So I can be who I want to be!

1. Finally getting (and staying) healthy
2. To motivate my boyfriend to get healthy, too
3. To look amazing in a wedding dress
4. To have a happy, healthy pregnancy (when the time comes), and raise healthy children
5. So I can wear a bikini for the first time ever!

Thank you for the sympathies. I have been learning how to deal with it. It seems no matter what people say, time doesn't make it hurt less, just hurts less often. I have a very close family so, for me it was like losing 2 best friends at once. Fortunately, my whole family is close and the loss has brought my dad, other sisters, and I much closer.

Wow! What incredible stories!! Thanks for sharing. I think of pets as being as special as family. I like that you paid tribute to Pugsley.

I will have to check out the song. I can't imagine how hard that was waiting and learning if your son would be well. You really went through a trial to be a parent! How nice to have a sign of comfort when you needed one. I think a tatoo to commemerate that day/time is a nice idea!

That is beautiful Sylvie! Is it yours now? Or one you are planning?

- To be healthy for my husband and son!
- So that I can teach my children a healthy way to live!
- So that I can feel good about myself for once!
- I want to wear a white button up shirt tucked in and a snug fitting pair of blue jeans!
- So I can renew my vows feeling pretty and confident!
- So I can run a marathon!
- Because I'm sick of people saying "you have such a pretty face", when they are really thinking, "she's a fatty"!
- We want another baby and If I get a chance to be pregnant again, I want it to be a healthy pregnancy instead of complicated.

~sarah~

I've signed up to work on the Continental Divide Trail project at the end of August & want to be in better shape to perform heavy labor at 12,000 ft., besides being able to fit into my new nylon hiking/work pants.

I've promised a picture of myself to an old boyfriend - we haven't seen each other in 40 years - & I'd love for him to think I was definitely the one who got away!

Less superficial, I want to improve my health so I'll be able to see my grandson grow up.

I just want to feel good about myself, something I've neglected for many years.

It sounds like your sister was a beautiful person. I think to design beautiful things a person must have an inner beauty. I am sorry for your loss and think it would be amazing for you to have a tribute to your mom and sister on you. I also love the idea of the independent tiger!

What great reasons to have tribute tattoos! I agree with Carla, our pets are our families.

I wondered if that was yours, it looks awesome. I bet it took forever to finish.

Pretty flower!!

I LOVE it!! He'll be so upset with himself!! HEHEHE!! Silly boys!!

Aw thanks! Nope. 20 hours total, not too bad. However, it was 11 hrs at a time then 9 hours. At least my artist works fast

It has been mine since last January, as a tribute to my 60-less pounds! Am a little over -90 now, hoping to reach 100!!

The white lily was a flower in my wedding bouquet, 11 years ago. The feather represents freedom that I decided to allow myself by loosing this weight and the lily, the fact that I now feel like come into blossom!

Such beautiful symbolism! It is very elegant! I LIKE it!

The backpiece is very nice. Is it wings of a bird? The colors are quite vibrant!


Thank you! Yes, she was! She still has a way of keeping me going, even though she isn't here. I have 2 other sisters besides Heather but she was my "secret keeper". You know, the sister you share everything with, the one that has your back, will keep mom from learning too much... all that??? She was my girl. Younger than me by 4 years but did everything first! She lived out loud, was a genius (really), didn't let other people influence her unless she was sure they were right, totally sensitive and empathetic to others, and very loving. It took her awhile to settle down in life and find a path she wanted to follow. When she did find it, she was working to be a pediatric dentist. She had 2 years left to go. My father set up a scholarship at the college in her name as a tribute to her ambitions; it funds a few future doctors or hygienist each school year. It is still growing, every year we fund it a little more, so who knows how many will eventually be touched by her life.

Heather wasn't a skinny girl late in her life. As a youngster she was, 5'11.5" and a size 4 around 118 pounds, Model trim. Later she developed thryoid cancer (age 26), before and as a result of treatment she gained so much weight. She was always trying to lose it. Despite the weight she had this silly routine when she put lotion on each day. As she put on the lotion she would say, "I love my body. I love my body." We all would laugh, so did she, to hear it. But, that is a bit of a motivator for me. I do "love my body" and I want to do the best I can to treat it well, that means not destroying it with food/fat. She had no choice after the thyroid cancer, her body wasn't performing right, I wish she'd had this diet option! But, I have a choice and losing this weight is me making that choice.

It is sort of angel wings going down to peacock like feathers. No black at all. I love it and love showing it off! Haha! Thanks for the compliments.

I don't have a sister, but she sure sounds like a fun one. I am glad she was able to experience so much in life before it ended so shortly for her. It is so nice of your family to help others achieve their goals and help make their dreams come true.

You are doing amazing on this diet. I know how you feel wishing your family had this option. My mom is around 340 and my brother, 35 yo, is 477. I have tried to get him to move in with me so he can do this with me, but he has bi-polar and I think his medication has him in a state of somberness where he is not overly concerned about anything. Very sad as he has always been the life of the party, very funny and fun to be around. I always think if he could get that weight off that some of his depression and other MH symptoms may be less severe for him. I try not to nit pick him about it, but it is scary for me as I had an uncle die who was 600+ lbs and just had too many residual health issues as a result of his weight. I am scared and sad for my brother, and hope by taking care of me and continue to let him know he is wanted here he will eventually want to move in. My mom is on nutrisystem and is doing okay, she has to have total knee replacements so has to get some off fast, hopefully after that and draining her savings, she'll decide to join me.

Thank you! I can see you definitely have motivation from your family too. It could be a great thing for them, watching you succeed, knowing you can help them. I truly wish you all that can be in that arena. You are right when it comes to your brother. Probably the weight is making matters worse however, as you know, the health conditions make gaining weight easy and losing much harder! It is a vicious cycle! I am surprised, if your mom is spending the money anyway, that she wouldn't choose IP which has better results!

1. I didn't recognize myself in the mirror as I topped my highest weight. (wasn't that a moment)
2. I have 2 beautiful Armani suits that are a size 8 -- that I haven't worn in years and are still in style!
3. My doctor said that blood pressure was something to worry about if I didn't lose weight. And I'd avoided going to see him because I knew he was going to say something like that.

I called my friend who's an IP coach the next Monday. She said she worried about me being able to not drink at all, but honestly, I haven't missed it.

I've only been on the diet for 15 days, but here's my motivation:

* I recently found out that I was developing increasing blood sugar levels, with several fasting readings in the diabetic range. I had to reset my pancreas and lose weight to avoid full-blown diabetes.
* I have weighed anywhere from a high of 313 (4 years ago) to 240 (2 years ago), held it for almost a year, and then regained up to 290 pounds. Managed to lose 25 on my own, slowly... but wanted a definite plan to get there.
* I'm 45, and if weight only gets harder to lose as you get older. My skin is losing elasticity, and if I don't lose it soon, I'll just look like a Shar Pei if/when I finally do.
* I have foot and back issues that are preventing me from exercising. If I can lose weight, it will likely relieve these problems, and let me assume the moderately active life I would enjoy, and that would add years to my life.
* I was drinking too much alcohol, and this provided a clean, clear break from that.