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Excuse me, do you have this dress in a size 4?" Down 91 lbs.*, she’s at the top of her class!
(reprinted from the Nutrisystem newsletter)
I never thought I'd be able to walk into a store and ask that question. It's a question I get to ask all the time now, thanks to the support of the NutriSystem® program. Since starting in January 2007, I've lost 91 lbs.* and gone from a size 18 to a size 4!*
My name is Julia, and I am currently a graduate student studying educational psychology. Before this, I spent a couple of years as a middle school math teacher. I have struggled with my weight since adolescence and never knew what to do about it. As a teenager I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), a symptom of which is being overweight. So, I had convinced myself and everyone else that my being overweight was "just the way I am."
What finally triggered my desire to lose weight was moving and starting graduate school. I’d just finished my first semester in a top-notch graduate program, and I should have been on top of the world, but wasn't. The reason was the same as it had been for as long as I can remember—the insecurities that came along with being overweight. On top of that, my brother was planning a wedding for the summer of 2007. Somehow, the prospect of my size being captured in wedding photos was enough to make me realize it was time to change.
[coverattach=2]A Little Help
One reason I think I’d had trouble losing weight previously is because, as a young teacher, I thought I should have all the answers. I chose NutriSystem when I came to terms with the fact that this was something that I didn't know how to do. Once I realized it was okay to admit that I needed some help, the hardest part was done. I'd seen commercials for NutriSystem but wasn't really sure what it was. My mom was the one who explained that they send you actual food and if you eat the food, you lose weight*. I did a little research on it online and decided within minutes that it felt right and was worth trying.
I ordered NutriSystem and started in January 2007. I followed the plan closely and exercised regularly and the weight started to melt off. Following the plan was so easy for me—it fit so seamlessly into my lifestyle that I didn't have to pay extra attention to it (I fondly refer to it as my "invisible diet"). And the food is delicious, too, so it doesn't really feel like a diet. I had gone on another commercial weight loss program with a friend a few years ago but became overwhelmed with all of the work that was involved in keeping track of what I was eating. What makes NutriSystem work so well is that all of the counting is out of the picture.
[coverattach=3]A Total Upgrade
My life has changed significantly in so many ways thanks to my weight loss. I'm a new person and have even been referred to as "Julia version 2.0." I no longer feel like I am restricted by my size, and people treat me differently because I treat myself differently. No longer am I missing out on things I want to do and am not wasting time worrying about being teased, being able to keep up in activities, fit comfortably in seats, or squeeze into a size 16. I also get even more enjoyment out of things I used to enjoy, like kayaking, tennis, and travel.
In addition, my health has improved greatly. My blood pressure has fallen to a healthy level and I am, for the first time in my life, at both a healthy weight and BMI (I also am at the same weight I was in 4th grade!). In addition, my mood has improved and my energy level is higher than I can ever remember it being. However, the most rewarding part is the self confidence that I've gained. While I've always thought of myself as a confident person, that confidence has grown exponentially. The invisible strings tied to my weight are no longer there and I feel like I'm free to do it all!
I’ve received a lot of support from my family (those who weren't jealous, that is). A lot of my friends and co-workers are hesitant to say anything, but usually if I bring it up, then they're willing to talk about it. My dad is so proud that he takes before and after pictures of me to work and shows everyone. He has even brought in a couple of my meals for his co-workers who are working on losing weight, and they're all as surprised as I was about how delicious and filling the food is.
On a couple of occasions people have not recognized me. One time, I was visiting my brother who works at a university and whom I had visited very early on in my weight loss. He had introduced me to a cleaning woman who works on his floor, and we had chatted briefly. On my second visit he said "You remember my sister, right?" and she just stared with a puzzled look on her face and said "I've met your other sister" to which he said "I only have one sister, Julia. You met her in March, the last time she was here." Increasingly puzzled, she said, "No...that was not this sister, she was....fat!"
Forgive, Forget…and Move On!
When I started the plan I decided that fitness was going to be just as important as weight loss in my journey, and I think it's really paid off. I started exercising slowly at first by walking and elliptical training but added in some weight training and tennis and eventually started jogging. In addition, I walk to and from work daily (2 miles round trip). I feel like I've struck a "sweet spot" with diet and exercise. Exercise has become an integral part of my lifestyle and I plan to maintain my weight by continuing to exercise. In addition, I love the taste of NutriSystem® food so I'm planning to continue to follow the plan. Plus, it's just so convenient.
Part of what inspires me to keep up my healthy habits is to show others that it can be I hid behind excuses and made poor diet and exercise choices, thinking that I was too far gone to ever be thin, fit and healthy done. I had been overweight for 15 years—over half of my life!. Now I know that it's never too late to make a change for the better. You have to forgive yourself for mistakes you've made in the past and start anew. I feel like I am not held back by self-doubt anymore. Now that I've lost the weight, I can see how significantly I was missing out on a lot of things that I would have liked to do. From learning about portion sizes and the balance of exercise and nutrition to making friends on the discussion boards, choosing NutriSystem has been a positive experience that has almost made me forget about all of the sad memories I have from being overweight.
NutriSystem has completely changed my perception of food and nutrition. Now, I think twice about a lot of what I, by habit, think about putting in my mouth. It's something that I know I couldn't have possibly been this successful with if I'd not ordered NutriSystem. Using NutriSystem as a tool to help me learn how to be healthy is the best decision I've made in my life so far.
-Julia G.
Source:
http://members.nutrisystem.com/News-...ight-Loss.aspx
Our Very Own Julia_Sometimes Lose BIG TIME and Beats PCOS! 
