Life gets a little easier for this Kentucky mother

Heather Scott is a 25-year-old mother from Mayfield, Ky. She struggled with her weight all of her life, leaving her uncomfortable and insecure. Weighing as much as 260 pounds as a teenager made high school anything but easy. In fact, if you ask Heather, she'll tell you the only good thing that came out of high school was the day she met her future husband.

Heather's husband has never judged her, even when she continued to gain weight after high school. But that still did not ease Heather's insecurities. Wherever Heather went, she felt like people were pointing at "the fat girl."

As if dealing with the thought of people stereotyping her wasn't enough, Heather also had to deal with the physical demands of being heavy. She was always out of breath, and her joints constantly ached.

She had a hard time doing everyday tasks. Getting out of bed every morning was an obstacle for Heather. When she was nine months pregnant with her daughter, she was so large she couldn't even fit in a booth at a restaurant.

Shopping was never a good experience. Heather used to go shopping with her older sister, and would be jealous of all the cute clothes her sister could wear and how much more items she could buy. Heather's clothes cost more, and she was always stuck wearing whatever was made in her size, which was generally big t-shirts and sweats.

Heather never quite understood why she was so much bigger. She didn't eat much, but she would justify a day of starving for a late night batch of brownies. She chose pizza and fast food or cooked dinners loaded with starches. Healthy was never an option for Heather.

She finally had enough when she couldn't even play with her young daughter. Heather's mom had joined the LA Weight Loss program and was very successful. So along with the support from her mother and husband, Heather made the commitment to the LA Weight Loss program in May 2007.

LA Weight Loss worked for Heather because she joined for herself. She didn't want to lose weight because someone else wanted her to -- she wanted to lose weight for her health and her children.

Heather preferred the one-on-one counseling LA Weight Loss provided. She kept a food journal to keep track of her meals, and the counselors worked with her to realize what foods helped her gain or loose.

Now Heather's diet consists of turkey bacon and yogurt for breakfast, plain turkey burger for lunch with no bread, a salad for dinner and lots of fresh fruits and vegetables in between. She also started walking at least one mile a day.

And the results have shown. Heather's lost over 100 pounds! She now feels like she can communicate better with people. She realizes her insecurities lead her to believe everyone was judging her. She also has more options to chose from when she goes shopping, and can shop at any store, not just the stores that carry plus sizes. She can even wear heals!

Heather's biggest obstacle was resisting temptations. She learned that eating foods that are bad for you is not worth the five minutes you can actually taste it in your mouth. Anytime Heather would get off course, especially around the holidays, she would walk extra and work harder to get back on the right mindset.

Way to go, Heather! We're proud of you!

Here's Heather at 301 pounds:



And here she is today at a much slimmer 197 pounds.



You look great Heather! All your hard work has paid off! Keep it up!

FAST FACTS

Name: Heather Scott
Hometown: Mayfield, Ky.
Age: 25
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 301 pounds
Goal weight: 170 pounds
Current weight: 197 pounds
Program start date: May 2007

Favorite food: Pizza.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate or sweets.

Biggest motivator: Shrinking into a smaller size and watching the numbers dropping on the scale.

Biggest obstacle: Being around other people who were not dieting.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing on pizza, brownies, cookies, candy bars, chips, and soft drinks.

New eating philosophy: Eating meals with fish, yogurt, turkey, chicken, and fresh vegetables and fruit.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling good about herself, and knowing that she is healthier to play with her daughter.

Best weight loss secret learned: Reducing intake of sodium will help you drop the pounds.

Pam Harper gets a healthy dose of weight loss

For some, to be happy and healthy is the ultimate goal in life. But as Pam Harper found out, it can be something simpler: To practice wise eating habits that prevent you from being either.

Pam had been on the heavy side for most of her life. But it wasn't until she became pregnant with her first child that weight became a serious problem. Pam started gaining, and just couldn't stop.

As the years flew by, her weight increased at a rapid pace. Before she knew it, Pam weighed 328 pounds. And her health suffered because of it. Pam lost her breath easily, and she couldn't comfortably work in her garden without breaking a sweat. She also suffered from lipedema, a condition that caused her legs to swell and made her tissue extremely sensitive to the touch.

Worst of all, Pam hated the way her weight made her feel emotionally. She was embarrassed when she was the heaviest person in the room, and never had any energy to do the things she wanted to do.

But then things took a turn for the worse. Pam was diagnosed with breast cancer, and treated the disease with surgery and radiation. Pam's doctors told her she absolutely needed to lose weight now, or risk being too large for the hospital machines that treated her cancer.

Pam had tried a number of diets in the past, but they all involved pre-packaged meals, and nothing taught her how to eat. As a result, she could never keep the weight off. So in September 2005, Pam joined her local Lexington, Ky., L A Weight Loss center. She was paired up with a one-on-one weight loss counselor, and for the first time ever, she learned what it takes to lead a healthy life.

Pam learned that how much you eat is just as important as what you eat. Her days of overindulgence were over, and portion control became her new mantra. Pam cut back on red meats and fast foods, and increased her intake of lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables.

When she needed a sweet treat, Pam treated herself to an L A Lite bar. And the supplement drinks added variety and convenience to her diet plan.

After less than two years on the program, Pam has shed an incredible 153 pounds! And she couldn't be happier about her results. Pam can now work all day in her garden and still feel great. She doesn't get winded when walking anymore, and the swelling in her legs has drastically decreased. Pam's health is back on track, and now she knows she'll be around for a very long time.

Throughout her entire weight loss journey, Pam has received nothing but support from friends and family. Best of all, she loves being able to shop in regular stores, and buy cute new clothes in smaller sizes.

Way to go Pam! We're so proud of you!

Here's Pam at 328 pounds:



And here she is today at a happier, healthier 175 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Pam Harper
Hometown: Lexington, Ky.
Age: 59
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 328 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds
Current weight: 175 pounds
Program start date: September 2005

Favorite food: Chocolate.

Biggest temptation: Sweets and fast food.

Biggest motivator: Losing weigh for herself and getting healthy.

Biggest obstacle: Resisting temptation.

Old eating philosophy: Overeating and chowing down on fast food and sweets.

New eating philosophy: Eating the right amounts of everything.

Best thing about losing weight: Not needing her medications anymore, and having so much more energy.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can still eat the foods you enjoy, as long as you eat them in moderation.

Elizabeth Stetar goes from couch potato to 5k runner

Some people consider themselves born to run. Others would never lace up a pair of running shoes. Elizabeth Stetar never imagined she'd be lining up at the starting line of road races, but these days, nothing stands between her and the finish line.

Before she got there though, she struggled with weight. While the rest of her family was thin, Elizabeth found herself packing on more pounds each year.

She was teased for her weight as a kid. It stung every time she was called "fat." In high school, Elizabeth was athletic despite her weight, and participated in tennis, soccer, and basketball.

But once she was in college, long nights and unhealthy foods caused Elizabeth to gain more weight than ever before. Her diet consisted of fried foods, fast foods, fatty snacks and desserts, and practically no fruits or vegetables.

Not only was Elizabeth unhappy with the way she looked, she felt unhealthy too. She was tired all the time, and couldn't participate in sports she played when she was younger.

Before her wedding, she tried dieting, but she couldn't shed the pounds. Slipping into her size 24 wedding dress, Elizabeth knew she needed to get healthy.

So in March 2007, she joined her local Louisville, Ky., L A Weight Loss center. When she first stepped on the scale, she was horrified to see that she weighed 279 pounds.

Elizabeth was paired up with a one-on-one weight loss counselor, Stefani, who helped her get her diet under control. Together they mapped out a weight loss plan that fit easily into Elizabeth's lifestyle.

Elizabeth cut back on her intake of fast and fried foods, and she and her husband stopped eating out as often. And she added fresh fruits, vegetables, lean meats, fish, and water to her diet.

Soon the pounds started melting away. But as they did, Elizabeth noticed a lump on her neck. Doctors discovered the she had a mass on her thyroid that needed to be removed.

Thankfully, the mass was benign. Elizabeth's doctors gave her medication to regulate her thyroid, and got it under control. Best of all, once her thyroid was regulated, Elizabeth's energy skyrocketed.

With all of her new-found energy, Elizabeth began exercising like never before. She started running 40 minutes, three to four times a week. She never imagined she would be the type of person who was able to run races, but she signed up for local 5ks anyway, and enjoyed them. She also started playing soccer and dancing.

Exercise and eating right has paid off. Elizabeth has lost 100 pounds! At her new weight of 179 pounds, she's getting closer every day to her weight loss goal of 150 pounds.

Elizabeth is happier than ever before. Besides her escalating energy, her confidence has dramatically increased. Best of all, Elizabeth knows she's now going to live a longer, healthier life. Way to go, Elizabeth! We're so happy for you!

Here's Elizabeth at 279 pounds:



And here she is, 100 pounds lighter at 179 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Elizabeth Stetar
Hometown: Louisville, Ky.
Age: 24
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 279 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 179 pounds
Program start date: March 2007

Favorite food: Pizza.

Biggest temptation: Being surrounded by people with unhealthy lunches at work.

Biggest motivator: Seeing the numbers on the scale get lower each week.

Biggest obstacle: Resisting temptation, and making herself eat something healthy.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing down on burgers, fries, pizza, pastas, and ice cream.

New eating philosophy: Planning meals that include salads, fish, fruits, and vegetables.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling more confident and feeling her age.

Best weight loss secret learned: Drinking lots of water can help you lose weight.

Judy hatches a plan for a healthier future

We all inherit features from our family gene pool -- height, eye color, nose shape, foot sizes ... the list goes on. But Judy Hatch got weight gain, too.

Judy’s family always loved country cooking in big portions. Her mom's calorie-dense specialties were fried chicken, pork, homemade desserts, and bread.

Judy carried those childhood eating habits into adulthood. Before long, she weighed a whopping 251 pounds, and couldn’t even climb a flight of stairs without getting winded. Worse, she became depressed whenever she saw her body in pictures.

Judy's unhappiness came to a head during Christmas 2002, when she saw a particularly unattractive snapshot of herself. This sixth-grade teacher from Louisville, Ky., finally had enough. She was so tired of carrying that extra weight that she thought she’d rather be dead than heavy.

Judy decided she needed structure in her diet to turn her life and health around. So she talked to the counselors at L A Weight Loss, and signed up for the program in January 2003. The personal counselors stuck with her the whole way, giving her guidance, support, and encouragement.

They also taught her a new way to eat. Judy learned to stay away from bread and desserts, instead eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, and fish. And when she dropped the first 50 pounds, Judy began ballroom dancing with her husband -- something she hasn’t done in nearly 35 years.

By April 2004, Judy reached her 138-pound goal weight -- and has been on maintenance ever since! Going from a size 24 to a size 10 has made shopping fun again, and helped her confidence skyrocket.

Judy also appreciates the constant love and support from her family. But it's the admiring looks she now gets from friends and acquaintances that really motivate her to keep going. Way to go, Judy!

Here’s Judy at 251 pounds in the holiday photo that changed her life:



And here she is at 138 pounds one Christmas later, with her husband. Happy Holidays, indeed!



FAST FACTS

Name: Judy Hatch
Hometown: Louisville, Ky.
Age: 57
Height: 5'7"

Starting weight: 251 pounds
Goal weight: 138 pounds
Current weight: 158 pounds
Program start date: January 2003

Favorite food: Bread.

Biggest temptation: Bread.

Biggest motivator: Looking in the mirror.

Biggest obstacle: Comforting herself with food when stressed or worried.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever made her feel good.

New eating philosophy: Eating what makes her happy -- apples, pineapples, and smoothies with skim milk and fresh fruit.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling like she is living life again.

Best weight loss secret learned: Make yourself wait, have patience, and think before you eat.

Margaret Howard sheds stress by the pound

Stress affects everyone, every day. Some relieve it by talking a walk. Others, by listening to music. But many relieve it by eating.

That was Margaret Howard's problem. Whenever she was stressed, she reached for fried foods, ice cream, pies, cookies, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. She started gaining weight.

One of her most embarrassing weight stories happened on the first day of eighth grade. Her teacher, whom Margaret also had in seventh grade, squeezed her arm and said, "You've put on some weight, haven't you?"

Margaret was devastated. From that day on, she never felt comfortable with herself. She continued to eat regardless of whether she was hungry. By adulthood, Margaret was 250 pounds.

At that point, her knees couldn't handle the excess weight anymore. She needed surgery to replace them. The good news: The scary diagnosis motivated Margaret to get serious about losing weight.

She wanted more than ever to be successful in the rehab program, and improve her quality of life. She decided to join L A Weight Loss in October 2001.

She started cutting out fried foods, butter, and shortening. Instead she used Pam to cook vegetables, and sauteed fresh fish such as tilapia. She also liked to eat apples, plain fat-free yogurt, chicken, and turkey.

Margaret rarely kept cookies in the house, and enjoyed ice cream every now and then. She also always packed fresh salads when she ate out in case the restaurant didn't serve them.

And she recorded this all in her personal weight loss diary, which kept her accountable and prevented her from falling into old eating habits.

The pounds started melting away. Margaret underwent knee surgery two months after joining L A Weight Loss. Her doctor was extremely encouraging, and her post-op therapy went very well.

She continued eating according her L A Weight Loss plan, and attended her local center three times a week. She loved talking to her personal weight loss counselor Lori, who always listened to Margaret's weight loss concerns.

Margaret knew every time she went to the center, she could "unload" her stress, and find help and new motivation to keep losing weight.

Margaret is now 169 pounds -- that's an 81-pound reduction! She has no shame or guilt about the way she looks. She holds her head high, and likes to wear shorts and go swimming. She also loves to play with her 11-month grandson.

Margaret feels her life has direction now, and she doesn't have to struggle with her weight. She knows she has the tools from L A Weight Loss to maintain her weight loss, healthy eating habits, and new stress-free life!

Great job, Margaret!

This is Margaret before, at 250 pounds:



And here's the calm and cool Margaret now, at 169. Way to go, Margaret!



FAST FACTS

Name: Margaret Howard
Hometown: Hopkinsville, Ken.
Age: 60
Height: 5'2"

Starting weight: 250 pounds
Goal weight: 155 pounds
Current weight: 169 pounds
Program start date: October 2001

Favorite food: Chicken and tilapia.

Biggest temptation: Ice cream and cake.

Biggest motivator: Not wanting to return to the way she was.

Biggest obstacle: Overeating from stress, and getting lonely.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whether she was hungry or not.

New eating philosophy: Eating only when she's hungry, and drinking a lot of water.

Best thing about losing weight: Being healthier and feeling better.

Best weight loss secret learned: Write down everything you eat.

Update: Disney-loving dad rides to weight loss success

Since we last checked in on John Lay, he has continued to shed the pounds -- 13, to be exact.

This brings him a mere three pounds away from his new goal weight of 230 pounds. That's a total of 170 pounds lost!

His experience with L A Weight Loss has taught John that losing weight requires a lifestyle change, not just a diet. He also values the freedom his weight loss has given him.

John now feels he truly "fits" into life -- from plane seats, to smaller clothes, to his favorite rides at Disney World. And he looks great, too ;)

Keep up the awesome work, John, and let us know when you hit that goal!

FAST FACTS

Name: John Lay
Hometown: Bowling Green, Ky.
Age: 45
Height: 6'2"

Starting weight: 402 pounds
Goal weight: 230 pounds
Current weight: 233 pounds
Program start date: January 2005

Favorite food: BBQ pulled pork sandwiches.

Biggest temptation: Sweets, pies, and desserts.

Biggest motivator: Getting fees back from L A Weight Loss for a year of weight maintenance.

Biggest obstacle: Increasing his exercise.

Old eating philosophy: Eating until he was full, then eating more.

New eating philosophy: Eating only what his body needs, not what his body wants.

Best thing about losing weight: Seeing how far he's come, and fitting into smaller seats and clothes.

Best weight loss secret learned: Follow guidelines for portion control, and regularly exercise. Just stick with it!

From Katrina to Kentucky: Stephanie Ladnier’s weight loss journey

Most women like to compare themselves to movie starlets like Angelina Jolie or Halle Berry.

But for Stephanie Ladnier, she felt more like Violet Beauregard, the blown-up blueberry girl from ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’, when she and her family of five landed in Kentucky after losing their entire home during Hurricane Katrina.

Without a kitchen to call her own, Stephanie put on weight *fast*, which made her very depressed. She was ready for a complete lifestyle change, but didn’t have any money to join L A Weight Loss.

Her husband Jamie saved the day by selling his treasured antique guns, and raised enough money for his wife to start the program (way to go, Jamie!). Stephanie certainly made every penny count. She lost over 80 pounds in only one year!

When I caught up with her, Stephanie was looking and feeling fantastic with a new home, a new body, and a new life. The best part: Stephanie says “the weight will never be an issue in my life again.”

Here she is before, at 269 pounds:



And after, at 189 pounds:

FAST FACTS

Name: Stephanie Ladnier
Hometown: Elizabethtown, Ky.
Age: 31
Height: 5 ft. 6 in.

Starting weight: 269 pounds
Goal weight: 175 pounds
Current weight: 189 pounds
Program start date: January 2006

Favorite food: Fruit, raw carrots.

Biggest temptation: Peanut butter.

Biggest motivator: The need to get life back on track after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

Biggest obstacle: Homelessness, tough financial situation (disabled husband was unemployed).

Old eating philosophy: Eat everything in sight because you might run out.

New eating philosophy: Have fun with your food, and try new things.

Best thing about of losing weight: Feeling feminine again when her husband wraps his arms around her.

Best weight loss secret learned: Don’t doubt yourself. Keep your chin up!

In just 55 weeks, John Lay dropped 155 lbs. -- and his blood pressure medication

John Lay's wakeup call came when his size made it difficult for him to travel or enjoy a family trip to Disney World. He weighed 402 pounds, hurting his personal and professional life enormously.

John, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, says he didn’t feel confident out in public on any level, whether it was speaking engagements for work or swimming with the family. His lack of energy also caused him to be more isolated.

After witnessing some of his colleagues’ success at L A Weight Loss, John decided to join. Counselors and nutritionists worked closely with him to come up with a plan and goals that suited his health needs.

Today, John finds his life lighter -- literally! He even returned to Disney World again and this time, the seat fit.

UPDATE: John's 13 pounds closer to his goal weight today. We caught up with him and found out more about what losing weight has done for him. Check it out!

Here's John at 402 pounds:

Now John's at 245 -- 57 pounds more than his goal weight! Way to go, John!!