Here we are entering week 17 of the X-Weighted National Challenge. Wow, the time has gone by so fast! Although some participants have dropped out along the way, many of you are still going hard and doing fantastic. Over the next few weeks, we are going to profile some inspiring participants so that they can share the secrets of their success with the rest of us.

So, without further ado, we'd like to introduce Caroline Walker (CPWalker), who has lost an amazing 47 pounds since starting the Challenge...

How are you feeling now that you've lost all that weight?

I feel incredible, I'm starting to get to know this new person who is blooming after being buried in all that weight. I have so much energy I want to be out and moving all the time. I used to be a couch potato, especially on the weekends, now I jog from my mailbox just for the fun of it - who ever thought I would become that kind of person? I love this new life I have given to myself.

How have you managed to lose 47 pounds?

When I joined this challenge I was hoping it would be the thing that finally motivated me to lose the weight. It made me think, why do I not feel like I'm worth being put first in my life? I needed to make me a priority and I have, for a the first time in a long time.

I also joined Weight Watchers, so I had an actual person weighing me in each week.  So Tuesday is my Weight Watchers weigh-in and Saturday is my X-Weighted weigh-in.  There is no room to allow for the cheating habits I had, to come out. I'm a very visual person and I also use an arm band tool called Bodymedia Fit. I journal my food and the arm band gives me my calories burned/ steps taken and work out intensity.

I have dieted more years than I can remember, this time I said I refuse to diet, this is a full lifestyle change. Journaling my food keeps me on track, I was surprised at how slowly adding things into my day slowed the scale down. I reviewed the journal and was able to tweak my food plan again.

What have been your Challenges?

The first two weeks were my biggest exercise challenge. I would get home from work and be so tired I wanted to just lay on the couch, but I would remind myself why I was doing this, for me. I have to make me the priority in my own life. I started off with a 30 min treadmill walk 5 x a week and then pushed forward to 45min.

It was funny, the week I decided I would push myself to 45 min was when X-Weighted had the note after the weigh-in that we should be working out an hour soon. I thought, are you kidding? One hour out of my day is a lot. Well today if I don't get out for an hour I feel cheated, now it's like come on, what is only an hour out of my day?
 
I faced a weight challenge two weeks ago when the scale just really didn't want to move. This is were in the past I would give up and eat. This time I told myself remember you are not dieting, this is a life style change, just keep the food the same and the exercise and the scale will follow.  The scale does lie, and we can't let it be the only way we measure our success.
 
This week I faced an emotional challenge.  Now that I don't have as much weight to protect me the emotions are coming up. As a single, someone came into my life and I had to face up to those emotions. How could someone want to love me if I couldn't even really love myself? I didn't realize how fragile my own self worth was and I shed a lot of tears over what I had done to myself.  As a Christian I took this to my heavenly father, Jesus for healing. Through this journey so far, I am learning to love this new person that is blooming and I refuse to eat any emotions, if feels great to actually feel them, even through the tears.
 
What have been your triumphs so far?
 
When I started the challenge I set my final goal to jog 5K. A co-worker said, "Good for you, but why not register for the run now."  What committ??!! If I registered that would mean I would have no back door to escape out of this goal. I am registered for a 5k run on July 31st (goodbye back door).
 
I made small goals and one was to jog from my house to my parents - short route is 4K.  One Saturday I got up and decided I was going to try. I ran and walked it, but when I came around the corner and saw their home, I felt better than how the weight loss I had already achived made me feel, I proved to myself I could actually do this, I was my biggest doubter and I showed me.  Nothing was going to stop me now.
 
From watching all the X-Weighted shows, Paul says so many great things to people. I have Paul in my head when I am jogging and want to stop - he helps me push a little further than I think I can go. I hear him say "Oh no, you are not stopping!" 
 
What prize are you hoping to win?
 
First Prize with Paul - sorry Fred. At the end of this Challenge I will still be on my journey with approx 70lbs left to lose. I need Paul to give me his expertise and have him push my limits. 

Hope to see you soon Paul. Let's see if you can make me cry!