Betty Barrington leads family to diet makeover

It's a familiar saying. You can choose your friends, but you can't choose your family. Well, sometimes you can't choose your family eating habits either, as Betty Barrington of Oklahoma can attest.

Betty grew up in a household of unhealthy over-eaters. She and her family weren't taught proper nutrition and the importance of a balanced meal.

As a result, Betty constantly chowed down on fried foods and sweets, and ate out often. Her favorite food was Mexican. It's no surprise, then, the pounds increased as Betty aged.

Before she knew it, Betty weighed 258 pounds. She was depressed and had no self confidence. Then in 1997, she developed fibromyalgia, a disease that causes chronic widespread pain and fatigue.

She suffered from flu-like symptoms and lack of energy. On top of that, she worried about her low blood pressure.

Betty's wake-up call to lose weight came when her obese sister was diagnosed with diabetes. Her doctor warned her that she was on the fast track for a similar fate if she didn't get healthy. Betty tried a number of diets, but nothing took the weight off and kept it off.

In March 2007, Betty tried something different. She joined her local Durant, Okla., L A Weight Loss center. Working closely with her personal counselor, Paula, Betty learned the ins and outs of eating right.

She cut out most of the fried foods, sugary snacks, and red meat from her diet, and replaced them with lean meats, vegetables, fruit, and other healthy alternatives. Betty also kept a journal to track her daily food consumption. This helped her stay focused.

It wasn't long before the weight started to melt away. Betty's lost 88 pounds, and currently weighs 170 pounds!

She attributes much of her success to Paula, who helped her through the tough plateaus and challenges. She's very thankful she stuck with the plan. Since dropping the pounds, Betty feels like a new woman.

Gone are the negative thoughts about herself. She has more energy than ever before, and can do more things, such as bending down to touch her toes and exercise.

Betty never worries about squeezing into a seat, and is comfortable everywhere she goes. Even better, all of her pain is gone. There's nothing holding Betty back these days!

Betty loves her new size, but is determined to lose even more. Each day she's getting closer to her ideal weight of 158 pounds. We know you can do it, Betty!

Betty's success has motivated the rest of her family to get healthy too. Her brother and sister recently joined L A Weight Loss. It looks like Betty is leading the way for a complete family diet makeover. Great job, Betty!

Here's Betty before she started the L A Weight Loss program at 258 pounds:



And here she is looking better than ever at 170 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Betty Barrington
Hometown: Durant, Okla.
Age: 58
Height: 5'7"

Starting weight: 258 pounds
Goal weight: 158 pounds
Current weight: 170 pounds
Program start date: March 2007

Favorite food: Salad with grilled chicken.

Biggest temptation: Mexican food.

Biggest motivator: Watching the numbers on the scale drop.

Biggest obstacle: Dealing with chronic low blood pressure while trying to eat healthier.

Old eating philosophy: Eating anything she wanted, anytime she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Eating healthy foods in moderation.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling in complete control, and shopping for smaller clothes.

Best weight loss secret learned: It's easier to control your diet when you cook at home.

Oklahoma mom nurses herself back to health

Nurses know what's best for their patients. They can make them feel better when they're sick, and show them how to stay healthy. But what if nurses don't follow their own advice?

Take Gwen Rose, a home care and hospice nurse. She never had weight issues until she started packing on the pounds during her three pregnancies. She traveled in the car every day to patients' houses, and usually stopped for a fast food meal along the way.

Gwen knew she was leading an unhealthy lifestyle. At 230 pounds, she didn't have any energy to play with her children. She worried about the heart disease that ran in her family. But her registered nurse title gave her a false sense of security, so the bad habits stayed.

The deciding moment: when Gwen was put on anti-depressants and medication for heart palpitations. She knew she had to get serious about weight loss -- or become one of those unhealthy patients.

Gwen had tried a number of diets over the years with no success. So her expectations were low when she signed up at the Sherman, Texas, L A Weight Loss center in April 2006.

But she worked diligently with her personal counselor to fashion a diet right for her. She traded in her fast food and sugary soda habits for lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, and a lot of water.

Gwen also learned that eating many small meals throughout the day and following portion control is what it takes to lose weight -- and keep it off.

The results blew her away!! Since starting her L A Weight Loss program, Gwen has shed a remarkable 92 pounds. And the difference has changed her life. She is now off all medications.

Plus, she has the energy to play with her children, spend days swimming and relaxing at the lake, and exercise -- one of Gwen's favorite new hobbies.

Even better, her self-confidence is at an all-time high! She loves going out with her friends, and has recently re-entered the dating world. The constant compliments Gwen receives surprise and encourage her.

With her weight back on track and a body that looks great, Gwen is one nurse who truly knows the definition of health. Way to go, Gwen!!!

Here's Nurse Gwen looking not-so-healthy at 230 pounds:



Here she is fit, fabulous, and ready for the dating world! Wowza!



FAST FACTS

Name: Gwen Rose
Hometown: Kingston, Okla.
Age: 37
Height: 5'3"

Starting weight: 230 pounds
Goal weight: 138 pounds
Current weight: 138 pounds
Program start date: April 2006

Favorite food: Grilled chicken salad.

Biggest temptation: Anything doughy like bread, rolls, cinnamon rolls, or cookies.

Biggest motivator: Loving the way she looks.

Biggest obstacle: Giving in to her starchy temptations.

Old eating philosophy: Grabbing whatever foods were most convenient, including fast food and junk.

New eating philosophy: Eating healthy, low-fat foods.

Best thing about losing weight: Having more energy, more fun, and more new clothes!

Best weight loss secret learned: If you eat every two to three hours, you get your metabolism going, and you don't get hungry.

Zoo trip unmasks 800-lb. gorilla in the room

Little did Heather Cooper know that, when she took her kids to the zoo, it would be a day that would change her life forever.

At the bears exhibit, Heather's son said, "Mommy, that bear's huge! It's bigger than you!" Though those eight words stung, they were the reality check she needed to tackle her lifelong weight battle.

Heather weighed 256 pounds at the time, and her health was deteriorating. She had high blood pressure, breathing and sleeping problems, and was a borderline diabetic.

She napped every day, and could barely get down on the floor to play with her kids. Plus, she was worried about her family history: Her mother died of cancer at 46, and Heather didn't want her kids to grow up motherless.

But joining a diet program wasn't feasible while raising two kids. Then on Heather's birthday, her father gave her a check to use to join L A Weight Loss. Turns out it was the best present Heather's ever received!

Heather dropped 6 pounds in the first week on the program. From then on, it was all about setting goals.

She a started a journal listing things she wanted to accomplish as she shed weight. She also began exercising for the first time in her life. She consistently added 1/4 mile to her jogging routine each time she ran the trails at the local park.

Less than a year later, Heather is a new woman! She's lost 100 pounds, going from a size 24 to a size 8!!! She rewarded herself by learning how to rollerblade, and now circles the park four times. And she's accomplished everything she listed in her journal, with just 25 pounds to go.

In fact, she's been so successful, the Oklahoma City L A Weight Loss Center she attended hired her last November!

Here's Heather at 256 pounds:



And look at her now in her new, beautiful 156-pound frame:



FAST FACTS

Name: Heather Cooper
Hometown: Oklahoma City, Okla.
Age: 29
Height: 5’4"

Starting weight: 256 pounds
Goal weight: 125-135
Current weight: 156 pounds
Program start date: April 14, 2006

Favorite food: Peanut butter.

Biggest temptation: Sweet desserts, like brownies and ice cream.

Biggest motivator: Getting healthy so she could play with her kids, and be around for a long time.

Biggest obstacle: Overcoming her high blood pressure and other health issues.

Old eating philosophy: Lots of fried foods and indulgent desserts.

New eating philosophy: She still eats ice cream, though in moderation, and balances that out with healthier foods like fresh vegetables.

Best thing about losing weight: When her kids wrap their arms around her, when her husband picks her up, and when her daughter says she wants to be just as pretty as her.

Best weight loss secret learned: You don't have to deprive yourself of the foods you love. It's all about learning how to balance foods in a healthy way, while still having control over what you eat.