I Lost It: 'I lost a person, but found myself'

Jennifer Hodges, 40, Land O' Lakes

HEIGHT: 5-foot-8

STARTING WEIGHT: 369

CURRENT WEIGHT: 157

WHY I DID IT: In 2008, I hit rock bottom. I was a full-time graduate student, a stay-at-home-mother and I weighed 369 pounds. It was extremely difficult for me to take care of my children's daily needs, let alone get on the floor and play with them and chase them around the backyard. So here I was with a 1-year-old, a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, and I realized I was their role model. I knew I had to lead by example, and I also knew I needed some time for myself.

HOW I DID IT: I knew if I tried to work out at home, with my children underfoot, I wouldn't last long. Though I had a triple stroller, I knew I wouldn't go outside and walk with the children. And I knew I needed a gym that was close to my home or I would use the "It's too far to drive" excuse.

Enter Lifestyle Family Fitness. A new gym opened three miles from my home, and they offered childcare for up to two hours per day. At right around $50 per month, the gym was affordable for our single-income family.

Not only was I losing weight and toning my body, I was getting some quality "me time." I found a love for group fitness classes: step aerobics, body combat and, my favorite, spinning. I even discovered I could run outside and was really good at it! I've run countless 5Ks, 10Ks and 15Ks, and I'll be running two half-marathons and one marathon this year.

Once I had the exercise routine down pat, I started to work on my diet. I joined Weight Watchers and, using their Momentum Plan, I lost 175 pounds. In November, they changed the plan to the new Points Plus plan, which my body really responded to, and the last 40 or so pounds just fell off.

I needed the accountability of weekly meetings, and I enjoyed earning the "tokens" for milestones. When I finally weighed less than 200 pounds, I cried. When I reached my goal weight, my leader called me to the front of the room to speak, and I teared up again (but only a little). I am so proud of myself; I lost a person, but found myself. To quote "Alice in Wonderland," "I have found my muchness."

Weight Watchers cost me approximately $40 per month, and that included the use of its online eTools. Now that I'm at goal weight and have earned my lifetime status, I no longer have to pay for meetings. I only pay $10 a month for eTools.

I eat regular foods, but I keep track. When I eat out (rarely), I have no problem with asking to have the foods prepared in ways that will make meals healthier.

It took me 32 months to lose 212 pounds, but my journey is far from over. This has been a lifestyle change for my entire family. My children are now 5, 6, and 7 years old. They don't remember the "fat mom"; they only know the "fit mom."

We routinely take family bikes rides, and my children can ride 15 miles. I don't know many young kids who can do that. All three participated in the Gasparilla 5K. They were not pushed in strollers -- they ran!

HURDLES: My youngest child did not like going to gym childcare and would often (and sometimes still does) act out. He managed to get himself suspended from gym childcare for weeks at a time. I wanted and needed to work out, but I had no place to do it because I didn't have anyone to watch my child (my girls were in preschool by this time). I bought myself a bike trailer and would strap him in and ride, pulling him behind me.

I also bought myself an elliptical trainer to keep at home. This is my "emergency" workout, for when life gets in the way and I can't make it to the gym.

When I got my degree and returned to work, I had to figure out how to balance fulltime childcare and maintaining my weight loss and exercise schedule. But I continue to thrive and motivate. Many of my co-workers, inspired by my success, have started on their own paths to a healthier lifestyle.

GOING THE DISTANCE: That's another perk with the Weight Watchers plan: Once a month you must weigh in and be within 2 pounds of your goal weight. If you go over, you must pay for your meeting. I don't know about you, but I'd much rather put the $15 toward a sexy new outfit!

BEST ADVICE: Put yourself first. Don't make excuses. Just get out there and move your body with a purpose. Don't live to eat; eat to live.