Robbie Miller puts a stop to stop signs

When you're overweight, it seems the world is filled with stop signs. There are many things you just can't do. Maybe it's touching your toes, riding the ferris wheel, or taking a hike with friends and family.

For Robbie Miller of South Carolina, the stop signs were everywhere. She spent most of her life overweight. Years of eating badly and never exercising sent her weight skyrocketing into adulthood.

At 291 pounds, Robbie was unhappy with the way she looked and not being able to do things she loved. She couldn't walk far without losing her breath and taking a break. Climbing the stairs was even more difficult. She finally put her foot down.

In 2006, one of her kids was graduating from high school, another was graduating from college, and her niece was getting married -- all within a few weeks. Robbie didn't want to remember the milestones with pictures of herself overweight.

She had tried dieting before, but couldn't keep the weight off. Then she heard about L A Weight Loss. That June, she joined her local Rock Hill, S.C., L A Weight Loss center, and was paired with a one-on-one weight loss counselor.

Robbie's counselor taught her how to maintain a healthy diet. She cut back on pasta, fried foods, and sweet desserts, and added more fruits, vegetables, and lean meats into her diet.

Soon, the weight was melting away, and her energy was bubbling over. Robbie began exercising too, walking three to four miles a day, three times a week.

After less than two years on the L A Weight Loss program, Robbie has shed 133 pounds! Now weighing 158 pounds, she's enjoying life more than ever before. Her confidence has increased, and she loves getting out and being active.

Best of all, Robbie feels like her weight never gets in the way of her life anymore. With no stop signs getting in her way, she knows there's nothing she can't do if she puts her mind to it. Way to go, Robbie!

Here's Robbie at 291 pounds:



And here she is today at 138 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Robbie Miller
Hometown: York, South Carolina
Age: 54
Height: 5'3"

Starting weight: 291 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 158 pounds
Program start date: June 2006

Favorite food: Pasta.

Biggest temptation: Pasta.

Biggest motivator: Attending her meetings every week.

Biggest obstacle: Sticking with her plan.

Old eating philosophy: Eating as much as she wanted, of anything she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Having everything in correct portions.

Best thing about losing weight: Enjoying delicious foods that are healthy too.

Best weight loss secret learned: Stick to your portion control.

Angela Hogan learns healthy cooking 101

The list of things you learn from your parents is never ending. Tying your shoes. Making the right decisions. Balancing your checkbook. Cooking. Unfortunately for Angela Hogan, her cooking lessons included plenty of fried food and few vegetables and fruits.

Angela was overweight since childhood. Growing up, a steady stream of fried, fast, and junk foods made their way to her plate. As she grew into adulthood, her eating habits didn't change, and her weight increased.

At 250 pounds, Angela was tired all the time, and never had energy to play with her daughter. She didn't think much of her escalating weight because her entire family was overweight. But when Angela's weight passed her dad's, she knew she needed to change her lifestyle.

Angela had never tried dieting before, and wasn't sure where to begin. Her husband encouraged her to get healthy with L A Weight Loss, so Angela decided to give it a try.

She joined her local Spartenburg, S.C., L A Weight Loss center in February 2007, and was paired with a personal weight loss counselor. Working one-on-one with her counselor, Angela learned how to cook the healthy way.

She still prepared foods she loves, but made adjustments to boost the nutritional value of meals. For example, Angela loves tacos, but replaced the ground beef with ground turkey.

She didn't stop there. Angela added significantly more fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and fish to her diet, and cut way back on the fried and fast foods. She also grabbed an L A Lite bar whenever she needed a snack or a sweet treat.

The weight started to melt away almost instantly. In one year, Angela has shed 85 pounds. At 165 pounds, she's only 15 pounds away from her weight loss goal of 150 pounds!

Now Angela exercises to accelerate her weight loss. She walks and does aerobics three times a week.

Angela is so much happier since losing weight. She can play with her daughter without getting winded, and never knew they could have so much fun together.

Best of all, her self confidence has dramatically improved. She always felt sexy with her husband, but for the first time ever, Angela feels that she looks sexy too.

There are some lessons from her parents that Angela will never forget, but she's happily let her family cooking tendencies die. Way to go, Angela!

Here's Angela at 250 pounds in 2007:



And here she is one year later and 85 pounds lighter:



FAST FACTS

Name: Angela Hogan
Hometown: Spartanburg, S.C.
Age: 31
Height: 5'7"

Starting weight: 250 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 165 pounds
Program start date: February 2007

Favorite food: Mexican.

Biggest temptation: Birthday cake.

Biggest motivator: Losing weight for her husband.

Biggest obstacle: Watching her family eat more than she can.

Old eating philosophy: Dining on fast and fried foods.

New eating philosophy: Cooking with lean meats, vegetables, and fruits.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling sexy in Victoria's Secret for the first time.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can still eat your favorite foods with L A Weight Loss.

Somer Lorenz debunks the law of threes

Some superstitious people believe momentous events happen in threes. And it just so happens when Somer Lorenz graduated from college, she experienced three incidents that significantly impacted her life. She got a job, met her husband, and put on weight.

Somer began working as a marketer in a South Carolina hospital and dating her husband around the same time. Involved in full-time work and a budding relationship, Somer found herself increasingly eating out.

As her schedule tightened, Somer spent less time making sure she had a balanced diet. Her weight increased. Somer thought she'd be able to shed the pounds, but after the birth of her first child, she found it difficult. After having her second child, she found it impossible.

Before she knew it, Somer weighed 163 pounds. She wanted to lose weight, but wasn't sure where to begin. A colleague at the hospital suggested L A Weight Loss, and Somer decided to give it a try.

In June 2006, Somer joined her local Greenville, S.C., L A Weight Loss center. She was paired with a personal weight loss counselor, who created a healthy eating program that fit her busy lifestyle.

Somer cut out the frequent fast and fried food stops, and added plenty of fruit, vegetables, and lean proteins to her diet.

Now, Somer is craving these healthy foods because they made her feel good. Two years ago, if you had asked her what her favorite food was, she would have told you a quarter-pounder with cheese. Today, she'll tell you it's a fresh salad with grilled chicken.

Since her days are fast-paced, she's also learned how to make the right decisions when grabbing a meal on the go. Her smart choices have carried over to her family. Somer's husband has lost 20 pounds just by eating what she eats.

And Somer's weight loss? She's down 31 pounds, and is on maintenance. She sailed past her goal weight, and now weighs 132 pounds.

Losing weight has made Somer's life easier. She has more energy to devote to home and work, and chasing her children around doesn't wear her out like it used to. In fact, Somer feels 10 years younger.

Best of all, Somer feels so much healthier. And she knows how to make the right choices to stay that way. The superstitious may swear by the law of threes, but Somer proves everyone can take control of their lives. Great job, Somer!

Here's Somer in 2006 at 163 pounds:



And here she is today, looking fantastic at 132 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Somer Lorenz
Hometown: Greenville, S.C.
Age: 31
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 163 pounds
Goal weight: 145 pounds
Current weight: 132 pounds
Program start date: June 2006

Favorite food: Grilled chicken salad.

Biggest temptation: Breads and pasta.

Biggest motivator: Seeing results.

Biggest obstacle: Learning how to lose weight with a busy schedule.

Old eating philosophy: Grabbing whatever is convenient.

New eating philosophy: Making choices that are healthy and satisfying.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling better about herself.

Best weight loss secret learned: Take time to test the right foods for you to find the right balance.

Horse farmer reigns in unhealthy eating

With all of the physical work farmers do, you'd probably imagine they're in good shape. But that wasn't the case for Floyd Pepper. As a horse farmer, Floyd was so busy taking care of his animals, that he lost sight of taking care of his health.

Floyd's weight steadily increased throughout his life. He had always been active on his South Carolina farm, but it didn't counteract his unhealthy eating habits. He often chowed down on fried chicken, burgers, and chili.

Everyday activities became difficult for Floyd. He had high blood pressure, and was at risk for diabetes. Worse, Floyd lost the energy needed to maintain the farm, and his work suffered because of it.

At 320 pounds, Floyd was very lethargic, and he figured something was seriously wrong with his health. But he denied that the issue was his weight, until things got worse.

He could barely lift bags of feed, and his horse struggled to carry him on long trail rides. Floyd realized he needed to drop the pounds.

Floyd tried dieting, even to the point where he'd starve himself. But he couldn't shed the weight. He was considering gastric bypass surgery when a friend told him about L A Weight Loss. Desperate to lose weight, Floyd decided to give it a shot. He joined his local Easley, S.C., L A Weight Loss center, and was paired with a personal weight loss counselor.

His counselor taught him the healthy way to lose weight, without starving himself. Floyd added more fruits and vegetables to his diet, and learned many delicious ways to grill his food instead of frying it.

He also incorporated L A Weight Loss supplements into his diet, and treated himself to L A Lite bars to curb his sweet cravings. Floyd also learned the importance of portion control.

It wasn't long before Floyd saw the results of his new diet plan. After one year on the program, he's lost 82 pounds. At 238 pounds, Floyd is only 18 pounds away from his weight loss goal.

Now in the homestretch of his weight loss journey, Floyd is realizing the overwhelming physical benefits of losing weight. He has more energy than he's had in years, and his farm work is fun again. Floyd's blood pressure and blood sugars have dropped to healthy levels.

Floyd is now enjoying activities that he's been unable to do for years, such as water sports. He can also go on longer trail rides with his horse, and tries to run every day.

Floyd loves that he can get out of bed in the morning pain-free, and do the things he loves. His son and girlfriend are happy he's taken the steps to better health -- and so is his horse! ;)

Floyd is so happy about his weight loss, he tells everyone he knows about it. He's motivated a few friends to join the program too. Way to go, Floyd! Keep up the great work!

Here's Floyd at 320 pounds:



And here he is today, looking and feeling 15 years younger at 238 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Floyd Pepper
Hometown: Easley, S.C.
Age: 46
Height: 6'

Starting weight: 320 pounds
Goal weight: 220 pounds
Current weight: 238 pounds
Program start date: February 2007

Favorite food: BBQ ribs.

Biggest temptation: Beer.

Biggest motivator: Seeing the results.

Biggest obstacle: Sticking to his meal plan while on trail rides.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing down on whatever he wanted, then trying to lose weight by starving himself.

New eating philosophy: Eating more to lose more.

Best thing about losing weight: Gaining his life back.

Best weight loss secret learned: Eating well involves both healthy portions and healthy foods.

No family duty too great for Andrea Floyd

Caring for a family is a huge responsibility. But unlike most mothers, Andrea Floyd had double duty as she cared for two. Unfortunately, it left her with little time to watch her own health.

When Andrea was 16, her mother was placed in a wheelchair. Meanwhile, her father suffered from diabetes and her sister from mental disability. Andrea supported them. After she married, her entire family moved in with her so she could continue to help them.

Soon she had a family of her own to care for, too. Andrea juggled raising three children, caring for her husband, and supporting three ailing adults. With little personal time remaining, Andrea became a stress eater, and used her few free moments to grab fast food.

Her waistline grew. She usually dined on fried foods, and had a weakness for all things chocolate. Before she knew it, she weighed 207 pounds.

In 2005, Andrea was dealt even more devastating news when she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. But Andrea kept her hopes and determination high, and continued to do her best to fulfill her familial obligations.

After undergoing surgery, she became cancer-free in October of that year. But Andrea still wasn't healthy. Her goal now was to lose weight.

In January 2006, Andrea joined her local Greenville, S.C., L A Weight Loss center. She was paired with a one-on-one counselor who helped her get her diet in check. Andrea cut down on red meat, and eliminated her fast food binges. She also cut down on sweet snacks.

She replaced these L A Weight Loss no-no's with fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and water. Andrea learned how to make smart snack choices with L A Weight Loss biscotti cookies, and starting bringing her Controltrim with her when traveling and eating out.

Andrea also added more physical activity to her daily routine. She started walking her dog every night, and took an extra stroll when the weather was warm.

She also did the little things, such as parking further away from stores, taking stairs instead of elevators, and squeezing walks into her lunch breaks for some afternoon energy.

It's paid off. After one year on the program, Andrea has lost 41 pounds. At 166 pounds, she's only 12 pounds away from her goal weight of 154.

Andrea is thrilled with her progress, and knows that she's done everything she can to ensure she'll be around for her family for a long time. She's so glad she took this extra step to getting healthy!

Her family is also very proud of her, and so are we! Congratulations, Andrea! You're an inspiration, and your family is blessed to have you!

Here's Andrea at 207 pounds:



And here she is today, looking fantastic (and a picture of health) at 166 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Andrea Floyd
Hometown: Greenville, S.C.
Age: 35
Height: 5' 6"

Starting weight: 207 pounds
Goal weight: 154 pounds
Current weight: 166 pounds
Program start date: January 2007

Favorite food: Snack cakes and chocolate.

Biggest temptation: Fried foods.

Biggest motivator: Feeling healthier and looking better.

Biggest obstacle: Resisting eating too many carbs.

Old eating philosophy: Binging on fast food combo meals.

New eating philosophy: Eating more fruits and vegetables.

Best thing about losing weight: Fitting into all of her clothes, and looking better in them.

Best weight loss secret learned: Drink plenty of water.

South Carolina woman plants seeds of health

Willie Cox was never much of a gardener. Throughout her life, she related more to couch potatoes than growing potatoes. But all that would change when she hit 233 pounds.

She spun the scales because of one thing. She enjoyed her dinners fried and her snacks sweet. As Willie aged, though, she worried that her weight would become a major health problem. She already had asthma, and needed knee-replacement surgery after an injury. The extra weight made recovery twice as difficult.

Willie also suffered from shortness of breath. She couldn't walk up stairs without gasping for air. Her mother and three sisters -- all of whom were overweight -- had diabetes, and Willie knew she was on the fast track to a similar fate.

Willie tried a number of diets, but couldn't kept the weight off. At 233 pounds, Willie decided to try L A Weight Loss. In January 2006, the 59-year-old joined the Greenville, S.C., center, where she was paired with a one-on-one weight loss counselor.

Her counselor taught her simple tips and tricks to give her diet a healthy makeover. She cut out her candy binges, and ate more fruits, vegetables, and lean meats. Willie also began baking chicken instead of frying it. For a fat-reducing boost, she added L A Weight Loss's Controltrim to her baked goods, salad dressings, and sauces.

Adding the fresh fruits and vegetables was easy for Willie. As she lost weight, she gained energy to work in her garden, where she grew corn, spinach, lettuce, cabbage, cucumbers, and tomatoes. With all the good food coming in, it wasn't long before Willie's weight loss gained momentum.

To further accelerate her weight loss, Willie walked regularly. As the pounds melted away, she increased her distance. Every mile made a difference.

After two years on the program, Willie has sailed past her weight loss goal of 170 pounds and now weighs 162 pounds, for a total weight loss of 71 pounds.

Losing weight has changed Willie's life. She feels younger than ever, and can carry her grandson without getting tired, something she couldn't do before.

Willie feels much better about herself. Her husband loves the progress she's made, and tells her every day she's beautiful. He also built a home gym in their backyard for Willie to maintain her weight loss.

Willie's dive into healthy living proves that eating healthy can be as easy as planting a seed and watching it grow. Way to go, Willie!

Here's Willie at 233 pounds in 2006:



And here she is today, 71 pounds lighter at 162 pounds. Smoking!



FAST FACTS

Name: Willie Cox
Hometown: Travelers Rest, S.C.
Age: 61
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 233 pounds
Goal weight: 170 pounds
Current weight: 162 pounds
Program start date: January 2006

Favorite food: Spinach.

Biggest temptation: Gummy Bears.

Biggest motivator: Receiving constant support from her personal counselor.

Biggest obstacle: Getting past plateaus.

Old eating philosophy: Eating fried foods and binging on sweet temptations.

New eating philosophy: Baking instead of frying, and eating plenty of vegetables.

Best thing about losing weight: Being able to carry her grandson.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can lose weight and maintain it if you stick with the program.

South Carolina songbird finds her wings

Alison Thackston has a passion for singing. And when someone loves stretching her vocal chords as much as she does, nothing can stop her from belting out a tune. Except, as Alison found out, extra weight.

It was a life-long struggle for Alison. And as she aged, the problems associated with being overweight worsened. Reaching 213 pounds in her 40s, Alison suffered from asthma, acid reflux, high blood pressure, joint and back pain, and lack of flexibility.

The extra pounds made her lethargic, and Alison couldn't bend over to touch her toes. She was depressed, and felt completely dependent on other people.

Worse, the weight on her lungs made singing at her church and community center difficult. She couldn't hold long notes or hit the ranges she knew she could reach.

Alison understood losing weight was the only way to get healthy. After trying a laundry list of unsuccessful fad diets, she visited a nutritionist. After her first consultation, she learned her diet was making her sick, and fad weight loss programs just wouldn't cut it.

So Alison signed up at her local Greenville, S.C., L A Weight Loss center in September 2006, ready to change her diet and life. She was paired with a one-on-one weight loss counselor who helped her see the error of her eating ways.

Alison's counselors designed a meal plan that fit her life. She eliminated trips to fast food stops and baked-good binges. She replaced fatty and fried foods with lean meats, vegetables, fruit, and plenty of water.

Even better, Alison incorporated exercise into her daily routine. She started walking 45 to 60 minutes six days a week, and joined a gym. Through it all, she received constant support from her mother and L A Weight Loss counselors, who kept her motivated through her weight loss plateaus.

It wasn't long before the diet change and exercise paid off. As Alison's weight dropped, she gained stamina to work out longer. Her health problems disappeared one by one.

Alison reached and surpassed her weight loss goal in February 2007. She's 80 pounds slimmer at 133! She feels the best she's ever felt. She can breathe easily, and is off all of her medications. She also has more energy and confidence, and never has trouble fitting into restaurant booths or plane seats. And Alison loves shopping for her new size 6 figure!

Overall, Alison feels like an entirely new woman. She's completely independent and at peace with herself. And she sings longer, louder, and better than ever before. Way to go, Alison!

Here's Alison at her heaviest of 213 pounds:



And here she is today, looking fantastic at 133 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Alison Thackston
Hometown: Simpsonville, S.C.
Age: 49
Height: 5'3"

Starting weight: 213 pounds
Goal weight: 138 pounds
Current weight: 133 pounds
Program start date: September 2006

Favorite food: Potatoes.

Biggest temptation: Family parties.

Biggest motivator: Her mom.

Biggest obstacle: Making smart food choices when away from home.

Old eating philosophy: Chowing down on fast food and sweets.

New eating philosophy: Eating more vegetables than ever before.

Best thing about losing weight: Not needing her medications anymore.

Best weight loss secret learned: You can maintain your weight after losing.