I caught a Good Morning America story today on Yahoo about a women who has been battling weight her whole life. At the age if thirteen she was already clinically obese, and by high school she had to drop out and be home schooled because of the ridicule at her high school. Comments like calling her Shamu the whale were common. But little did she know that her battle with weight would finally be an inspiring weight loss story to give others hope.

Now I don’t know how someone can get that large. I myself see obese people and it does gross me out because I know the diligence it takes to remain healthy. But when this women described the quantities of food she ate, it was astounding! After all, you don’t top out at 552 pounds with out consuming huge quantities of food. Her mom was also a contributor in not teaching her proper portion control. Together they are dieting to bring this inspiring weight loss journey almost to its conclusion.

As of this story, she has lost 282 pounds and says her ideal weight would mean she has 102 pounds to go. How has she accomplished this “large” goal when her whole life she could not? Well, when she could no longer walk and would never be able to drive in a car because she could not fit in it, reality struck. She did not mention the state of her health, although young, she was headed for massive health issues. I am sure that figured into this inspiring weight loss story.

So, she made a decision a while back to fight! When asked how she did it, she said she was using Weight Watchers. This program is basically portion control allowing you to eat anything you want. The key words here are “portion control.” The program basically teaches what portion sizes you are supposed to be eating. They also have meetings to keep the participant accountable to their goal. This has been successful for years.

I believe in most of what the program promotes but I think participants could make healthier food choices than the ones promoted. Weight Watchers has its own line of prepared meals. I would put those in the category of processed foods that should be avoided, especially if microwaving them. Quick meals can be made from one ingredient whole foods. The result is a low calorie healthy meal.

As for this women who has accomplished losing 282 pounds, any method she uses at this point will be better for her than carrying and extra 400 pounds. Weight loss meals can be refined to promote optimal health once a weight losers journey gets closer to their ultimate goal. One step at a time! Usually the better someone feels, the harder they work at refining the diet.

There is no doubt that with 282 pounds lost, and her goal of 102 more, that Natalie has become an inspiring weight loss story to the two thirds of Americans that are clinically obese. Let’s hope that her story will lead others down the same path!