3 and 1/2 month progress with pics

Hi, I wanted to encourage others to not give up too soon. This is my second account on MFP I was off and on for at least 3 years, but since Jan I have been more devoted, and I have proof that persistence pays off. I am a business owning mother of 2 who homeschools, works from home, keeps up my marriage, attends church and bible study each week, I am the only one who cooks and cleans our house since my hubby works 50hrs a week. That being said ... "not having time" is an excuse. If it is important to you, you will find time!
I have an amazing support system here on MFP, not so much at home. I live over 1000 miles away from friends or family so I had to take control of the people who I surrounded myself with on this journey to a new life...and I have the best group of women to team up with!
Here is what I have done... I have completely changed the way I eat. I rarely eat fast food or at restaurants, I measure my food, and I try to make the healthiest choices I can. I love to cook and adapt recipes. I drink coffee in the am (usually 1 cup) the rest of the day it is water or occasionally almond milk. I got to this point not by jumping all in, I got here by taking baby steps. The first thing was to log my food. Then I started to focus on healthier choices of foods I was already eating. Cut out soda, cut out greasy fast food, etc.... Taking these small steps has made it easier to get through the changes. Every time in the past I attempted to lose weight I would give up because I felt like I was being restricted too much at once. NO more restrictions. I enjoy food, but in better for me forms. The last thing I did was work to support others. I built my team by being to them what I needed from them. I cheer my pals on and they cheer me on. I am not afraid to cut people out who eat unhealthy or who have little to nothing to say. I have a fantastic team and we all have pushed each other that our total weight loss as a whole is in the hundreds! Ok, enough talk ... here are my pics.
***I know I have a long way to go, but I did this in 3 1/2 months! You can too!***

hope this works, first time uploading photos! OMG it is not working UGH!
Bear with me ...

You should probably edit out the religious stuff, though. Keep that in private groups, because a lot of us don't believe in your imaginary friend, and it's considered a 'divisive' topic.

Congrats to you on your progress!

You should probably edit out the religious stuff, though. Keep that in private groups, because a lot of us don't believe in your imaginary friend, and it's considered a 'divisive' topic.

I am not going to edit the fact that I go to church and bible study because you don't believe. That is fine. I am simply stating the fact that I live a busy life and have found time to make it work. It could be anything in that time that I commit to, but this is what it happens to be, and this is me! I am not going to change who I am for other people, or what I have to say about my journey, nor would I expect you to do the same. It is fine that you believe what you do. I would not ask you to change your comment or your profile pic for that matter because it is a "divisive topic." I think you are reading more into it than is there. And I never mentioned an "imaginary friend" you added that.

Ok, instead of imaginary friend, you study an abominable book filled with rape, torture, slavery, etc. Same difference. The MFP rules say that religion is a divisive topic. You can say you have a busy life without bringing up your delusional religious habits.