Newest Joy Fit Club member shed 130 pounds!

>>> we are back with more of "today." it's time for joy fit club where we showcase one person's incredible journey.

>> emily 's lost a whopping 130 pounds and it changed her life. let's take a look at her story.

>> i have always struggled with my weight, even as a child. growing up, my love for sports helped me keep my weight down. it wasn't until after high school i really began battling obesity, along with a host of medical problems. i saw several doctors who simply set me home with depression medication. when i married my sweet husband a few years later, i packed on another 60 pounds, putting me almost 270 pounds. a doctor told me we couldn't have children because of my weight and health. i had finally been diagnosed with auto thyrodiigyrodismthyrodism, using it as an excuse. i didn't have a major event in my life that helped me make a change, i just looked in a mirror and wondered why i had been lying to myself for so long. am i truly happy? is my marriage thriving? what kind of role molgd would i be as a mother? i braved up and fought back. now 130 pounds lighter and an active runner, i have never been so happy. my marriage is thriving and my energy is incredible. i'm proof it's possible to overcome what may seem like the impossible.

>> wow, what a doll. before we ask emily to come out, we're going to talk with the leader of the pack , joy bauer, and she's going to tell us about her eating habits.

>> he's adorable, and i love her new-found passion for health has inspired friends and family as well. we're in the midst of the holidays. i wanted to give her some sort of a holiday health gift, so i said, emily , back in the olden days when you were heavier, what were your absolute favorite fattening fare? cheesecake, a regular portion is 750 calories. so i made for her a healthy version. this is a cheesecake dip. it's a fraction of the calories, and all i did was mixed non-fat cream cheese with non-fat sour cream or greek yogurt . brown sugar , vanilla extract , or cinnamon. next, fettucini alfredo . over 1,400 calories. my version for emily , i took fat-free evaporated skim milk and mixed it with light cheese. it gives you this creamy delicious flavor for half the calories. whole wheat pasta, you get a hearty portion for under 500 calories.

>> let's look at emily .

>> good for you.

>> all right, emily , come join the joy fit club .

>> oh, my gosh!

>> wow! you look so great.

>> the weight loss took some time. how long when you finally decided this is the time, how long did it take?

>> about a year and a half to two years to lose the weight, but probably about a year ago i kicked it into high gear .

>> you're a runner, right? how did you start that?

>> slowly.

>> walking, was it a walking thing first?

>> i couldn't run more than three minutes, but every day i kept pushing and trying.

>> she gets whistles now.

>> what does your husband think of this new you?

>> curtis, you'll get your chance. curtis is back in the kitchen whistling at you.

>> how's your energy level changed and the health issues you were concerned about?

>> amazing. i've got so much energy, it's incredible. i just had a check-up with my doctor recently and everything was just fantastic. everything came back great.

>> your chances to be a mother some day are much increased?

>> yes.

>> any advice for people at home who are at the before stage where you were and advice for them?

>> don't rush it. don't try to push too hard to start with. take baby steps and realize it's going to take time. you're going to plateau and have rough stops.

>> don't quit.

>> congratulations!

>> congratulations.

>> look at her put her hands on her hips like that.

>> awesome.

>>> from delicious american favorites. curtis stone ! first, these messages. you can't argue with nutrition you