Dear Jacki and Friends,

Hello, my name is Becky.  I am a seventeen-year-old senior in high school, and have a success story to share.  I would have written sooner, but now have finally gotten the chance to.  So here is my story.  I hope you like it....

Throughout my childhood, I always seemed to be in the right weight range--not extremely thin, but not fat.  But when I got to fifth grade, things changed quite a bit.  My teacher had a very low tolerance level and always yelled.  Being the quiet, sensitive girl I've always been, this scared me very much, so I looked to food for comfort.  I made myself uncomfortably out of shape, developed much cellulite and ugly, red stretch marks.  This continued through my sixth grade year.

When I entered junior high school, things started looking better.  Thanks to puberty! ;-) Luckily, I started to have a thinner appearance as I grew taller.  In eighth grade, I joined a health club in town with my family for about a year.  All of the buff bodies were motivating, but being as young as I was, it was hard to figure out why I had joined the club in the first place.  I really didn't lose any weight.  I guess I went just because I was bored and didn't understand the true meaning of being fit.

Then, my freshman year rolled around.  I felt somewhat comfortable with myself, but I still had that chunky feel to my body.  The stretch marks were starting to lessen and I was beginning to grow taller.  At this time, I appeared slender, was about 5'5", 125 lbs., and was wearing size 8 jeans.

With so much peer pressure and girls bragging that they weigh less than 100 lbs. and wear such small sizes, this made me jealous and feel out of place.  I couldn't get it through my head that there is such a thing as "different shapes and sizes."  So over the summer of ninth grade, I depended on food once again to relieve my stress. This led to a 25 lb. weight gain. I was now developing those ugly, red stretch marks, wearing a tight-fitting size 10 pants, and weighed about as much as the boys--150. I really started to notice the change in myself as I went through the first semester of my sophomore year.

As 1998 rolled around, I sat in my bedroom one night, in early January, thinking about a lot.  I especially thought about how badly I wanted to audition for "Renaissance," the high school show choir of juniors and seniors. I knew the ability to sing and dance at the same time would be difficult, but would really be hard weighing 150 lbs. It was hard enough climbing 13 stairs in my house to get to my bedroom without being out of breath.

I also thought real hard about popping out of my size 10 pants, almost ready to wear an 11.  It had finally dawned on me that I was wearing a double-digit size.  I told myself:  "I don't want to wear this size.  I'm too young to be this big." 

So much was beginning to motivate me.  I thought of all the exercise equipment and videos collecting dust.  I thought of how I've always dreamed of going to the prom in a beautiful gown.  It was an unbelievable feeling that came over me!  I finally realized I needed to give my body a gift--the gift of health.  "This is the year I'm gonna do it," I said.

That night, I searched through my collection of exercise videos and remembered I have Jacki Sorensen's California Workout.  I had remembered how much fun the video was, although I had only done it maybe 3 times at the most. I couldn't figure out why I was letting all these videos sit around and get all dusty--especially the California Workout!  ;-)

So, the second semester of my tenth grade year began.  I measured myself carefully, weighed myself carefully, watched what I ate, and made sure I drank plenty of water every day.  I tried not to make drastic changes in my habits, because I knew that if I did, they wouldn't work. I chose Jacki's California Workout to help motivate me and achieve my goals. I made sure I did the video every night after school.

I am so glad I did!  What wonderful results I have gotten!  I am now about 5'8" tall, have lost my goal of 25 lbs. (so now I weigh 125! :-) ), and am now wearing size 3 pants and dresses (actually the waist is too big, so am I a size 2?!)

It took me close to a year to take off all the pounds, but it has definitely been worth the time and effort!  I am now in the process of toning up, but still look forward to the California Workout for my aerobics. 

I have now kept the weight off for over 1 year and plan to keep it off!  I am so amazed that my dreams have come true!  Every day, I look at myself in the mirror and can't believe how my body has transformed into a beautiful figure.  Thank you so much, Jacki!  You are so very motivating and fun, which I believe is what has helped me through it all!

It's such a great feeling to be this way now!  I never want to go back to the old me--NEVER!  I turn heads everywhere and have such a positive outlook on life.  It's incredible! 

Well, that's my story!  I know it's kind of long, but it's changed my life and could maybe change somebody else's.  I'm sorry I don't have any before/after pictures*, but I do have before/after measurements!

Thanks again, Jacki!  I love you!

P.S.  I did make "Renaissance" and am in my second and final year of it.  Out 
of all the girls, I have the smallest waist!  Thanks to you!

Love,
Becky

*Webmaster's note:
Becky later sent us "before" and "after" photos, which you see below.  Thank you, Becky, and congratulations on your high school graduation!