Montana dad takes easy ride down the wedding aisle

Here's a nontraditional wedding: Escorting the bride down the aisle on a motorcycle.

That was the wish of Bill Cherpeski's daughter. But for Bill to be the escort, he had to give up one of his true loves: food.

Bill was practically born married to it. Candy, cakes, cookies, rolls, pastries -- you name it, Bill ate it. When eating out, he ordered greasy meals. And he rarely exercised. By the time he reached his senior years, Bill weighed 295 pounds.

Bill could barely take six steps up the stairs before having to pull himself up using the railing. The short walk to his garage winded him. And he had no strength to roll over in bed.

But that's just the beginning. Bill used a motorized riding cart in the grocery store. He couldn't fit into booths at restaurants, and always asked for a table. Bill's wife tied his shoes because he couldn't bend over. As if that wasn't bad enough, Bill also had diabetes and used an oxygen tank. His health was in shambles.

Bill knew he had to lose weight. He tried counting calories, but soon got bored and gave up. Then Bill's tipping point came: His daughter became engaged in February 2006, and she wanted Bill to escort her down the aisle on a motorcycle.

But with all that excess weight, there was no way Bill could get on a motorcycle, unless he dropped the pounds.

Bill walked into the L A Weight Loss center in his neighborhood, and began working with the personal weight loss counselors to cut out his high-calorie junk food. The counselors added fresh fruits and vegetables to his diet. Bill also ate grilled food instead of fried, and always measured out proper portions.

Bill listened to his L A Weight Loss counselors, and was inspired by their insight and guidance to losing weight and getting fit. His wife kept him on track by preparing healthy, homemade dishes more often.

When his daughter's wedding day arrived, it was his big moment. As planned, his daughter came down the aisle on the back of a motorcycle. At the wheel was Bill, 54 pounds lighter! He was proud of his daughter, but the 280 guests were proud of Bill!

But his success doesn't end there. Bill continued losing weight on L A Weight Loss, and now weighs 196 pounds -- 99 pounds lighter, and just 11 pounds away from his goal weight.

Bill's blood sugar is almost normal, and he's off his oxygen tank. Tasks that used to be a struggle now come easy, and he enjoys riding his bike and working in the yard.

Bill sold his old clothes, including 157 (!) 3x-sized shirts. He bought a new wardrobe, and even new shoes because his feet lost weight too!

Bill says if he hadn't joined L A Weight Loss, he wouldn't be here today. We're so happy you did, Bill! Way to go!

This is Bill before, cloaked in 295 pounds:



Here is the proud dad during his weight loss journey, escorting his daughter down the aisle on a motorcycle:



And here he is today, at a healthy 196! Great work, Bill!



FAST FACTS

Name: Bill Cherpeski
Hometown: Great Falls, Mont.
Age: 68
Height: 5'8"

Starting weight: 295 pounds
Goal weight: 185 pounds
Current weight: 196 pounds
Program start date: February 2006

Favorite food: Bakery treats.

Biggest temptation: Cinnamon rolls.

Biggest motivator: Losing weight for his daughter's wedding.

Biggest obstacle: Trying to eat healthy at restaurants.

Old eating philosophy: Cleaning his plate, and then some.

New eating philosophy: Paying attention to nutrition and portion sizes.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better and wearing new clothes.

Best weight loss secret learned: L A Weight Loss counselors help you tremendously!

Dave Crow dodges his date with destiny

Parents are probably the biggest role models in someone's life. As a child, you might have said things like, "I want to be just like Mom or Dad when I grow up."

But that's not always a good thing, especially when Mom or Dad has heart disease. That's what Dave Crow's father had, resulting in a heart attack and triple bypass surgery when he was 41. Dave was destined to be just like his father, as he increased his risk for heart disease by packing on extra weight throughout his life.

He regularly ate pizza, bread, mashed potatoes smothered in gravy, steak, and pork. He also hit the Wendy's drive-thru often for hamburgers and fries on the go.

Then Dave had shoulder surgery after sustaining an injury at work. Afterward, he wasn't as active, and gained 40 pounds.

Dave was up to 290 pounds, and felt handicapped. He had high blood pressure, and didn't have the energy or mobility to play with his three kids. He was about to turn 41 years old, and his doctor told him that if he didn't lose weight, he'd suffer his father's fate.

Dave tried several diets, but couldn't stick with them. He was seriously considering gastric bypass surgery.

But then his wife started the L A Weight Loss Program in October 2006, and soon saw results. Dave decided to join too, as a final attempt before bypass surgery.

At first, Dave thought it was just for women, but he says he was dead wrong! The L A Weight Loss plan was perfect for him. In fact, Dave's family now calls him "Diet Dave" because he never cheats on his weight loss plan. And it's easy to see why.

Dave still eats his favorite foods, but he's learned to control his intake. He now eats foods in proper portions and evenly throughout the day.

His new eating plan includes cereal with mixed berries in the morning; L A Lite bars, salads, and a healthy sandwich during the day; and steak with a baked potato or cous cous in the evening.

Dave says the support from his personal weight loss counselors kept him accountable and focused.

Just 30 weeks later, Dave is down to 176 pounds! He feels like a new person, and is more outgoing and confident. His family and friends love the new Dave too, and he's referred several coworkers and friends to the L A Weight Loss plan.

With the money he saved avoiding gastric bypass surgery, Dave bought a new boat! He and his family take it out about three times a week in Helena, Mont. Dave's golf game has also improved, now that he is more mobile and flexible.

But the real test came when he visited his doctor recently. The diagnosis? FANTASTIC! All of Dave's lab tests were normal, and he's no longer at risk for a heart attack. There's no doubt he'll be able to live a longer, healthier life, and spend more time with his family.

That sounds like a great role model to me! Congrats, Dave!

This is the before Dave, at 290 pounds:



And this is the new Dave, at a trim 176 pounds. Wow, great job, Dave!



FAST FACTS

Name: Dave Crow
Hometown: Belgrade, Mont.
Age: 41
Height: 5'11"

Starting weight: 290 pounds
Goal weight: 175 pounds
Current weight: 176 pounds
Program start date: January 2007

Favorite food: Steak and a baked potato.

Biggest temptation: Beer.

Biggest motivator: Himself.

Biggest obstacle: Fearing that he'll put the weight back on if he drinks too much beer.

Old eating philosophy: Eating until he's full.

New eating philosophy: Eating until he's satisfied, and then stopping.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling great.

Best weight loss secret learned: Enjoy everything in moderation.

Sweet Adeline drops sweets, grabs the mic

Imagine standing on a stage under a hot spotlight. Your makeup is applied, your voice is warmed up, and you're ready to go -- but all you can think about is how heavy you look in your sequined costume.

That's what Bonnie Buffington of Billings, Mont., thought every time she stepped on stage with the Sweet Adelines, a women's barbershop group. The feeling was hardly new. Bonnie struggled with weight since she was a child, eating oversized portions and not getting enough exercise.

Then her mother passed away when she was 11. Food became Bonnie's comfort whenever she felt sad or alone. It didn't help later when she married a rancher, and became head cook for ALL the workers, plus her family of four.

Feeding six to 12 people, three times a day, required truckloads of pasta, bread, potatoes, pies, cakes, and sweets -- anything that could be made easily in huge quantities. And with so many mouths to feed, Bonnie rarely escaped the kitchen, and ended up eating big portions just like the ranchers.

Before long, Bonnie ballooned to 329 pounds. She became too embarrassed to take pictures with her family or Sweet Adeline group. And while her outside appearance was friendly and happy, deep down she had low self-esteem.

Bonnie tried several different diets, but lacked the discipline to make them stick. Then an L A Weight Loss center opened in her town, so she stopped in one day after work.

She was immediately impressed by personal counselor Heather, who was friendly, kind, and ready to help. Bonnie signed up right away, and committed herself to losing weight.

The counselors taught her how to eat a variety of food in the proper balance and portions, so Bonnie never felt deprived. Her new menu included fruit, vegetables, chicken, and steak. She started cooking differently too, and grilled or baked food instead of frying it.

Plus, weighing in every week reinforced her initial commitment, and kept her motivated to drop the pounds. She also added exercise to her routine, joining a women's gym and walking three times a week.

The powerful combination of diet and activity was the silver bullet: Bonnie lost a whopping 120 pounds in under two years!

Now, her positive attitude and self-esteem are sky-high. Bonnie draws on her newfound energy and happiness to enjoy time with her granddaughter, and go shopping with her daughters-in-law for bright outfits and jewelry.

The best part: She finally has the confidence to enjoy the limelight with her fellow Sweet Adelines -- two of whom also joined L A Weight Loss after seeing her success! Now that deserves a standing ovation. Keep up the great work, Bonnie!

Here's the rancher's wife at a not-so-jolly 329 pounds:



And look at her now at 209 pounds! Bravo, Bonnie!



FAST FACTS

Name: Bonnie Buffington
Hometown: Billings, Mont.
Age: 57
Height: 5'8"

Starting weight: 329 pounds
Goal weight: 180 pounds
Current weight: 209 pounds
Program start date: September 2005

Favorite food: Steak.

Biggest temptation: Chocolate.

Biggest motivator: Seeing her weight drop.

Biggest obstacle: Avoiding the junk food at parties, get-togethers, and BBQs.

Old eating philosophy: Eating everything around her.

New eating philosophy: Eating the healthy stuff, and drinking lots of water.

Best thing about losing weight: Having higher self-esteem.

Best weight loss secret learned: There are no secrets! Just stick to the program, and it will work.

Brenda Erfle-Clark goes from dating slump to beautiful bride

Brenda Erfle-Clark was always "the nice one" with the "good personality." Growing up in the small town of Rapelje, Mont. (population: 100), she was the heavy kid who got teased.

She was self-conscious, especially around boys, a trait that followed her through college. When she turned 26, she weighed 212 pounds.

Then her sister Tracy had a baby in 2003. The following year, she checked out L A Weight Loss to drop the lingering post-pregnancy weight. Brenda tagged along.

Unfortunately, her sister lived too far from the center to keep up with the program while raising a newborn. But Brenda decided to join with her roommate Craig.

As Brenda dropped the weight, she also shed her self-conscious exterior. In September 2005, Brenda caught the eye of Kenny Clark. Two years after starting L A Weight Loss, Brenda reached her goal weight -- and married Kenny. The wedding date: Oct. 21, 2006.

Today the newlywed is the happiest she's ever been, and credits the support of her L A Weight Loss counselors. Brenda has since convinced her cousin Amy to join the program, and Amy lost 30 pounds!

Here's Brenda before, with roommate Craig:



And here's the beautiful blushing bride at 160 pounds! It's a fairytale come true!



FAST FACTS

Name: Brenda Erfle-Clark
Hometown: Loring, Mont.
Age: 29

Starting weight: 212 pounds
Goal weight: 160 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Program start date: October 2004

Biggest temptation: Chocolate and cheese.

Biggest motivator: Finally being happy with her body.

Old eating philosophy: Eating out a lot, and giving in to her cravings.

New eating philosophy: Still has the cravings, but learned how to eat in moderation.

Best thing about losing weight: Wearing clothes she likes, rather than what fits. And, of course, meeting husband Craig!

Best weight loss secret learned: Losing weight is not about going from bad to good. You were beautiful before you lost the weight. Now you're just better.