“I knew I was killing myself, and I had to do something about it,” said Andalusia’s Parecia Taylor.

Her solution – to join the local chapter of Weight Watchers after topping the scales at 288.5 pounds, her heaviest weight ever.

“As we know, it didn’t happen overnight,” she said of her weight gain. “Food was my comfort after going through a divorce at 20. The following year, I gained 100 pounds. I’m an emotional eater and a binge eater. Pastries and sweets are my favorite.”

As a result of the gain, she said she suffered from a multitude of health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and joint aches.

“I got so heavy, I had to have surgery on my knee,” she said.

“I was on two types of blood pressure medicine and on three for my diabetes. I was literally killing myself, so I finally made up my mind to do something. I was unhappy, unhealthy and uncomfortable. I looked at all types of programs and found the one that worked for me.”

Taylor said she had heard of Weight Watchers before exploring her options.

“I mean, who hasn’t?” she said.

“I knew how the program worked. I work at Shaw, so I needed a program that was going to work in the real world. (Weight Watchers) was the thing for me.”

She said the program teaches participants how to live with food “in the real world.” It promotes slow, gradual weight loss by using “the right way,” she said.

“It teaches you to how to control the amounts of food you eat; what the right kinds of foods are, and even includes treats that everyone needs. Do that, along with exercise, and it’s a recipe for success.”

Taylor described the process as a “complete lifestyle change.”

“It makes you look at food differently,” she said.

“It makes you move more, exercise more. For me, that’s swimming. The great thing about the program is that it can work for anyone – male, female, no matter what age. You just have to be committed to it. (Weight Watchers) gives you all the tools and the support you need to make it to your goal.

“I had done a million and one diets,” she said. “When I made up my mind to do Weight Watchers, I never looked back.”

And with a weight loss of 81 pounds in the last year and reduction in her medication levels, Taylor said she’s only looking forward to all of the wonderful things the future holds.

“My weight goal is 150 pounds within two years,” she said.

“My doctor and I think that is a realistic and healthy weight for me. I know I’m going to make it. I have no doubt in my mind.”

“I knew I was killing myself, and I had to do something about it,” said Andalusia’s Parecia Taylor.

Her solution – to join the local chapter of Weight Watchers after topping the scales at 288.5 pounds, her heaviest weight ever.

“As we know, it didn’t happen overnight,” she said of her weight gain. “Food was my comfort after going through a divorce at 20. The following year, I gained 100 pounds. I’m an emotional eater and a binge eater. Pastries and sweets are my favorite.”

As a result of the gain, she said she suffered from a multitude of health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure and joint aches.

“I got so heavy, I had to have surgery on my knee,” she said.

“I was on two types of blood pressure medicine and on three for my diabetes. I was literally killing myself, so I finally made up my mind to do something. I was unhappy, unhealthy and uncomfortable. I looked at all types of programs and found the one that worked for me.”

Taylor said she had heard of Weight Watchers before exploring her options.

“I mean, who hasn’t?” she said.

“I knew how the program worked. I work at Shaw, so I needed a program that was going to work in the real world. (Weight Watchers) was the thing for me.”

She said the program teaches participants how to live with food “in the real world.” It promotes slow, gradual weight loss by using “the right way,” she said.

“It teaches you to how to control the amounts of food you eat; what the right kinds of foods are, and even includes treats that everyone needs. Do that, along with exercise, and it’s a recipe for success.”

Taylor described the process as a “complete lifestyle change.”

“It makes you look at food differently,” she said.

“It makes you move more, exercise more. For me, that’s swimming. The great thing about the program is that it can work for anyone – male, female, no matter what age. You just have to be committed to it. (Weight Watchers) gives you all the tools and the support you need to make it to your goal.

“I had done a million and one diets,” she said. “When I made up my mind to do Weight Watchers, I never looked back.”

And with a weight loss of 81 pounds in the last year and reduction in her medication levels, Taylor said she’s only looking forward to all of the wonderful things the future holds.

“My weight goal is 150 pounds within two years,” she said.

“My doctor and I think that is a realistic and healthy weight for me. I know I’m going to make it. I have no doubt in my mind.”