Okay, please take this in the spirit that I'm sharing. I'm not conceited nor trying to pump myself up.

I just want to share with you that this program DOES work and that anybody can do it if you set your mind to it!!! Sometimes it's hard to see when you are first starting out - I had a hard time seeing it too. But I thank God for the men and women on this forum who helped me every step of the way - who I still learn from and it keeps me going.

If I can do this anybody can. I'm not special. I'm just like everyone else out there. Only you can DECIDE to take this journey and stick with it.

Here is my progress photos from Week 1 to Week 24.



I mean who would have thought! I didn't - that's for sure.

It just goes to show what you can do when you set your mind to something and go for it!

I've somehow gained this super power strength to stay with my program, stay focused, eat healthy, avoid temptation, and overcome emotional eating.

The feeling is so empowering that it drives me to keep going and then I see these pictures and know that I'm doing a good thing - that I'm reaching my goals 1 pound of fat at a time.

It's quite amazing how when you look at yourself in the mirror - you sometimes don't see the reality. For instance - my week 1 photo - had no idea I looked that way. I knew I was overweight but I didn't think I looked that bad. Now I see my picture and I want to cry for that woman. I'm so bloated and much different looking than I am now.

This has been such a life changing event for me!

I'm finally feeling like I'm stepping into the shoes of the person I was always meant to be. Feels good!

I still have more weight to lose. Can you imagine what week 48 will look like???????

Thanks for the boost! Your posting and recipes are so helpful

Wow, you look great!!! I cannot believe how skinny you look especially in your face and you're still not to goal yet. WOW, you'll look even more amazing! Congrats.

You have done awesome! Thanks for sharing, so pretty!

*Standing ovation* Good for you! Hooray!

Thanks amberjules! Kudos to you and all your hard work. You look like a new person. I am rooting for you!

You are always so inspirational! Thank you for sharing your journey with all of us.

I love your talk, your walk and your success! This is my second time around and I now know that cheating so deeply slows down loss momentum... I don't understand why but too many of us experienced the same thing. There is no cheating for me this time! Success will be here soon enough. Smile. Well done!:

Thank you so much! It looks like most of you are getting pretty close to your goal!!! So excited for you all!

Amberjules you look amazing! Good for you for sticking with it long term, you must feel SO great! I just went back to my IP clinic today after quitting last summer. You have inspired me to stick with this 100% and make it to goal this time. You look beautiful!

You look Great!!! Thanks for sharing. I so needed the encouragement today. I had a total of 33 pounds to lose, 24 to go but this has been really hard for me. My progress is awesome. I've only been on IP for 10 days but I am so irritable. Your pictures will make me push on.

You can do it. Yes, stay with it - no cheating. It's so easy to hop off, but hopping back on is difficult. It's a mind game. Stay with it.

In fact come join us in a 4 week challenge to lose 4% of your body weight.

The irritable mood will pass. Your body is going through withdrawls from your normal way of eating. Remember this feeling so you stay on program 100% and don't cheat. You don't want to go through this again. That keeps me motivated!

Please come join us too in the 4 week challenge to lose 4% of your body weight.

Thanks for stringing all those pics together. I need to do that, too. I've taken one almost every month. I'm with you: I really had no idea I looked like that on my start pics.

People ask me if I ever get tempted (as they're eating sweets or crunchies). No, I really don't. The worst that has tempted me is more than 1 restricted in a day. I'm dealing with that by disallowing anything in the house that causes those cravings. I have goals to reach!

just walked back from the mail box and was thinking how hungry I am today, this is the first day I thought about sticking a spoon of peanut butter in my mouth.. plus close to the TOM too, I needed to read this. Just about to cry. I have been fighting for close to 20 something years to be where I am today. Thank you for posting.

You make such a great mentor! Pictures speak so much better than words sometimes