Well I did it
 

I haven't posted on this site for a very long time, but I do come in and read and still look at all of the goal pictures. I have to say that some of you here have been my biggest inspirations. When I started my journey 3 1/2 years ago I weighed 276, I hit my goal of losing 101 pounds over the summer and since then have lost another 9 pounds to be at 166 today. The other day I was looking at my "fat" picture and my daughter asked why, I explained to her that I still feel the way I look in that picture so she insisted that we take some pictures. LOL, I guess I dont look like that anymore. The first picture was taken about 3 months before I started trying to lose, the second picture was taken last week. I know that the second one isnt full body but you can still see the difference. But I wanted to ask everyone that has hit their goal, do you ever feel different?

You look great, the difference really shines through. Love your after pic.

Sometimes it just takes time to get used to your new size. I think it usually takes at least several months, and can certainly take a lot longer, depending on where you've been and how you got here. Just keep enjoying each day. :)

You are a inspiration. Thanks for Sharing. You look great!

Wow you look amazing congrats!!!!

congrats you look fab!

You can tell there is a huge difference even though the second photo isn't a full-body shot. Congrats!

Congratulations! You sure don't look like that anymore--your daughter is quite right! Have you read Passing for thin by Frances Kuffel? She has many eloquent things to say about changing one's image while the body shrinks.

You look so wonderful--and at peace, somehow. Serene.

Thanks for posting. You are an inspiration.

Wow! Congrats on all your hard work. You look stunning.

hmm do we have models in 3fc now =)

congrats

Thanks so much for posting with your amazing transformation - you look gorgeous! I now have another success story to inspire me and keep me on track with my eye on the prize. You certainly have achieved yours!

As far as the image mind set - I just was thinking that it seems to work both ways. I know that I ( and probably a lot of others here) didn't quite comprehend how big I had gotten - in my mind I wasn't that heavy and hadn't put back on all the weight I had lost. Then I had the moment of truth and here I am.

Maybe that's what's happening on the other side - you can't really "see" what everyone else does - here's hoping your "AHA!" moment comes soon - keep looking in the mirror - take more pictures of yourself ( and with your daughter) and then embrace who you are on the outside now - a nice compliment to who you have always been on the inside.

Thank you guys for all the great compliments. Alana, I had to laugh at your comment on looking "at peace", I think perhaps divorce has something to do with that. Not only have I lost body weight I have lost extra baggage 180 pounds of rear end. And please no "I'm sorry to hear that" its a wonderful thing for me. When I started losing weight I started seeing things for what they are not what I want them to be. For me weight loss wasnt just about getting a new body it was completely assessing and reassessing my life, figuring out who I am who I want to be and where my life is heading. My weight had a lot to do with other areas of my life and I had never realized that before.

Wow! Sounds like your whole life has undergone a transformation. Congratulations!

Congratulations! You look fantastic.

I've heard that it can take anywhere from 6 to 8 months for our body perception to catch up to reallity. You'll get there. Just stay positive and enjoy your new healthy life.

You look awesome!!! Thanks for posting the pics. They are really inspiring.

You look great, and I'm so glad that you are happy and at peace now. Sometimes, the only way to fix the relationship is to end it. I won't send you sympathy, but congratulations on making that difficult step in addition to the already challenging steps involved in 100+ pounds of weight loss!

I've read several people here say that they still feel like their old self, or are constantly surprised at the mirror. I know that when I look at myself I still see the overweight, but it gets easier to see past that every day. And I feel different every time I walk up and down the stairs without feeling out of breath. It will happen for you, too.

Congratulations! You look fantastic!

Congrats! You look incredible!

You look amazing!

I've heard it said that how you do your diet, is how you do your life. I guess there is a lot of truth in that.

WOW you look SO beautiful!! CONGRATS

I don't know how old you are, so this isn't an insult, but you look 10 years younger at least in your current photo. Great job!

Wooooow. You look wonderful. :) Thanks for sharing with us! I do agree with one of the other members -- you look serene and content in the second picture.

I think you nailed it when you said you are reassessing where you are and where you want to go. That's how I am trying to be - reflective. I am not only trying to lose weight, but I want to quit smoking, exercise to be healthier, take weight off of my dogs, exercise my horse, keep my house cleaner, professional growth, and pay off bills. We sometimes focus on only one thing in our life, but life is much more complicated than that. You are gorgeous inside and out. Thank you for the inspiration.

This describes my journey so far as well. You are definitely gorgeous but you also look happy now. Thanks so much for the inspiration.

You are gorgeous, awesome job... be proud and stay strong! :)

You look awesome!! Congratulations!!

Annie http://299lbs.wordpress.com/

congrats

Another Pic
 

I wanted to post a full body shot, I still tend to shy away from the camera and the only one I have is from my office Halloween party. This isnt a very good pic, and the clothes are not very flattering as the jacket is bulky on me but this does give a better idea of the difference in size.

Thanks to everyone and your compliments, everyone here has been such an inspiration to me. I have decided that I do want to lose a little more weight, maybe another 15-20 pounds. However a few weeks ago I did the biggest happy dance I have ever done. I havent dropped anymore weight but I think maybe I am toning up some, For the first time since like forever, I am wearing a single digit sized jeans, SIZE 8........YAY!!!!!

Robbin,

A huge congratulations. It has taken a lot of courage to do what you have done - you look absolutely amazing and sounds like you're such a better person in every way as a result.

Thank you so much for posting your pictures and your story. You're an inspiration and should be so proud of your achievements.

You look great!

I know what your talking about. When I got down to 110 pounds, I still looked in the mirror and saw the 200 pound me looking back at me. It was very disheartening because I still felt like her, even though I know I looked good. It took a few months to get over it.

I also can relate to getting rid of excess baggage! I got rid of my 200 pounds last March and packed on between 30 and 40 pounds after maintaining 110 for a few years. All that hard work and I turned to food arghhh!!!

congrats on all the lost weight....including the man weight.. lol You are a role model....

WOW! You look fantastic! Not only that, but you look at least 25 years younger.

Now that I'm quite close to goal, yes, I do feel very different. More like ecstatic, to be honest. It's funny...after I'd lost about half the weight, I would look in the mirror and couldn't really see the difference. Of course, I'd not really looked at myself in the mirror much at 195 lbs. (at only 5'4") but I was a bit concerned that my perception was askew and why that might be. However, NOW, I think I look fabulous in the mirror. I look like the old me from years ago (with an older head/face, of course).:D

Like I said on another thread, nothing ever tasted as good as feeling normal feels now. That about says it regarding how I feel now.

deena :)

I agree with Deena, you look way much younger now.

Fantastic job!

Wow, what a transformation! Way to go! :hug:

The difference is amazing, you look like a different person! Great job :)

WOW!!! You look fantastic! Congratulations.

You look so amazing! I would not have even put the two pictures together as being the same person. From your comments about your divorce, I can see that you lost your weight from the inside.. out! Congratulations for having the courage and guts to remake your life!

You are truly an inspiration! Congrats : ))

You Look Great! You even look Younger now! Congratulations!