So here we are for the second episode of Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition. Like last week’s episode we are introduced to a new participant who is hoping to lose weight and transform his or her life for the better.
For tonight’s episode, we meet Jacqui-a thirty year old woman who is 355 pounds, making her to be 200 pounds overweight. Jacqui has had some hardships over her life, such as being raped at the age of fourteen and thus sending her on downwards spiraling journey towards an addiction to food. Jacqui herself pinpoints this moment as when she started to rapidly gain weight. She is currently at a point in her life where she no longer wants to feel victimized by her attacker nor by her own body, which leads us to the other reason for the weight loss; having the opportunity of being a mother. Due to her weight, Jacqui and her husband, Shawn, are unable to have children. For someone desperately wanting to be a mom, this is a hard fact to face, but is ultimately the push needed for her to reach out to Chris.
Now like the previous participants, Jacqui has to go through several medical tests to help the doctors and Chris get a better understanding of her health. She learns that when she loses the weight, that her infertility can be reversed. After all the medical tests are over as well as the Boot Camp it is time for the Four Phase System to begin. Each phase is consisted of three month period with a designated weight-loss goal to help Jacqui lose the amount of weight as possible over the period of one year.
Instead of writing a scene-by-scene recap, the Four Phase system can better explain Jacqui’s progress. So let’s see how she did.
Phase 1 (3 mo.) Goal – Lose 90 lbs.
For this goal, Jacqui needs to lose a pound a day, in order to meet her first weight-loss goal challenge which seems like a daring feat, but with a honeymoon trip to Ireland on the line and a supportive family cheering her on there is no way Jacqui is going to let this goal slip through the cracks. With Chris supporting her and moving in for the first three months, Jacqui is able to lose ninety-two pounds exceeding her goal and attaining the honeymoon trip that her and husband has always wanted.
Phase 2 (6 mo. mark) – Lose 50 lbs.
Jacqui who is looking slimmer already at 263 pounds is given a new goal of a fifty pound weight-loss within the next three months. The catch is that she will be doing it all on her own without the aid of Chris, who is moving out to let Jacqui get a firmer grasp on how life will be like from now on.
This new goal however, is met with a new incentive-if Jacqui can accomplish this new task, then Chris will take her on a 100 kilometer bike ride throughout Ireland. Jacqui with a renewed sense of self- empowerment takes on the task with fever and continues to lose weight daily. She also comes to realization of how important this weight-loss journey is for her and ultimately the family that she would like to have some day that with support of her husband she quits her job to fully devote her time to becoming a healthier and happier person.
When the six month weigh-in finally arrives, Jacqui and her husband Shawn meet Chris in Ireland. To say that Chris is shocked to see how Jacqui looks after all this time apart, is an understatement. Jacqui looks fantastic and more importantly has a new sense of self-worth that exudes confidence. At the weigh-in Jacqui exceeds her goal once again with a fifty-two pound weight-loss dropping her down to a total weight loss of 144 pounds and new weight at 210 pounds all within a six month time span. That’s what you call dedication!
Now due to Jacqui meeting her goal, she is going on a 100 kilometer bike ride through Ireland with Chris. At times the bike ride was hard for her because of the large amount of steep hills, but Jacqui continued to preserve and accomplished the bike ride in record time.
Phase 3 (9 mo. mark) – Lose 32 lbs.
Although Jacqui’s trip to Ireland was memory she will never forget, it did bring some difficulties along with it, such as seven pound weight gain. This may not seem a lot, but for Jacqui who has loss so much already and with such a fragile state of mind at times, it is significant setback nevertheless.
Jacqui struggled during the first couple of weeks trying to finding her footing once again to keep up with her previous momentum, but with the help of some phone calls made by Chris, she finally regained that ‘can-do’ drive and worked harder than she ever did before.
At the weigh-in, she not only lost thirty five pounds, dropping to a whopping 175 pounds, but loss thus far a grand total of 175 pounds, a fifty percent weight loss from when she started. She is the only woman on Extreme Makeover: WLE to have hit the fifty percent mark since the shows inception. Even more remarkable than that accomplishment is the reversal of her infertility. Because of her significant weight-loss, her fertility rate is almost at 100 percent, giving Jacqui the best news she could ever receive, the chance of starting a family. Even with all the great news, Jacqui is still elated to her that she is viable candidate for the skin removal surgery and is ready to show the whole world the new Jacqui, before the big reveal at the end of the year.
Phase 4 (12 mo. mark) – Final weigh-in
At the end of the episode, Jacqui who has gone under a tremendous and spectacular transformation over the course of a year, unveils her new look and she looks outstanding. She seems so much more vibrant and happy within her own skin. It is evident that she feels empowered and more self-confident than ever before.
So before she steps on the scale she tells Chris that her hope was to be at 155 pounds. Chris agrees that it is a lofty goal to try attain, but reassures her that no matter what the scale displays, she has accomplished much more than she ever thought was possible. Jacqui finally steps on the scale and after a few tense moments of waiting, the scale reads 148 pounds! Not only did she knock out her own personal goal out of the water, but lost a staggering total of 207 pounds within just one year! A huge transformation that not even Chris could have predicted.
In all, Jacqui is a remarkable woman who has dealt with so much, but refused to let it hinder her life anymore. I know whatever lies ahead for her in the future; she will face it head on with grace and force to be reckoned with.