My story is probably very typical for most women my age. I've been married for over 30 years (to my high-school sweetheart Bill) and have raised three great children (27-year-old Erin, 23-year-old April, and 20-year-old Billy). I've spent most of the last 25 years devoting all my time and energy to my family and rarely fitting in time to take care of myself. I think a lot of people when approaching that 50th birthday start taking a good look at themselves and their accomplishments. So although I have a wonderful husband (who loves me fat or fit), wonderful children and a good job, I struggled with a very bad self-image and was fighting depression because of my weight.

Hi, I'm Cathi, an administrative assistant living with my family of five in western Pennsylvania. This is my weight-loss story.  Click - To View The Entire System Now

I was average and not fat growing up, but I always felt like I was. As far back as I can remember I had a "fat girl" or "big girl" mentality—partly, I think, because my next door neighbor was 4'10", less than 100 pounds, cute, popular and a "cheerleader." I was 5'6" and maybe 125-130 pounds, which wasn't bad at all but I felt like I was this huge, gawky girl next to her. As stupid as it is, women—especially teenage girls—compare themselves to other people. Also, sometimes a teasing remark gets taken to heart and you believe it if someone calls you "big" or says you need to shop at the "fat ladies' store." So it really wasn't so much a struggle when I was young; it was just a general dissatisfaction with myself.

I married my husband Bill a few months after graduating from high school. After having my first baby, I lost the weight easily. After the second I lost most of the weight but added a few pounds, and a few more after the third. Through the years, I've been up and down and typically I would lose weight on what I called the "high stress diet." Something stressful would happen and I would lose weight and then when things started to go back to normal, I'd gradually gain all the weight back and more. You know, the typical yo-yo.

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As I mentioned earlier, turning 50 was part of the reason I decided to lose weight. But I was also so disgusted with myself because I started to grow out of the largest of the 3 sizes I kept in my closet. (You know, there's that one size that women set as their limit and say they're never going to wear.) I had been on another "high stress" diet a few years earlier and had dropped quite a few pounds but, as always, it gradually came back as things calmed down. I was feeling insecure and depressed and my weight just added to my insecurity and unhappiness. Plus, I wasn't about to wear reach my "size limit"—I just wanted to fit back into the smallest size in the closet. But I knew I didn't eat properly and my metabolism had basically stopped. Grabbing a junk food meal, cookie or snack was how I ate and the pounds started adding up.

After checking out the NutraSystem plan, I decided I'd give it a try. It was perfect for me! It is so simple to follow, and the meals are tasty and very easy to prepare (I especially love the hamburgers!). I really hate to cook, so not having to cook meals was a major plus for me. And I also didn't want to have to put a lot of time or thought into what I was eating—I didn't want to deal with calorie counting or measuring out specific portions. This plan basically did it all for me. Everything was spelled out and it was so easy to follow (and I've tried lots of different diets). I started the plan March 20th and by June 20th I was 28 pounds* lighter and a million pounds happier! I've lost 30 lbs.* total.

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My favorite thing about the program is that you can have a dessert every day. I am a cookie monster and love chocolate! So the fact that there was a dessert really helped because I was able to resist the sweets at work and other places, knowing that later on that day I would have my own sweet. And, of course, there's the water—I rarely drank the stuff before, but now I down 3-4 bottles a day without fail. A good habit was developed.

The little planner book is a terrific help, too. It really helps you keep on track. Now I pretty much have memorized what to eat at which meal, but I still refer to it. I also get on the NutriSystem diet website every day and "click in" and read the Daily Dose and check out the newsletter.

I have had terrific support and extremely positive reactions to my weight loss. My husband and my children are very proud of me and they think I look great. My son, since he was away at college and didn't see me that often while I was losing weight, says, "I'm just not used to my little mom." Plus, we're a family of nicknames and my one daughter calls me a "Tiny Toothpick." It is so funny to hear "tiny," "skinny," or "little" used by some people when describing me.

Then there was this memorable moment. My coworkers had a 50th birthday celebration for me at work and a coworker from another department was surprised that I was 50—he said I was the best-looking 50-year-old he'd ever seen! Hey, when a handsome, much younger man says you're looking good—now that's a compliment!

It's been a great pleasure for me to inspire other people to lose weight, too. Four people I know have started the program after telling them how great NutriSystem weight loss works and seeing my success. My sister went on the program and has lost around 25 pounds* and looks fabulous. It's the snowball effect. I was successful and told someone about it and then they succeed and tell someone else and so on.

I feel so much better about myself. Now I'm 2 sizes smaller than the smallest size in the closet back then. I'm fitting into and wearing some of the clothes that my girls left in their closets from high school. I also fit into my wedding gown—32 years later! I put it on and showed my husband on our anniversary this year. Plus, I'm more energetic and happier. I feel more positive about things and I think I'm nicer to be around, too. The biggest plus, though, is I have learned to eat properly—and that I can control my eating.

Man NutriSystem is for anyone who wants to lose weight and feel better about themselves. Whether you need to lose 10 or 110 pounds, it works! I tell everybody if I had known losing weight could be attainable and so much fun, I would have done it sooner. I tell people that they can do it with NutriSystem and I'm proof of that. It's a great way to lose weight and keep it off. Just give it a try and see for yourself.

I may have hit the big "5-0," but I'm not so big any more! So far, 50 is fantastic—thanks to NutriSystem!

—Cathi