/body-image/ on this server. Before Weight: 297 pounds How I Gained It: My childhood is filled with food-related memories, from helping my parents in the back of their restaurant, to having daughter-dad time each morning before I went to school over a full breakfast, to the frequent trips to buy a dozen candy bars for my mom. By my early 20s, I weighed 225 pounds. A few years later, I got married, and my weight continued to increase as I spiraled into depression. I was a teacher and developed the habit of going to bed as soon as I got home from work around 4 p.m. and staying there until the next morning. I finally maxed out at 297 pounds, and though I lost 50 pounds when I changed careers to law enforcement, I settled in at 250 pounds for the next eight years. Breaking Point: Having separated from my husband in 2011, I felt like a complete failure, and that was reflected by my not taking care of myself. Even at the plus-sized stores, I had a limited selection, as I was up to a size 24W.

I was miserable and working 70 hours per week to avoid facing the emptiness in my life. When I was at home, I would finish off an entire bottle of wine with some Chinese delivery in less than 90 minutes before passing out for the night. After six months of that, I felt I would probably die if things didn't change due to how I was treating my body. How I Lost It: I started working with a therapist and a few months later hired a personal trainer, as I did not believe I could lose any more weight on my own. Most trainers in my area emphasized a "tough love" approach to working with clients. I wanted a trainer to partner with me, not yell at me. I finally found the perfect one. During our first session, he told me I needed to change my thinking so I could have long-term success with my weight and that he was going to support me in doing that. When I described myself as a "fat chick," he quickly cut me off -- I was no longer allowed to speak negatively about myself. During the second week, he taught me how to do a simple five-minute meditation where I would take a small "me break” in the middle of the workday to just be grateful for all I had, including the body that was supporting me in what I needed to do.

Though it seemed like an easy task, setting aside five minutes to take care of myself was very challenging some days. Formal Dress For Small BreastsIt made me confront how much more value I placed on my work than my own health.Seat Covers For Club Car Golf Cart I purchased a notebook to write down the BLTs I ate: every single bite, lick and taste. Can Losing Weight Help Knock KneesI didn't look up the calories or have any forbidden foods, but rather became very aware of what I was eating. My trainer asked that I bring the notebook with me to each session and he would review it. I respected him and often avoided eating something because I didn’t want him to see it! When I did overeat, we discussed why and what I could have done instead.

I learned he was more concerned with me becoming aware of my triggers and to deal with why I was eating, than whether or not I ate a cheeseburger once when I was upset. Writing down every bite stopped me from mindlessly eating. I had to pay attention to how much I ate so I could record it accurately, and that caused me to stop eating much sooner than I typically would have. Those notebooks did double-duty as my personal journals: I wrote about how insecure I felt. I wrote about the anger I felt toward my husband. I wrote about the craziness at my work. Writing gave me something to do other than eat, and it helped me to release the emotions so I didn't bury them in food later. I started feeling better about myself and making choices about my eating and fitness with a desire to be loving to myself. Initially, I worked with my trainer twice per week, and walked on my home treadmill three times per week. It was all I could do. After a few months, I started attending his indoor cycling classes.

Following the first class, a couple of the students walked me down the stairs to make sure I didn't collapse and tumble down! For the next two days, I laid in bed as my legs were so sore. Yet, each week it got a little easier. After six months, I had lost 80 pounds. At the end of the year, my weight was 150 pounds, and my life had totally changed. My divorce had finalized, I was healthy, I had adopted my first dog and moved into a new home. I still saw myself as being overweight because of all the rolls of skin that remained, so in April and June 2013, I had surgeries to remove skin from my stomach, breasts, arms and thighs. I regained 20 pounds while I was on bed-rest recovering, but I'm working on getting rid of that now. I've since earned my certification as a personal trainer, weight-loss specialist and Spinning instructor. The best part is that I am happy! I no longer worry if people are staring at me or judging me for what I eat. I can just now be seen as me. Current Weight: 171 pounds.

My goal weight is 150. The Huffington Post publishes photographs as they are submitted to us by our readers. Got a success story of your own? and you could be featured in our I Lost Weight series! Check out more of our inspiring weight loss stories below: As told to Sarah Klein Weight Loss Kelly Hallock Kelly Hallock I Lost Weight Weight Lost Pounds LostPolycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine system disorder that affects between 5-10% of women of childbearing age. Many of the ladies we work with on Extreme Weight Loss suffer from PCOS, and from what I hear from many of you on a regular basis, it’s affecting you too. If left untreated, PCOS can cause menstruation issues, infertility, excess hair growth, acne, and even diabetes and heart disease. PCOS can manifest itself through a variety of symptoms, so it’s so important to work with your healthcare team for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Some things you can do to help reverse PCOS are maintain a healthy weight (lose weight if necessary), eat a healthy diet (lean proteins, fruits, veggies, and whole grains), and exercise regularly.

Sounds a bit like Carb Cycling! 😉 And again, please work with your healthcare team—they are an awesome resource to help you navigate the PCOS maze so you can not only reverse this disorder, but also achieve any goals in your life that are being negatively affected by PCOS. Since dealing with this disorder can be so frustrating, I have an awesome PCOS success story to share with you today featuring one of my most favorite people in the world—Extreme Weight Loss season 2’s Jacqui McCoy. Jacqui’s #1 dream was to be a mom, but this dream wasn’t becoming a reality due to her obesity and PCOS. I am so thankful she was willing to share her struggles and triumphs with all of us, and the end of her PCOS/transformation story is actually the best beginning to a new story for her and her family! Hopefully Jacqui’s experience and words of wisdom can help all of you who are struggling with this disorder or who know someone who deals with PCOS on a daily basis. Heidi: When did you first realize you had PCOS?

Jacqui: I was diagnosed with PCOS after college in my early twenties. At the time I thought of it and its symptoms as an annoyance, and I didn’t realize the toll it would take on my body or my fertility moving forward in my life. I got married in the summer of 2004 and was very excited about the future and starting a family, yet years later my husband and I were still trying for children with no success. I met with my doctor, and after testing my hubby and me, he said that my issues likely stemmed from PCOS. H: Oh my…that must have been devastating! So how did you get from that low point in your life to where you are now? J: When I researched PCOS more, I saw that weight loss (if overweight), nutritional changes, nutritional supplements, and exercise could greatly increase my chances of reversing PCOS. And you know what? Because of this, my desire to change my life had never been stronger. My PCOS and infertility battle were actually a blessing in disguise! I had accepted being unhealthy and overweight as my lot in life until I saw it might take away my greatest dream of starting my family and being a mom. S

o I applied for Extreme Weight Loss with Chris & Heidi, and I had the great honor of being chosen. Chris taught me his carb cycling program, and it really clicked with me because it was more balanced and didn’t completely eliminate certain food groups like most plans I had tried before the show. I started to enjoy exercise and made it a part of my everyday life. As seen on the show, the weight came off, and I eventually lost 207 pounds in one year! H: Your transformation was beyond amazing! So how did all of that hard work you put in during that year affect your dream of becoming a mom? J: It is important to note that I didn’t get pregnant right away after this weight loss, but I had greatly improved my PCOS and my chances of pregnancy because of my weight loss. I continued to work on my health after the show ended, and never gave up on the dream of being a mom. Three years after my initial weight loss I became pregnant with my miracle baby, and I know that getting healthy was the key to unlocking this lifelong dream. M

y baby girl Everley was born on September 2, 2014, and I’m continuing on my journey and working hard to be a healthy mom and a good example for my sweet daughter. H: Chris and I are so, so excited for you, Shawn, and baby Everley! The day I found out you were pregnant was one of the best days ever! Do you have any advice for those who think they might have PCOS? J: If you think you may have PCOS, see a doctor who is familiar with PCOS to evaluate your symptoms. And don’t wait to see your doctor. The earlier you are diagnosed and start taking steps to combat PCOS, the better. H: What about those who are already suffering from PCOS—do you have any words of wisdom for them? J: I sure do! If you do indeed have PCOS, here are some suggestions: Thank you, Jacqui, for sharing your experience with all of us! Chris and I wish you, Shawn, and baby Everley the best, and we know your story will help so many others who struggle with PCOS. For further information on PCOS, please visit these websites: