.

Best weight loss secret learned: If you eat the right portion sizes and the right foods, the pounds will melt away!

Sue Toshner beats cancer *and* obesity

Here's a real-life survival story of an L A Weight Loss client I spoke to who fought back against both cancer and obesity. Sue Toshner from Osh Kosh, Wis., gained 81 pounds while undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. After successfully battling the cancer, she emerged at 193 pounds -- which put her at risk for a heart attack.

She knew she had to lose the weight. It wouldn't do anyone any good, she thought, unless she cared for and loved herself. Determined to live longer, Sue joined the L A Weight Loss program to help her beat obesity. In less than a year, Sue lost all 81 pounds -- impressing even her doctor.

Sue says she has never felt healthier, and her family is obviously thrilled and excited to have her around for many years to come. Her story also appeared in the October issue of Prevention magazine.

Here's Sue in October 2005 at 193 pounds:



Here she is now, at a healthy, cancer-free 112 pounds:



What an unbelievable journey!