When I was growing up, I was a very tall and skinny girl. It didn't seem to matter what I ate or how much of it I ate, I didn't seem to put on weight. My girlfriends were jealous of me, but I didn't know how to respond, because it was just the way I was -- all I've ever known. I liked being thin, actually. I felt comfortable, because I didn't have to do anything, I didn't have to worry about my weight or what I ate, like my friends did.

But like any good thing, it didn't last forever. After high school, I took a couple of years off and worked. I still felt really young, like life hadn't even begun for me. But my body was starting to change, starting to become more adult, from the previous teenage body. I wanted my teenage body to last forever, but I knew it was impossible. No one noticed that I was putting on weight. It was just me. But it still meant a lot because it's my body, and I noticed every little thing. My stomach was starting to puff out a little, and I didn't want to wear high cut shirts anymore. My hips were starting to puff out and soften as well. I felt uncomfortable, like I was carrying around this extra weight that I didn't want.

Then I eventually went away to college. I felt like I had a new lease on life, a new beginning. But instead of getting better, things got worse. With all the pressure school put on me, I no longer had time to worry about health and nutrition. The year flew by so quickly, I barely even noticed that I had put on weight. But I really had -- I put on about 20 pounds. That's more than most people do. I just really wasn't taking care of myself.

I made a vain attempt at losing the weight after first year, but with all the time I was putting in at work, the last thing I wanted to do when I got home was work out. I couldn't keep it up, and I just ended up gaining even more weight.

When second year ended, I was really scared and really upset. I had gained another 45 pounds over that year and the previous summer. I was a wreck, emotionally, and I didn't know where to turn. But I got home and saw that my mother had lost a whole lot of weight herself. I was shocked. We talked about dieting and exercise. She told me that diets don't work and that the only thing to do was work at it and stick to it. But she also told me about a diet she was taking called Nutrisystem that reduced her cravings for food. That really intrigued me because I think that's my big problem with weight. I turn to food for comfort all too often, without thinking of the consequences. I started taking Nutrisystem along with her, and noticed that my appetite levelled off too a similar level with hers. We also looked into nutrition together and cooked healthy meals every night. My Dad didn't like that part very much, but he humoured us, because he knew we were trying to improve ourselves.

By the time third year came around, I had already lost 30 pounds, and I was pretty close to my original teenage weight. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to keep up the lifestyle once I got to college. But I was wrong! The Nutrisystem kept my appetite to the perfect level, and I just made sure I was eating right. Thankfully, it's now half way through third year, and I've returned to my original weight of 115 pounds!