I wanted to take a pic today to see if I could the difference from 5 months ago on June 6th when the first pic was taken in Detroit...right before I met Keith....the next one I just took. It is very grainy but you can see it well.

I can see a HUGE difference...wish the first pic was more of a side shot...to see the difference better....that day was the bottom line for me, when I seen those pictures from that day, it made me feel ill that I let myself get back to that point, not only that but oh so embarassed that I looked that bad.

Yeah for me....I am soooooo proud of myself right now...and I think I look damn fine today!! My tummy looks flatter and smaller...my BUTT looks good....LOL....look how fat my legs looked...jeepers.

Make sure you click on the box in the corner to make the picture bigger!!

LOL

Better life - glad you seem to be doing better. The pics are great - umm, I think your butt is missing in the second one? (hee hee). Congrats! Have a fantastic week!

I'm really really really hoping for 149.9 this week. Stay the course!

Looking good Kim Keep up the good work and hope you have a great time!

I can relate on the feeling down lately. Not sure why I'm in a funk and I kind of worry about it since I am so new to the program. I just feel very discouraged that no one is noticing the hard work I've put in. I had a talk with a friend today and she said something very important to me. It doesn't matter what other people think. I am doing this for me and I need to remember that. As long as I see an improvement that is what is important. She is right but it is nice to hear "you look awesome" LOL

I know I say this every week but I am nervous about my weigh in tomorrow. Apparently the small bags of Halloween chips aren't the same as the 100 cal chips That and the couple of handfuls of popcorn at the hockey game last night make me think the salt is going to kill me. So I've been downing water like crazy and am hoping for the best. I also have to stay off the damn scale too

GOOOOD MORNING LADIES!!!

Well....my show was good lastnight....I was a little disappointed but it is because I am so use to watching Keith who has such a stage presence about him and he has sooooooo much energy....that just wasn't in the venue lastnight and I missed it. Chris isn't ready to be a headliner yet, too many ballads, he did however do an AMAZING cover of Phil Collins In the Air Tonight, it was fantastic!!! I did get some video of the show...I took the whole video of NO SURPRISE that song just melts my little heart, I guess it says so much in the lyrics that sometimes kinda hits close to home. I had the best time with my BFF, she and I have been friends since we were 11 years old....25 years is a long time....and we always have so many laughs...and the best time ever.

I did go for dinner at a restaurant called The Loose Moose, there weren't alot of appealing items on the menu, I am sooooooo sick of salad right now it is not even funny...if I see 1 more piece of lettuce I think I will hurl..... I chose the burger and fries with gravy....I had only eaten a cup of grapes and my yogourt yesterday morning and saved the rest of my intakes for my dinner. I ate 1/2 the fries, half the gravy which was in a little cup about the size of what you would get sour cream in for a take out container, so maybe 4tbsp in the cup if that, half the bun and about 3/4 of the burger. And boy was it yummy....but oh I was soooo full. I could literally feel my stomach bloating and I felt sooooo uncomfortable for about 30-40 minutes. I even took a pic of my plate...will post later....LOL

I was worried that by choosing what I did it would throw me off, but I feel very in control again, thank goodness!!

So how are all of you doing? Things are kind of quiet again around here...hope you are all doing okay!

LAURA...LOL about my butt missing...I LOVE IT!!!! That means so much to me because I have a BIG BUTT...it is like a bloody trademark on my mom's side of the family, some of us lucky ones got blessed with it...

TAMARA....thanks so much, it helps so much to see those pics, I couldn't believe the difference in the 2 shots. I think I am going to make a collage of pics and keep it as my wallpaper on my laptop as a reminder as to just far I have come and are coming along. If I get time today I might do that, or even this weekend when I am off.

Good luck with your WI today as well Tamara. I am sorry no one is noticing all your hard work. Maybe they are afraid to say something as I am finding it is so hard to compliment people on weightloss anymore because you don't know if they are losing weight themselves or if it is something health related. Keep your chin up, and listen to your friend, because she is soooooo right!! But I do have to agree it is nice to hear how good you are looking!!! Have you taken updated pics of yourself yet?? I am telling you, if not you need to do it, because when you see the difference that will be all you will need to boost you!! SCREW THE REST OF THEM!! LOL

I better go get something to eat and get some work done...not off now until Saturday/Sunday and I don't want to have to worry about working around here.

Have a good one all!!

That's awesome! It must feel great to feel like you are in control. I'm not there yet and can't wait for the day LOL

Everyone is doing great today - good to see. I'm actually down to 150.8 - I know that's what my post has said for ages, I just couldn't bear to change it to 151.4 which is what I've really been at for over a week. Only .9 pounds to go - gotta be easy, right?

Tamara - nobody noticed my weight loss until I hit 15 lbs when I got some comments. Hit 20lbs and get tons of comments. I think Better Life is right - some people may notice but don't want to say anything. I mean if you weren't dieting and they said it, then it could be taken as "well you should be dieting". I bet you'll get comments in a couple of weeks. Good luck at wi today!

Tamara...it is not easy...you just have to get your mind wrapped around what is really important and just do it....and it is hard...but not everything is easy. If I could control it, I wouldn't be here in the first place. Don't just sit around and wait for it to happen...MAKE IT HAPPEN!!!!

Laura...way to go on getting back to 150.8, I think once you get that .9lbs off you will do amazing....you need to get passed that number!!

I weigh this Saturday, even if I am back at 174....AGAIN....I will be happy with that number. Honestly just because of the week I have had, I am not expecting to be under that number.

Think I might go for a nap, feeling a little tired right now....I am too old for this going to bed at 2 and getting up at 6:40am stuff.....LOL

Let us know how you make out Tamara.

I just re-read this post and came to the part where I said I am getting too old and realized...O M G....I am 36 next Friday...and now I just realized my B-day is on Friday this year...FRIDAY the 13TH!!! 4 years away from the BIG 4-0....yeah for me...

Tamara....I thought I was the only one who felt like that. I'm almost at 25lbs gone and no one has really said too much at all. I've been feeling lately that maybe this is pointless, but then I remember the reasons I'm doing this. My sister and I started at the same time..shes just over 20lbs lost, and I can notice a HUGE change in her...I'm like you though..I wish I could see it in me.
I just wanted to share that, to know your not alone! I'm glad you shared too.
As for everyone else...hope all is well! I haven't been for a WI since last Tuesday...and I finally get to go on Thursday...days off!! Thank god! lol I'm hoping for a good loss..I've been so good at my eating..I'd be disapointed if it wasn't! I'll keep you all posted.
FYI...I've started walking/jogging on my Treadmill for exercise. I don't on days I work..but I do on my days off. 30 mins - jog at 4.5mph for 5 mins...haha thats about the most I can do right now...but its a start

Thanks ladies It's hearing things like that that keep me going. I had a talk with the manager of the centre as she did my wi today and she said that I am doing awesome and that considering I've been on antibiotics for over a week she is surprised I've lost at all. She said that a lot of people retain water. She said she wouldn't be surprised if I had a HUGE drop next week. She also said not to get discouraged about people not noticing and that the other thing to consider is if I am wearing the same clothes people probably won't notice. It's when I have to get new clothes that are more form fitting that people will notice. I know I can do this I just have to keep my mind set on my goal. I am seriously thinking of buying the cookbooks though. I really need some new ideas.

So after all of that I was down 0.4 lbs So considering the few OOPS I had over the weekend and not realizing that the balsamic vinegar I had numerous times with salad that I didn't realize was a free exchange I'm good with that Heck I'm good with anything that isn't an increase LOL

Laura - that's awesome that you are down. You are so close to being out of the 150's. You go girl!

Woo hoo Tamara - you are rocking! Come to think of it - probably about 15lbs was when I bought new clothes. Congrats!

Doesn't it totally suck that balsamic vinegar counts as a free. I'm still not sure why? But really, would you rather have a whole glass of wine, or a couple tablespoons of vinegar?!?! Too funny.

Good luck on Thursday Renee - sounds like it'll be a great wi!!

Thanks I was telling my friend about the vinegar and she said "What the heck is in vinegar that is bad for you?" You are so right though. There are so many other things I'd rather use my free exchange for LOL

Even though I go to my centre almot every day, I actually weigh myself on my own scale every morning. That way it takes out all the extraneous variables like clothes, when I ate last, water, etc.

So this morning I weighed myself and was 150.0. Oh so close to my 149.9 - but that's okay, cause I'm down 0.8 in a day. Then I went to my centre later that afternoon (in jeans, after lunch, and 8+ glasses of water later) and I was actually up about a pound. Again, I'm thinking that's okay, cause I know I'm really down. In fact, I'm really thinking it's okay cause I know it's the time of the month and I'm constipated (yeah again, what else is new), so I'm thinking I'll be kicking butt by the end of the week.

But....the staff seemed to think it's time to kick the weight loss up a notch, and said I should go without my free exchanges for a week. Eeks!! I LOVE my one glass of red wine every night!! I mean, I was gearing for a strict November, but no free exchange?!? Needless to say I'm a bit nervous. That said, I am a bit excited too - maybe I'll have some dramatic loss this coming week, and that will make it all worth it.

Hope everyone did okay with their wi's this week, and that some energizing sun is in your area!!
Laura

Wow Laura no free exchange That would be tough, but it's only for a week and we will cheer you on. I never wear jeans to my wi LOL. I actually make sure and wear the same couple pairs of pants that I know are both light weight

I think I am going to cave and buy one of the cookbooks tomorrow. I have a 10% off coupon and then thought of telling hubby that someone can get the other one for me for Christmas. I'm just getting bored of the same old stuff and although they have given me some recipes I think I'm just going to bit the bullet. I took a glance through one book and looks not too bad.

Thanks Tamara - hey, the staff at my centre said only volume 2 is any good - don't bother with the first one. I got volume 2 and I like it, it has some ideas. Have fun with it!
Laura