I just had to show my latest new outfit. I am truly becoming a clothes shopping-aholic! It is just such a novelty to be able to go into a shop and find something that fits and often even looks good. I spent years not even bothering to go into ANY regular clothing stores. I couldn't even fit into their 'larger sizes' clothes. We have two clothing shops that cater for the 'large' woman and I had outgrown one of those and could barely fit into the biggest clothes at the other. I couldn't fit into any of the pants so I used to make my own, and I'm not a dress maker by ANY means, so my pants used to always just be stretch fabric with an elasticised waist.

I LOVE this new outfit because it shows that I actually have something resembling a 'figure' now. I really like buying FITTED clothes to show it off. I loved the fact that I took a Small and a Medium into the fitting room and the Small fit! Yes!

I had my very patient hubby, who is always being asked to take pics of me now (vain huh?), to take the pic in front of my treadmill to show something that has played a HUGE role in my lifestyle change.

Anyway... here's my latest "I feel good" pic.



The next pic is an old one of me, where I obviously just had to wear 'big' clothes, but I was always covering up any shape (round?) that I had.



I have these two pics printed off and staring at me to remind me of just what I have accomplished. I actually have a few of these pics printed as I am gathering pics to send off to a Slimmer of the Year competition for an Australian magazine.

Thank you for putting up with my little 'show off' session,

Zelma

wow girl! You rock! you have every right to be so proud! boy do you deserve it! I can't wait to post before and after pics!

Ahh, you are too gorgeous!!

I love clothes shopping now too, and I'm not even at my goal weight. The money I used to spend on fast and junk food now goes to new clothes!! Before I started my diet, I literally had 4 shirts and 2 pairs of jeans in rotation. And that was it. I was so glad my college classes were MWF and T/H so no one would see the same shirt in the same week!! I despised clothes shopping, because I was SO embarrassed even to be seen in a department store. And now, I can't get enough of it. I also wore my jacket probably 10 months of the year, because I felt more covered and more comfortable with it on. I had to be pouring buckets of sweat in order to take it off. Yes, you can see it in my before pic - that black jacket - and that picture was taken while it was 90 degrees in New Orleans!!!

Zelma, I saw your pics before and I thought it was literally impossible that you two were the same person. But You look so great!

Wow, you look great and should feel very proud. I am now a shop-aholic too. Before, I would buy whatever I could fit my fat butt into. Now, I try to look for the cute stuff. It feels good to shop at the regular stores instead of the plus sized stores. If I could afford it, I'd be shopping most every day.

Wow you look beautiful , congrats on the weight loss !

Zelma, I've said it before and I'll say it again....you are such an inspiration!! What a beautiful picture.

You really are an inspiration. And no matter what that mag says, you certainly are the Slimmer of the Year for a lot of folks on 3FC!!

Zelma-You look fabulous! I have been on a spending spree like you wouldn't believe. I just love looking nice in the cute stylish clothes. It makes my day! I've definetly been dressing in fitted clothes to show off my new body. You've been a big inspiration to me since I started on these boards. Thanks for giving me inspiration at times when I really needed it. I hope that magazine is ready for ya, cuz you've shown you're beyond ready for them.

Wow! You look incredible. As everyone has said, you are an inspiration.

Zelma i just know you will win that Slimmer contest! you go girl!

You look fab! I can't belive your transformation and you truly have every right to be proud. Thanks for sharing your success with all of us.

I almost know how you feel! I'm already making shopping plans and getting excited about having to go shopping once I grow under my size 24's (that's the lowest size in my closet right now).

You look great and I love that top!

-Lala

First off, I am extremely impressed with you Zelma! And you are SO beautiful.

I wish I could love shopping too. Shopping leaves me very depressed :O(. I went this weekend, feeling thin, and found out I am a great big blob. Its going to be months before I can actually look appealing in anything. I just want to fit into the LARGE sizes in stores. Thats all I ask! Every once in a while I do, but I want to NOT be limited to one or two (or no) items in a store because they're the only ones I can fit in.

You look amazing. Congratulations.