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

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


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+


16165_340500190213_4982700_n by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

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


004 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

Yesterday at work, size 2/small 135 pounds


phone 061 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

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

March 2004


003 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr


001 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

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


Image03182012180532 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr


Image03182012180601 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

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

June 2012


62012 012 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

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

August 2012


8112 017 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr


8112 028 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

Pics of me in regular clothes

March 2004 133 pounds


002 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

October 2006?2007?


1171_99157475213_8000_n by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

January 2009


2104_117864790213_7555_n by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

June 2009


4765_197794890213_7451972_n by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

December 2011


12311 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

Feb 2012


16473868_7658 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr

Now


93012 002 by JenniferSPalmer, on Flickr