"Like so many young Americans, I struggled with my weight since about the age of 10 – especially after a few of my classmates pointed out my flaws during what most people refer to as the Chubby Stage, an unfortunate common practice in our society today. "



"Soon after becoming aware that I was overweight, food and jumping on the scale became and ongoing problem for me, which continued until my late 30’s!



I had tried every “diet” out there – all the ones you’ve heard of, and some far-flung ones, including some interesting ones I invented myself (All-Bran and Tab for a week!)  I always started them feeling hopeful but after a few days of restrictive dieting I felt like they wouldn’t work...why would they? They hadn’t in the past! This cycle of “on a diet, off a diet,” and never getting to my goal, was a constant theme throughout my life!



It was only after the passing of my son, Hunter, in 2003 that I took a good look at myself and recognized that I’d been unhappy most of my life due to my weight and insecurities about my looks in general.  The grief I was going through after losing Hunter awakened a “fighter” in me – I knew that I would never be able to undo losing him, but that I could undo other things in my life that had brought me down for years.

In 2005, after the birth of my daughter, I made up my mind to dig myself out of the sad place I had been in and realized the only thing that would work for me would be old-fashioned calorie counting. 

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I began writing everything down that went into my mouth, and I searched for lower-calorie substitutes or simply smaller portions of the things I couldn’t live without, pizza – chocolate – wine, you name it!



In about 15 months, I lost 56 pounds and 54 inches!  I wish I could tell you that it was hard, – but I still can’'t believe how simple it really was!  I never felt deprived, and I taught myself how to undo years of emotional eating – using food as a crutch, as a way to deal with problems.  Losing my weight has liberated me from a lifetime of feeling badly about myself, and has changed me from a hopeless person – always wishing I could lose the weight but never being able to achieve it – into a positive person, happy to be here!"