New Jersey woman's 140 pound weight loss journey

CHERRY HILL, N.J. (WPVI) -- Handling a room full of toddlers was easy for Abby Abrams but handling her weight wasn't.

"I was a typical yo-yo dieter. I'd lose 40 pounds and gain 80 back," said Abrams.

It was Abrams' young son who made her see her 290-pound reality.

"He was embarrassed of me - I was enormous, I didn't take care of myself," said Abrams.

Trainers at the Katz Jewish Community Center got her started, though initially even a few minutes on the treadmill was tough.

""Everything was hurting me, my legs, my hips," said Abrams.

But Abrams pushed ahead, with help from unexpected guardian angels, like 81-year-old Marilyn Lipson.

Lipson saw Abrams' daily workouts in the gym.

"Every time she'd go by, I'd go thumbs up," said Lipson.

"She said, 'You inspire me,' and I was like, 'Wow, look at her, she inspires me,'" said Abrams.

Another of Abrams' mentors came from an article a local newspaper wrote about her initial 100-pound weight loss.

A body builder, who worked out at the JCC, saw it and along with the trainers, helped her add strength-training to her daily workouts.

It helped her lose another 45 pounds.

"I feel like I have an extra pep in my step since I'm stronger," said Abrams.

Abrams says the exercise and common-sense eating have helped her trade XXXL clothes for a size 6.

And last year, her son Jesse was proud when she took part in his baseball game.

"I made contact with the ball. They were all foul, but I don't care - I had the greatest, greatest day of my life," said Abrams.

So many people asked Abrams how she did it, so she created a Facebook page called 'From Plus Size to Skinny Jeans.'

And next Thursday, the JCC has invited her to give a talk on it.