A former high school athlete, Tamara has struggled with her weight since the birth of her two children. Past attempts to diet have stalled in the early stages, but nursing her mother through a recent bout of breast cancer, and having her own brush with the disease have changed Tamara’s priorities. It’s no longer just about looking good – it’s about getting healthy.

Tamara and her husband own a fitness centre where Tamara also works as an esthetician. This presents its own set of challenges in terms of self-image: “My husband and I want to look like we own a gym!” She pegs herself as having an “Oprah Syndrome” - someone who has every possible resource at her disposal and still can’t take off the weight. Tamara’s well aware that her struggle may not evoke the most sympathy. But she’s committed to being healthy and passionate about being a good role model for her two daughters. It doesn’t hurt that there’s a high school reunion looming next year, an opportunity to look her best for the people who remember her as a tall, skinny high school athlete…

Tamara cites lack of discipline as the reason for repeated failures to lose weight. Maybe getting affirmation as a plus-size model and having a talent for hiding weight with clever fashion choices hasn’t helped motivate Tamara in the past – it was just so easy to look good. But now that’s she leaving her modeling career behind she also needs to move past this image of herself.

“In six months … I want to be wearing a bikini – a two-piece – no coverup -- a two-piece bathing suit. That would be wonderful.” “OK boys, here’s where we need to shave off the ghetto booty!” “I’ve got a full gym in my home, I have a pool … I have access to personal trainers, nutritionists and life coaches … what is my problem?”