Her weight loss is TV’s gain

By: Stacy Rector Finally, there is someone on a weight loss commercial that is definitely, without a doubt, a real person. A commercial that will soon air nationally features a Coppell teacher’s own story of the weight loss that changed her life. “People see those commercials and don’t think it’s a real person,” said Caitlin Wells, assistant choir director at Coppell High School. “You think it’s a face on somebody else’s body.” If you catch a Jenny Craig commercial running on local and cable television, chances are it will be Wells who is showing off her incredible weight loss. She was chosen as the new “poster girl” for the national weight loss organization and will be seen showing off those old “fat pants” on the new commercial. “It’s exciting,” Wells said.

Before jumping into the program, she made the decision to lose the weight. “I was at a point in my life where I knew something needed to be done,” Wells said. After researching weight-loss programs, a friend recommended Jenny Craig, so she found a local office in Lewisville—between home in Denton and work in Coppell—and stuck with it. It took her two years to lose all of the weight she wanted – a total of 103 pounds. Her goal weight was 125 pounds, and she has already surpassed that. On the commercial, though, her weight loss is shown at 93 pounds, but she has lost 10 more since the filming. “I feel like a whole new person,” Wells said. Standing at 5-foot-2l, the assistant choir director went from a size 20 to a 0 or 2. “Depending on the pants,” she said. Wells said she owes a lot of the credit to her Jenny Craig counselor, Mardi Allen, whom she called “amazing.” Allen recommended her when it was time to turn in names for the commercial, and gave Wells the sign-up sheet a day before it was due. Parents of her choir students brought a video camera to tape her entry clip, along with the help of her fiancé, Thann Scoggin. She sent it in early January, but then found out she didn’t make it. Instead, she was told her “before” and “after” pictures might be used for the Jenny Craig “poster girl.” “It was a big surprise,” Wells said. “Two weeks ago, we took the pictures.” The entire experience has been exciting for the Coppell teacher, and she said the most exciting part is that she has inspired others to join. “They know me, they know I did it, and they know I did it the healthy way, the right way,” she said. And being a teacher, she said she feels she has set a good example for her students in that she is taking care of herself. Wells said the commercial was supposed to start airing on Valentine’s Day, but she has not seen it yet. And for those who might want to lose weight, she said Jenny Craig might be the way to go. The one-on-one counseling and eating the food provided enabled her to reach her goal weight. “The program works, but it depends,” she said. “You have to find what works for you.” As for the future, the mid-20s University of North Texas graduate is looking forward to her upcoming summer wedding to Scoggin. “I’m excited to be able to fit into a smaller dress,” she said. Contact staff writer Stacy Rector at 972-538-2114 or rectors@scntx.com. ©Star Community Newspapers 2005 ===