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.

Tammy Lara proves it's never too late to be a comeback kid

If you have kids, you probably struggle to get them to eat right. Most children don't want their vegetables, fruits, or anything else that's healthy. But developing poor eating habits as a kid can catch up to you in adulthood, as Tammy Lara of Maple, Ontario, found out.

Tammy was always on the heavier side. She had a family history of weight problems, as her mother and relatives on her side were obese. Plus, she didn't learn good nutrition as a child. Instead, Tammy was free to eat whatever tasted good, which meant junk food and candy.

Her eating habits didn't improve with age. Tammy often ate a bag of chips in one sitting, and munched on fast and fried foods throughout the day. She washed it all down with high-calorie soda, pushing her weight to 301 pounds.

Then Tammy became hypothyroid, which made her feel sluggish. It also slowed her metabolism, which helped pack on even more pounds. She experienced chronic back and knee pain, too, which limited her mobility -- and her ability to play with her two kids, Tyler, age 5, and Samantha, age 11.

She could only watch them scream with excitement when they rode amusement park rides, because she couldn't fit into the seats with them. And time spent at the zoo was cut short because Tammy didn't have the energy to walk long distances or withstand warm temperatures.

Meanwhile, her mother developed diabetes and heart problems from her excess weight (being a heavy smoker didn't help either). The complications wore her health down, and she passed away just before her 61st birthday.

Her mother's death was a wake-up call for Tammy. She realized she needed to do something about her weight, or risk cutting her life short like her mother. Tammy wanted to be there for her kids, and spend more quality time with them. So she decided to join L A Weight Loss.

Tammy finally learned what she should have been taught long ago. She sat down with the nutrition experts and one-on-one weight loss counselors to evaluate her food choices. They helped her re-focus her eating regimen to include proper portions of fresh, healthy foods, and exclude fried and fast foods.

Tammy also started drinking more water, and cut out the soda. She also learned which low-calorie, low-fat foods to order at restaurants, as well as how to cook and barbecue healthy meals at home.

The weight started coming off. Tammy felt her mobility and energy coming back. She lost 141 pounds on the L A Weight Loss plan, and is now just 30 pounds away from her 130-pound goal weight!

Tammy continues to eat according to the L A Weight Loss plan. In fact, she's spreading the good habits to her kids. Tammy's daughter is slightly overweight, but thanks to lessons in good nutrition and portion sizes from her mom, she's lost 17 pounds!

But that's not all Tammy is doing with her kids. With renewed energy and mobility, she takes her kids to the park, goes on the swings, and rides down the slide with them. She can also fit through amusement park turnstiles and go on rides with ease.

Plus, Tammy walks on the treadmill every other day. And her husband George tells her she looks great, which is music to her ears!

Way to go, Tammy! Keep up the great work!

This is the 301-pound Tammy before:



And here she is today, weighing 160 pounds! Great job, Tammy!



FAST FACTS

Name: Tammy Lara
Hometown: Maple, Ontario, Canada
Age: 35
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 301 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Program start date: October 18, 2005

Favorite food: Nachos and cheese.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate and animal crackers.

Biggest motivator: Wanting to play with her kids and be there for them in the future.

Biggest obstacle: Keeping up with her kids.

Old eating philosophy: Drinking soda and eating chips all the time.

New eating philosophy: Drinking water, and eating fresh vegetables and grilled chicken.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling healthier, and being able to spend more quality time with her kids.

Best weight loss secret learned: If you know how to order right, you can still eat your favorite foods at restaurants while losing weight.

Rhonda Allen finds alternative to gastric bypass surgery

Gastric bypass surgery is an increasingly popular method for managing obesity, especially when diet and exercise aren't working. But the costs are well out of reach for many candidates, such as Rhonda Allen of Mesa, Ariz.

Rhonda comes from a family that likes to eat. All of her seven siblings have weight issues, as they gravitated toward high-fat and high-calorie foods throughout their lives.

Chips, soda, ice cream, and Mexican and Chinese food filled Rhonda's plates. She also ate big portions, and indulged even more when she was stressed out. Before long, she topped out at 332 pounds.

Rhonda was hypothyroid, too, and had sleep apnea, heart arrhythmia, and knee problems. She also had a family history of heart problems, and feared she'd pass away and lose her family. Plus, she was embarrassed to be seen in public, and didn't want her kids to be teased because of their obese mother.

Then she saw a photo of herself around Easter 2004, and knew she had a problem. Rhonda thought she looked awful. She researched gastric bypass surgery, but it was too expensive for her, and her insurance company wouldn't cover the costs.

Rhonda didn't know what else to do, until her husband encouraged her to try L A Weight Loss. So one day after dropping her kids off at school, she drove to her local L A Weight Loss center. She decided to join with her sister, who was also overweight.

Working with the L A Weight Loss counselors and nutrition experts, Rhonda cut out junk food and soda. Instead, she ate three healthy meals a day with small snacks in between. The weight loss counselors also taught her how to suppress her cravings for unhealthy foods, so she was no longer tempted by fast food.

Rhonda is now down to 250 pounds, and well on her way to her goal of 160! She can walk and breathe easily, and her medical conditions have improved. She now wears more flattering clothes, and has energy to exercise.

She also created a scrapbook of photos from when she was at her heaviest, and photos of herself now. She says her clothes are very different, and she feels motivated to keep going.

In fact, Rhonda's success inspired several other people to join L A Weight Loss, including her three sisters, three sister-in-laws, four friends, and brother-in-law! Now that's an L A Weight Loss family!

Feeling better about herself has made a huge difference in Rhonda's life -- and she got there without gastric bypass surgery. Way to go, Rhonda! Keep up the great work! We'll check in on Rhonda's progress soon ...

Here's Rhonda before, ballooning at 332 pounds:



And here she is now, dropping the pounds at 250. Great job, Rhonda!



FAST FACTS

Name: Rhonda Allen
Hometown: Mesa, Ariz.
Age: 40
Height: 5'2"

Starting weight: 332 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 250 pounds
Program start date: February 2005

Favorite food: Mint chocolate chip ice cream.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate ice cream.

Biggest motivator: Feeling better about herself as she lost the weight, and having her sister join L A Weight Loss with her.

Biggest obstacle: Being stressed from taking care of her kids, and putting them before herself.

Old eating philosophy: Grabbing whatever was quick and easy.

New eating philosophy: Having more vegetables, and making healthy choices.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling happier, having higher self-confidence, and being able to have a baby.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eat smaller portion sizes!

Cancer survivor gets a new life with a new weight

No one ever wants to hear their doctor say cancer. But being diagnosed twice in your lifetime is a nightmare few can say they've survived. Jennifer Clement is one of those people.

In July 1999, Jennifer was diagnosed with breast cancer, and treated with a regular series of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Her spirits hit an all-time low when her hair fell out just a week before her daughter's wedding.

While her morale was sinking, her weight was rising. Jennifer's cancer treatments drained her of energy, and she often found herself slumped on the couch with a bag of fast food.

Six months after the breast cancer diagnosis, tragedy struck again. Jennifer's doctor told her she also had uterine cancer -- a reaction to her breast cancer medication that affects about one in a million people.

She underwent a double mastectomy for her breast cancer, and continued chemo and radiation for the uterine cancer until January 2000.

When Jennifer finally completed her treatment, she was 75 pounds heavier. And her existing hypothyroid problem made the prospect of losing weight seem a distant possibility.

To add insult to injury, Jennifer went through a divorce, which caused her to eat even more. But the worst thing about being heavy was feeling heavy. She had trouble playing with her grandchildren, and had difficulty breathing.

Then, Jennifer heard about L A Weight Loss. Because she had tried other weight loss methods that didn't work for her, Jennifer was hesitant to try something new.

But try she did, and Jennifer watched the pounds melt away. Jennifer's personal L A Weight Loss counselors helped her ditch her fast food habits for lots of fruits, vegetables, chicken, and fish.

With L A Weight Loss, she learned that eating the right portions of the right foods was the key to a healthy lifestyle. And after such a turbulent year, healthy is the only thing Jennifer wanted to be.

Since starting the program in May 2007, Jennifer has shed a total of 51 pounds! She's happier, more social, confident, and -- best of all -- cancer-free! Jennifer has plenty of energy for exercising now, and has even started dating.

Losing weight has changed Jennifer's life in more ways than she could have imagined. She truly feels like she has a new lease on life. Great job, Jennifer!

Here's a 264-pound Jennifer with two of her adorable grandchildren:



And here's a much happier and healthier Jennifer today. You look fantastic, Jennifer!



FAST FACTS

Name: Jennifer Clement
Hometown: Appleton, Wis.
Age: 54
Height: 5'5"

Starting weight: 264 pounds
Goal weight: 200 pounds
Current weight: 213 pounds
Program start date: May 2007

Favorite food: Vegetable pizza, or chicken and broccoli.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Enjoying her new self and her new life, and looking forward to everything that's in store!

Biggest obstacle: Worrying that if she stops the program, she will pick up old habits.

Old eating philosophy: Eating quick and easy foods -- fast food, meaty pizza, junk food.

New eating philosophy: Eating right -- salads, vegetables, fresh fruits, and lots of water.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling good inside, and looking good outside.

Best weight loss secret learned: If you eat the right portion sizes and the right foods, the pounds will melt away!

"Queen of Sweets" gives her health the royal treatment

Sweets are a common temptation for many people struggling to lose weight. But they were more than that for Margaret Mondragon, as she gorged on cookies and ice cream daily.

She called herself the "Queen of Sweets," but it was really the cakes and cookies that were in control -- until she found the way to defeat the enemy.

Margaret had a petite, 5'2", 97-pound frame as a teenager growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas. Then she had her first daughter, Monica, at age 17. Her weight crept up a little. She went from a size 16 girls before pregnancy, to a size 13 juniors afterward.

Margaret had her second daughter Amanda five years later. Then, four months after she gave birth, her doctor discovered her colon was lined with millions of polyps. If Margaret didn't have surgery right away, she wouldn't live to see 30.

She was rushed into surgery, and had her colon removed. But it was such a shock for her body that her thyroid became inactive. Her metabolism dropped, and over the years, the pounds came on.

Her intense cravings for sweets didn't help matters. She considered her daily intake of cookies, cakes, donuts, and ice cream one of her food groups. Margaret also developed arthritis in her knees, and just wanted to sleep all the time.

Then one day last year, Margaret stepped on her scale. She was shocked when it read 250 pounds. She was bigger than her husband!

She had heard about L A Weight Loss's one-on-one counseling and real-food eating, and thought she'd give it a try.

Margaret joined the San Antonio center, and worked with her personal weight loss counselor, Michelle, to transform her eating habits. She still has a "sweet" food group, but now it includes fresh fruits and no cookies or cakes. She also drinks at least 64 oz. of water daily.

All told, Margaret lost 111 pounds, and is now down to 139 pounds. She weighs less than her husband again, and she's showing it off!

You can find her running 5k's (her fastest time is 37 minutes and 51 seconds for "Race for the Cure"), and playing basketball and soccer with her 11-year-old grandson Andrew.

Plus, her arthritis is gone, and her metabolism has increased. Margaret also motivated three friends to join L A Weight Loss, and get their health back on track. This queen really has conquered it all! Congrats, Margaret!

UPDATES: Margaret's husband recently bought a motorcycle and the couple enjoys riding it together. He refers to her as his "teenage-college wife" -- which Margaret loves!

Margaret also just ran in the Beach-to-Bay Relay Marathon in Corpus Christi, and finished her 4-mile leg in 51 minutes and 47 seconds without skipping a breath. She says she owes her accomplishment all to L A Weight Loss. She's already created a team for next year’s race!

This is Margaret before, at 250 pounds:



And this is the new Margaret, regal at 139 pounds. WOW! Great job, Margaret!



FAST FACTS

Name: Margaret Mondragon
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Age: 49
Height: 5'2"

Starting weight: 250 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 139 pounds
Program start date: Jan. 18, 2006

Favorite food: Seafood.

Biggest temptation: Sweets.

Biggest motivator: Watching the pounds come off each week when she weighed in.

Biggest obstacle: Overcoming cravings for sweets, and fighting hypothyroidism.

Old eating philosophy: Consuming lots of cookies, cakes, ice cream, and soda.

New eating philosophy: Incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and water into her diet.

Best thing about losing weight: Weighing less than her husband.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can lose weight by replacing cookies and cakes with fruits. They're sweet like candy without the calories.

Best friends through thick and thin

Remember Thelma and Louise? That's what I thought of when I heard this weight loss story!

Becky Sanders and Ruth Stockell of Nashville, Tenn., are a pair of peas in a pod -- best friends since childhood. They did everything together, from going to school, to playing outdoors, to gaining weight.

Becky was also hypothyroid, which slowed down her metabolism and made her more susceptible to weight gain. That was enough to give her high blood pressure, and her doctor put her on medication to treat both conditions. By then, she had hit 225 pounds.

For Ruth, it was getting laid off at work that pushed her over the edge. She turned to food for comfort, and chocolate was her worst enemy. At 303 pounds, she became unsteady on her feet, and felt very unhealthy.

Then Becky and Ruth saw an ad on TV for L A Weight Loss in September 2005. They said to each other, “If you do it, I'll do it.” They called the Hermataige center, and told the counselors they were in this together. That day, Becky and Ruth formed a “buddy system” to lose weight -- and never looked back.

The friends cooked together, discussed their eating habits, and kept tabs on each other's progress. If one was having a bad week, just a few words of encouragement from her best friend was all she needed to keep going.

And Becky and Ruth have fabulous results to prove it. Becky has lost 79 pounds, and is down to 146 pounds. And Ruth is now at 192 pounds, losing 111 pounds so far. In total, the friends have lost 190 pounds!

Everyone around Becky and Ruth are noticing the beautiful ladies. Becky's friends and family compliment her on her fabulous new body, and Ruth and her ex-boyfriend are now dating again.

The gals also enjoy going shopping together, and feel younger and more vibrant now that the excess weight is gone. And how could you not? Congrats, ladies!

Want to hear more? I sure did, so I got on the phone with Becky and Ruth and chatted about their weight loss story. Listen in, and find out just how powerful a friendship can be!

This is Becky before, at 225 pounds:



And here's Becky after, at 146 pounds! Looking fabulous!!



FAST FACTS:

Name: Becky Sanders
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Age: 42

Starting weight: 225 pounds
Goal weight: 121 pounds
Current weight: 146 pounds
Program start date: September 2005

Favorite food: Salads.

Biggest temptation: Fast food.

Biggest motivator: Her best friend, Ruth Stockell.

Biggest obstacle: Feeling depressed.

Old eating philosophy: Eating fried and junk foods.

New eating philosophy: Steaming vegetables and baking foods.

Best thing about losing weight: Getting compliments about how good she looks.

Best weight loss secret learned: Don't cheat. Just do what you're supposed to do, and the plan will work.



Here's Ruth before, at 303 pounds:



Here's Ruth after, at 192 pounds! Way to go!



FAST FACTS

Name: Ruth Stockell
Hometown: Nashville, Tenn.
Age: 45
Height: 5'3”

Starting weight: 303 pounds
Goal weight: 140 pounds
Current weight: 192 pounds
Program start date: September 2005

Favorite food: Mexican dishes.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Her best friend, Becky Sanders.

Biggest obstacle: Getting past the sweet cravings.

Old eating philosophy: Eating fried chicken, potato chips, lots of bread, and chocolate.

New eating philosophy: Cooking chicken, vegetables, and other healthy foods in her crock pot.

Best thing about losing weight: Not hating herself when she looks in the mirror.

Best weight loss secret learned: Don't look at it as if you have to lose X pounds. Look at it in 10-pound increments, and you'll find it's much more manageable!