Here's the reason to stick with it when it gets hard.

rayfromtx

For years, I looked down and was embarrassed by the size of my stomach. As it grew, my embarrassment turned to shame and helplessness. Day after day I worked to ignore the shape I was in so I wouldn't dwell on it.

Today thanks to MFP things are different. I look down and I'm still amazed that the gut is gone. It's GONE! Every time I see the flat stomach it gives me joy. If things get hard in other areas of my life, I can always look down and remember where I was.

If you are still losing and you are finding it difficult, stay the course. It is so worth it when you reclaim your body and your health. I keep seeing articles about health that reconfirm that this was the right thing to do for longevity and disease prevention. Beyond that, I see benefits in a hundred areas of my life that I didn't even consider when I started.

Ignore those that say that you don't need to lose weight. Go low. Don't aim at being normal sized for an American. Normal sized for a human is much smaller than normal sized for an American. Let's change the average. Let's make healthy the new normal.

I'd like to post a before and after but my photobucket account won't let me in. It is in my profile page though. Can anyone help me with it?

Kellee_76

You do NOT look 50! Congratulations! Wonderful job. Thanks for the extra motivation!

atomdraco

Absolutely amazing job Ray!!!

dls06

Congratulations, you are an inspiration.

sarah44254

You have done so well! You look amazing! (giving your photos a try)
awesome, it worked! Here's how I did it. I right-clicked on your photo (the big one, not the thumbnail) in your profile pic area, and selected 'copy image location'. I pasted this URL into the chat box here, surrounded by 'image tags' which look like this except with the I M G letters as lowercase. That's all

JPod279

Congrats man! Awesome job. Way to go.

SherryC53

Ray, you look amazing and I only wish I had started at 49 like you, but it's never toolate to lose weight and get healthy! I love you "little" brother...so much!

Ree_Chatelain

WOW.. you look great.

boysan

Our collective health as a nation is so poor. We really need to get the message out that this is too important to ignore, and it is never to late to start healing ourselves.

Congratulations from one fifty-year old to another!

DimenaZhena

50!?! I wouldn't have guessed that in a million years!! Great job, Ray!!!

stephierue

Wow. You're an inspiration!

SunLovin1

Fantastic. Seriously, as a 46 year old, I think it's never too late to take control of your body. You've done just that. Kudos x 1000 to you!

Kath712

wow, wow, wow!!!! amazing transformation!!! you look great, and you must feel fabulous!! :drinker: :bigsmile:

rayfromtx

Thanks Y'all. Thanks a lot Sarah. I knew there was a way. I left out the img tags when I tried it.

The before pic is from the weekend that I decided enough was enough. The after picture was 8 1/2 months and 59 pounds later. The people here have been so inspirational and supportive.

I'm not used to this body yet. I still put my hand on my belly to convince myself I'm not dreaming it. I look down while I'm cooking along at 25 mpg and see the body of an athlete in spandex bike shorts and can't believe it's me.

When I lost 10 pounds, many people told me not to lose more because I would look old and sickly. I didn't fall for that crap. I stayed the course and you can too.

Eat healthy. Invest in good food. Don't put cheap gas in your car and don't put cheap food in your body. Save money somewhere else. Eating healthy is delicious.

VenturaGurl

Wow!! FABULOUS! You've been working hard...:flowerforyou:

JellyPrz619

very impressive! you did a GREAT job! congrats on all your hard work!!

happy_vegan

i love it! we need to strive to be smaller eat less..the world literally cannot sustain what we go through to get all that food in our bellies.
WTG!!!!!!!!!!!!

MaryD4900

Ahh thank you for sharing! I feel like I really needed to read that. You look great- and so much younger! I like how you said to ignore people who tell you that you don't need to lose weight... I think think this is often more a form of flattery than it is truth. And it is very true that "normal"or average for Americans does not equal healthy. I am not extremely overweight, but I could be much healthier. I have that annoying belly that I have ALWAYS had, and I can't imagine myself without it... but your post was truly inspiring and gave me the little lift I needed to keep at it and work harder. Congratulations!

corpus_validum

Awesome job Ray. U are definitely an inspiration.

LeeBeeW

Well done! You look fantastic!

nikkishai

Fab job! Thanks for the pep talk!

bayles1

Hey Ray,

Congratulations on your dedication and transformation.Your story and values are an absolute inspiration.I have been doing pretty well with my own battle and have seen some success that I am truly happy with.I have however been wondering where the end result should lie in terms of physical appearance.I have just shown my wife your profile pictures and said..."That is the end result that I want".
You look both great and a picture of good health.
I would like to thank you for sharing your story and wish you the best of luck going forward....
Thanks.

kaits108

Sooooo motivational!! What a great story! I feel so proud of you and I don't even know you! LOL!

boobee32

All I want to say is WOW!!!!

6heatherb6

You've inspired me to get off this computer and onto my feet. Thanks and congrats!! Fab at 50 is for me too!!

rocky03

you're one HOT daddy!!! great job

calmmomw3minimeez

Amazing! Thanks for letting me know that I can do it too...having a really hard time with the belly, but thanks so much...I'm totally inspired!!!!

rayfromtx

Wow. I just came home from work and was overwhelmed by the response. Thank you so much. I am humbled. If there is anything I can offer beyond my open diary, let me know.

RunConquerCelebrate

Congratulations on your success it is amazing, I took a look at your diary and noticed that you eat pretty much the same breakfast, late breakfast and lunch everyday it seemed like the only thing that changed was your dinner. Is there a reason behind that. Did you follow any exercise program or did you just do it on your own?

jessiandrerob719

wow great job. im inspired!

megaroonies

Great job, thanks for the motivating words and I agree that you do not look your age at all!!