I am so happy with my weight-loss and my progress over the past seven months! I've lost over one hundred pounds! I thought when I began this journey that it would be near impossible to lose twenty pounds!

I now weigh the same that I did in NINTH grade (I'm 25)!!

There are so many wonderful things I can do now and wonderful things that I've noticed about my body! I never though that losing weight could have such a positive impact on all aspects of my life.

I am in the BEST shape of my life and it just keeps getting better. Last night, I jogged further than I've ever jogged before and it felt WONDERFUL! I can walk up steps, go for walks with friends (and keep up with them!), all without heaving for air!

I can feel my bones and muscles! I had almost forgotten that I had a collar bone and hips!! It's so wonderful to be able to see the muscle definition in my cavles and thighs. I love being able to feel and see my hips, my collar bone, my wrists, and my ribs. I love how thin my hands are...no more man hands! My long, beautiful neck is back! I no longer have a double chin!

I took a bath for the first time in a LONG time the other night. And do you know what I noticed? I FIT IN THE BATHTUB! The water actually covers my entire body now! What else is wonderful is that I don't have to pull up all my fat anymore to see my crotch! It's been over 10 years since that has happened!!

So, what are your new realizations?!

It's great to hear all the wonderful things you're giving back to yourself by losing weight. My journey is just starting, but I'm looking forward to wearing the rings I gave up 7+ years ago when I became pregnant with my last child. And like you, I can't wait until the water in my bathtub covers my whole body again.

Thanks for such an inspiring post!! Good luck with the rest of your journey...

Leann

Buying clothes without having to worry about what I can cover and disguise.

LOL, I can so relate to your bath tub joy Almost more than the scale, I've noticed my progress over the last few years by how I fit into the tub.

Other happy things:

I can get dressed in the morning in 5 minutes rather than agonizing on how best to disguise my bulk.

No more heel pain!

I can sit anywhere on the bus and not worry about blocking the aisle or squishing somebody

I can run to catch the bus or the ferry and not be gasping for breath for the next 30 minutes.

I took my daughters to the area amusement park and I fit in all but one ride. That's my goal for next summer...the final ride!! It was great to walk around ALL DAY and not have a backache!
So exhilarating to get out and ride my bike. I used to avoid hills like the Plague, but now we search out the hills to conquer.
Clothes, clothes, clothes...to take some in to try and find that the next size smaller fits perfectly!
All in all, a fuller and happier life...no sitting on the sidelines watching everyone else have fun ever again! Thank God!!!

I have discovered the fun of taking two hours deciding what to wear because I have so many more nice looking clothes that fit me rather than just a succession of t-shirts and baggy trousers.

I'm basking in the happy glow that is this thread...thanks for all the inspiration!

Oh, the clothes are the BEST!!! It's such a strange thing for me though, knowing that I can shop ANYWHERE I want to now...instead of just Lane Bryant and Fashion Bug. Sometimes, I'll go into the plus size section and then say to myself, "Hey! You won't fit into any of these clothes anymore!" It's so nice to be able to wear feminine, funky clothes. To be able to wear what I want instead of only what I can fit into!
I bought a pair of pants in a size TEN the other day and it was one of the best feelings in the world. I've NEVER fit into a size ten!! Even when I lost weight before going into high school, the lowest I ever got was a size 12.
I LOVE looking in the mirror now. I'm so happy with what I see. Before, I HATED looking in the mirror and was disgusted with what I saw. I look like ME again! My brother and I actually look like brother again!

The Ten Best Things About Losing Weight (IMO)

1. I feel good about my body every single day -- wherever I go; whatever I do; whatever I WEAR.

2. I look forward to social events & seeing people I haven't seen in years (because of #1 above).

3. I like having my photo taken, and look forward to having them printed.

4. Men flirt and talk with me much more than they used to.

5. I fit better (have WAY more room) in car and airplane seats.

6. I have 2 new "hobbies" -- exercise and nutrition! They're 2 whole new interests to put my energies into.

7. My feeling of accomplishment -- if I can do THIS, I can do anything!

8. Being stronger -- I can lift heavy luggage, carry more groceries into the house all at one time, and even pick up my 65 lb Basset when she "flops" on walks and refuses to stand up again.

9. I'm not "the fattest person in the room" anymore.

10. There's more room for me on my own bed -- I sleep on a queen with 2 dogs and 3 cats and it used to be alot more crowded with all that "extra me" squeezed in between everyone else .

I recently went to a function that was attended by lots of people that I used to work with years ago (back in my skinny days). We were all talking about how things & people had changed over the years and someone said "and then you have Julia who never changes and will wear a size 2 til she dies." I 'd, laughed to myself, and went on my way.

Compare that to the fact that I didn't go to the extended family get together this past Christmas because I didn't want people going home saying "Julia sure has gained a lot of weight." Words can't even describe how much better one is than the other.

Ha - yeah. I was at the mall this weekend and walked by Lane Bryant. I said to my boyfriend "that used to be the ONLY store I could shop in, now I never have to go in again!"

Shopping and feeling pretty in clothes are absolutely huge for me. For so long I approached the mirror with such trepidation, I barely looked at myself at all. It's been quite a hit on the bank account, but so worth it.

It's funny all the little things I just didn't have - when I was heavy, I wore blue jeans and the same pair of black Franco Sarto loafers every single day. I now have over 15 pairs of shoes. I gotta get a few more purses next!

I will also "ditto" the new love for social gatherings and having my picture taken. I went YEARS avoiding the camera. Earlier this summer, I was at a fun event in Vegas, I am in nearly EVERY photo and I look okay in every one.

Oh, what a wonderful feeling to not be the fattest person in the room anymore!!!

I'm not a shy person and I like to have a lot of fun. I love being silly, meeting new people, etc. etc. But I noticed that when I was heavy, I turned into a completely shy person. My fiance's family has a family reunion picnic once per year and for the first two years that we were together, I wouldn't go talk to anyone at the picnic, unless I was with Jon. And when Jon wasn't around, I'd sit by myself and just watch everyone. That wasn't me! But, I think I was so self-conscious that I didn't want to draw any attention to myself. This year was different though (last weekend)!! I talked with EVERYONE, I played kickball, I went off and talked with his cousins, and had a blast. THat shy stranger is GONE!!

Oh, and I LOVE having more room in bed! Jon and I have a queen size bed and before I lost the weight, there was barely enough room. Now, I've noticed that I have a ton of room to stretch out and actually sleep comfortably!!

Oh and the flirting and attention from men is AWESOME!! Yes, I know, I'm engaged, but what girl doesn't love the attention?? I'm not invisible any longer!!

This is a really good post...although I am just getting started..I long for all of the things you guys say you feel now. Another one that hasn't been mentioned is finally having the bathroom towel fit all the way around me!! It is almost there now
One of the things that keeps me going is my cousin is getting married in Dec. and for the past 4 years I have been dreading seeing family b/c of my weight...I am just so hoping to be able to blow them all away. Wouldn't that be great?? You all are wonderful inspirations!

I'm all dressed and ready for my afternoon shift. I'm wearing a polo shirt tucked in my scrub pants!!!!

YES!! I forgot about that one!!! When I used to shower, I used to dry off with beach towels!! So, when I moved in with my fiance and we only had regular bath towels, it sucked that I couldn't come out of the bathroom in a towel because there was no point...it covered nothing! But now a bath towel fits all the way around me and even overlaps itself! It's awesome!!