3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community - I MADE IT!! Finally at goal!

Well all, after months of hard work mainly running, riding bike and of course eating well I finally made my goal!!! I have not weighed for the past few days so I could have been there for a bit longer than today. I was pretty happy jumping on the scale this morning!! I have all my 40-something buddies to thank for motivating me enough to keep going when the going got tough! Plus just reading a lot of the other forums here has helped as well. Thought I would post some pics of my journey.

This first one is from February 2004 before I gained the weight for some reference. It is me with my Toy Poodle. I remember that shirt was a small.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...racieandMe.jpg

This next one was in September 2004 when I started to gain some weight. My foot was bothering me and I hadn't had surgery yet to fix the problem which actually made it worse once I did have the surgery and impossible for me to exercise which is key for me to be thin. I was in the high 120's here. That is too big for my frame. I am very small boned.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...DCP_0024-1.jpg

This one was the following year and my face, arms and legs were filling out. This picture was taken on Mother's Day and I am on the left with my shorter bleached blond hair. I had the surgery the following December. I think I must have been in the 130's here.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...MeandDylan.jpg

Here I am in 2007 after a half-hearted attempt at losing the weight. I still was not where I wanted to be. I believe I was in the high 120's there once again.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...DCP_0003-2.jpg

Fast forward to 2008 when I decided to make a change since I turned 40 and my mid-life crisis hit which in turn made me want to be healthier and more fit again. I had gained mostly from my hypothyroid that was diagnosed at the end of 2007 and not being able to exercise much from foot and knee issues. Funny thing is I have no pics of me at my high weight in the 140's. I guess that is common to not want any pics taken when you look your worst. Here I am in the only picture I could find of me in October of that year with my daughter taking off in the car that is my namesake for here. You can sort of see the puffiness in my face if you look close enough. I sure couldn't drive my convertible with the top down looking like that, LOL!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...y/DCP_0006.jpg

Now once again fast forward to today. Here I am in that same dress from Mother's Day 2005. Then it was very tight. Today it is quite loose as I should have the next size down.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...dy/DressIV.jpg

Another shot from today after church with the dress gone and in my comfy clothes with my hair up:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/annieemdy/Me.jpg

Sure feels good to be back at the weight I am used to being and being able to exercise now like I know I should for my health and fitness. I used to walk for fitness which I can't do now. I started by biking for my sore feet and knees and built up the muscles supporting the knee joint. Once I did that I started jogging slowly. I have found that running does not hurt me like walking fast does. I step lighter with it. I am glad as the weight got off and stays off easier with running. I still bike some too. I hope I can keep it up as far as keeping the weight at bay for years to come! Good luck on your journey everyone!! If I can do it with my low thyroid plus foot and knee issues, then anybody can!