Today marks the one-year anniversary of when I started my "reduction campaign." I know I could have definitely lost a lot more, but I have lost at a comfortable pace (something do-able for me), and I'm totally amazed as well as encouraged by the progress that I have made. I have learned SO MUCH with regard to food choices, my eating habits, etc. I have gleaned invaluable information along the way - not just lost pounds.

I mentioned in a few of my early posts that the year would fly by fast and that before we knew it we would be in the year 2008. I also wondered what I would say at the end of 2007 - "I am glad I did" or "I wish I would have." Well, here we are in 2008, and I'm so happy that I am able to say I'M VERY GLAD I DID!!!!

So, here is an encouragement to all of you (as well as to myself!) to continue to goal. Since the year flies by whether we make healthy eating choices or not (and we will be facing 1/1/09 before we know it), let's commit to ourselves that we WILL be in better standing on 1/1/09 than we were 1/1/08!!

I'm amazed that 2007 is already gone. I am equally amazed that I have made the progress that I did. And you know what? The year would have flown by just as quickly if I would have kept going to McDonald's, Sonic, ate cheesecake, etc. But I would have been worse off today than I was when I started a year ago. It definitely pays off when a person makes up their mind they are TIRED of carrying around an "extra person!"

The year 2007 is gone and 2008 is here, but what am I going to do with it? I am asking my question again - "What will I be able to say at the end of this year - I wish I would have or I'm glad I did?" I want to be GLAD and not MAD.

If you want to see my progress so far, you can click this link... http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129437 As I said, even though I could have lost a lot more in a year's time, I'm glad I came as far as I did.

Here's wishing you all a VERY happy and successful year in your weight loss journey as well as your personal lives.

Are you kidding me ? You lost 77 pounds in one year and you think you could have lost more! You have accomplished an amazing loss and are to be congratulated for that. I think you have done exactly the right thing , A 77 pound loss is awesome!

Very well said and a huge congrats on your awesome progress!

Congratulations!! You are a true inspiration

You've done wonderfully -- and what you wrote really sums it up. This should be our mantra!

I think you have accomplished *a lot* this year. I think you will reach your goal before you know it!

2007 did fly by! You have made such amazing progress and I can't wait to see what you do in 2008. I'm with you.....I'm committed to making 2008 a great year!

VERY WELL SAID!!! That's EXACTLY it. Time will pass one way or another and look, just take a look at what you've done with that time. What HUGE strides you've made. HUGE.

And, oh, ummm, aren't you being just a tad hard on yourself. 77lbs??? I mean - 77lbs!!!! WoW!!!!!!

AMAZING, AMAZING, AMAZING-- shouting on purpose!

That one word pretty much sums it up!! Great job!!

Happy Anniversary! You are awe-inspiring!

Thanks for the encouragement Ritzy You've done so well and you look great too! Personally, it was nice to be glad about my changes this new year's and I definitly want that feeling next NYE too! Congrats on making it this far and sticking with it

I love this! Very well stated and an inspiring post. You have done amazingly well for one year.



And here's to another great year for all of us!

Congratulations!!! I agree with others - 77 pounds is a fantastic amount to lose in a year and nothing to get down on yourself for! It is so true that a year from now a year will have gone by either way. We can either be closer to our goals or farther away.

WOW!!! As I already knew, you all are AWESOME!! I just love sharing this journey with such wonderful folks as you all. Thanks for your encouragement and VERY nice words!

It isn't that I am trying to be hard on myself; it is just that I know more COULD have been lost. But, I'm VERY satisfied with what I did accomplish, whether more could have been accomplished or not. I guess I put it in there because I wanted you to know that I realize more COULD have been done, but that was not to diminish what I did accomplish.

Thank you ALL...again! I am anxious to see you all to the finish line of 2008 with MUCH LESS of ourselves to worry about.

Goodness, don't be hard on yourself at all. You have had a wonderful accomplishment. You've made long term changes. I love how you put it...where will you be in 2009. Well - you are heading in the right direction!

Great job!