In just 55 weeks, John Lay dropped 155 lbs. -- and his blood pressure medication

John Lay's wakeup call came when his size made it difficult for him to travel or enjoy a family trip to Disney World. He weighed 402 pounds, hurting his personal and professional life enormously.

John, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, says he didn’t feel confident out in public on any level, whether it was speaking engagements for work or swimming with the family. His lack of energy also caused him to be more isolated.

After witnessing some of his colleagues’ success at L A Weight Loss, John decided to join. Counselors and nutritionists worked closely with him to come up with a plan and goals that suited his health needs.

Today, John finds his life lighter -- literally! He even returned to Disney World again and this time, the seat fit.

UPDATE: John's 13 pounds closer to his goal weight today. We caught up with him and found out more about what losing weight has done for him. Check it out!

Here's John at 402 pounds:

Now John's at 245 -- 57 pounds more than his goal weight! Way to go, John!!

Update: Disney-loving dad rides to weight loss success

Since we last checked in on John Lay, he has continued to shed the pounds -- 13, to be exact.

This brings him a mere three pounds away from his new goal weight of 230 pounds. That's a total of 170 pounds lost!

His experience with L A Weight Loss has taught John that losing weight requires a lifestyle change, not just a diet. He also values the freedom his weight loss has given him.

John now feels he truly "fits" into life -- from plane seats, to smaller clothes, to his favorite rides at Disney World. And he looks great, too ;)

Keep up the awesome work, John, and let us know when you hit that goal!

FAST FACTS

Name: John Lay
Hometown: Bowling Green, Ky.
Age: 45
Height: 6'2"

Starting weight: 402 pounds
Goal weight: 230 pounds
Current weight: 233 pounds
Program start date: January 2005

Favorite food: BBQ pulled pork sandwiches.

Biggest temptation: Sweets, pies, and desserts.

Biggest motivator: Getting fees back from L A Weight Loss for a year of weight maintenance.

Biggest obstacle: Increasing his exercise.

Old eating philosophy: Eating until he was full, then eating more.

New eating philosophy: Eating only what his body needs, not what his body wants.

Best thing about losing weight: Seeing how far he's come, and fitting into smaller seats and clothes.

Best weight loss secret learned: Follow guidelines for portion control, and regularly exercise. Just stick with it!

Best secrets from our "biggest losers"

We recently tracked down 11 of our "biggest losers" on the blog -- people who've lost over 100 pounds -- to find out their favorite weight loss secrets.

From portion control to finding the right foods, these successful losers share what helped them drop the pounds -- more than 2,000 pounds in total, to be exact. But these points of advice aren't just for the obese. We selected them because they're helpful for anyone trying to lose weight!

Sharla Pincock, lost 150 pounds: Eat more often throughout the day. Breakfast is the most important meal.

Tena Evans, lost 173 pounds: You can still eat out at restaurants while losing weight, just make the right decisions.

Arianna Chavez, lost 154 pounds: Drink lots of water! It really helps and can make a big difference.

Ben Shanahan, lost 130 pounds: You can eat anything and still lose weight. It’s all about portion control and making smart choices. For example, have veggie pizza instead of pizza with meat toppings.

Becky Harrold, lost 120 pounds: If you stick to the correct portions, you can still eat the foods you love. It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change.

Connie Thone, lost 220 pounds: Keep variety in your diet.

John Lay, lost 160 pounds: It’s all about adding exercise to your life.

Kathy Kersting, lost 108 pounds: Use little mental tricks to dissuade yourself from eating bad foods throughout the day, like whether the person from work who made those brownies washed their hands.

LuAnn Zipp, lost 150 pounds: Moderation is the key to everything.

Margaret Mondragon, lost 188 pounds: By adding more fruit to your diet, you'll lose weight, and enjoy a sweet snack.

Michelle Dumas, lost 200 pounds: Don’t eat carbs at night.