To be honest, there was one big reason why Marc and I returned to Japan just six months after our first visit to the country together. I fell in love with Japanese fashion. Back in December 2004, I tried on some winter coats and much to my surprise, none fit. To say I got heavy is a euphemism, I really packed on the weight back then and our first trip to Tokyo showed me just how big I had gotten.

I remember liking one jacket in the SUIT COMPANY, my favorite Japanese clothing store, and how none of the jackets fit. Having always purchased small sized shirts, jackets, and coats back in the US, I took one jacket whose style caught my eye and put it on. It did not fit. "No sweat!" I told myself. "I'll just get the next size up, medium," I added. It didn't fit either. What was I to do? I took the jacket sized Large. When I realized I still could not button the jacket up, I panicked. It was then I realized I needed to do something about my weight.

It all became clear why I had experienced a number of ailments months before. My lower back not to mention my knees hurt over and over again. I needed to do something and quick. Thus the weight loss. On this trip, I went back to the same store and lo and behold, I fit the Japanese sized small clothes. I was so proud. I met my goal.