Soldier's wife gives extra weight its marching orders

Long-distance relationships are tough. Couples must navigate loneliness, different time zones, and travel costs, just to be with each another. Imagine, then, how difficult it becomes when one partner is in Iraq.

Elizabeth Diaz doesn't need to imagine -- she lived it. Her husband Ricky, a sergeant in the National Guard, was deployed to Iraq in November 2005, leaving Elizabeth to care for their two youngest children, ages 11 and 7.

Loneliness and stress soon caught up with her. Meals at fast-food restaurants became the norm, pushing Elizabeth to 268 pounds. That was a far cry from the slim 100 pounds Elizabeth weighed when she and Ricky dated over 26 years earlier.

Worse, Elizabeth's back, knees, and heels ached. She couldn't sleep well at night, which left her constantly exhausted. Then it dawned on her: If something happened to Ricky, she was not in the best condition to take care of her family. This convinced her to make her health a priority.

She didn't know where to begin, until she saw a segment on Good Morning America about Alisha Marigani. Alisha was a fellow military wife who had shed 113 pounds on the L A Weight Loss plan to surprise her husband when he returned home from Iraq.

Elizabeth called her local L A Weight Loss Center in Pueblo West, Colo., that day. Her vow: to reach her goal weight by the time Ricky came home on two-week leave in July.

Her personal counselors worked with Elizabeth every step of the way, teaching her how to make healthier choices on the fast food menus, and how to eat the proper portions at mealtimes. Elizabeth also incorporated exercise into her routine, walking one block farther each day, and eventually joining a gym.

By the end of her first week, Elizabeth had lost 10 pounds, and continued to lose at a rate of three pounds a week. By July, she had dropped 100 pounds (!!), and went from a size 26 to a size 12. It was time for Ricky to come home ... and for Elizabeth to reveal her new look.

But Ricky turned the tables on Elizabeth, recognizing her right away at the airport! Her beautiful smile gave her away :)

Now, Elizabeth has much more energy to spend on fun activities with Ricky, and no longer suffers from joint pain or lack of sleep. Even better, she feels years younger -- even as young as when she and Ricky first met! Now that's what I call a Valentine' Day present.

Here's Elizabeth with Ricky, weighing in at 268 pounds:



And here she is, a stunning 160 pounds, ready to wow her husband!



FAST FACTS

Name: Elizabeth Diaz
Hometown: Pueblo West, Colo.
Age: 44
Height: 5'5”

Starting weight: 268 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Starting date: Feb. 14, 2006

Favorite L A Weight Loss recipe: Grilled Chicken Pita.

Favorite food: Anything Italian!

Biggest temptation: Fast food.

Biggest motivator: Wanting to lose weight by the time her soldier husband came home on leave.

Biggest obstacle: Giving up soda and fast food.

Old eating philosophy: Relying on drive-thru windows and Super Size options for her meals.

New eating philosophy: Making healthier choices when dining out, and balancing her food groups.

Best thing about losing weight: Getting rid of her weight-related aches and sleeping problems, and restoring her energy and confidence.

Best weight loss secret learned: You don't have to sacrifice your favorite foods. Rather, eat healthier versions of them in the right portions.

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.

One soldier's unbelievable homecoming

Alisha Marigani wanted to give her husband Kyle, a Staff Sgt. in the U.S. Army, the ultimate surprise when he returned home after a year in Iraq. And boy, did she ever give him some shock and awe!

When he left for Iraq in early 2005, Alisha was 268 pounds and a size 24. She shopped in men's stores, because those were the only clothes that fit her. But just before her hubby was deployed to Iraq, she secretly started on the L A Weight Loss program, determined to slim down by the time he returned.

She even refused to send him photos of herself, lest he catch on to her upcoming surprise. The underground operation worked! By February 2006, Alisha had lost 107 pounds, and greeted Kyle in a feminine size 8 pink shirt. Kyle was shocked. He barely recognized his bride, now a svelte 161 pounds!

In fact, Alisha and Kyle's reunion story was so touching that it caught the eye of a local reporter, which eventually landed them on Good Morning America! They say the camera adds 10 pounds, but you certainly can't see any extra weight on Alisha! See for yourself:



Here's Alisha and Kyle a year ago, when Alisha was 268 pounds:



Here she is looking slim and sexy at 161 pounds as she awaits to greet Kyle for the first time since joining L A Weight Loss:



FAST FACTS

Name: Alisha Marigani
Hometown: Oceanside, Calif.
Age: 28

Starting weight: 268 pounds
Goal weight: 137 pounds
Current weight: 161 pounds
Program start date: February 2005

Biggest motivator: Surprising her husband who was returning home after a year in Iraq.

Best thing about losing weight: Buying new clothes (at women's stores!) and playing outside with her daughter.

Best weight loss secret learned: The L A Weight Loss counselors are like a best friend; they keep tabs on you and make you accountable for your actions. They truly understand you and are your biggest cheerleader.

U.S. soldier in Iraq battles weight loss

Lorraine Staton, 29, is in the U.S. Army, and stationed in Iraq. She came into the L A Weight Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming, earlier this year, where she weighed in at 180 lbs. When she first joined the army, she weighed 115 lbs. She gained 50 lbs. in each of her two pregnancies.

At the Center, she was given a drink called the Take Off -- and it helped her lose four pounds in three days. That got her excited about weight loss. Renee, who runs the L A Weight Loss Center in Lorraine’s town, e-mails her in Iraq.

Renee helps keep her going, and offers a lot of support to someone in a very stressful situation. She even sends L A Weight Loss supplements, shakes, snack bars, and popcorn.

Lorraine really loves it when other soldiers say, “Sgt. Staton, you lost some weight!" Right now, she weighs 142 pounds. She’s motivated by her desire to wear her bathing suit on the beach for a special reason: She’s hoping to be stationed in Hawaii. See you in the surf, Lorraine!

Here's Lorraine now. Watch this space to see her after photo when she returns from Iraq in December. Can't wait to see what she looks like when she reaches her goal weight!