UPDATE: Barbara Bonura crosses the finish line ... and stays there!

The last time we checked in with Barbara Bonura, she had successfully shed 50 pounds with the L A Weight Loss program. Since then, she's even lost another two pounds!

Barbara's healthy lifestyle hasn't slowed down. As a U.S. mail carrier, Barbara walks every day, but it doesn’t stop there. March marks her third year running in a local women’s 10k run to raise money for women's and children’s health issues. Good for you, Barbara!

Barbara also has a regular work out routine. She works out at the gym three days a week (and two of those days are before work at 5 a.m.). Barbara also runs on the weekends. She's up with the sunrise on Saturdays to run four miles at 4 a.m. That's commitment!

Barbara still follows her L A Weight Loss plan. Her typical menu consists of 8 oz. skim milk with one serving of cornflakes and one banana for breakfast. For lunch, one serving of a lean protein (usually fresh, deli sliced lunch meat) with one slice of whole grain bread. Dinner is usually a salad with either lean chicken or fish. And for a healthy snack, Barbara usually grabs a piece of fresh fruit.

Way to go Barbara, you look GREAT. All you hard work has paid off!

Hawaiian rides wave to weight loss success

Losing weight is often described as riding a rollercoaster. For Hawaiian native Joycelyn Avilla, it was more like riding a wave.

Growing up in Hawaii, Jocelyn was a chubby child and an overweight teenager. She tried starving herself to lose weight, but the pounds didn't budge. She felt her weight slipping out of control.

At age 18, Joycelyn hit 200 pounds. She had her first child then, and was faced with the challenge of supporting her daughter while attending nursing school. Her time and energy stretched thin, Joycelyn sustained herself on a steady diet of fast food and soda.

Two more births and 20 years later, she tipped the scales at 266 pounds. She had high cholesterol and blood pressure, and her gynecologist wouldn't let her take birth control pills because of it. Jocelyn tried high-protein shakes, diet pills, and salad diets with little success. The few pounds she lost always came back, plus some.

Then Joycelyn heard about a local woman who had found success on the L A Weight Loss program, and decided to give it a try. She visited the center, was impressed with the care and empathy the counselors showed her.

Her personal counselor listened to her weight loss struggle, and developed a healthy eating plan that fit her lifestyle. When she hit a plateau and broke down in tears in frustration, Joycelyn's counselor was there to support and encourage her.

Jocelyn never felt deprived or hungry on the program. On the contrary, she felt full, and was surprised to see the numbers on the scale drop. Joycelyn planned out her meals, and ate L A Lite bars when she was too busy to have a meal.

After 35 weeks, Joycelyn lost 131 pounds -- half her size! Now at 135 pounds, she feels better than ever. Joycelyn's blood pressure and cholesterol are at normal levels. Her energy is high, and she does cardio exercises regularly.

She also enjoys shopping for trendy clothes and lingerie. Her husband says she looks like she did when they met, young and energetic. In fact, when Joycelyn and her daughter went out for dinner one night, their server thought they were sisters!

Joycelyn attributes her success to the empathy, knowledge, and personalized guidance of her L A Weight Loss counselors. She feels that if she can do it, anyone can. Nothing would make her happier than inspiring another woman to gain the self-confidence that she has by losing weight.

Now Joycelyn's at the top of her weight loss wave, and looking absolutely fantastic. Way to go, Joycelyn!

Here's Joycelyn at 266 pounds:



And here she is today at a stunning 135 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Joycelyn Avilla
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
Age: 41
Height: 5'2"

Starting weight: 266 pounds
Goal weight: 135 pounds
Current weight: 135 pounds
Program start date: May 2007

Favorite food: Pears and apples.

Biggest temptation: White rice and breads.

Biggest motivator: Watching herself shrink in her big clothes.

Biggest obstacle: Having high blood pressure and borderline cholesterol.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing down on burgers, french fries, pizza, and white rice.

New eating philosophy: Eating meals with salads, grilled chicken, green vegetables, and peanuts.

Best thing about losing weight: Getting off her high blood pressure medication.

Best weight loss secret learned: If you watch your portions and eat frequently, you lose weight!

Postal worker: Deliver me from obesity!

"I'm fabulous and forty!" Barbara Bonura declared in a letter she sent me a few months ago.

But things weren't always so upbeat for the U.S. postal worker, who's faced a lifetime of weight losses and gains. No diet seemed to work for Barbara; for her, they were either too restrictive, too discouraging, or unsatisfying.

Barbara's weight issues escalated when she became pregnant 1997. After she gave birth, she wanted to drop the baby weight. But she was too intimidated and self-conscious to go to the gym and work out. She turned to food instead.

Then Barbara got the shock of her life when she caught her reflection in a full-length mirror in the summer of 2005. She couldn't believe the 165-pound image looking back her.

She immediately got on the phone, called L A Weight Loss for a consultation, and headed that day to the Aiea center in Oahu, Hawaii. As she says in her letter, "With that first step, actually walking into the center, my life changed forever."

Barbara met her personal counselor, Jennifer, who worked hand-in-hand with Barbara to get her weight back on track. Barbara dropped three pounds in the first week. It was all the motivation she needed to commit to the program.

And commit she did. Barbara lost 50 pounds and 26 inches in 29 weeks! That was more than enough to turn heads at a family wedding last summer, where she was showered with compliments (don't tell the bride!). As her daughter puts it: “Mom, you are way too skinny now, and you can stop losing weight.”

Barbara before at 165 pounds:



And here she is at 115 pounds. She definitely has our stamp of approval!



FAST FACTS

Name: Barbara Bonura
Hometown: Oahu, Hawaii
Age: 40
Height: 5’2"

Starting weight: 165 pounds
Goal weight: 115 pounds
Current weight: 115 pounds
Program start date: July 20, 2005

Favorite food: Broccoli -- something she never tried before joining L A Weight Loss.

Biggest temptation: Starchy foods like pasta, corn, and potatoes.

Biggest motivator: Gaining the confidence and energy to do everyday things like play with her kids.

Biggest obstacle: Opening her eyes to what her body really looked like at 164 pounds.

Old eating philosophy: An unbalanced diet of beans, corn, pasta, and steak.

New eating philosophy: Three servings of fresh fruits every day, and grilling or steaming all her meals.

Best thing about losing weight: Wearing short shorts in the Hawaiian sun.

Best weight loss secret learned: You didn’t put on the weight overnight, so you won't lose it overnight.

The mother of all surprises

When Linda Martin's husband and son shipped off for Iraq last July, she started a covert operation of her own: to surprise her boys with a slimmer figure when they returned home.

Linda laid out her attack plan three days before they left. She joined L A Weight Loss on July 12th, and said her goodbyes on the 15th. Then she went to work paring down her 236-pound body.

This was a big change for Linda, who's struggled with her weight since she was a teen. The problem got worse when she was diagnosed with Graves disease in 1996, and had her thyroid removed. Despite her doctor's pleas, Linda kept gaining weight that she couldn't lose.

As Linda's weight went up, her self esteem and energy went down. She'd run out of breath climbing stairs, and circle parking lots a dozen times to find a spot near the door.

She also avoided unwanted attention. For example, the idea of buying a new dress for an upcoming military ball horrified her. She was relieved when her husband told her they weren't going.

Linda hoped the L A Weight Loss program would be her ticket to a better life when she joined last July. She hasn't been disapointed. So far Linda's lost 50 pounds -- 30 pounds shy of her goal weight of 156 pounds!

She's gained a lot in the process. She now volunteers with a military family support group. And she makes it a point to park far away from the door when shopping.

Linda's husband and son are expected to return stateside in the next few days. They know she's been losing weight and getting healthy, but they haven't seen her since they left for Iraq.

We'll be sure to update you on their reunion, and we hope to have some great photos to share as well!

Here's Linda before, at 236 pounds:



And the new Linda, at 186 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Linda Martin
Hometown: Aiea, Hawaii
Age: 45

Starting weight: 236 pounds
Goal weight: 156 pounds
Current weight: 186 pounds
Program start date: July 12, 2006

Biggest temptation: Chips and chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Surprising her husband and son upon their return from Iraq.

Biggest obstacle: Gaining the confidence to know she could lose the weight.

Old eating philosophy: Giving in to every craving, and eating whatever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Eating the right portion sizes to control the amount of food she eats.

Best thing about losing weight: When she talks to her dad on the phone, he says she "sounds lighter."

Best weight loss secret learned: Take it one day at a time. Don't be discouraged if you gain half a pound. Stay on the program, and it'll eventually come off.