More than one-third of U.S. adults are classified as obese, meaning their body mass index is 30 or higher. Often times, the underlying issue is one of self control as in the case of Kaplan resident Nikki Miller.

The 5’6”, 34 year-old, weighed 315 pounds less than two years ago. After exercise and a moderate diet, Nikki was able to shed 150 pounds and cites her success as learning self control.

Working in the bakery created a constant source of temptation, although she admits she always had a problem keeping her weight under control.

In the beginning of 2011, she left work early due to feeling light headed and was told by a local doctor that she had elevated blood pressure. She was put on medication and advised to lose weight. Although concerned for her health, Nikki did not heed her doctor’s warning until a moment of embarrassment prompted her to take action.

It was in June of 2011, when Nikki was visiting her in-law’s, that she sat down on a folding chair and it buckled under her weight.

“I cried. It took embarrassment to wake me up. I realized I needed to lose weight; I wanted to be around to see my son grow up. If I didn’t act, I was afraid I would leave my son without a mom.”

Now that she possessed the motivation, she needed to decide on a plan of action. Like many people, she had tried various fad diets in the past but to no avail. Miller decided to attend a Weight Watcher’s meeting, but with her busy schedule it was hard to keep up.

Instead, she committed herself to joining online. Ten pounds were gone the very first week. No weight loss pills, no gimmicks, just exercise and moderate eating. On average, she has lost between one and three pounds a week for the last year and a half. Now, Nikki is just 15 pounds shy of her ultimate goal.

At first, Miller’s exercise routine consisted of just walking and minor aerobics. Now, however, she has discovered a new love -- running. In fact, she is currently training for the 2013 Cajun Country Half Marathon.

Her family has been a constant source of support during her weight loss. Her husband and son have both adopted the new healthier eating habits, and they also exercise alongside her. Nikki’s faith also played a huge roll in her weight loss. “God has helped see me through,” she comments.

Believing in self worth and having self control were two of her biggest struggles. She found comfort in the inspirational quote, “I will realize that discipline must accompany desire to achieve results.”

For additional motivation, the broken folding chair can be found in the trunk of her car, as well as before and after photos of herself on her fridge, as daily reminders of what she is trying to accomplish.

“I now realize,” Nikki emphasizes, “that I can eat only one cookie and not the whole pack. Before, I would hide to eat and then throw away the evidence before anyone would notice. I have control now, and that feels good.”

Nikki sticks to a routine meal plan. For breakfast she eats oatmeal; lunch is usually a lean pocket or roasted chicken on flat bread from Subway; and supper consists of lean meats and vegetables. She also tries to stay away from starches at night. Furthermore, her family has switched to wheat pasta and brown rice.

Nikki has plenty of advice to lend to others in her situation.

“Pick something that you can live with. Don’t do the crash diets. It isn’t worth it. Pick something that you can live with, something you can do every day. And if you do fall down, brush yourself off and do it again. Don’t let one mess up ruin your whole day. Never give up on yourself, because you are worth it.”

She also suggests that people, with a large amount of weight to lose, should start with smaller goals.

“Having to lose a large amount of weight is overwhelming. Start small. My first goal wasn’t to reach 150 pounds, it was just to get under 300 pounds. Set a goal for 10 pounds at a time. Don’t think big; set minor goals to work up to the achieving your major goal.”

She recommends taking photos at every stage of progress. “It’s easier to see the weight loss in pictures.”

In addition to boosting her self esteem, losing 150 pounds has improved her health and she is no longer on any medication.

“I feel like a new person. All my life I’ve let me weight hold me back. That’s why I want to run the half marathon, I want to do something that I’ve never done and that I never thought I could do. Before, eating controlled me. Now I control the eating.”

Nikki says the best part of the weight loss is when her 13 year-old son, Sean, comments, “Mom, I like that I can wrap my arms all the way around to hug you now.”

Nacole “Nikki” Miller, originally from Lawton, Oklahoma, and moved to Kaplan nearly four years ago. Her husband Danny Miller, who was stationed in Lawton while in the Marines, is a Kaplan native.