Rachel Tyskie remembers the day very well.

"I looked in the mirror and I was bigger than my husband and I said we can't have that," says Tyskie who lives in Michigan City and works for the Indiana Toll Road in Hammond. "He was on a diet and had lost 25 pounds so I thought I'd try it."

After losing 17 pounds on the diet her husband was following, Tyskie decided to get even more serious about losing weight. Several of her friends had joined Weight Watchers, so Tyskie did too.

"When I joined Weight Watchers, the counselor told me that there was no off-limit foods and that was music to my ears because I knew I couldn't live without a cookie or two," Tyskie says. "That really stuck with me."

Tyskie remained a member of Weight Watchers for seven weeks and while she liked it, she didn't have the time for the regular meetings.

So taking the information she had gained from Weight Watchers including doing a weekly weigh in, she continued dieting on her own. It would pay off.

Over a 15 month period, Tyskie lost 130 pounds, dropping from a size 26 top and 24 jeans to a size 7.

"It was exciting all the time, everyday I said I'm going to make it," says Tyskie who also walks a lot and describes her job as a cleaner for the Indiana Toll Road to be very physical.

"The fun part was hitting the scale once a week. I think I weighed on Saturdays. I couldn't wait to get there and see how I did."

Tyskie says that her weight loss inspired her niece to lose 75 pounds and to maintain that loss for the last five years. Tyskie has been able to keep her weight off for six years.

"I look at clothes that I use to wear and it keeps me going," she says. "People didn't recognize me when they first saw me after I lost all that weight. They do now because it's been so long but then they didn't, I would have to smile so they would know who I was."

Tyskie, who always struggled with weight issues, now finds that keeping the pounds off is a way of life for her.

"I feel like naturally thin person now," she says.

Rachel Tyskie

Age: 45

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 152

Pounds Lost: 130

How long it took to lose it: 15 months

Clothes size: Size 7

The Workout: Tries to walk everyday.

The Diet: Weight Watchers initially

Tip: Never be hungry, you will give in to anything. Preplan your meals and snacks. Think ahead.