Closing in on 100-pound weight loss: Jenn heads in a healthy

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BY JAIME INGLE News-Democrat

Jenn Jarrett was an emotional eater.
When she was sad, she ate. When she was happy, she ate. Mad, sheate.
"I'd get a dozen Krispy Kreme doughnuts and eat all of them," saidJenn, 27, while sipping a mango smoothie at the St. Louis Bread Co.in downtown Belleville.
She's dropped 98 pounds since September and is down from 258 poundsto 160 pounds. The 1999 graduate of Belleville West High Schoolstands just over 5 feet tall.
"When I look at old pictures of myself, I never realized I was thatbig," she said.
Through junior high and middle school, she always knew she wasoverweight.
"People would say things at school," said Jenn.
Last year, she realized it was time to make a change.
Now, she celebrates her new look with a manicure or listens to herfavorite song, "Walk On" by Reba McEntire.
Her job as a front desk supervisor at the Ramada Inn in FairviewHeights and volunteering to coordinate this year's American CancerSociety's Relay for Life consume most of her time.
But she regularly goes for a 5-mile walk or a trip to the gym.
"I try to work out six days a week and then I take a break fromeverything on Sunday," said Jenn, who has shoulder-length darkbrown hair and brown eyes.
Last fall, Jenn made a "Fight Back" pledge with the American CancerSociety. She vowed to lose weight to help prevent herself fromgetting cancer. Studies by the American Cancer Society suggest thatpeople who are overweight tend to circulate more estrogen (inwomen) and insulin. These two substances have been shown tostimulate cancer cell growth. "It was just time to take that stepand get healthy," she said.
Diabetes and high blood pressure also run in her family.
She started out by walking.
"It's free and it's something anyone can do," said Jenn.
The first day, she walked 2 miles. The next day, she more thandoubled it.
"I walked five miles to my parents' house. I couldn't make it back,but I made it there."
She backed off, then slowly worked back up to the 5-mile walks.
On days she doesn't walk, she heads to a local gym.
"I do 30 minutes on the elliptical machine and 15 to 20 minutes onthe (stationary) bike."
She also changed her eating habits.
"In the beginning, I ate a lot of grilled chicken and Caesar saladsand cut out all the Krispy Kremes and fast food."
Now, on a typical day she eats a bagel with light cream cheese forbreakfast, a turkey sandwich on wheat bread for lunch and grilledchicken with vegetables and a salad for dinner. When she needs aquick snack, she grabs a handful of trail mix.
At the Ramada Inn, she works a late shift one day a week followedby an early morning shift the next. She used to eat to cope withbeing tired.
Her favorite stop?
"Taco Bell. I'd get a Nachos Bellgrande, two tacos, a caramel appleempanada and a large Mountain Dew," Jenn said laughing. "I can'tbelieve I ate all that."
Her late night snack had 1,900 calories.
Now, she chooses a steak taquito at 310 calories or a grilledchicken ranchero taco at 270 calories with a small unsweetened icedtea.
Jenn lets herself have an occasional order of nachos or a half-cupof pistachio ice cream.
"I used to buy a size 22 vest. Now, I wear a size 14."
She wears a size 10 or 12 pants.
"I automatically go to the size 16 or 18, but my boyfriend is theone who always says I should try a smaller size."
She has a new favorite store.
"I love New York and Co. at the mall."
Jenn had fun trying on her light blue strapless maid of honor dressfor her friend's wedding in April. Each time she went in for afitting, the dress needed to be made smaller.
"It wasn't ready until four days before her wedding," said Jenn.
Friend Becky Beckwith noticed Jenn's physical changes when she sawher a few weeks after Jenn started losing weight. She also noticedJenn's new self-confidence.
"She has a new spring in her step, a new lease on life," saidBecky, who works for the American Cancer Society and helps Jennwith Relay for Life, which raises money for cancer research.
"She's really our 'Fight Back' poster child. She took a drasticstep to change the way she eats. She walks 5 miles, so the least Ican do is put on my running shoes and run around the block."
This year's Relay for Life starts at 7 p.m. Friday, July 18, on thetrack at Belleville West High School. It continues until 7 a.m.Saturday July 19.
"It goes from night to morning to symbolize what people feel whenthey're diagnosed with cancer," said Jenn. "You feel like you're inthe dark. As you learn more and get treatment, you see the light."
Two people close to Jenn had cancer.
"My aunt, my best friend, died from bone cancer (in 2003) and mybest friend's mom had breast cancer. That's why I did my firstrelay in 2004. She's doing well now and walks for Relay," saidJenn.
"Walk On" played on her hot pink cell phone and Jenn answered it.
"Hello? We got the shirts? Rock on!" Jenn said to a fellowvolunteer helping her coordinate this year's event.
Jenn no longer uses food to relieve stress.
"I have different ways to calm myself now. I write or turn on musicor read Danielle Steele books."
Now that she's well below her high school weight of 195, Jenn looksfoward to attending her 10th class class reunion next year.
"I wasn't even thinking about going before (the weight loss). Now Iwant to go."
Her goal weight?
""I'd like to get down to 128 pounds."
Jenn already knows what her next piece of clothing will be.
"When I get down to a size 8, I want to get something from RebaMcEntire's line. Jeans and a jean jacket."
Jenn's tips for weight loss
1. Exercise. "On days when I don't feel like it, I go anyway. Ifeel better when I start walking or get to the gym."
2. As you get closer to your goal weight, allow yourself snacks inmoderation.
3. Even when you stray from your diet for a day, get back to youreating and workout regimen the next day.
Relay for Life Where: Near the track at Belleville West High School. When: Beginning at 7 p.m. Friday, July 18. The festivities kick off withcancer survivors making the first lap around the track. At 9 p.m.,volunteers set out luminaries around the track, dedicated to cancersurvivors and those who have died from cancer.
Purpose: Donations benefit cancer research. Teams have a walker or joggeron the track for all 12 hours of the event. People can stop by toregister to walk and make a donation or just make a donation. Nominimum is required.