Today's the day! My 2nd year milestone in a lifetime goal of maintenance. When I started this deal, I was just hoping to make it until the next day. As many of you may know, I was hanging on by a thread. I seriously did not know if I was going to make it another day...

This time was different. In the beginning I didn't really make and set goals on how much I wanted to lose, or how long it should take, my number one goal was to keep off any weight I was fortunate enough to lose. If it was only 20 pounds, then I made a promise to myself I would maintain it...if it was 200, I promised to maintain that. No more yo-yo, I was tired of it and needed to stop.

So, here I am, 16 months of weight loss and now 2 years of maintaining that huge loss and I'm pretty much on top of the world. As long as I stay away from sugar, I'm good to go. Unfortunately I'm not always in my right mind and go on a sugar bender from time to time, but thanks to God, and sheer determination I have been able to get a handle on things before I have gone totally out of control.

I'm healthy and happy and ready for another year of being fit and trim!

I wanted to thank my 3fc family for sticking with me through the thick and thin, and for the moderators who haven't banned me when I cop a PMS, (or sugar hangover/withdrawal) attitude. Attached are 2 pictures. One is from July 4th, 2007 before I began my weightloss and one is from July 1, 2011 that my son took of me in honor of my 2 years.

Thanks again chickie-poos, for always being there.

Congratulations not only on losing the weight, but on the life you're living afterward! I'd noticed a couple of days ago that you were coming up on this milestone; glad you posted about it.

You look amazing, and I'm sure you feel amazing too. (Your porch also looks amazing, by the way. ) Thank you for sharing both of those pictures with the world; they serve as a tremendous inspiration to those who want to lose and to those who want to keep it lost.

Happy anniversary! What an amazing accomplishment and inspirational woman!

LORI BELL....

YOU ROCK!

In Christ ~ Gary

Lori-
I am so glad you have accomplished this incredible feat! Your posts inspire/d me when I was both losing and now maintaining. Being trim is awesome!

Congrats on year #2 Lori Bell, you look AMAZING, capital AMAZING! Wowsers, quite the transformation, continue to rock on chicky! You look FABULOUS, capital FABULOUS my dear!

What an accomplishment Lori Bell.
I am so proud of you.
I would have thought you had maintained your loss for much longer!

I have never seen your before picture - you are unrecognizable! Congratulations on how far you have come and kicking maintenance's butt I have not been around here a long time, but you are one of my inspirations!

Amazing, you look like a different person. You must feel great! Congrads!
My 2 yr anniversary will be Aug. 15th. I gained 10lbs, You must have wonderful willpower!

Thank you guys! I feel so blessed...ya know to be a part of that infamous 2-5% lol.

Fruitlady, I don't really have that great of willpower, because I do occasionally cave at the sight of sugary treats, but I do have a good bit of pure stubbornness! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I think the best incentive I have had to keep it up is the neighborhood gossip! When I heard some of the locals had a bet going on as to how long I'd keep it off, it made the promise I made to myself just a little bit sweeter!

Congratulations! You made the change you wanted in your life - if only everyone could do that so well and with such conviction!

Lori, I am so happy for you ... and also for us, that you have stayed around here & continue to give & get support from the site. Yours is a voice that I listen for & value very much.

I wish you many, many more such anniversaries.

("Wow, that's a SMALL WIFE.")

Happy "anniversary"! You are a continuing inspiration to everyone here.

Lori, I hadn't seen your before picture. Wow, I can hardly tell it's you! You're a different person. Congratulations on your accomplishment, and I hope you continue to experience wonderful success in maintaining.

Jay

I also had never seen your before photo....you really made a remarkable transformation. Thank you for sticking around here and showing me that it's possible to lose and maintain too!