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.

Horse farmer reigns in unhealthy eating

With all of the physical work farmers do, you'd probably imagine they're in good shape. But that wasn't the case for Floyd Pepper. As a horse farmer, Floyd was so busy taking care of his animals, that he lost sight of taking care of his health.

Floyd's weight steadily increased throughout his life. He had always been active on his South Carolina farm, but it didn't counteract his unhealthy eating habits. He often chowed down on fried chicken, burgers, and chili.

Everyday activities became difficult for Floyd. He had high blood pressure, and was at risk for diabetes. Worse, Floyd lost the energy needed to maintain the farm, and his work suffered because of it.

At 320 pounds, Floyd was very lethargic, and he figured something was seriously wrong with his health. But he denied that the issue was his weight, until things got worse.

He could barely lift bags of feed, and his horse struggled to carry him on long trail rides. Floyd realized he needed to drop the pounds.

Floyd tried dieting, even to the point where he'd starve himself. But he couldn't shed the weight. He was considering gastric bypass surgery when a friend told him about L A Weight Loss. Desperate to lose weight, Floyd decided to give it a shot. He joined his local Easley, S.C., L A Weight Loss center, and was paired with a personal weight loss counselor.

His counselor taught him the healthy way to lose weight, without starving himself. Floyd added more fruits and vegetables to his diet, and learned many delicious ways to grill his food instead of frying it.

He also incorporated L A Weight Loss supplements into his diet, and treated himself to L A Lite bars to curb his sweet cravings. Floyd also learned the importance of portion control.

It wasn't long before Floyd saw the results of his new diet plan. After one year on the program, he's lost 82 pounds. At 238 pounds, Floyd is only 18 pounds away from his weight loss goal.

Now in the homestretch of his weight loss journey, Floyd is realizing the overwhelming physical benefits of losing weight. He has more energy than he's had in years, and his farm work is fun again. Floyd's blood pressure and blood sugars have dropped to healthy levels.

Floyd is now enjoying activities that he's been unable to do for years, such as water sports. He can also go on longer trail rides with his horse, and tries to run every day.

Floyd loves that he can get out of bed in the morning pain-free, and do the things he loves. His son and girlfriend are happy he's taken the steps to better health -- and so is his horse! ;)

Floyd is so happy about his weight loss, he tells everyone he knows about it. He's motivated a few friends to join the program too. Way to go, Floyd! Keep up the great work!

Here's Floyd at 320 pounds:



And here he is today, looking and feeling 15 years younger at 238 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Floyd Pepper
Hometown: Easley, S.C.
Age: 46
Height: 6'

Starting weight: 320 pounds
Goal weight: 220 pounds
Current weight: 238 pounds
Program start date: February 2007

Favorite food: BBQ ribs.

Biggest temptation: Beer.

Biggest motivator: Seeing the results.

Biggest obstacle: Sticking to his meal plan while on trail rides.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing down on whatever he wanted, then trying to lose weight by starving himself.

New eating philosophy: Eating more to lose more.

Best thing about losing weight: Gaining his life back.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eating well involves both healthy portions and healthy foods.

Wisconsin couple tosses 132 pounds overboard

For Craig and Pam Sabee of Appleton, Wisc., sailing is a big part of their life. But it was no longer fun when they gained so much weight, they had trouble maintaining their balance while walking the deck in rocky waters.

Weight had always been an issue for Pam. As a teenager, her weight was in constant flux. She tried several diets, but always gained the weight back, felt hungry, or had to eat unappetizing foods. She also had a hypothyroid, which slowed her metabolism, causing additional gain weight.

For Craig, it was married life that started his weight troubles. He and Pam loved to cook. And cook. And cook some more. The pounds just added up.

Then Craig was diagnosed with rectal lymphoma. He underwent chemotherapy, and had his large intestine removed. While his doctors were doing some follow-up blood work, they discovered Craig also had high blood sugar levels, and was borderline diabetic.

This news was the last straw for the couple. Pam was up to 167 pounds, and Craig to 247 pounds. They knew they had to do something about their weight, so they decided to join L A Weight Loss in February 2006.

The Sabees learned to eat healthy foods in proper portions, and supplemented their eating plan with L A Lite bars. By Christmas, Pam lost 45 pounds, and Craig lost 87 pounds -- for a combined 132-pound weight loss!

Now Pam isn't tempted by Big Mac commercials anymore, and eats lots of fiber-rich foods, such as dates and unsalted almonds. And Craig no longer goes for the buttered popcorn for a snack, instead opting for vegetables and fresh fruit. Plus, Pam's thyroid is stabilized, and Craig's blood sugar level is normal.

The couple exercises much more now too, something they wouldn't have dreamed of doing when they were at their heaviest. Now when they go sailing, they have no trouble balancing themselves on the deck when the waters get rough.

Craig also runs outdoors regularly, while Pam walks five to six miles every day on her treadmill. They feel like there's nothing they can't do -- and at 132 pounds lighter, it looks like smooth sailing from here on out!

The couple before, Pam at 167 pounds, and Craig at 247 pounds:



And the happy couple after: Craig at 160 pounds, Pam at 122 pounds. Looking better than ever, guys!



FAST FACTS

Name: Craig Sabee
Hometown: Appleton, Wisc.
Age: 61
Height: 5'9”

Starting weight: 247 pounds
Goal weight: 185 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Program start date: Feb. 1, 2006

Favorite food: Vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Buttered popcorn.

Biggest motivator: Wanting to lower his blood sugar level, and gaining more energy to sail.

Biggest obstacle: Buying junk food at movie theaters.

Old eating philosophy: Eating greasy foods.

New eating philosophy: Enjoying fiber-rich foods and lots of fresh produce.

Best thing about losing weight: Having energy to sail and run.

Best weight loss secret learned: Don't get discouraged if you reach a plateau in your weight loss. You can have success with determination and healthy eating habits.



Name: Pam Sabee
Hometown: Appleton, Wisc.
Age: 54
Height: 5'5”

Starting weight: 167 pounds
Goal weight: 135 pounds
Current weight: 122 pounds
Program start date: Feb. 1, 2006

Favorite foods: Unsalted almonds, dates, crackers, and hummus.

Biggest temptation: Potato chips.

Biggest motivator: Getting healthier with Craig so they can have more energy for daily activities.

Biggest obstacle: Tuning out when a Big Mac commercial comes on.

Old eating philosophy: Consuming high-fat and low-fiber foods.

New eating philosophy: Eating lots of high-fiber foods and fresh produce, and snacking on crackers and hummus.

Best thing about losing weight: Having more energy and strength to sail.

Best weight loss secret learned: It's easier to get over your temptations than you might think. And once you do, you'll find you don't even miss them!