From fridge runs to running 5Ks

I get a lot of letters from L A Weight Loss customers, and they're often filled with emotional revelations and medical obstacles, such as high cholesterol, blood pressure, sleep apnea, and diabetes.

So imagine my surprise when I read Kathy Kersting's personal story, and got to this line: "My doctor told me that I was the healthiest obese person he had seen ..."

Well, that's a first. But it was true: Though she weighed 262 pounds, Kathy was otherwise healthy as a horse.

Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for Kathy's mother, who was diagnosed with sleep apnea after battling emphysema and congestive heart failure. So Kathy knew it was only a matter of time before her own luck ran out.

Plus, even though she was healthy on the inside, Kathy was unhappy with her outside. She hated looking into the mirror every morning to do her makeup, and lost the confidence to speak up and draw attention to herself in social situations.

By fall 2004, Kathy was ready to make a change. That's when she and her husband Jay joined L A Weight Loss, and vowed never to be heavy again.

Kathy committed herself to the program, and the weight seemed to fly off. When she had dropped 70 pounds, she began exercising on the elliptical machine and stationary bike for 25 minutes a day. That turned into jogging, and soon Kathy was running 5Ks and training for half marathons.

In fact, Kathy was so successful, she was featured in L A Weight Loss ads that ran in her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn.!

Today, Kathy's dropped 110 pounds -- about 20 pounds away from being half her size!! And she's adding one more sport to her repertoire: training for a 300-mile bike tour with her sister this summer.

Here's Kathy at 262 pounds being chubby with her hubby:



And here she is now at a race-ready 152:



FAST FACTS

Name: Kathy Kersting
Hometown: Knoxville, Tenn.
Age: 38
Height: 5’4"

Starting weight: 262 pounds
Goal weight: 140 pounds
Current weight: 152 pounds
Program start date: Fall 2004

Favorite food: Fresh fish and fresh baby spinach. (It used to be mashed potatoes.)

Biggest temptation: Starches like potatoes and corn.

Biggest motivator: To avoid the health problems that plagued her mother.

Biggest obstacle: Overcoming the urge to clean her plate.

Old eating philosophy: Forcing herself to eat, even when she wasn't hungry.

New eating philosophy: Knowing her limits, and making sure that when she does eat, her meals are packed with fresh fruits and vegetables.

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

Best weight loss secret learned: To avoid overeating on homemade sweets at work, she thinks about whether the person who made them washed their hands. The result -- she usually passes on the treats!

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.