Joyful moments that keep you going

CLynch309

Brief background: I started on a program to lose weight January 1, 2012. I lost 30 lbs by end of July 2012 and have been maintaining in my four-pound goal range ever since. I went from a tiight size 12 down to a comfy size 4. I bought a lot of new clothes, but I did not donate any of my "fat" clothes because I know myself. Losing is hard, but for me, maintaining has been harder, and I know it's very possible I could fall off the wagon and go back to being big and need the larger sizes again.

Joyful moment: We recently had a warm spell in Southern California; a couple days of 80+ temperatures. I put on the shorts I bought last August and they still fit, and I still *love* the way I look in the mirror.

I've lost weight before, but every time I've done it, I've put it back on a few months later. This is the first time I've maintained long enough to wear "skinny" clothes for more than one summer. This is the first time I haven't dreaded the idea of "shorts" weather. I'm even considering going bathing suit shopping and I haven't done that in a LOT of years.

bettershedder

What a nice, honest, sincere post. I'm so happy that you've maintained. That is
the hardest part. Thanks for being an inspiration to me!

whitecapwendy

congratulations

zillah73

Amazing story! As hard as weight loss is, maintenance feels so much harder. I haven't mastered it yet.

My joyful moment story: Every year I would sit on my front porch with a sugar-laden pastry and a bloody mary, watching the runners in the annual Crescent City Classic 10k walk/jog/run by my house and I would say to whomever was sitting with me, "someday I am going to do that." By March 2011 I had lost almost 100 pounds and I ran that race. The moment I crossed the finish line I burst into tears of joy. As great as it felt to wear a size 12 dress on New Year's Eve (I was formerly a size 24), or to have my parents hardly recognize me when they saw me, nothing will ever top the joy of starting, enduring, and ultimately finishing that 10k. I am doing it for the third time at the end of this month!

jennygreene09

Great job!