“Leaving a toxic relationship and in a new and healthy one I came to the realization that I needed to finally do something for myself. I joined Weight Watchers, I found a meeting right near my job (no excuses) and dove right in, head on.”

“Food filled a void in my life for a long time. I would eat when I was happy, sad, depressed, anxious. It was an awful cycle of eating like crap, feeling awful, and then doing it all over again. Food never judged me or put me down. I used food as a way to comfort myself for many years. It wasn’t until April of 2017, two years after leaving a toxic relationship and in a new and healthy one that I came to the realization that I needed to finally do something for myself”.

Justine Traver
Clothing Size: 16 down to current size 2
Weight before/after: 190 pounds/125 pounds

Inspiration ahead…

What motivated you to lose weight?

My boyfriend and I attended my cousin’s wedding in April 2017 and once we saw the pictures, we were devastated. There are only so many mirrors to avoid and there’s a limit to how many times you kindly ask someone to take a photo of you form “just the neck up, please.” These photos were full body and they were eye opening. We both decided we needed to get ourselves together.

Brief summary of how you lost the weight: counting calories, Weight Watchers, Whole30, etc.

I joined Weight Watchers in May 2017. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to do it alone so I signed up for the weekly meetings. I found a meeting right near my job (no excuses) and dove right in, head on.

How do you stay motivated?

I take this journey of mine one day at a time. I am not perfect. I have a cheat meal. I don’t go to the gym all the time. I have setbacks, just like everyone else. I try my best to plan out my weekly meals. I use the Skinnytaste Meal Planner and it has been very helpful for me to stay on track. I still track all my food and attend weekly Weight Watchers meetings.

What are some of your favorite Skinnytaste recipes?

My all-time favorite Skinnytaste recipe is a toss-up between the Chicken Cacciatore in the Instant Pot and Turkey Chili Stuffed Acorn Squash. Both dishes have so much flavor and they are beyond filling! Oh, and how can we forget about the bagels? Those bagels have been absolutely lifesaving for a carb-loving girl like me! YUM!

To submit your Skinnytaste Success Story, email skinnytaste@penguinrandomhouse.com