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.

Dee Lindamood leaves her wedding weight in the dust

There's many women out there who wish they were the same size today as they were on their wedding day. But 28 years after her wedding, Dee Lindamood wanted to shed some major pounds, and leave her wedding weight in the dust.

Dee struggled with weight her entire life. As far back as she can remember, she had a few extra pounds to lug around. She hadn't been athletic, and her diet was lacking. Dee didn't eat particularly unhealthy foods, but she ate too much of everything on her plate.

In particular, she chowed down on breads and heavy starches. When Dee went out to eat, she could often eat an entire loaf of bread before the main course even arrived. And as her age increased, so did her weight.

Dee struggled emotionally and physically because of her weight. At 300 pounds, she had constant knee, joint, feet, and back pain. And she couldn't walk far without losing her breath. Plus, at her weight she knew it wouldn't be long before she was plagued with illnesses that ran in her family, such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer.

Even worse, Dee was embarrassed to be seen in public, especially with her husband and daughter, who didn't have weight problems. She always felt like people were looking at her and judging her. And she hated never being able to shop in "regular" women's stores.

But Dee didn't want it to be this way. She knew she was a good mom, but she wanted to get healthy so she could be an even better one (and eventually, a great grandmother too). After a number of failed diet attempts, Dee decided to try L A Weight Loss.

In September 2007, she joined her local Hickory, N.C., L A Weight Loss center, where she was paired up with a one-on-one weight loss counselor. Her counselor helped Dee see the error of her eating ways, and create a diet plan that fit her life.

Dee cut back on all the carbs and starches, and she added more fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, and water to her diet. Now, instead of steak, Dee will have fish. Instead of a baked potato, she'll have a salad. And instead of a Dr. Pepper, she'll have a glass of water.

With these little changes, Dee saw big results. Almost immediately, Dee started to shed pounds. And as her weight decreased, her confidence and energy increased. Before long, Dee was sweating it out with other gym-goers at her local athletic club. Then the pounds really melted away.

After less than a year on the program, Dee has lost a total of 155 pounds! At 145 pounds, she's 5 pounds lighter than her goal weight (and 35 pounds lighter than she was on her wedding day almost 30 years ago)!

Dee she feels like her entire life has changed. Her relationship with her husband is better than ever, and she's thankful to him for his constant support throughout her entire weight loss process.

She can do things that she couldn't do before, such as ride amusement park rides, wear cute clothes, play with kids on the floor, fit into restaurant booths, and work out for extended periods of time.

Best of all, she feels great. She loves going shopping with her husband at regular department stores, and feels great when he picks our something totally feminine for her. Congratulations, Dee! We're proud of you!

Here's Dee weighing in at 300 pounds:



And here she is today, looking fit and fabulous at 145 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Dee Lindamood
Hometown: Newton, N.C.
Age: 47
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 300 pounds
Goal weight: 155 pounds
Current weight: 145 pounds
Program start date: September 2007

Favorite food: Flat Bread.

Biggest temptation: Resisting the bread at restaurants.

Biggest motivator: Getting constant support from her husband.

Biggest obstacle: Resisting brownies and other sweets in the lunch room at work.

Old eating philosophy: Constantly eating bread and butter, pasta, pizza, potatoes, nachos and soda.

New eating philosophy: Making meals with flat bread, salad, vegetables, and fish; and drinking more water

Best thing about losing weight: Fitting into a size 8.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can still eat what you love and lose weight.

Ohio student learns weight loss for life

Many girls hope for a Sweet Sixteen party on their 16th birthdays. All Priscah Musinde wanted was a new body.

Priscah was overweight her entire life. She was a chubby baby, and got heavier each year. By the time she was 16, Priscah weighed 312 pounds.

Priscah had low self-esteem, and her social life suffered because of it. She never went to dances in high school, and didn't like to socialize.

Priscah knew that losing weight would change her life, and was determined to drop the pounds before entering college. So in September 2003, she joined the Pickerton, Ohio, L A Weight Loss center.

Personal weight loss counselor Carmlee met with Priscah during one-on-one weight loss sessions. She learned how to properly control her portion sizes, and the right foods to eat at the right times.

Priscah soon began to reduce her weight by eliminating most of the fried foods, sodas, red meats, and high-calorie desserts from her diet; and adding fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and water.

She reached her goal weight of 160 pounds in 2006 -- half her size! Since then, Priscah's self-esteem has risen incredibly. She's a happier, more social person, and has more energy than ever before, which she burns off by exercising.

Priscah's success has motivated others to join L A Weight Loss, too. Her older sister Felicia has lost 90 pounds on the program, and her best friend has lost 20 pounds.

Just as she thought, losing weight has changed Priscah's life. L A Weight Loss not only taught Priscah how to eat correctly, but also how to love herself. She's so glad she challenged herself to lose weight now, while she's young, so she has plenty of time to enjoy being thin! Congrats, Priscah!

Here's 16-year-old Priscah at 312 pounds:



And here she is today, at a fantastic 160 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Priscah Musinde
Hometown: Reynoldsburg, Ohio
Age: 20
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 312 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Program start date: September 2003

Favorite food: Cereal.

Biggest temptation: Desserts.

Biggest motivator: Losing weight to feel better about herself.

Biggest obstacle: Getting past plateaus.

Old eating philosophy: Eating anything, any time.

New eating philosophy: Eating to live.

Best thing about losing weight: Increasing her self-esteem and shopping for new clothes.

Best weight loss secret learned: Know your purpose and why you're doing what you're doing.

Louisiana woman makes family history by breaking it

There's no question that obesity can run in families. Unfortunately for Courtney Dawson, her family was one of them.

Weight was an issue for Courtney's family for generations -- and the genes didn't skip her. All of the extra helpings of fried food and soda didn't help. By age 12, she tipped the scales at a whopping 180 pounds.

Being young and overweight wasn't easy. Classmates in her 6th grade class teased her when she couldn't fit in her desk. Boys told her she was pretty, but too heavy to date.

Nevertheless, Courtney learned to live with her weight, and continued her bad eating habits into adulthood. After giving birth to her second child, Kaleb, she tipped the scales at 334 pounds.

Courtney's blood pressure was through the roof. Doctors were concerned, and told her she needed to go on medication to lower it if she didn't lose weight immediately.

Motivated by the threat of medication, Courtney decided to lose weight on her own by exercising. She shed some pounds, but reached a plateau. She realized she couldn't do it alone.

So in May 2006, she joined her local Bossier City Louisiana L A Weight Loss center with her mother, who was also suffering from obesity and high blood pressure.

Courtney was paired up with a one-on-one weight loss counselor, and learned how make her diet as healthy as possible. She added fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and water, and cut out many fried foods. She also learned the importance of portion control.

Courtney supplemented her weight loss by walking almost every day for 45 minutes at a local park, while her kids played at the playground. She also joined a gym where she took step aerobics classes and pilates, and did an hour of cardio a day, six times a week.

Now Courtney weighs 168 pounds -- half her size! The 31-year-old no longer suffers from high blood pressure or exhaustion. She can fit comfortably in movie theater seats and restaurant booths, and has energy to play with her kids in the park.

She is also shopping for her new size-10 figure, and glows from the inside out with pride of her accomplishment! She hopes she can start a new chapter in her family history -- one with healthy and slim figures! Great job, Courtney!

Here's Courtney at 334 pounds before she joined L A Weight Loss:



And here she is today, at a stunning 168 pounds. Looking great, Courtney!



FAST FACTS

Name: Courtney Dawson
Hometown: Princeton, La.
Age: 31
Height: 5'8"

Starting weight: 334 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 168 pounds
Program start date: May 2006

Favorite food: Cheeseburgers.

Biggest temptation: Fried foods.

Biggest motivator: Getting healthy.

Biggest obstacle: Resisting old eating habits.

Old eating philosophy: Eating out all the time, and feasting on fried and fast foods.

New eating philosophy: Preparing well-balanced meals at home.

Best thing about losing weight: Looking great and feeling even better.

Best weight loss secret learned: Portion control is everything.

Sharla Pincock loses the baby weight, five times over

Pregnancy comes with many challenges. But for Sharla Pincock, giving birth wasn’t the hard part. Losing the baby weight was.

As a stay-at-home mother of five, she suffered from post-partum depression, and turned to food for comfort. She didn’t have time to cook balanced meals, and filled up on quick fixes to satisfy her hunger.

High-calorie carbs such as bagels and breads were always in hand. By the beginning of 2006, Sharla tipped the scales at 301 pounds.

Her health wasn't the only thing compromised by her weight. Sharla didn’t have the energy to give her kids the time and attention they deserved. Instead of joining them on the playground, she sat on the bench and watched. And coaching her daughter's volleyball team was exhausting.

Sharla knew she had to lose weight and get her life back on track, or risk serious serious complications. She tried dropping the pounds by exercising on her treadmill at home and playing on a volleyball team once a week. But despite her best efforts, nothing seemed to work.

But then her friend, Cami, turned Sharla on to L A Weight Loss. Cami was on the program, and had dropped 80 pounds. Sharla’s mother was also on the L A Weight Loss plan, and had lost 40 pounds. Inspired by their success, Sharla decided to give the program a try.

In April, she joined the Rexburg, Idaho, center, and worked with her personal weight loss counselors to adjust her diet. She incorporated more fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and proteins into her menu, and ate everything in moderation.

She also learned how to prepare healthy homemade meals and treats from her L A Lite cookbook. To round out her weight loss plan, Sharla exercised at home for 50 minutes three times a week on her stairstepper and treadmill.

Since joining L A Weight Loss, Sharla has lost 150 pounds -- half her size! She now runs 5K marathons with ease, plays volleyball with gusto, and has no problem keeping up with her children. Sharla even hiked 14 miles up Table Rock Mountain last summer.

One of Sharla's favorite parts about losing weight is shopping for her new size 6 figure. Plus, she lost all of her baby weight and then some! She's slimmer now than she was when she got married. In fact, Sharla looks so good now, people have thought her husband was cheating on her with a new woman! ;)

Here's Sharla at 301 pounds:



And here she is now, looking absolutely fantastic at 150 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Sharla Pincock
Hometown: Sugar City, Idaho
Age: 33
Height: 5'8"

Starting weight: 301 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 150 pounds
Program start date: April 2006

Favorite food: Steamed vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Brownie sundaes.

Biggest motivator: Keeping up with her five children.

Biggest obstacle: Staying positive.

Old eating philosophy: Munching on tons of carbs.

New eating philosophy: Eating more vegetables, proteins, and dairy.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling more confident, and having more energy than ever before.

Best weight loss secret learned: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.