Obese Mennonite had to leave the church to lose 275LBS with Weight Watchers

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Jennifer Butters, 51, put on weight during each of her pregnancies and never managed to shed it, eventually getting up to 410lbs
While home-schooling their children in Pennsylvania, Jennifer and her husband became drawn to the Mennonite church and joined the religion
After a humiliating experience at a restaurant, Jennifer decided to eat healthier and joined Weight Watchers
The church was against participation in outside groups and became suspicious when Jennifer began losing weight, so she left the church

Published: 09:09 EST, 18 November 2015 | Updated: 10:50 EST, 18 November 2015

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A former obese Mennonite who decided to get healthy has revealed how she had to leave the church in order to lose weight - and ended up losing a staggering 275lbs in the process.

Jennifer Butters, 51, weighed 410lbs at her highest, before a harsh wake-up call inspired her to join Weight Watchers. But when members of her ultra-conservative Mennonite church, which frowns upon its members joining outside organizations, became suspicious that she was using help to lose weight, she knew it was time to part ways.

The Lebanon, Pennsylvania, resident appeared on the Today show to reveal her 275lb transformation, leaving even Kathie Lee and Hoda Kotb to wonder if she was really the same person.

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What a transformation! Jennifer Butters, 51, lost 275lbs by joining Weight Watchers and maintaining healthier eating habits

Flaunting it: The Pennsylvania resident appeared on the Today show to show off her new figure

Devout family: Jennifer and her husband had once been Mennonites and were raising their three children in the religion

Jennifer first started gaining weight while pregnant with her three biological children. During each of her pregnancies, she put on more pounds - and didn't lose them after giving birth, so the number on the scale kept creeping higher and higher.

She and her husband also adopted two children, and home-schooled them all in Pennsylvania. While creating a curriculum, they came across a lot of Amish and Mennonite material, and found themselves drawn to the Mennonite way of thinking. Jennifer had been raised Baptist but liked the idea of getting back to basics.

It wasn't easy to convert, though, as the religion is very restrictive. The couple and their children not only gave up most technology, but also fell out of touch with friends and family outside of the religion.

That meant that Jennifer had to create an entirely new social circle. To ingratiate herself in the new community, she used her skills in the kitchen make friends, whipping up rich desserts regularly.

Making a change: After a night out when Jennifer couldn't fit in a restaurant's chairs, she decided to join Weight Watchers

Getting healthy: She eventually got down to 135lbs by eating in moderation and choosing more meals with fruits and vegetables

In trouble: Jennifer struggled being in Weight Watchers and a part of the church, as members frowned upon participation with outside groups

'The more she cooked, the more they loved her and embraced her, [and] the more she ate and her weight climbed,' nutritionist Joy Bauer explained on Today.

Eventually, her weight had climbed to 410lbs, and she told WGAL: 'It got to the point where I would look at myself in the mirror and think: 'Who is this person standing in front of me?'

As the weight came off, I started to recognize myself in the mirror again

Then one night, she went to dinner with her family and the restaurant staff had to search around for a chair big enough for Jennifer to fit in. She was humiliated and cried for the entire meal.

Soon after, she made the choice to do something about her problem and joined Weight Watchers. But the mother-of-five chose a meeting miles away because she knew that joining and outside group was against Mennonite rules.

With the help of the diet plan, Jennifer concentrated on eating eating in moderation, and gave up rich foods for meals with more fruits and vegetables, which she cooked at home. The weight started to come off, and she felt great - but her fellow church members weren't quite as excited for her.

'I think they knew something was up,' she said. 'I had lost so much weight and was feeling so much healthier. As the weight came off, I started to recognize myself in the mirror again.'

Stepping away: They started to grow suspicious when Jennifer started losing weight, and she and her husband realized that the church was no longer working for them

Tiny: On Today, Jennifer showed that her old belts now wrap around her twice, and she has a 27in waist

Eventually, Jennifer and her husband made the decision to leave the church, realizing that they'd made a mistake in joining in the first place.

She continued to lose weight, eventually getting down to 135lbs. Her major lifestyle change even inspired her family to be healthier.

After telling Jennifer's story on the Today show yesterday, Joy Bauer called the newly-svelte woman out onto the stage - and Kathie and Hoda were shocked at what they saw.

Now, Jennifer's waist is less than 27in around, and an old leather belt she used to wear wraps around her twice.

'I feel awesome!' she happily told the hosts, adding that she sleeps better, too, and credits her transformation to God.