Jamie

Although I was petite as a young child, from the time I was 5, we had to buy my clothes in the chubby department. At 16, after drinking Tab and swimming every day throughout the summer, I was wearing a size 10. At 5'7", I looked pretty good! Two years later, I got married and the weight started to creep up. I love to cook for people and when I'm happy, I eat -- more than I need to.

After divorcing, I lost 50 pounds. Food was no longer important. Dinner was a bowl of oatmeal late at night. Marriage again, eating out a lot and the weight came back. Add in a big bowl of ice cream every night and I finally reached my highest weight of 244 pounds.

When my husband left, I couldn't eat and started drastically losing weight. That's when Amanda decided it was time for us to exercise. We quickly switched from bike riding to racquetball. In 3 months, I've lost 42 pounds. We play racquetball at least 3 times a week and ride our bikes about 1 mile to and from the courts. I ride a stationary bike 3 times a week.

So far, exercise has made me feel better about myself. I've lost my taste for greasy foods -- broiled and grilled taste pretty good! I even made it through the holidays without gaining any weight.

It doesn't bother me to not be at my "ideal" weight. What I have realized is that I have more energy, my blood pressure is lower and it's easier to find clothes that fit. My goal is to lose another 52 pounds. I know that with the support of my exercise partners, Amanda and Beth, my goal is attainable.