Aspiring actress makes it onto the TODAY Show with L A Weight Loss

For Kymm Hansen, weight gain had been a continual seesaw. Whenever she was down, she always went back up. But after more than 30 years of rising and falling, this was one ride Kymm wanted off.

Weight had been a life-long struggle for Kymm. Growing up, she was tortured with names such as "Butterball" and "Fatty Fatty 2x4." So it's no surprise her weight was a constant source of angst.

And it didn't get easier as she got older. Kymm's weight increased with her age. In middle school, Kymm's weight reached 160 pounds, by high school she was 195 pounds, and by the time she graduated college, she was 235 pounds.

She tried just about every diet in the book, but nothing worked. Her weight rose and fell constantly for 10 years. No matter how much Kymm lost, she couldn't keep it off. And often, she gained even more back. After her marriage, in 1999, she gained even more weight to reach an all-time high. It seemed like before she even realized it, Kymm was in her 30s, and weighed 308 pounds.

Kim recently returned to school at San Diego University, where she felt completely invisible. And she was embarrassed whenever someone would have to touch her in one of her acting classes. No one held doors for her, and she was constantly aware of people's judgments.

When Kymm broke her foot a number of years ago, her doctor was surprised she could even walk at her weight. She suffered from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and hypothyroid disease. Her breathing was always labored, and her ankles and knees were constantly sore. Kymm knew that if she ever wanted to have children, she was running out of time to get healthy.

So in September 2006, Kymm joined her local Mission Valley, Calif., L A Weight Loss center. Her personal weight loss counselors taught her how to adjust her diet to maximize health. Kymm replaced her fast food meals, frozen TV dinners, and sweet binges with lean proteins, vegetables, and fruit.

She soon found that eating well felt good. It's true when they tell you, you are what you eat. As a vegetarian, Kymm was worried she would have trouble finding the right foods to keep her healthy and satisfied, but that was never a problem with L A Weight Loss.

Her counselors taught her hundreds of new recipes, and she enjoys creating new combinations every day.

As Kymm's weight began to decrease, she felt her energy increase. It wasn't long before she was doing something she'd never done before: exercising. Kymm started walking, and now works out every day. She enjoys running, working out on machines at the gym, and doing yoga and Pilates.

And all of her hard work has paid off. After 18 months on the L A Weight Loss program, Kymm has lost 144 pounds -- that's half her size! At 164 pounds, Kymm has found an entire world has opened up to her.

She can do things she never could before, such as ride all the attractions at Disneyland, and get on the floor to play with her dog. Her new energy is amazing, and Kymm feels like an entirely new woman. Plus, her health has improved. Kymm's blood pressure and cholesterol are at normal levels, and her joints are no longer sore.

After experiencing a lifetime of rollercoaster weight gain and loss, Kymm still has to remind herself that she's no longer overweight. This is the new Kymm, and she plans on staying this way.

Kymm's outstanding success has attracted a lot of attention. And today, she was featured on NBC's TODAY Show as part of their Joy Fit Club. Looks like this actress had her dream come true as she made her way into millions of television sets across the country, and told her incredible weight loss story.

Congratulations, Kymm! We're so proud of you!

Here's Kymm at 306 pounds:



Here she is today, looking fit and fabulous at 162 pounds:



And here I am with Kymm at her TODAY Show taping:



FAST FACTS

Name: Kymm Hansen
Hometown: Julian, Calif.
Age: 36
Height: 5'9"

Starting weight: 306 pounds
Goal weight: 165 pounds
Current weight: 162 pounds
Program start date: September 2006

Favorite food: Peanut butter.

Biggest temptation: Peanut butter.

Biggest motivator: Seeing her weight each week on the scale.

Biggest obstacle: Overcoming sweet cravings.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing down on anything and everything sweet.

New eating philosophy: Making well-balanced meals with lots of vegetables and whole grains.

Best thing about losing weight: Being able to fit in fashionable clothes.

Best weight loss secret learned: Diet and exercise is the only way to lose weight.

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.

Cory Thomas follows golden weight loss rule

California is the Golden State, but if you're an overweight resident, you're probably not feeling so radiant. Meet Cory Thomas.

Cory started packing on the pounds in her 20s. Between school and work, there was little time to eat healthy or exercise. Often, she'd grab a burger, fries, and soda for meals; and snacked on chips and candy.

Cory's unhealthy eating routine followed her into marriage and motherhood, where she topped out at 198 pounds.

She struggled to get out of bed in the morning, and lacked the energy to play with her two kids. She felt uncomfortable in public, and made excuses to not go out. Buying clothes was depressing.

But Cory didn't consider how much weight she packed on until three years ago. It wasn't until her son, looking at her wedding picture on the wall, asked her who the lady in the photo was.

Cory was shocked that her son didn't recognize her, and realized how serious her weight problem was. She needed to do something about her eating habits right away.

So she tried a few diet programs. Cory didn't like the first one, because she felt uneasy sharing her weight struggles in front of strangers. The second program was no better, because Cory had to cut out carbs and eat more protein, which made her concerned about her cholesterol.

Then she learned about L A Weight Loss's one-on-one counseling and portion control. It sounded like the right plan for her, and she signed up.

She worked with personal weight loss counselor Sandra at the Oceanside, Calif., center to modify her eating habits. Cory added more vegetables, fruit, and chicken to her diet, while minimizing fried foods.

She liked to start her day with a bowl of oatmeal accompanied by a smoothie with mango, non-fat yogurt, and skim milk. She had L A Lite bars for snacks, and plenty of water throughout the day.

The result was a 180-degree flip. Cory dropped 51 pounds, and now weights 147! She has a more positive outlook on life, and can't wait to start her day. Shopping for clothes is fun again, as plus-sized clothes are a thing of the past.

Cory motivated her dad to join L A Weight Loss, too. He's lost 30 pounds! But that's not all she can impart to others struggling to lose weight. She says the secret is to stick with your L A Weight Loss plan and let it work for you. The counselors are your compass!

And it looks she's discovered the gold! Way to go, Cory!

Here's Cory before, at 198 pounds:



And here she is now, glowing at 147! Great job, Cory!



FAST FACTS

Name: Cory Thomas
Hometown: Oceanside, Calif.
Age: 36
Height: 5'2"

Starting weight: 198 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 147 pounds
Program start date: February 2005

Favorite food: Mexican food.

Biggest temptation: Cheesecake.

Biggest motivator: Starting the program and not wanting to let herself down.

Biggest obstacle: Trying to stay on track while her husband is fighting in Iraq.

Old eating philosophy: Eating without thinking.

New eating philosophy: Learning how to eat healthy while fitting her favorite foods into her plan.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better about herself.

Best weight loss secret learned: Freeze some L A Lite bars and take them with you! They help when you're going out.

California mom finds the motivation to change her life

Motivation springs from all kinds of sources. People have changed their lives because of books, movies, speeches, and others' example. But for Tena Evans, motivation came from just two little words: "fat cow."

Tena struggled with weight for over 20 years. Then she packed on extra pounds after her marriage. The added stress of raising a family, coupled with some serious family health issues, contributed to further weight gain.

Tena also regularly ate foods she served at the day care center where she worked -- a daily menu that revolved around chicken fingers, pizza, macaroni and cheese, tater tots, and other fatty foods.

Soon, Tena was tipping the scales at 318 pounds. She struggled in everyday situations, like squeezing into restaurant booths and amusement park rides.

Tena also had trouble breathing due to asthma. She couldn't even clean her house without becoming short of breath. Worse, the asthma often kept her up at night, when Tena would only eat more.

But Tena knew enough was enough when she experienced the cruelty that often plagues overweight people. While she was out walking one day, kids driving by threw a bag of fast food at her, and yelled, "Fat cow!"

Those two horrible words inspired a lifetime of change for Tena. After trying several weight loss programs that didn't work for her, Tena joined the Fresno, Calif., L A Weight Loss center in December 2005.

Her personal counselors helped turn her diet from fried to fresh. Tena started eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and grilled chicken. That did the trick: Tena shed 155 pounds (!!) after a year and a half on the program, and is incredibly close to her goal weight of 158 pounds!

Tena now feels like a new woman. She breathes easier, and has plenty of energy for exercise. Plus, she's happier, and can devote more of herself to her day care kids and her own children.

Tena even carries her L A Weight Loss lessons over to her day care menu. The kids now enjoy healthier food choices, such as non-fat graham crackers and carrots. The best part: Tena's success has inspired others to join L A Weight Loss! Way to go, Tena!

UPDATE: Tena has reached her goal weight of 158 pounds! She has more energy than ever before, and enjoys walking outdoors with her girlfriends and riding her bike. We're so happy for you, Tena!

Here's Tena at 318 pounds:



And here she is half her size! You look fantastic, Tena!



FAST FACTS

Name: Tena Evans
Hometown: Fresno, Calif.
Age: 40
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 318 pounds
Goal weight: 158 pounds
Current weight: 163 pounds
Program start date: Dec. 31, 2005

Favorite food: Anything with carbs.

Biggest temptation: McDonald's ice cream sundaes.

Biggest motivator: Carrying before pictures in her purse to look at each day.

Biggest obstacle: Struggling to whip up an array of healthy meals every day for the young children at day care.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing down on everything the kids were eating.

New eating philosophy: Creating meals with a lot of broccoli, grilled chicken, and fish.

Best thing about losing weight: Fitting into smaller clothing sizes, and being treated like a human being.

Best weight loss secret learned: Losing weight doesn't mean you have to give up eating out at restaurants. Just be honest in your food journal, and never forget portion control!

Policewoman delivers another round of shots

I recently posted the amazing transformation of our California cop Elizabeth Hundley. She lost 31 pounds on the L A Weight Loss program, and is now a fit 140 pounds.

She just sent me some more after photos. She's looks great, and I wanted to share them with My L A Weight Loss Diary readers!

These shots really show why she’s the talk of the precinct.

You look terrific, Elizabeth. Great job!

Calif. cop can take ribbing in stride after losing 31 pounds

Rest easy, your donuts are safe.

This is the punch line under a picture of a row of police cars stationed outside a donut chain. You've probably heard jokes like this about police and fast-food joints before.

But Elizabeth Hundley isn't laughing. She's a policewoman from San Marcos, Calif., whose schedule made her a prisoner of fast food. She also turned to comfort food to deal with her emotional problems, increasing her weight gain.

She soon reached 171 pounds. Although her weight didn't severely threaten her health, she knew she needed to uncuff herself from poor eating habits.

She was able to drop 10 pounds on her own. Then she heard about L A Weight Loss through a friend who worked at the Encinitas, Calif., center. She explained how the program worked, and Elizabeth joined in June 2005.

With the help of her personal counselor Imee Rutnovich, Elizabeth lost four pounds in her first week. She made the difference by patrolling her fast-food intake, and replacing the greasy foods at lunch with a sandwich and a lot of vegetables.

In addition to eating right, Elizabeth started a free-weight and cardiovascular program at the gym three to four days a week. She increased her fitness level to where she no longer gets winded walking up the stairs at work.

After two years on the program, Elizabeth hit her goal weight of 140 pounds. She now sees a pretty 39-year-old woman looking back at her in the mirror. It's the perfect motivation to keep her going!

Plus, she now takes donut jokes in stride! Great job Elizabeth -- I bet the guys don't mind being pulled over by you now! ;)

Here is Elizabeth with a friend at 171 pounds:



And here she is dressed in blue and looking bright at 140 pounds!



FAST FACTS

Name: Elizabeth Hundley
Hometown: San Marcos, Calif.
Age: 39
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 171 pounds
Goal weight: 140 pounds
Current weight: 140 pounds
Program start date: June 13, 2005

Favorite food: Vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Fast food.

Biggest motivator: Staying healthy.

Biggest obstacle: Eating healthy on the job.

Old eating philosophy: Consuming high-calorie foods whenever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Finding the right balance of healthy eating while at work and home.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling good about herself when she looks in the mirror.

Best weight loss secret learned: People notice when you make a major change in your life.

Nurse finds cure to balancing weight loss and motherhood

Raising five-year-old twins *and* a three-year-old makes for a pretty fast-paced lifestyle -- which is probably why Launa Cornell never noticed the extra weight she'd slowly gained since starting her family.

That all changed in July 2005 when Launa took a breather, looked in the mirror, and realized she'd become what she calls a "chubby mom" at 183 pounds. That same afternoon she saw a TV ad for the local L A Weight Loss center in Encinitas, Calif., touting the center's free child care services. She grabbed her kids the next morning and headed to check out the program.

Despite her hectic routine, Launa was no stranger to diet programs. But for her, they were short-term solutions to a long-term issue. When she gained the weight back, she simply gave up.

So Launa was surprised when Diane, her L A Weight Loss personal counselor, worked with her to develop a plan to help Launa lose the weight while still taking her little ones on weekly trips to McDonald's. Diane even called Launa when she skipped appointments to make sure everything was OK.

It was this personal attention that helped Launa find the motivation -- and time! -- to drop 52 pounds. The kids played in the center's toy boxes and watched videos, while Launa and Diane worked to adjust Launa's goals and eating habits.

And now Launa is the one on TV hoping to encourage other busy moms to put their health first. She recently appeared in several local L A Weight Weight Loss commercials showing off her new 131-pound figure!

Here is Launa at 183 pounds:



And, here she is in her sassy scrubs at 131 pounds!



Way to go, Launa!

FAST FACTS

Name: Launa Cornell
Hometown: San Marcos, Calif.
Age: 35
Height: 5’4"

Starting weight: 183 pounds
Goal weight: 139 pounds
Current weight: 131 pounds
Program start date: July 2005

Favorite food: Sushi.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Not becoming the "chubby mom."

Biggest obstacle: Making the right choices when eating out with her kids.

Old eating philosophy: Kid-friendly meals like fast food and pizza.

New eating philosophy: She carries her L A Weight Loss "Dining Out Guide" wherever she goes so she knows exactly what she's eating.

Best thing about losing weight: Shopping! Sometimes she forgets she's a smaller size, and has to be reminded to buy size 6 instead of an 8 or 10.

Best weight loss secret learned: It's important for kids, especially daughters, to see their moms are confident and comfortable with their bodies.

One soldier's unbelievable homecoming

Alisha Marigani wanted to give her husband Kyle, a Staff Sgt. in the U.S. Army, the ultimate surprise when he returned home after a year in Iraq. And boy, did she ever give him some shock and awe!

When he left for Iraq in early 2005, Alisha was 268 pounds and a size 24. She shopped in men's stores, because those were the only clothes that fit her. But just before her hubby was deployed to Iraq, she secretly started on the L A Weight Loss program, determined to slim down by the time he returned.

She even refused to send him photos of herself, lest he catch on to her upcoming surprise. The underground operation worked! By February 2006, Alisha had lost 107 pounds, and greeted Kyle in a feminine size 8 pink shirt. Kyle was shocked. He barely recognized his bride, now a svelte 161 pounds!

In fact, Alisha and Kyle's reunion story was so touching that it caught the eye of a local reporter, which eventually landed them on Good Morning America! They say the camera adds 10 pounds, but you certainly can't see any extra weight on Alisha! See for yourself:



Here's Alisha and Kyle a year ago, when Alisha was 268 pounds:



Here she is looking slim and sexy at 161 pounds as she awaits to greet Kyle for the first time since joining L A Weight Loss:



FAST FACTS

Name: Alisha Marigani
Hometown: Oceanside, Calif.
Age: 28

Starting weight: 268 pounds
Goal weight: 137 pounds
Current weight: 161 pounds
Program start date: February 2005

Biggest motivator: Surprising her husband who was returning home after a year in Iraq.

Best thing about losing weight: Buying new clothes (at women's stores!) and playing outside with her daughter.

Best weight loss secret learned: The L A Weight Loss counselors are like a best friend; they keep tabs on you and make you accountable for your actions. They truly understand you and are your biggest cheerleader.

Jane Blake: From "big legs" to the big time

I'm sure you've seen weight loss ads on TV that show the "before and after" photos and thought, "Yeah, right. That *can't* be the same person." Maybe some weight loss ads from some companies are airbrushed.

But in the case of L A Weight Loss, every person, story, and photo we feature in our advertising and on this blog is 100 percent authentic. Not only do we post actual, unretouched photos; we also post Podcasts of unrehearsed, unedited interviews (scroll down and through the archives to find them).

Take Jane Blake, for example. This San Diego mother of three was featured in a number of national advertisements for L A Weight Loss' Thinner by the Minute program.

She dropped 44 pounds in 16 weeks on the program. She was so successful, she was selected as our national spokesperson for the Thinner by the Minute program.

But things weren't always so rosey for Jane. At 187 pounds on her 40th birthday, her son innocently told her she had "big legs." That was the final push she needed to start shedding the weight she'd gained from three pregnancies over 10 years.

You can read more about Jane's amazing transformation, and how she did it through Thinner by the Minute in this press release we issued back in September.

And if you're a member of the press, you can freely interview Jane, or any of the women featured on this blog, anytime. Just write to me and I'll set it up.

Here's Jane at 187 pounds with her son:



Here she is 16 weeks later, at 143 pounds. No more "big legs" for this mom!



FAST FACTS

Name: Jane Blake
Age: 40

Starting weight: 187 pounds
Goal weight: 155 pounds
Current weight: 143 pounds
Program start date: September 2005

Biggest motivator: She wanted to be the "cool" mom. Her weight kept her from getting involved with her kids' school activities.

Best thing about losing weight: She loves getting up every morning.

Old eating philosophy: Lots of red meat, chocolate, and sweets.

New eating philosophy: Fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean protein.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eat six to seven small meals a day, instead of three large ones.

Carolina Yepez reveals her weight loss ups and downs

Meet our next new blogger, Carolina Yepez, who started L A Weight Loss in May. Back then she weighed 206 pounds, and is already 20 pounds towards her goal weight of 150 pounds. Way to go, Carolina!

Here she is minus those 20 pounds. We look forward to seeing less and less of Carolina in the future :)




















JackieZ and I sat down with Carolina to talk about her struggles with weight loss, and how she's finally taking control of her body and life.

You can also meet our other new bloggers Dana Shocaroff and Debbie McKay.

Dana Shocaroff shares her weight loss with the world

We've got three new bloggers coming on board, and they're all actual L A Weight Loss Clients who'll be sharing their weight-loss journey with you over the next few months.

First up is Dana Shocaroff, who was 264 pounds when she joined L A Weight Loss last March. She's already lost an incredible 60 pounds, with just 40 more to go before reaching her goal weight!!

Here she is, just starting out on the program.



Listen as Jackie Z and I talk to her about life before L A Weight Loss, where she is now, and what she hopes for the future.



Also check out our other new contributors Carolina Yepez and Debbie McKay.