Photos: Before: Ruven Afanador. After: Ben Baker
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Jen Pastiglione-Brody
Then: 273 lbs.
Now: 250 lbs.
I feel much better physically after losing so much weight. Before, I'd get winded easily, and I always felt anxious. Now that's gone away, and I'm more limber, less achy.
Unfortunately, I'm still struggling with infertility, and that's been really hard. Last summer we tried our fourth round of in vitro fertilization. I'd lost 40 pounds since starting Weight Watchers in January 2016, and my husband and I were feeling optimistic. When the procedure didn't work, it was devastating. The doctor had told me he thought losing the extra weight might help; however, he also admitted that "overweight people get pregnant all the time."
Pizza is my favorite food. When I was heartbroken, all I wanted to do was eat more of it. In that state of uncertainty, it's so easy to lose motivation. But I'm still on Weight Watchers, and I've stayed focused on my goal. Now when I want pizza, I eat one slice instead of three.
I'm very proud that I've maintained my weight loss. In the past, if I slipped and made unhealthy choices, I'd give up. Now I'm on a mission. And I'm still hopeful that someday we'll be able to conceive.
Before the magazine came out, I panicked and thought, Millions of people will be looking at my body! But I've received so much support from family, friends, strangers, and the Weight Watchers community. My struggles with infertility especially seem to strike a chord. I was so afraid of putting myself out there, but all I got in response was love.
