Glenna Vandergon's weighting time is over

It's nice to think we'll be healthy forever. But for most of us, something inevitably arises that reminds us to take better care of ourselves. For Glenna Vandergon, that something was being diagnosed as pre-diabetic.

Glenna struggled with her weight as a child. She was an active kid, but filled up on empty calories and not enough fruits and vegetables.

She took these habits into adulthood. Glenna's mother was overweight, and Glenna knew she was on the same path to a lifetime of obesity.

At 270 pounds in her 50s, Glenna was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. She already had arthritis and high blood pressure, and if she didn't take better care of herself -- and fast -- she would soon open the door to even more health problems.

She had no time to spare. Glenna tried dieting. She was able to lose weight, but then discovered one of her thyroid glands wasn't working. And just like that, she gained all of her weight back. No matter how hard she tried, Glenna couldn't shed the weight again.

Then in June 2007, she decided to try L A Weight Loss. Glenna joined her local Eagan Prairie, Minn., L A Weight Loss center, and was paired up with a personal weight loss counselor. Her counselor taught her the ABCs of a healthy lifestyle. Glenna realized that not only what she was eating, but when she was eating was contributing to her weight gain.

Glenna portioned her food into smaller meals throughout the day, starting with a good breakfast. She cut back on starches, carbs, and fried foods, and boosted her daily intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and water.

Since joining L A Weight loss, Glenna's lost 76 pounds! Now at 194, she's getting closer to her goal weight of 150 everyday. But she notices the benefits of healthy eating in more areas of her life than just weight.

Glenna has more stamina, lower blood pressure, reduced arthritis, and higher self confidence. By incorporating walking and a stationary bike into her daily routine, Glenna is now able to make it around the block and then some. Most days she walks over a mile.

To stay on track, Glenna says the support of her husband and family has been a huge help. And as her 40th anniversary approaches, Glenna has high hopes for fitting into her wedding dress -- a personal goal she set at the beginning of her weight loss journey.

Great job, Glenna! Looks like a healthier life "a-weights!"

Here's Glenna in 2007 at 270 pounds:

And here she is in 2008, happy at 194 pounds:

FAST FACTS:

Name: Glenna Vandergon
Hometown: Chaska, Minn.
Age: 57
Height: 5'2"

Starting weight: 270 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 194 pounds
Program start date: June, 2007

Favorite food: Tilapia.

Biggest temptation: Having to go in the kitchen and cook.

Biggest motivator: The way her husband looks at her.

Biggest obstacle: Getting past the everyday temptations.

Old eating philosophy: Eating whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Eating the right foods at the right times, in the right portions.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling her husband wrap his arms all the way around her.

Best weight loss secret learned: Just because you're on a diet, doesn't mean you're going to go hungry.

Canadian woman takes permanent vacation from obesity

Most people would jump at the chance to go Hawaii. But when you're overweight like Gail Miller was, tropical getaways aren't always a vacation.

When Gail's friend invited her to Hawaii in January 2007, the Nanaimo, British Columbia, native didn't think about white beaches, big waves, or ukuleles. She could only think about about bulging out of bathing suits. In the end, Gail was too embarrassed to take the trip.

At 192 pounds, Gail had more serious problems than putting on a swimsuit. She never lost the baby weight after her third child was born, and was paying for it 30 years later with high blood pressure and thyroid problems.

She never had breakfast on time and depended on tons of coffee to get her going. She snacked on chips, soda, crackers, and cookies before dinner. And every Friday, she indulged in pizza, wine, and cheese.

With all that extra weight slowing her down, getting through each day was exhausting. Gail took diet pills her doctors prescribed, but didn't change her eating habits or exercise.

Gail tried dieting off and on for years, but nothing stuck. She always felt like she needed a little more one-on-one support. Then she heard about L A Weight Loss and its personalized weight loss counselors.

The plan sounded like exactly what she needed. She joined her local Nanaimo, British Columbia, L A Weight Loss center.

With the help of her weight loss counselor, Gail realized her eating habits were packing on the pounds while draining her energy. Her counselor taught her how to energize her body with healthy foods, while slimming it down.

She started eating high-fiber cereals, fruits, and L A Lite Bars for breakfast, with only two cups of coffee. She substituted high-fat snacks with vegetables, rice cakes, and turkey bacon.

Fueled by her healthier diet, Gail started doing high-intensity, 30-minute workouts at a local gym. She also walked her dogs as much as possible. The pounds quickly disappeared.

After less than a year on the L A Weight Loss program, Gail has shed 47 pounds. Now, at 145 pounds, she's gained new confidence. Even her husband and children have noticed, and can't stop dishing out the compliments.

Gail landed a new job to match her new figure too. Now, when she gets the invite to tropical destinations like Hawaii, Gail will be the first one on the beach. Great job, Gail!

Here's Gail at 192 pounds, trying to cover up:



And here she is at 145 pounds, ready to show it off!



FAST FACTS

Name: Gail Miller
Hometown: Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Age: 54
Height: 5'6"

Starting weight: 192 pounds
Goal weight: 150 pounds
Current weight: 145 pounds
Program start date: June 2007

Favorite food: White chicken breast.

Biggest temptation: Having a glass of wine every night.

Biggest motivator: Slimming down for her trip, and getting encouragement from her husband.

Biggest obstacle: Trying to eat healthy foods.

Old eating philosophy: Eating morning, noon, and night.

New eating philosophy: Eating only when she's hungry.

Best thing about losing weight: Gaining confidence.

Best weight loss secret learned: There's no secrets, just be smart!

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.

Ann Brafford shops smarter to slim down

Grocery shopping is usually a chore. It's time-consuming to find what you want, and frustrating to battle the crowds. But it was worse for Ann Brafford. It made her gain weight.

When Ann went grocery shopping, she grabbed whatever looked good without thinking about nutrition. She avoided the fresh vegetables and fruits, and instead hit the snacks and processed foods aisles.

When she got home, she cooked the foods without paying attention to the amount of fat or salt she was adding. And when she ate them, portion size was out the door.

At 283 pounds, Ann was destroying her health. She had high cholesterol and blood pressure, asthma, and a thyroid condition. She was on medication to treat them all.

Ann was sluggish, and hated that she couldn't keep up with her grandson. Finding clothes she liked was nearly impossible. And after every annual checkup, Ann dreaded the phone call from her doctor saying her lab reports had worsened.

At 57 years old, she realized she needed to do something about her weight now. Her only other options: be miserable for the rest of her life, or die early of a heart attack. So Ann decided to join L A Weight Loss.

Working with her personal weight loss counselors, Ann learned how to purchase healthy foods, including fresh fruits and vegetables, or frozen dinners when she was in a hurry. She also learned how to order the right meals at restaurants, so she wouldn't break her weight loss plan.

The counselors were helpful and encouraging, and showed her how to cook meals from the L A Lite cookbook. Ann's family also motivated her to stay on track. With her eating in check and support system under her wings, the weight started to come off.

After 70 weeks on the L A Weight Loss plan, Ann lost 147 pounds, and now weighs 136! She went from a size 28 to a size 8.

Even better, Ann is off all her cholesterol and asthma medications. She has renewed energy, and can keep up her five-year-old grandson to the point where he says he's tired.

Best of all, Ann learned what and how much to eat. She eats anywhere, anytime, while still maintaining her weight.

Ann's family can't believe the difference they see in her. She and her loved ones are thrilled with her success, and so are we! Way to go, Ann! Keep up the great work!

This is Ann before L A Weight Loss, at 236 pounds:



And here she is today, 147 pounds slimmer. Wow, great job, Ann!



FAST FACTS

Name: Ann Brafford
Age: 57
Height: 5'10"

Starting weight: 283 pounds
Goal weight: 136 pounds
Current weight: 136 pounds

Biggest temptation: Buying whatever is convenient at the grocery store.

Biggest motivator: Getting support from her L A Weight Loss counselors.

Biggest obstacle: Cutting down her portions.

Old eating philosophy: Eating without thinking.

New eating philosophy: Knowing what and how to eat.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling energetic and excited about life.

Best weight loss secret learned: Losing weight is simple when you know how to shop.

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.