Connie Kelly makes losing weight look easy

High school can be hard enough. But when adding "overweight" to the list of teenage pressures, doesn't help. Just ask Connie Kelly.

As a 180-pounds high school student, Connie thought the less she ate the more weight she would lose. Connie wouldn't eat all day then eat a huge dinner (and graze throughout the day).

But she was gaining weight instead of losing it. Connie's body started to store the fat because she would starve herself during the day.

After high school, Connie's weight dropped to 130 pounds. She lost the weight on her own by exercising. Soon after Connie got married. At 22, Connie became pregnant with her first child and gave up smoking, which contributed to Connie gaining back the weight, plus some.

Connie gained 70 pounds with her first child, and never lost it. When Connie was pregnant with her second child, she gained another 70 pounds. Before she knew it, Connie was topping the scales at 280 pounds.

She woke up one morning and knew she had to make changes. Connie was worried about her family's health. High blood pressure was a concern on her father's side, and both parents struggled with their weight.

Connie's downfall was her sodium intake. She ate a lot of fast food (sometimes four times a week, ordering the super sized meals), big bags of chips, and a lot of soda.

Now Connie has given up fast food and soda completely. She was even allowed two diet sodas a day while on the LA Weight Loss program and decided to reach for more water instead. She drinks four liter bottles of water a day, sometimes adding lemon or lime for flavor.

LA Weight loss has taught Connie how to grocery shop and buy foods that she could prepare. She cooks dinner every night for her family with the LA Weight Loss Cookbook.

Thanks to Connie's new healthy cooking habits, her husband even lost 10 pounds without even trying! When she's hungry, Connie now craves fruit, especially bananas.

The LA Weight Loss program has helped Connie develop eating habits she never imagined following. Just recently, she made herself squash spaghetti, something she thought she would never eat.

Connie has a lot more energy now. She is able to keep up with her kids, going sledding, skating or just walking around the neighborhood with them. Connie also exercises more. She works with a personal trainer two to three times a week, and does an hour and a half of cardio four to five times a week. She also enjoys yoga.

Connie's confidence increases every time she steps on the scale. She's excited to put on a bathing suit with no shorts this summer. There was even another woman who joined Connie's LA Weight Loss Center and asked for a picture of Connie to put on her refrigerator for motivation!

Connie, you look fabulous! You are an inspiration to many!

Here's Connie at 257 pounds:



And here she is looking fantastic at 125 pounds:



Name: Connie Kelly
Hometown: Calgary, Canada
Age: 32
Height: 5’6”

Starting weight: 257 pounds.
Goal weight: 130 pounds.
Current weight: 125 pounds.
Program start date: January 2008

Favorite food: Lean Cuisines

Biggest temptation: Potato chips

Biggest motivator: Staying healthy for her two children.

Biggest obstacle: Staying motivated and not giving up.

Old eating philosophy: Eating unhealthy, fried foods whenever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Cooking at home with squash, fish, grilled chicken breast, yogurt, and bananas; and drinking plenty of water.

Best thing about losing weight: Watching the pounds and inches come off each week.

Best weight loss secret learned: Reduce your sodium intake in foods.

Wisconsin woman turns up the lights in Vegas

Think Vegas can't get any brighter? Then you weren't there when Connie Thone of Osh Kosh, Wis., was showing off her newfound energy, excitement, and zest for life under the brilliant lights.

But Connie's life wasn't always so dazzling. She started struggling with her weight as a child. Weight problems ran in her family, and she ate the wrong foods, never outgrowing her love for fast food or vending-machine snacks.

As she got older, Connie became an emotional eater when she was stressed, turning to ice cream and pizza. She also didn't like to cook, and usually grabbed whatever she could on the go.

Connie had high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart burn, and was on two medications to treat the conditions. Worse, she had lymphodema in her leg, which prevented fluid from flowing correctly through her body, and caused her legs to swell.

She also had joint and lower back pain, especially when she walked. As a result, Connie was mostly sedentary. She was miserable with herself, and couldn't go on trips and do other things she wanted to do.

She tried two diets, losing about 80 pounds on each. But she couldn't maintain her weight loss, and gained it back. Then she gained more weight while going through a troublesome divorce, and soon spun the scales at 360 pounds.

Connie knew her health and life were in trouble. Her doctor strongly advised her to lose weight. Connie was determined to make a change for the better, so she joined her local L A Weight Loss center.

Working with the personal weight loss counselors, Connie learned how to cook simple, healthy meals, such as baked fish with lemon. When she ate out, she opted for salads, chicken, and other lean meats. She also ate more fruits and vegetables, and cut down her soda consumption.

The individual attention at L A Weight Loss made all the difference for Connie. The counselors were always there to help her if she hit a plateau, and helped get her back on the weight loss track. In fact, she became close friends with her weight loss counselor, Amber.

After two years on the L A Weight Loss plan, Connie lost 213 pounds, and is now a trim 147! All her medical conditions are improved, and she's no longer on medications. Her family and friends are thrilled with her success.

Plus, she recently visited two friends from college, one of which she hadn't seen in two years, and they were shocked to see the new Connie. They couldn't stop gushing about how great she looked!

But no one is happier than Connie. Now she can do things she always wanted to do. For starters, she took a vacation with her friends to Las Vegas in May. She had no problem fitting into her plane seat and walking around.

She also can shop at the mall without getting winded or feeling achy. Connie also got a bike this summer and rode 25 miles with a friend. She plans on taking a bike riding trip through the local trails soon.

Now, with renewed happiness, she shines just as brightly as the big city lights! Great job, Connie! You did it!


This is Connie at her heaviest, 360 pounds:



Here she is at 147 ...




FAST FACTS

Name: Connie Thone
Hometown: Osh Kosh, Wis.
Age: 44
Height: 5'0"

Starting weight: 360 pounds
Goal weight: 140 pounds
Current weight: 147 pounds
Program start date: April 11, 2005

Favorite food: Part skim ricotta cheese with unsweetened cocoa and two packets of sweetener.

Biggest temptation: Ice cream and pizza.

Biggest motivator: Getting healthy, and looking and feeling great.

Biggest obstacle: Learning to incorporate the right foods into her diet.

Old eating philosophy: Consuming whatever she wanted.

New eating philosophy: Paying attention to what she eats, and making healthy choices.

Best thing about losing weight: Feeling much healthier, and knowing she has a longer lease on life, plus making great friends at L A Weight Loss along the way!

Best weight loss secret learned: Add variety to your diet.

UPDATE: Connie Thone crosses weight loss finish line

The last time we spoke to Connie Thone at 147 pounds, she was bearing down on her weight loss goal.

Since then, Connie has crossed the finish line! She now officially weighs in at 140 pounds, and is enjoying the life she always dreamed of.

She can't even describe how much better her life has become. No one can believe how great she looks. And Connie loves showing off her new body with a more active lifestyle that includes walking and biking.

We're so proud of you, Connie! You look fantastic!

Here's Connie today looking amazing at 140 pounds:

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.