A new way to have your cake and eat it too

When a chocolate chip cookie, devil's food cake, or hot apple pie is calling your name, it's difficult to say no.

But Andy and Sheri Collier and Vicky Covi aren't saying no anymore. They are using Controltrim, a new L A Weight Loss product that's used in conjunction with the program.

Controltrim is made of 100 percent oat bran, so it's all natural. And it was developed by the USDA, so it's safe to consume.

Controltrim comes in caplet and powder form. Users take the caplets before every meal. They make you feel full, and eat less, which makes portion control even easier!

Mixing the powder in salad dressings, puddings, and beverages makes you feel full. So you're satisfied without consuming too many calories.

You can also use the powder to replace fats and oils when you're baking and cooking. For example, substituting half of the butter in a cake recipe with Controltrim reduces the fat and calorie content. This makes the cake healthier and keeps your weight loss goals on track. It's also great for people watching their cholesterol and heart health.

You might wonder if the cake tastes differently though. Good news, it doesn't! Foods with Controltrim have the same taste, texture, and moisture as those without.

In fact, we tested it. We recently invited over 1,300 journalists across the country to taste a brownie made with Controltrim, and one made with cooking oil. We kept the brownies' identities secret, and challenged the journalists to pick out the Controltrim brownie.

The results are still coming in. As soon as we crunch the numbers, we'll share them here. We'll also be posting recipes that use Controltrim over the coming weeks, so you can cook with it at home. Check back here soon. In the meantime, ask your counselor how you can incorporate Controltrim into your L A Weight Loss plan!

Here are crab cakes made with Controltrim. Mmm!

Mother of twins doubles her fitness and femininity

Having twins can mean double the fun and excitement. But for Vicky Covi of Denver, it also meant double the weight gain.

Vicky's weight issues started long before motherhood, however. In high school she was surrounded by thinner, attractive girls, and her self-confidence began to sink.

In college, her self-esteem got a boost when she lost 25 pounds. But it didn't last long. She gained weight after college, and continued packing on the pounds when she got married and became pregnant with identical twin boys.

Even though she gained 40 pounds during her pregnancy, Vicky never felt more feminine or beautiful as she carried her next of kin. But after giving birth, those feelings soon diminished.

The stress of caring for two newborns wore Vicky down. She turned to carbs and salty foods such as potato chips to manage her stress. She also often fried her food.

Then, as her weight increased to 189 pounds, Vicky has trouble keeping up with her sons. She crashed by 4 p.m. every day, and had little energy left to make dinner and run the household.

Her husband's work regularly held formal events, dinners, and trips that Vicky attended. But she couldn't fit into anything stylish, and felt embarrassed wearing frumpy dresses.

After one event, she was looking at photos of herself and her husband. She was struck by how overweight she looked, and realized she couldn't live like that anymore.

So Vicky looked up several diets, even though she wasn't too keen on counting calories or cutting out her favorite foods. Then she heard about L A Weight Loss's personalized counseling and portion control. It sounded like it could work for her, and she signed up.

The personal weight loss counselors were there for her every step of her weight loss journey. They taught her how to eat the right foods in proper portions, and helped her incorporate more fresh fruits and vegetables into her diet.

Vicky also cut back on salty and fatty foods, and stopped frying her meals. In addition, she took vitamins and ate L A Lite bars to supplement her diet, keeping track of it all in her weight loss diary.

So how's Vicky today? Well, she's fifty-nine pounds lighter, and weighing in at 130 pounds! She has no problem sporting a bikini, and loves getting dressed up for her husband's company events.

Vicky's weight loss journey was an awakening for her, and she feels more comfortable with who she is. She now knows what foods work for her body and lifestyle to keep her weight under control.

Best of all, Vicky says she feels great emotionally, physically, and mentally. In fact, she feels as feminine and beautiful as she did she was pregnant!

Way to go, Vicky! Keep up the great work!

Take a look at Vicky before, carrying around 189 pounds:



And take a look at Vicky today, fit and feminine at 130. Looking great, Vicky!



FAST FACTS

Name: Vicky Covi
Hometown: Denver
Age: 38
Height: 5'4"

Starting weight: 189 pounds
Goal weight: 135 pounds
Current weight: 130 pounds
Program start date: January 2005

Favorite food: French fries.

Biggest temptation: Bread.

Biggest motivator: Seeing weight start to come off in the first two weeks.

Biggest obstacle: Exercising.

Old eating philosophy: Indulging in anything that was unhealthy.

New eating philosophy: Enjoying healthier foods in the right portions.

Best thing about losing weight: Wearing trendy new clothes.

Best weight loss secret learned: Portion control!