Update: Mandy Muniz still going strong with her weight loss success

When we last checked in with Mandy Muniz, she had shed a remarkable 157 pounds. Mandy came to L A Weight Loss in April 2005, and said she wanted to lose 100 pounds. Well, three years and 157 pounds later, Mandy weighs a healthy 126 pounds, and couldn't be happier.

Her weight loss success landed her in People Magazine's yearly "Half Their Size" issue and on EXTRA. And we're happy to report her healthy diet hasn't faded with the publicity. Mandy's still eating great and looking even better.

Congratulations, Mandy. Keep up the great work!

Kim Scheffler featured on cover of this week's People Magazine

L A Weight Loss client Kim Scheffler was selected from thousands of women across the country for People Magazine’s annual 100 pounds or more feature, which just hit newsstands today. Her remarkable bikini photo also made the front cover of People Magazine, along with Ashlee Simpson.

A few weeks ago, Kim was flown down to sunny Miami for a photo shoot with People Magazine for their annual feature. And yesterday, she hit the skies again, this time to New York City for an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America. I accompanied Kim for her national TV appearance as she received recognition for her remarkable weight loss success.

But the afternoon got even better. Kim had interviews with the Entertainment shows, EXTRA, Inside Edition, and The Insider, which asked how she dropped a whopping 100 pounds just in time for bikini season.

Modeling kept Kim thin for most of her life. But then her beauty career was put on the back-burner so she and her husband could start a family. Kim soon found she had little time to care for herself.

Besides tending to a house of children, Kim and her husband started their own business. Between work, meetings, lunches, and household chores, Kim was overwhelmed, and her weight slipped away as a consequence.

After years of steadily packing on pounds, Kim barely recognized herself. She hated the way she looked. She often noticed people staring at her in public, she never wanted to be in pictures, and couldn’t stand to be seen in a bathing suit. Her health also suffered, as Kim experienced constant joint pain and shortness of breath.

Kim hit rock bottom during a routine doctor’s visit in 2006. The scale read 237 pounds, and she knew she had to do something. She tried dieting on her own, but it didn’t work. Then one of her daughters suggested L A Weight Loss.

In November of that year, Kim joined her local San Antonio, Texas, L A Weight Loss center. She was paired with a one-on-one weight loss counselor, who quickly became not only Kim’s nutrition guru, but her constant source of encouragement.

Kim added more fruits, vegetables, and lean meats to her meals, and always kept an L A Lite Bar on hand for a sweet treat. Kim never went hungry, and she never felt deprived.

After nine months on the program, Kim lost 103 pounds, and went from a size 18 to a slender size 4. Now at 134 pounds, she says, “Losing weight has put me in control of my life again. I can finally do the things I’ve always loved -- like fishing with my husband or hiking with my children -- that I could have never done when I was heavy. Life is fun again. Best of all, I’m comfortable in my skin.”

Kim’s joint pain has disappeared, and breathing is never a problem. And thanks to her boost in energy, Kim is in the best shape of her life. She feels 10 years younger, and looks it too! Look out, beauty pageants girls!

Kim attributes her weight loss success to the constant support of her counselors and family. Thanks to their love and encouragement, Kim reached her goal and feels more productive, energized, and healthier than ever before.

Here's Kim on the cover of People Magazine:



Here she is at 237 pounds:



And here she is today at a stunning 138 pounds:

EXTRA says 'Bravo!' to Mandy Muniz

Fresh from her appearance in People magazine's "Half Their Size" issue, Mandy Muniz got to share her journey from 293 to 126 pounds with the folks from EXTRA.



Being in the spotlight is nothing new for Mandy. As a high school drama teacher, she has always encouraged her students to get up on stage and give it their all.

Then Mandy herself started to lead a more sedentary lifestyle after hours. Most days she came home with a bag of fast food, and headed directly for the couch.

At school, she struggled to climb the stairs of the three-story building. She would stop between floors and hide in the corner to catch her breath. Some of the other faculty members shared their concerns about her health, and even gave her business cards of gastric bypass surgeons.

But it only pushed Mandy further into denial, making her efforts to encourage students' activity hypocritical. Her wake-up call came when one of her students asked her to be in his film. When Mandy saw what she *really* looked like on screen at 293 pounds, she could deny it no longer.

But she didn't know where to go from there. She tried every fad diet on the market, with little to no success. Then she saw an ad for L A Weight Loss, and was excited by the idea of eating real foods that weren't pre-packaged.

Yet Mandy was still skeptical that it would work. When she called the Bandera center in San Antonio and they asked how much she wanted to lose, she laughingly said 100 pounds. To her surprise, they said, "OK. Come in and let's get started."

In the personal essay Mandy wrote to me, she says those 100 pounds came off "with ease." So she re-adjusted her goal weight to lose even more. In 18 months, she dropped 157 pounds, 65 inches, and 22 sizes!

Now Mandy has the confidence to proudly take center stage again, and show off her new size 2 figure to the world. Bravo, Mandy!

Here's Mandy at an unhealthy 293 pounds:




And here's the actress at 130 pounds -- worthy of a standing ovation!



FAST FACTS

Name: Mandy Muniz
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 31
Height: 5'5"

Starting weight: 293 pounds
Goal weight: 193 pounds
Current weight: 130 pounds
Program start date: April 2005

Biggest motivator: Being able to get up and move with her students.

Biggest obstacle: Making that first phone call to L A Weight Loss.

Old eating philosophy: Days filled with tons of fast food, vending machine snacks, sodas, and foods slathered in butter.

New eating philosophy: Appreciates the value of fresh fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.

Best thing about losing weight: Having the confidence to get up in front of people, and shopping for clothes off the rack, knowing they'll fit.

Best weight loss secret learned: If you believe it, you can do it!