European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 23, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                A v for Quot a ask % of a 7v Ltd a Quot a Quot a v it a so a 77�?o/ i -7 i 7v  -a7 7-77 Tun -j,%5e a a. A  a a a a a a a a a a a a a a. A a. A.  a a. A a. A amps i. Emmett Lewis or. Stephanie Miller holds some of the letters she a received since the first Story about her weight loss. Diet Success Story inspires readers and writers lots and lots of letters by Anita Gosch staff writer n March 12, the stars and stripes ran an article on Stephanie Miller a 25-year-old /. Transportation assistant and wife of an army a \. Specialist in Mannheim Germany. A Miller had accomplished an amazing feat in two years and two months she had Tost 155 pounds. / a a after doctors had told her in january 1989 that she would t live another five years because of her 315 Pound size she embarked on a strict diet and rigorous exercise routine. 7 �7\7 a. A. A. She was Able not Only to lose the weight but also to bring her blood pressure cholesterol level and sugar rate Down to recommended Levels. And she became a certified aerobics instructor. 7. A a when the article appeared Miller still had another 30. Pounds to go before she would reach her Ideal weight of 130  / 7 7 7. A a Quot a readers action Linefeed for Low profile she decided to share her Story in Hopes of helping. Others and she offered her address for publication for people who needed advice ,. A. Miller had no idea of the enormous response. In the six weeks since the article appeared she a received at least 240 letters she says averaging about four to five a Day. She a been asked to Lead aerobics classes in the Mannheim area and to speak at weight loss support 7 groups. People have been stopping her in the Street to ask for. Advice and she a met privately with several of the letter writers to Chat about diet and nutrition. Quot the article really has reached out and touched a lot of people. That s what s making me feel Good about the whole thing Quot she says. Quot in be come a Long Way. And now i want to reach out there and help those people who Are just starting  7.\ 7. 7 v7 a 7.,. Quot a. The letters Miller has received have come from military Quot communities throughout Europe As Well As saudi Arabia most have been from women with weight problems she says and a few from overweight teen agers. Many Are letters of support and congratulations from individual men and women and from entire units. 7 some letters have included Cash a she a received about $80, she says a a people telling me a Good Job go out and buy yourself something Nice keep up the Good  7. 7 7 .7 7,7 7,7- a. / Quot everybody s been real polite real encouraging and real motivating. A lot of the letters really move me. A there s been a lot that have brought tears to my eyes. I know what these people Are going through. I m just glad that i can help them.�?�. 7 the Bookstore to use Plain White plastic bags at this time. Just one less clue that an american is an american. Jayne traendly Wiesbaden Germany a. In these Days of keeping a Low profile As americans in Europe id like to suggest a change that might help this aim a. Cafes and stars and stripes Bookstore bags while colourful and patriotic in design can often be spotted blocks away. Those Consumers whether military or not who must either walk or take Public transportation to and from military facilities and must carry purchases Home Are instantly pegged As americans. A. Would it not be More practical on the part of cafes and a he Deane b. Mcdermott circulation manager european stars and stripes Headquarters replies Bookstore managers upon request will turn the bags inside out before placing purchases in them the above action and turning the White Side of the bag to the outside while carrying it will protect the nationality of the customer. A. A a a a 1 a a a a i o master sgt. Dayton p. Strickland customer relations cafes Europe Headquarters replies we have reviewed your suggestion and believe. Miller says she Lias answered about 70 letters so far a she iries to respond to about five each evening. She. Refuses to Send computerized form letters. Instead she. Hand writes and personalizes each response. A Quot a feel it s a personal thing Quot she says. Quot i want people a to know i sat Down i took the time to read their letters. A and i took the time to answer them. I m not going to put them in a computer and just change the name at the top. People took the time to write . A a a a a Many letter writers have asked Miller for advice she. A says How to get started on a diet How to keep up their diets Why their diets Don t work  Miller s diet worked for her. A. A a. She tells them Quot it s just a matter of making up your mind that you re going to do  she sends them copies of her diet As Well As words of encouragement and Small incentives a buttons and pins with positive messages a a Quot to keep people . 7-v� a a a Miller says one woman has been writing to her each week telling Miller of her Progress. 7. A a 7 Quot i think she needs to know that somebody cares. A a americans  Europe Are so far away from Home and i think its Good to know that somebody is there and cares about what s going on in your  woman wrote to ask Miller to keep her. Informed of her Progress. Quot she wants to keep up with my weight loss. In a really impressed with . A several letter writers wrote to say that Miller has Given them the motivation and willpower to keep up their diets or to Start one. 7 Quot a lot of people Are telling me that in a there. Whenever they open their refrigerator a like Stephanie says Don t do  it s like i m with these people \ wherever they  a 7. A v a. She says some people have Cut out her before picture that appeared in the newspaper and taped it on their a refrigerators. 77 7 7 7--&Quot 7 7 a two men in saudi Arabia wrote that because of Millers Success in losing weight one was going to quit smoking cigarettes and the other was going to Stop chewing 7 tobacco. .7 a a. 7 -7 a 77 a a -7 Quot and they were going to keep me informed of their Progress Quot she says. Quot i really want to try and help them but in be never had those habits. But they think in a such a Strong person that they feel they can be just As Strong As i am. I love a Challenge so i say go for  As for Miller herself she s lost eight pounds since. The article appeared leaving her with 22 to go before she reaches her Ideal weight. She a been keeping up her strict diet and exercise routine but she now feels certain Shell need the breast surgery and stomach liposuction a her doctors have been recommending to get rid of the excess fat. .7 "77. A 77. 7 "7. 7 in the meantime she still appreciates hearing from a a people. 7&Quot ,7 a 7 v \. 77 7. A Quot i d like to thank everybody for their support. Its really helped me a lot helped me to keep my mind on track. It s Good to know i have so Many people out there who Are on my Side. And i will write to . Miller has again offered her address for publication for people who would like guidance or support. You can write to her at Stephanie Miller . Box 404, hic 3/77. A in Apo new York 09086. A. A 7 that no change in use of the present cafes logo bag is warranted at this time. Thank you for your interest and the suggestion to write us readers action line is the readers Quot court of last resort Quot striving to answer some of the questions about life overseas in a military environment or questions about policies and guidelines when other. Avenues for answers Are not readily available. If you have a question and Don t a it now where to turn for the answer write to readers action line co the stars and stripes Apo 09211-4211. All levers must be signed and preference will be Given to those seeking information of general interest to our readers. A a. Page 16 the stars and stripes tuesday april 23, 1991