One little dress, huge boost of confidence (pic heavy)

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palmerig88
palmerig88 Posts: 623 Member
in Success Stories
I wore a dress to work yesterday. I haven't done that since the late 90s. Yep, 32 years old and haven't felt like wearing a dress in public on purpose since high school/early college years.

I'm 5'6" currently 135 pounds, started MFP at 190 pounds, but my highest weight is 198 plus. I have probably been over 200 pounds and didn't know because I went 5 years or so without owning a scale.

I know how different I look. I've taken tons of pictures. I have seen every day, inch, and pound of progress. But when I took the time to dig up some old photos I haven't seen in a long time, I truly understand why wearing that little dress was so exciting for me.

I have more confidence this year than I have ever had because I didn't just lose weight. I exercise again. I didn't exercise for 9 years and it REALLY showed. But now, not only do I exercise again, I lift weights. I can't believe how different I look and feel since I started lifting weights.

I exercised in college because I took actual exercise classes. After college I joined a couple gyms to make sure I didn't lose my figure but I just never went. I just didn't try.Since 2004 my weight has ballooned and dropped and spiked and crashed all over the place.

My friend took a pic of me wearing my dress and work and I'm going to show you, along with other pics to show why wearing that one little dress feels like SUCH a big deal :)

I also want people to know that wherever you are in your weight-loss, and no matter your goal, you are going to like your body better if you exercise than if you just focus on diet alone and let the # on the scale control you. I am happier with my body now than I was when I weighed less and was almost 10 years younger, and I think that really says something.
PICS OF ME IN DRESSES I HATE:

February 2008, I am in red on the right size 16 ~195 pounds

8131788614_eb58c3b252.jpg
228652_1055311433266_8629_n by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

October 2009, I was in my nieces wedding I hated wearing this dress and I felt huge size 16 ~198 pounds+

8131763399_a9e8853bfd.jpg
16165_340500190213_4982700_n by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

Fall 2007? Work meeting, size 12/14 ~185 pounds

8131971055_71913e77fa.jpg
004 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

Yesterday at work, size 2/small 135 pounds

8131769737_ef4e4e60bb.jpg
phone 061 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

When I got married I was 133 pounds, here are pics of me on my honeymoon:

March 2004

8131971119_9c29ccea0c.jpg
003 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

8131971331_337459bb3a.jpg
001 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

March 2012 in the fitting room buying the first bikini I had bought in 8 years

8132013128_268f782bd5.jpg
Image03182012180532 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

8131992757_2f8c4eb4a3.jpg
Image03182012180601 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

I bought it too small on purpose and fit it by the time I reached 155 pounds:

June 2012

7888175230_e2f85e140d.jpg
62012 012 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

What I look like in a bikini this time around at 140 pounds:

August 2012

7888170246_f42ee17b7e.jpg
8112 017 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

8003506627_cefb43c96f.jpg
8112 028 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

Pics of me in regular clothes

March 2004 133 pounds

8131971213_01d316e59d.jpg
002 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

October 2006?2007?

8131763747_70cd5c52e0.jpg
1171_99157475213_8000_n by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

January 2009

8131789074_3f8e8fdc0d.jpg
2104_117864790213_7555_n by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

June 2009

8131763625_9eddc56d7a.jpg
4765_197794890213_7451972_n by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

December 2011

8131763547_76229691dd.jpg
12311 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

Feb 2012

8003549194_f65d20a6f0.jpg
16473868_7658 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

Now

8132023224_fd376895ce.jpg
93012 002 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr
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Replies

  • zachatta
    zachatta Posts: 1,340 Member
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    You look great! Keep it up! Very impressive!
  • jrtcw
    jrtcw Posts: 128 Member
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    Wow! You look amazing.
  • ohmelgosh79
    ohmelgosh79 Posts: 118 Member
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    You look amazing! Good job!
  • FitandFab33
    FitandFab33 Posts: 718 Member
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    What an awesome transformation!! Kudos to you for all your hard work! You look amazing :-)
  • Ke11yJo
    Ke11yJo Posts: 141
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    In complete honesty I have to say you look beautiful in all the pictures. You truly do. What you have accomplished though is amazing and you look gorgeous. I love that you shared so many pics with us and found your story very inspiring :flowerforyou:
  • c2111
    c2111 Posts: 693 Member
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    hi your so inspirational x Im the same height as you but i had no idea what my goal weight should be - after seeing what youve acheived, I think I'll go for 135 like you :) Im currently 155 so 20 to go xxx Well done :)
  • aimeelou032
    aimeelou032 Posts: 6 Member
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    Wow you look great! It is very motivating to look at your progress. Thanks for posting!
  • SallyT1959
    SallyT1959 Posts: 9
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    Amazing job!
  • mimstero
    mimstero Posts: 119 Member
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    You look great! What an amazing journey!!!!
  • murphette2
    murphette2 Posts: 75 Member
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    Great Job You look Perfect!!
  • soehlerking
    soehlerking Posts: 589 Member
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    you look FANTASTIC!!! Way to go!!
  • Brianna72994
    Brianna72994 Posts: 887
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    Amazing transformation :)
  • Skinny_minny_mo
    Skinny_minny_mo Posts: 1,272 Member
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    you look wonderful!

    have fun with all the cute clothes you are going to buy and dresses that YOU will make look amazing!
  • emtjmac
    emtjmac Posts: 1,320 Member
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    You look great in that bikini!
  • T34418l3angel
    T34418l3angel Posts: 474 Member
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    Wow great job! You honestly look more fit now than you did back in you "skinny" days!!! Amazing work!
  • mamasmaltz3
    mamasmaltz3 Posts: 1,111 Member
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    WOW!!! Your bikini shots are amazing! You have done a great job. What kind of workouts do you do?
  • Phoenixchichima
    Phoenixchichima Posts: 416
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    good for you!
  • texjenn
    texjenn Posts: 146 Member
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    You look great!
  • ryansgram
    ryansgram Posts: 693 Member
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    Wow!!!
  • JuliesZenpuppy7400
    JuliesZenpuppy7400 Posts: 127 Member
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    You are one of those people that you look like a whole new person with your weight loss!!!!

    I will always look like me no matter what weight I am ; )

    Congrats!!! You look wonderful!!!!!

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