I have pretty much been over weight my whole life, not a lot, but above the average. I was not like the normal pregnant woman with either one of my children, I lost weight. My first pregnancy I weighed in at 224 on my first doctors appointment and came home from the hospital at 196. With my second pregnancy, 3 years later I started at 219 and went home 189. I never kept the weight off though. Between a divorce, a new boyfriend who thought I was beautiful the way I was from 2003 to 2006 I went from 189 to 255. I knew along the way that I needed to lose weight, but the will power just wasn't there.
Last November, after years of begging, all of us kids decided to get our pictures taken for her for Christmas. This was me in the picture...
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I cried all the way home after these pictures. THAT was not what I saw in the mirror everyday! I did not even recognize myself. I yelled at my sister for not telling me that I needed to lose weight, I hated myself. That day, I said I will start losing! I just clicked for me.
I did not weigh that day, I was too scared, I didn't want to know what the scale said. I came up with a lower fat, lower carb plan and after 2 weeks I weighed in at 255. I am sure I started out higher than that, but I decided that would be my start weight.
In February I was stuck at 25 pounds lost, my mom joined weight watchers and I decided that I would go along with her.
Since February I have lost another 25 pounds rotating every 2 weeks from points to Core to keep my body on a rotation so I don't get stuck. I have not totally hit my goal for 2007, I have about 6 more pounds to go before I am under 200 which was my ultimate goal this year, but I am in the right direction. Here are a couple pictures of me taken in the last couple of weeks!
A picture of my sister and I 2 weeks ago at her bridal shower, I am the one with short hair and blue eyes.

This is me after 40 pounds lost...

Lastly, I would like to say one thing. I went through one of those phases where I avoided the camera like the plague. I have learned 2 things from this recently. One, when my kids get older, I want them to have pictures of us together, it is selfish of me to stay out of pictures with them! Second, without getting that occasional picture of myself I may have never had that realization that I really need to lose!