Be nice to yourself - it'll help! Progress Pic

cappydos

Happy New Year MFP peeps!!

After the holidays, I found myself getting very down and hard on myself because of how poorly I ate throughout those few weeks. I made NO progress whatsoever, and even put on a few pounds. Now, I know it's the Holidays and that happens to most people, but even before the Holidays, I had hit a plateau and hadn't seen any progress in a while, so it made it that much more difficult to see the jump in poundage when I got on the scale after New Years.

I'm writing this post because I know I'm not the only person that felt like that heading into the New Year. I started searching for some motivation to get me back on track and came across a picture of me from NYE last year…when I looked at that picture, I immediately put it next to a picture of myself from this NYE and got a little teary. I realized I was being WAY too hard on myself. I have come such a long way in the past year in so many ways and I couldn't believe that I let a few weeks of being a bit looser with my eating habits start to make me feel like I had failed.

It has been a long weight-loss journey for me - I started with MFP in the summer of 2011, lost about 38 lbs, proceeded to gain it all back throughout 2012 and started fresh again in the beginning of 2013. Since then, I have lost about 42 lbs. I still have a ways to go (I'd like to loose about 24 more), but I realized how hard we can be on ourselves without ever really allowing ourselves to take in the win and feel proud of the progress we HAVE made instead of focusing on what we haven't done or how much further we have to go. I'm constantly criticizing myself for everything - my arms are still so huge, my butt is wide and flat, I have back rolls, blah blah blah (the list could go on forever), but what is that doing to my motivation? The answer? KILLING IT. Who wants to keep pushing forward when the voice inside your head is telling you you'll never be good enough anyways? So friends, I'm determined to STOP IT. Stop the internal berating and focus on the progress I am making - whether it's something as simple as choosing not to have that second cookie, vowing to enter every bite into MFP, or something as big as spending an hour at the gym today. CONGRATULATE YOURSELF ON THE LITTLE THINGS PEOPLE!! They come a lot more often than the big milestones and it will make the time in between those milestones go that much smoother and quicker. Also, tell yourself at least one thing a day that you like about yourself or point out something you notice you have made progress on. For me, today I decided to focus on how much thinner my face looks. It made me feel really good about what I've done to this point

In light of my realization, I decided to post a progress pic. I had promised myself that I wouldn't post before and after pics until I had reached my goal, but my NYE epiphany made me realize how important it is to pat yourself on the back all along the way rather than beating yourself up until you hit that magic number. I know now that this will make the rest of this weight loss journey that much easier and more enjoyable. Hope you guys can feel the same way too!

Now, back on the bandwagon to shed this last 24 lbs!

jackie_moo

Glad you decided to post earlier than you planned - it was a great reminder to us all on appreciating ourselves and our progress. Congrats on your weightloss - you look great!!!

Zippedydoodah

You look great and I think we all need to remember we need to do this because we love ourselves enough to do it... not because we hate ourselves

Your progress picture absolutely inspires me!

Marsidote

Huge difference!! You look fabulous!!

cappydos

Thank you!!

100toloose

It is absolutely neccessery to remember how far we came and there is not so much more to go...
Amd we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel... So thank you for sharing .

pain_is_weakness

Very true, you look great1 Awesome job

LaraRN

WOW! What an inspiration and how GREAT AN ATTITUDE!!
You are so right on and I will bookmark this post for the times that I need to be reminded!
Thank you!

body_in_progress

You look amazing, good work!!

skinnylady2014

Excellent write-up for all of us this time of year.....and real good comparison pics too. You look great. Hang in there!!

michluth

Thanks for the reminder! You look fantastic and your progress is inspiring!

CrazyC

You're AMAZING and beautiful inside and out! Thank you for sharing this!

mscrystallee

Reading things like this and reminding myself that I need to treat me like I treat others. I would never tell a friend that they were fat or not good enough as I don't see them for their outside appearance, amazing job ! You look great

angex3333

You are looking fab!! Well done

ReginaM49

I needed to heat that. Sounds way too familiar. Thank you. Oh... And by the way... you look fabulous!

Keema2003

wow, you look great!

JenX15

First .... you look fantastic, way to pat yourself on the back for a job well done!!!! Second ... THANK YOU .... I am exactly where you are - plateau Sept-Nov .... found some pounds lost come Jan 1st. But I AM in much better shape than I was a year ago and I CAN and WILL do this in 2014!!!!! Way to go girl!!!! :flowerforyou:

starkiss100

Great job!!

thecarbmonster

Love your outfit!!! You are a force Great job!

SusieCuteYay

Wow! Cool! Congrats!

bf43005

You look fantastic and what a great message. You are so right and we all do it and sometimes never realize we are the biggest thing standing in the way of reaching our goals. Keep up the great work!

gingoole

A great story and wonderful reminder to all of us. You look FABULOUS!

nellyb2011

I agree. You look great!!

seltzermint555

You look FANTASTIC!! Definitely an "after" photo you've shared.

Thank you for posting this.

I think attitude is so important. I have lost more weight after finally learning to like my body (even larger) than I ever dreamed of losing when I was feeling desperate and miserable.

brandi712

What a great reminder for us all. Thank you for sharing and be proud of yourself. You are beautiful on the outside and your post shows that you are beautiful on the inside as well.

lighteningjeanne855

Every part of your body has improved from last year's NYE photo, not just your face.
Print out 10 copies of those comparison photos, and post them everywhere!

"Don't allow the PERFECT to overshadow the GOOD" progress you've made.

Best wishes!

kmclamb13

You are so right.I have lost 20 lbs since 9-13 and that is definently better than gaining.I did gain a few lbs over christmas but I got back on track and have dropped them.We do need to look at the progress instead of putting or self down for a small set back.I always tell myself as long as I never give up I can't fail.You look great and congrats on the change.

cappydos

Thank you so much everyone - I'm glad this post was helpful

bernied262

You are an inspiration, you look fabulous, great job!

improvnmycurves16

Thank you for posting this. I really needed to read this. Over the last few months I've lost 36 lbs and put 4lbs on over the Holidays. Now Im back at it but during the holiday seasons I was so hard on myself for gaining those 4lbs, but Ive come to realize look how far I've come, pat your self on the back. It took self displine, hard work and dedication. I got 39lbs to go and I know I can do it because I just did a few months ago. Instead of COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT I DONT LIKE WHEN I LOOK IN THE MIRROR, IM GOING TO START TELLING MYSELF WHAT I DO LIKE AND ADMIRE THE CHANGE THAT I DO SEE. Thanks again.

MrsCZM138

We all need that reminder sometime. Thank you! You look amazing!