Genie Francis Has Been Dieting Since She Was 12

General Hospital's Genie Francis admits that she has had a life-long battle with her weight.

Her struggles date all the way back to a school picture of herself in her Brownie uniform that she hated. She says, "I starved myself in the sixth grade - I'd eat two bites of whatever my mother put on my plate. It was one of the crazy dieting things that kids do."

Now 45, Francis admits that her physical appearance "has been a lifelong obsession and battle". A battle not helped by pressure to be thin while starring on General Hospital. Her struggle became part of the soaps storyline when at age 15 and 120 lbs, the writers put her character on a diet.

So now, she has decided to try again to win the battle. "As I've gotten older, there's been a sort of giving up," she says. "But I'm unhappy being a size 12. It's the only thing that bothers me."

On May 21, Francis became the spokeswoman for the Medifast weight-loss program in hopes of losing 30 lbs within a year.

The actress will be revealing her shrinking from at the Daytime Emmy Awards on June 15. She says, "This is the first time I've been nominated and able to go and I want to feel proud."

Her battle has been complicated by her compulsive personality which has included a prior cocaine and alcohol addition in the early 80's. After staying sober for two decades, she admits to backsliding in 2002 which was followed by a 21-day stay in rehab. That rehab stay left her at a size 16, and a void to fill. She explains, "If you can't have a drink, you're in the Haagen-Dazs."

Other lowpoints like not have her guest contract at General Hospital renewed last fall have added to her weight gain. "I'm one to eat emotionally."

Now with the help of Medifast and working out with a trainer three - four times a week she says her clothes are already looser and she's proud to show off her curves at the Daytime Emmys in a berry red dress!

Francis now lives in Maine with husband Jonathan Frankes and their children, Jameson, 12, and Eliza, 10. She owns and operates a home-furnishings store in the area.