WOW! You look so much younger and more vibrant. It's like a totally different person. It's like the real you isn't hidden any longer. What an accomplishment!

You look SO much younger, it really is shocking. And you do indeed have a gorgeous smile, really lights you up and showcases your beauty.

Thanks for sharing these!

It is so true. I am not a person who likes to take photos. I don't know what came first, me being unphotogenic and hating what I saw, or fearing the camera, therefore being very unphotogenic. BUT... I force myself now to get in front of the camera and it has helped me tons and tons and tons during times the going has been tough. I'm light years from where I was and I want to be even better going forward!

Thank you so much. My husband was so happy to capture a few photos of me looking good. He gets so frustrated as I do not photograph well usually. He tells me, "You have such a beautiful face, but you always screw it up somehow when you get in front of the camera!" I never believed him as all I ever saw was the screwed up, bad pictures, right? LOL But, even I am beginning to see - dude... I'm not too bad looking! And yes, maybe my wrinkles show more (and they do), but seriously, I look a ton younger and I've earned those wrinkles!

Thank you truly. The person in the first photos was tired and haggard and worn out. I really was. Now I feel alive. That alone is worth the journey. NO WAY could I have done the things I did on that trip - climbed a mountain, walked for hours, up and down hundreds of stairs, etc. I did all of that without feeling worn out. HUGE improvement.

No, I need to look back to remind myself of where I don't want to go. Plus, photos are a lasting memory. There are shots of me with my kids and of important events in my life. I want to keep those - even if I look like the dickens. Now, if it's a photo that is truly bad (like eyes closed or something) then I'll delete it, but if it's just me looking bad in general and not just a bad shot, well... that was me. Like it or not.

Thank you very much. People have said it, but I didn't see it until these photos - which show it quite clearly to me.

I get it as I never saw the 'fat' me. I would zero in on the eyes in the mirror and see me, Melissa. It was only when I would see photos that I realized, "wow! I'm huge!" In the mirror, even now, I can see all the same imperfections as before or same good traits, not really seeing the whole picture.

I am glad it was helpful to you. We all have days like those. Just remember to take photos of you along the journey. They truly help!

I remember my mom saying the same thing - she looked younger because of the extra weight. Well, I look a LOT like my mom. I have to disagree! Lighter equals younger! And fitter equals even younger still. I got proof of that on vacation - fit woman look great into their 70s!

In time you will be able to - when you are 'past that' and thinner. I had a hard time looking at pictures of me when I was thinner and younger. I was like, "What did I did to myself?!?!?" And felt helpless in doing anything about it.

I hope not too! And I can DO so much more and I have dreams of doing more well into old age, so I have to stay thinner and keep fitter!

Not a creeper and much appreciated to hear a younger male saying I do indeed look attractive. In that last photo we had been walking the walls of Dubrovnik for 2 hours, up and down stairs and it was the hottest day on RECORD in Dubrovnik. Got to over 101 degrees that day (though this was still morning). I was a hot, sweaty and sticky mess, but it's one of the better photos of me. My husband says the same thing - I shine when I smile and in real life I smile a lot - lots of laugh wrinkles are proof of that, but I just don't photograph well and a smile is rarely caught.

Thank you - I guess a hundred degree day is good for good photos! LOL

Thank you so much. I 'feel' more vibrant, for sure and I'm thankful I can be that for my husband and especially for my kids.

Ah, thank you. It's hard for me to think of myself that way. I don't know why, but it's good to hear. There's a line between being humble and being cocky... I don't want to feel I'm "all that", but I should realize what I have too.

I took a look and really, you look like a different woman. Obviously, related women, but you do look healthier, fitter, and happier (dare I say?) than in your heavier pictures.

I've had this happen to me too -- whether it's Facebook or an old file that crosses my path, I'll take a look at that picture and not recognize myself... I can't believe I let myself get that heavy and I can't believe that I didn't see how awful I looked, how low-energy I felt, and how unhappy I was with myself.

It's true, sometimes we get complacent with the weightloss we've had because we see what's head of us -- for me it's another 14 lbs or so, 24, if I really want to get down to 140 -- and we forget that we've actually done so much already.

I'm sure you'll finish losing the pounds that you gained during vacation... the same thing happens to me when I travel... and you'll continue on and look really great and amazing.

You look amazing!!

Shocking photos are fun for me. It really helps keep pushing me to strive to get fitter :)

My grandmother recently found a photo of when I was 18, just after I bought my prom dress. It was from BEFORE I started lifting and it was VERY shocking!

Wow--those old pictures don't even look like you!! I know you as the photo in your avatar! And those pictures in Croatia look like an ad for Patagonia, the fitness clothing. :-)

Thank you so much Rana - I'm just in from an hour of VERY fast walking (14:40 minute miles after the first mile). 4 miles in less than an hour. I feel so good and I realize that even though my weight climbed up a bit and my fitness slacked a bit with some many interruptions, I'm still doing really well and my motivation is there to CONTINUE to try my best.

And I know you will too!

Thank you! And you didn't post the picture?!?!?!? Shame on you! Your before and after is amazing too - and you did it when you are still young - meaning so much more of your life will be in goooooood health - good for you!

You know, I started both my part-time jobs at a much lighter weight. I'm sure most of them would be shocked to even KNOW about my 'befores'. As usually when people say they lost some weight, they are thinking 15-20 pounds or something, right?

And too funny about the fitness clothing - none of them are Patagonia, though I have a skirt that is from them, but that didn't go on the trip with me.

Fantastic transformation! I love seeing the changes. Some day I'll put old photos of me up somewhere. Congratulations. You really do look fantastic.

Lin

Melissa - I thought of you and this post this morning after finding some "shocking" old photos of me on my husband's computer. My eating has been rotten these past 2 weeks - I feel like saying, "Hi, I am guacamole and I am a carb addict!" I have been feeling so bloated and scared to step on the scale. Seeing photos of me at my high weight has really jolted me back to reality! I never want to be that size again! There really are so few photos of me at my high weight (I avoided the camera like the plague), but sometimes it really is helpful to see how we have changed and what we don't want to return to.

Pretty amazing, Melissa. You absolutely look happier, younger, and more rested in all your new shots. You also look comfortable - with yourself, with the camera being there, in your own skin.

Keep up the great work!

shut the front door please sweetheart.

you are gorgeous. to be quite honest, i think you had a beautiful glow even at your largest weight, and that's not flattery- i sincerely think so.

i am in my mid twenties and you have less loose skin then me.

you look fantastic!! keep your chin up high!