Our story
Here's our story in a nutshell (pardon the pun)...
It all began...
in 1954 when Kay Gentry was born. Her earliest recorded laugh was when her mom took a picture of Kay with a doll wig on.
The fat nickname...
Kay was such a plump child that her family started calling her “Little Wannie” after a much-loved, but very overweight aunt affectionately called “Aunt Wannie.”
The family divorce…
The ornery one...
By 1968, Kay had figured out how to totally irritate her sisters. Her trusty pea-shooter was her greatest ally.
State talent show...
As local FFA chapter sweetheart in 1972, Kay was required to enter the state talent show. Without a single musical ability in her body, Kay performed a comedy routine. She didn’t win, but got a lot of laughs.
The senior yearbook…
was an open window into the funny in her life. Knowing she couldn’t keep a straight face, her classmates would hide behind the cameraman and make faces to make her laugh.
The honeymoon wreck…
In 1976, Kay and future husband Jim Doolin ran away and got married in Gainesville, TX...on his lunch hour. Kay chose a short neon green dress as her wedding gown. That evening, robbers (trying to make a getaway) hit them broadside and sent both Kay and Jim to the hospital with concussions. The calamities continue to this day.
The overweight bride…
Kay gained a lot of weight after graduating from high school and struggled with her weight for several years. After getting married, she joined a weight loss class and lost 35 pounds.
Lost and found…
Kay would gain weight, attend uninteresting weight-loss classes and lose it all, only to gain the weight again.
The farm tractor…
Kay and her husband built a home not far from the old family farm. Her dad left his tractor in her yard for weeks and she couldn’t get him to move it. So what did Kay do? She painted it with a silly smile and crazy eyes. It was then her dad finally took the tractor home, but he said cars were swerving as they were greeted by the wacky face driving down the highway.
The funny funeral…
Never one to be shy, Kay volunteered to speak for her sisters and cousins at their grandparents’ funeral. Little did she know that her younger sister Rhonda would argue with her in front of a packed funeral home. Kay was trying to tell a funny story but Rhonda kept interrupting and said she wasn’t telling it right. That sparked a banter that had mourners laughing in the pews. One of the attendees said that was the funniest funeral she had ever been to and asked Kay if she would preach at her funeral.
The family videos…
Much to her kids’ chagrin, Kay always had a video camera recording life’s events. Kay would dress up her husband, kids, nieces, nephews and their friends in outrageous outfits and record them reciting wacky scripts she had written. Thus, ‘The Crockpots’ were born.
Thunder thighs 
In 1983, Andrea Thompson was born a very large baby at 9 pounds, 11 oz. As a hefty baby learning to walk, she earned the nickname “thunder thighs”.
The witty accountant...
Kay graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in accounting and in 1988 passed the CPA exam on the first try. For years after that she brought her sense of humor to board rooms across Oklahoma but always wondered why she ever got into such a dull profession. Her humorous quips were not always well received.
Diabetes Camp
Andrea’s younger cousin was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2001. She was so interested in learning 
more about diabetes that she went to a summer camp with her cousin. The camp was just for children with Type 1 diabetes. She really enjoyed the camp and went back for the following two summers.
Whimsy and optimism…
In 2003, Kay joined yet another boring diet program. However, Kay’s creative mind and sense of humor took over as she decided to develop a fun weight-loss program called Laugh It Off. One problem stood in her way: she didn’t know anything about nutrition.
The Food Journal
In an Introduction to Nutrition class at Northeastern Oklahoma University, a class assignment required Andrea to keep a food journal for a week. As a result, she learned a lot about herself--and that’s when it all started. Andrea started counting calories and paying attention to food portions and lost some weight that definitely needed to go.
The Aha Moment
2004 – Andrea first heard a Registered Dietitian speak at a health class at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. When the speaker explained the job duties of a Dietitian, Andrea knew immediately what she wanted to do – help others lose weight and live healthy.
The Nanny
While going through college Andrea lived with a local family and worked as a nanny for two small children. She learned how to balance life while working as a nanny, going through her internship and getting her Masters degree at the University of Central Oklahoma.
Yesssss!
In 2009, Andrea passed the Registered Dietitian exam on the first try.
Weight No More
Andrea and two other dietitians put together a weight loss curriculum called “Weight No More”. They started teaching many people how to successfully lose weight the healthy way. Their first class had 50 members completing the course with a total of 361 pounds lost! From there, they just kept going!
The half marathon
Andrea ran her first half marathon in 2010. This was no easy feat as it took her over a month to be able to complete one mile. She realized there is a lot in this world she could conquer with a little determination. Since then she has run a second half marathon and many 5K and 10K races with the help of her two dogs and a great friend.
Building Faith campaign…
In 2010, Kay and Andrea’s church, Faith Christian Outreach, started a building campaign to raise funds to build a bigger church campus. Pastor Travis Hurst challenged each member to find creative ways to raise money
Is Kay crazy?…
During a two-minute meet and greet break at a January, 2011, church service, Kay turned around to fellow Faithco church member Andrea Beck and handed her a Laugh It Off business card. (Kay remembered from an article in the local newspaper—two years earlier—that Andrea was a Registered Dietitian.) Kay told Andrea that she had an idea for a new weight loss program and asked if Andrea might be interested. Although Andrea looked at Kay as though she was crazy, they started monthly then weekly meetings to found the company.
Health & hilarity begins…
With a majority of proceeds going to the church Building Faith campaign, Laugh It Off started its first meeting on September 29, 2011 at Faith Christian Outreach.
In The End...
It’s just the beginning. Laugh It Off is really just a small group of crazy health nuts and professionals who have managed to make a big splash doing what they do best: make people smile, chuckle and laugh while learning a healthy lifestyle.
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