This picture was taken in April 2007.  I am up 13.8 pounds here - 153.8.  I don’t hate the way I look in the photo to be honest, but I knew I was heavier.  And I still let another month go by before I said to myself, “You know, if you don’t get back on track NOW, you are going to find yourself gaining back the 29 pounds and then some. ”  And so I’m back.  I have lost 5 of the 13 pounds that I gained.  I am currently 25.4 pounds from my goal.  I am back with a vengeance.  :-) 

I’m going to make it to goal - SOMEDAY.  Slowly.  One day at a time for however long it takes so long as I get there.

I am twenty six pounds down in this photo.  This photo was taken in May of 2006 - Mother’s Day.  I saw my eyes not so sunken into my face.  I saw my lips not so buried inside of my face.  I didn’t see as much of the double chin that I used to have.  I was feeling good when this picture was taken, and I think the picture reflects my mood. 

I am down 24 pounds in this photo - weighing in at 145 pounds.  I was giddy!  Now don’t get me wrong, I am completely aware at this point that I have 22 pounds left to goal, but I still felt GORGEOUS.  I felt younger.  I felt good about myself and the choices I was making.  Not only for my appearance, but also for my health.  I have three kids to think about, and most especially my two girls.  I want them to have positive body images and feel good about who they are and the choices that they make in life.  A happier, healthier me results in a happier, healthier family. 

I am down 14 pounds in this photo.  I weighed in at  155 pounds.  I was elated to say the least.  I knew in this pic that I still had a ways to go, but I didn’t care (and still don’t) how long it took so long as I “got there”.  I treated myself to a pedicure and a manicure.  How fun!

This is the picture that started it all in January of 2006.  I went to a tea house with friends (English Rose in Carefree, Arizona).  I had never been to a tea before and this was a lot of fun.  I had long since stopped taking pictures because I just didn’t like the way I looked.  On this special outing, my friends were snapping photos left and right and I didn’t want to be a party pooper so I took pics too.  Well, when I saw the pics I was like “Oh, my GOD, who is that?”  Not because I didn’t know I was heavy.  Of course I knew.  But for some reason I just didn’t picture myself “that way”. 

The thing that got to me the most was that my features were gone.  My eyes looked like they were sunk into playdough, my lips look so thin and “lost” on my face, my dimple was gone, and Wow, the chin!  I don’t know why THIS picture.  But this is the picture that made me really think about where I wanted to be in my life, and who I wanted to be in my life.  And the woman in this picture is not the woman I wanted to be.

Now I know the road is long, but that’s okay.  One day at a time until I get there.  And I will forgive myself for the bad choices I may make along the way so long as I keep on trying until I am successful.