I Miss Jillian

Tonight is the season premiere of The Biggest Loser which is probably my favorite television show. If any of you who read this knew me in Middle School, I was extremely overweight. I got to be about 175 pounds during eighth grade, but didn't really realize how big I was. My middle school years were awful for me. I felt excluded. Lonely. One day I heard a classmate say, "Stephanie's actually being nice today." Then she turned and saw that I heard her and she looked away. I never knew of a time that I wasn't nice. I was better friends with the boys in my class because they weren't mean and judgemental- at least not that I knew of. Deciding to start High School fresh and as a new person was motivation for my weight loss. I started running twice a day around our neighborhood and cut the amount of food I was eating. In one summer I lost 35+ pounds. I understand and love seeing others go through the journey of weight loss because I know what it feels like to be uncomfortable in your own skin. I also know what it feels like to realize how far you've come. To any of you that spent time with me singing and dancing our Thursday nights away at the Dry Bean, there was one night an ex-classmate of mine saw me there and said, "Dang, you're hot." That is a memory I will never forget. =)

I must admit, however, that I'm finding it hard to watch The Biggest Loser without Jillian. Yes, she would yell and curse, and was hard to miss, but she also experienced the pain of being uncomfortable in her own skin which gave her the right to be "hard core" with the contestants over the years. I currently own a 5 DVD workout series by her that truly does give me a good workout (when I use it). When I go running in the neighborhood I actually converse with her and God. I ask God to give me the strength to keep going, because I hear Jillian screaming at me, "Is this the best you can do?!"

Thank you, Jillian, for inspiring so many people to push themselves- And thank you, Bob, for reaching just as many with your compassion and tender heart.