The Bosses give their extra weight the pink slip

Ask parents what they fear most about raising kids, and they are sure to say outliving them. Burying a child, no matter how old, is the most heart-wrenching experience anyone can go through.

Suzanne and King Boss of London, Ontario, can certainly relate to those feelings. Two years ago, the couple lost their 43-year-old son, Bill, in a tow truck accident -- and with it, their appetite for watching their health and weight.

Soon, Suzanne reached 206 pounds, and King reached 258 pounds. But it wasn’t until King suffered a heart attack during Christmas in 2005 that the couple decided to commit to losing weight. After all, they wanted to be there for their five other children and eight grandchildren.

The couple joined L A Weight Loss in March 2006, and completely turned their eating habits around. They went from heavy helpings of bacon and eggs for breakfast, and hamburgers and French fries for dinner, to cereal for breakfast, and chicken, fish, and salads for dinner.

The result: Suzanne dropped to 147 pounds, while King’s crowning achievement was dropping to 197 pounds -- all in just a year!

Even better, Suzanne reached her goal weight last September, right in time for their son’s wedding. She also went from size 16 to size 8, while King lost 8 inches off his waist, and now sports size L pants instead of XXLs.

The couple is ready to spend their retirement years swimming, taking long walks together, and enjoying their grandchildren. Congrats, Suzanne and King!

Here are the Bosses at the beginning of their weight loss journey. Suzanne is at 206 pounds, and King is at 258 pounds.



And here they are quite a few pounds lighter! Suzanne is at 147 pounds, and King is at 197 pounds. You look great!



FAST FACTS

Name: Suzanne Boss
Hometown: London, Ontario
Age: 64
Height: 5'3"

Starting weight: 206 pounds
Goal weight: 156 pounds
Current weight: 147 pounds
Program start date: March 1, 2006

Favorite food: Vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Hamburgers.

Biggest motivator: Attending their son's wedding in September 2006.

Biggest obstacle: Staying away from restaurants that were once old favorites.

Old eating philosophy: Eating any food in sight.

New eating philosophy: Reading every label carefully before buying it.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better about herself and shopping for new clothes.

Best weight loss secret learned: A good way to sustain yourself until dinner is to have a bottled water and apple.



Name: King Boss
Hometown: London, Ontario
Age: 70
Height: 5'9"

Starting weight: 258 pounds
Goal weight: 185 pounds
Current weight: 197 pounds
Program start date: March 1, 2006

Favorite food: Chicken.

Biggest temptation: Chicken wings.

Biggest motivator: Attending their son's wedding in September of 2006.

Biggest obstacle: Avoiding eating out.

Old eating philosophy: Eating large portions.

New eating philosophy: Asking what is in food he orders at restaurants.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling and looking better.

Best weight loss secret learned: Small healthy snacks throughout the day stave off hunger.

Tanya Jones recaptures her schoolgirl charm

Struggling with weight issues isn't easy for anyone. But it's especially tough for twenty-somethings who should be enjoying the best years of their lives.

No one knows that better than Tanya Jones. The 20-year-old university student was a sad, skeptical young woman who buried her emotions in food, quickly hitting 357 pounds. She stayed home a lot, afraid that people would talk about her behind her back.

Tanya had struggled with weight her entire life, and none of the diets she tried were right for her. She found it difficult to walk through school, especially the library, carrying all that weight. She felt the bookshelves closing in on her.

And as if that feeling weren't enough to motivate Tanya to find a program that worked for her, she also feared she would someday suffer a heart attack -- just like her grandfather.

Tanya decided to take the plunge. Supported by her mother -- a cancer survivor and Tanya's biggest inspiration -- she walked into the L A Weight Loss center in Oakville, Ontario.

Through one-on-one meetings with her counselor Barb Reidy, Tanya learned portion control, and lost nine pounds in just the first week! Since then, she's lost a total of 140 pounds. She's at 217 pounds, and is well on her way to her goal weight of 200 pounds.

Now, words like delightful, bubbly, and amazing more aptly describe Tanya. She is more outgoing, and has a better time being out with friends.

The fear of people talking behind her back is gone -- along with the excess weight! Great job, Tanya!!

This is Tanya at her heaviest -- 357 pounds:



And here she is now, after just one year on the program. Way to go, Tanya!



FAST FACTS

Name: Tanya Jones
Hometown: Burlington, Ontario
Age: 20
Height: 5'10"

Starting weight: 357 pounds
Goal weight: 200 pounds
Current weight: 217 pounds
Program start date: April 28, 2006

Favorite food: Zucchini.

Biggest temptation: Ice cream or pizza.

Biggest motivator: Her family, who gave her support, and her weight loss counselors.

Biggest obstacle: Finding a weight loss program that worked for her.

Old eating philosophy: Indulging in sugary and high-carb foods.

New eating philosophy: Eating nutritional foods in smaller portions.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better about herself, and feeling healthier.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eating every two to three hours keeps you from feeling hungry.

A heart-to-heart with Dr. Lyles

Did you know that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in America?

In fact, nearly twice as many women in the United States die of heart disease and stroke than from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer, according to the American Heart Association.

This sobering stat was reason enough for Marnie and me to get a hold of Dr. Boyd Lyles, and ask him all about heart disease, including causes, risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.

So be sure to give this interview your full attention. It may just be the one podcast that saves your life.

Beating heart disease before it beats her

Family genes can be a blessing or a curse. Just ask Mary Brownson of Pueblo, Colo., who's had a lifetime of the latter.

The Brownson family curse: heart disease. Mary's father had his first heart attack at age 40. Then, at 57, he had a second attack that killed him. Two of Mary's brothers also suffered heart attacks, one at 30, and the other at 45. And heart disease didn't spare her sister either, who had an attack at 46.

Mary was lucky, though. She reached 49 with nary a blip, but saw the writing on the wall. After all, she weighed 255 pounds, wore a size 24, and was easily fatigued. She could barely climb a flight of steps before running out of breath.

On the cusp of turning 50, she knew she had to do something -- or the heart disease would catch up with her.

Having tried nearly every fad diet on the market -- to no avail -- she joined L A Weight Loss in February 2006. The program's personal attention and one-on-one counseling immediately turned her on.

Mary's counselor helped her create a customized, heart-healthy meal plan to fit her lifestyle, and adjusted it when Mary hit a weight-loss plateau.

Mary also incorporated exercise into her day, using the treadmill and lifting weights five times a week, and doing yoga and stretching exercises in her apartment.

Now, a year later, Mary's heart is healthy -- as is the rest of her body. She's dropped 95 pounds, and has never felt better!!

Here is Mary before at 255 pounds:



And after, at a heart-healthy 160 pounds. Way to go, Mary!



FAST FACTS

Name: Mary Brownson
Hometown: Pueblo, Colo.
Age: 50
Height: 5’9"

Starting weight: 255 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Program start date: February 2006

Favorite food: Vegetables and dips made with light sour cream.

Biggest temptation: Adding chips to those veggie and dip plates.

Biggest motivator: Avoiding the heart disease that affected her father and three siblings.

Biggest obstacle: Finding a weight loss program that felt comfortable.

Old eating philosophy: Lots of salty, greasy snacks like chips and French fries.

New eating philosophy: Don't deprive yourself of the things you love, just be more sensible about it.

Best thing about losing weight: Finding stylish clothes that fit (she's now a size 12).

Best weight loss secret learned: Be honest with yourself and the people who want to help you. Let them know your needs and goals. This kind of support network is invaluable!

Tiring out a two-year-old is child’s play for Tanya Herranz

Tanya Herranz was 24 when her doctor told her she was at high risk for a heart attack, stroke, and diabetes.

She struggled with her weight for years, and was nearly incapacitated following a back injury. During this time, she gained even more weight since even walking was too painful. Tanya gave up hope of ever losing weight.

At the time of her doctor’s warning, Tanya weighed 355 pounds and was a size 28. She knew losing weight was the answer, and turned to a place that could support her with one-on-one counseling. She joined L A Weight Loss, and in the first two months, Tanya lost 25 pounds!

Tanya told me that, before losing 160 pounds, she would be out of breath just climbing a flight of stairs. Now she’s able to play with her 2-year-old for hours at their home in Deforest, Wis. The toddler has non-stop energy, and now, so does Tanya.

Here's Tanya at an agonizing 355 pounds:

Yep, this is really her now!! What a transformation, huh??

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!