She enjoyed the expert advice of Dolley Madison, and the companionship of her young sister-in-law Elizabeth until she married William N.

WHITEHOUSE: Letitia Christian Tyler

Even the White House wedding of her daughter Maria was private, in "the New York style" rather than the expansive Virginia social style made popular by Dolley Madison.

WHITEHOUSE: Elizabeth Kortright Monroe

How she's keeping it off: Dolley is a calorie counter.

CNN: Despite initial self-doubt, woman loses 100 pounds