Self-described emotional eater Charmaine Jackson, here with her daughter, Caroline, and husband, Kelly, in 2004, weighed 230 pounds at the time and was on her way to a high of 260. Click through to see her weight loss transformation after she began to keep track of her eating habits through daily journaling:
Journaling key to weight loss success —
Self-described emotional eater Charmaine Jackson, here with her daughter, Caroline, and husband, Kelly, in 2004, weighed 230 pounds at the time and was on her way to a high of 260. Click through to see her weight loss transformation after she began to keep track of her eating habits through daily journaling:
Courtesy Charmaine Jackson
Jackson attends a Girl Scouts ceremony with her daughter in September 2007. She had just received news that she would be laid off from her job in December. She remembers being uncomfortable wearing shorts in public.
Journaling key to weight loss success —
Jackson attends a Girl Scouts ceremony with her daughter in September 2007. She had just received news that she would be laid off from her job in December. She remembers being uncomfortable wearing shorts in public.
Courtesy Charmaine Jackson
In December 2007, Jackson was at her heaviest, which she says left her feeling "very unhealthy, tired and sad."
Journaling key to weight loss success —
In December 2007, Jackson was at her heaviest, which she says left her feeling "very unhealthy, tired and sad."
Courtesy Charmaine Jackson
In 2010, Jackson grew carrots for the first time in her garden plot at the Alpharetta Community Garden in Georgia. "I felt fantastic losing weight and getting healthy," she says.
Journaling key to weight loss success —
In 2010, Jackson grew carrots for the first time in her garden plot at the Alpharetta Community Garden in Georgia. "I felt fantastic losing weight and getting healthy," she says.
Courtesy Charmaine Jackson
Jackson visited her family in Miami in November 2012. She says she felt "absolutely wonderful" at her goal weight of 130 pounds, touring her hometown and going tango dancing. "I am in heaven," Jackson says of her mood at the time of this photo.
Journaling key to weight loss success —
Jackson visited her family in Miami in November 2012. She says she felt "absolutely wonderful" at her goal weight of 130 pounds, touring her hometown and going tango dancing. "I am in heaven," Jackson says of her mood at the time of this photo.
Courtesy Charmaine Jackson
Journaling allowed Jackson to see how much she loved crunchy foods. The crunch, she says, helps her to relieve stress. However, she has made potato chips, crackers and pretzels things of the past.
Journaling key to weight loss success —
Journaling allowed Jackson to see how much she loved crunchy foods. The crunch, she says, helps her to relieve stress. However, she has made potato chips, crackers and pretzels things of the past.
Courtesy Charmaine Jackson
These days Jackson frequently eats carrots, celery, peppers, bok choy and cabbage. For flavor, she adds hot sauce.
Journaling key to weight loss success —
These days Jackson frequently eats carrots, celery, peppers, bok choy and cabbage. For flavor, she adds hot sauce.
Courtesy Charmaine Jackson
"It makes me accountable, it makes me responsible -- it makes me truthful to myself," Jackson tells registered dietitian Marisa Moore about journaling. Jackson has kept a daily journal of her food, moods and exercise since 2008.
Journaling key to weight loss success —
"It makes me accountable, it makes me responsible -- it makes me truthful to myself," Jackson tells registered dietitian Marisa Moore about journaling. Jackson has kept a daily journal of her food, moods and exercise since 2008.
Courtesy Charmaine Jackson