Wisconsin couple tosses 132 pounds overboard

For Craig and Pam Sabee of Appleton, Wisc., sailing is a big part of their life. But it was no longer fun when they gained so much weight, they had trouble maintaining their balance while walking the deck in rocky waters.

Weight had always been an issue for Pam. As a teenager, her weight was in constant flux. She tried several diets, but always gained the weight back, felt hungry, or had to eat unappetizing foods. She also had a hypothyroid, which slowed her metabolism, causing additional gain weight.

For Craig, it was married life that started his weight troubles. He and Pam loved to cook. And cook. And cook some more. The pounds just added up.

Then Craig was diagnosed with rectal lymphoma. He underwent chemotherapy, and had his large intestine removed. While his doctors were doing some follow-up blood work, they discovered Craig also had high blood sugar levels, and was borderline diabetic.

This news was the last straw for the couple. Pam was up to 167 pounds, and Craig to 247 pounds. They knew they had to do something about their weight, so they decided to join L A Weight Loss in February 2006.

The Sabees learned to eat healthy foods in proper portions, and supplemented their eating plan with L A Lite bars. By Christmas, Pam lost 45 pounds, and Craig lost 87 pounds -- for a combined 132-pound weight loss!

Now Pam isn't tempted by Big Mac commercials anymore, and eats lots of fiber-rich foods, such as dates and unsalted almonds. And Craig no longer goes for the buttered popcorn for a snack, instead opting for vegetables and fresh fruit. Plus, Pam's thyroid is stabilized, and Craig's blood sugar level is normal.

The couple exercises much more now too, something they wouldn't have dreamed of doing when they were at their heaviest. Now when they go sailing, they have no trouble balancing themselves on the deck when the waters get rough.

Craig also runs outdoors regularly, while Pam walks five to six miles every day on her treadmill. They feel like there's nothing they can't do -- and at 132 pounds lighter, it looks like smooth sailing from here on out!

The couple before, Pam at 167 pounds, and Craig at 247 pounds:



And the happy couple after: Craig at 160 pounds, Pam at 122 pounds. Looking better than ever, guys!



FAST FACTS

Name: Craig Sabee
Hometown: Appleton, Wisc.
Age: 61
Height: 5'9”

Starting weight: 247 pounds
Goal weight: 185 pounds
Current weight: 160 pounds
Program start date: Feb. 1, 2006

Favorite food: Vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Buttered popcorn.

Biggest motivator: Wanting to lower his blood sugar level, and gaining more energy to sail.

Biggest obstacle: Buying junk food at movie theaters.

Old eating philosophy: Eating greasy foods.

New eating philosophy: Enjoying fiber-rich foods and lots of fresh produce.

Best thing about losing weight: Having energy to sail and run.

Best weight loss secret learned: Don't get discouraged if you reach a plateau in your weight loss. You can have success with determination and healthy eating habits.



Name: Pam Sabee
Hometown: Appleton, Wisc.
Age: 54
Height: 5'5”

Starting weight: 167 pounds
Goal weight: 135 pounds
Current weight: 122 pounds
Program start date: Feb. 1, 2006

Favorite foods: Unsalted almonds, dates, crackers, and hummus.

Biggest temptation: Potato chips.

Biggest motivator: Getting healthier with Craig so they can have more energy for daily activities.

Biggest obstacle: Tuning out when a Big Mac commercial comes on.

Old eating philosophy: Consuming high-fat and low-fiber foods.

New eating philosophy: Eating lots of high-fiber foods and fresh produce, and snacking on crackers and hummus.

Best thing about losing weight: Having more energy and strength to sail.

Best weight loss secret learned: It's easier to get over your temptations than you might think. And once you do, you'll find you don't even miss them!

Nancy LaFond hits the big time with her small figure

Nancy LaFond was healthy and thin her whole life -- until she was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis in 2005.

Hashimoto's Thyroiditis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid. People with this condition have trouble burning calories, and can gain up to 60 pounds as a result.

Despite eating right and exercising regularly, Nancy couldn't stop her body from packing on the pounds. At one point, she even gained seven pounds in a single week!

You can hear the rest of her emotional story here, courtesy of an interview Marnie and I conducted with Nancy last week.



Here's the nutshell version:

After she was diagnosed, Nancy worked with her doctor to stabilize her medication before she could tackle her weight gain. When her doctor gave her the go-ahead to take on her extra 30 pounds, she knew she wanted to join a program that would address her medical condition, while still helping her lose the weight.

This was easier said than done. When Nancy called one popular weight loss program and explained her situation, the receptionist told her she would have to stick with the set program, just like their other customers.

Discouraged and frustrated, Nancy made her next stop at the L A Weight Loss Center in Pineville, N.C. Two of her friends had successfully lost weight on the program, and she knew the program was based on customized meal plans.

When Nancy walked in the center, she immediately knew she'd made the right choice. Her personal counselor, Sarah, told her they were used to tailoring programs around thyroid ailments. In fact, 70 percent of the center's customers had thyroid issues.

Nancy worked with Sarah to refine her already healthy diet into one that would help boost her metabolism. This, along with Nancy's continuing exercise regimen, helped Nancy lose 30 pounds in eight months, bringing her back to her original 127-pound frame!! That was over a year ago -- and the weight is still off.

In fact, Nancy was so successful that L A Weight Loss chose her as their spokeswoman for its 8-Week Body Makeover campaign. She's currently appearing in TV and print ads to share her story, and inspire women nationwide to shape up before Memorial Day.

Here's Nancy before at 157 pounds:



And now here's our spokeswoman at 127 pounds:



FAST FACTS

Name: Nancy LaFond
Hometown: Matthews, N.C.
Age: 44
Height: 5'2"

Starting weight: 157 pounds
Goal weight: 127 pounds
Current weight: 127 pounds
Program start date: July 2005

Favorite foods: Any kind of fruit, especially watermelon, grapes, and bananas.

Biggest temptation: Ice cream.

Biggest motivator: Seeing her "before" photo every day (she kept it on her dresser).

Biggest obstacle: Trying to counteract the effects of her thyroid ailment.

Old eating philosophy: A well-balanced diet, but in the wrong proportions.

New eating philosophy: Learning how to incorporate her favorite fruits and vegetables in the right way to boost her metabolism.

Best thing about losing weight: Being selected as the spokesperson for L A Weight Loss's 8-Week Body Makeover campaign.

Best weight loss secret learned: Weight loss does not equal starvation or deprivation.

Cindy Shank quits smoking -- and fad diets

Cindy Shank hit rock bottom in March 2005. She'd recently quit smoking and, after replacing cigarettes with food, packed on some extra pounds.

Then she was diagnosed with an under-active thyroid , a condition that can cause uncontrollable weight gain. She ballooned to 225 pounds -- which contributed to an onset of high blood pressure.

Cindy was at a loss. She ate fruits and veggies and worked out every day, but the weight wouldn't come off. In fact, she kept adding more. And now she was dealing with multiple medical issues as well.

She turned to a diet program that had worked before, but this time it didn't stick. So Cindy tried a "protein diet", which worked in the short term, yet wasn't something she could sustain for the long haul.

Cindy had seen several ads for L A Weight Loss, but unfortunately there were no centers near her home in Oakville, Ontario. Then one day her luck changed: L A Weight Loss had opened a new center in her hometown.

From the minute she walked into the center, Cindy knew the program was "tailor-made" for her needs, as she put it in a letter she sent to me. She especially liked the one-on-one counseling, which helped her build meal plans that were in step with her efforts to control her thyroid and high blood pressure. And getting weighed three times a week helped her keep a tight reign over her progress.

Clearly this double-barrel approach worked: In 38 weeks, Cindy dropped 75 pounds (!!), reaching her goal weight of 150 pounds! But that wasn't good enough. She really wanted to weigh 140 pounds -- a goal she also reached with the help of the Oakville center.

It's been over a year since Cindy lost those 85 pounds (plus five more!), and she's still working hard to keep it that way. She's back at the gym three to four times a week, where she enjoys the elliptical machine, yoga, and Pilates. She's now off two of her three blood pressure medications, and controls her thyroid with medication and diet.

Here is Cindy at 225 pounds:



And, here she is at a slimming 135 pounds. WOW!!!!



FAST FACTS

Name: Cindy Shank
Hometown: Oakville, Ontario
Age: 44

Starting weight: 225 pounds
Goal weight: 140 pounds
Current weight: 135 pounds
Program start date: March 2005

Favorite foods: Fruits and vegetables.

Biggest temptation: Cookies and candy.

Biggest motivator: Finding a realistic diet she could follow for life.

Biggest obstacle: Losing weight while dealing with an under-active thyroid and high blood pressure.

Old eating philosophy: Eating healthy fruits and vegetables, but not knowing how to balance them with other foods.

New eating philosophy: Understanding how to incorporate these nutritious foods into a balanced diet of proteins, carbs, and fiber.

Best thing about losing weight: Being a size 6 for the first time!

Best weight loss secret learned: Keep a food diary. Writing down every thing she ate helped Cindy track her daily intake, and plan accordingly for the next day.