Inspirations
success at 6-foot-2

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After *Results not typical.

Name |  Laura Age |  21 Height |  6'2" Was |  264.4 lbs Lost |  96 lbs* Weight |  168.4 lbs As of |  1/31/2003

Before

Laura dropped almost 100 pounds* and gained a great new exercise habit along the way.

I'm 6'2" and 21 years old, and as a teenager I used my height as a crutch, thinking it let me carry off my extra weight. By age 20 I was wearing a size 22/24, but I didn't see it as a problem. Then in my sophomore year at college, I was at home for Christmas break and posed for a picture with my mom, who had just slimmed down on Weight Watchers. When I saw the photo, I was shocked at how big I looked next to her. That motivated me to go right back to college and sign up myself, on January 2, 2002. It was one New Year's resolution I actually kept!

People think it must be hard doing Weight Watchers in college, but I think it's probably easier to do it now than later in life. Although I was never into the drinking scene, I do let myself eat out �?I've just cut the portions. And I still go to Meetings every week �?that's what helped me get this far in the first place.

Starting Small
Every other day I do weights and I do about an hour of aerobic exercise six days a week, but I want people to know that I started at only 10 minutes of biking a day �?something that almost anyone can do. But there is one thing I would do differently: Because I didn't start doing weights until after I had lost weight, I now have a lot of loose flesh around my stomach that's proving hard to get rid of. Lift weights throughout your weight loss!

Another strategy I'd recommend is to set your goal weight high. Don't let those last few pounds frustrate you �?it's the bulk you lost that counts. I continued to lose 40 more pounds after I reached my goal, and it was easier because there was no pressure.

I just got engaged to a man I met after I had been at my goal weight for six months, and my weight loss was one of the first things I told him about. Now he helps me maintain. And since I started him on the plan too, I can hardly be the one to suggest we cheat!

Maybe the hardest thing about my experience was not having role models my age �?I was the only one under 30 in my group. Being inspired by and inspiring others is important to me; in fact, my dream is to become a Leader for a college group. The teen years are a woman's most insecure period, and they're even more difficult when you feel bad about your body.

While I can never repay Weight Watchers for how they've changed my life, helping other women my age would be my way of trying.