Finally! Onederland!!! (with pics)

I can't believe I'm finally able to make this post! When I joined this site almost a year ago, it seemed impossible. But now, for the first time in years, I'm seeing a number without a "2" in front of it on the scale, and I am THRILLED! I've actually been in Onderland for about 4lbs now, but I was weirdly terrified that I'd make the post and then shoot back up overnight! It still doesn't really feel real.

It's not time to update my progress pics yet (the ones in my profile are from 8lbs ago), but I decided to celebrate by pulling out my Shame Outfit (TM) and taking some comparison photos. The pics on the left are from my highest weight of 267. When they were taken, I was on a trip with a bunch of friends who decided that we were going to stop and go hiking up to this temple at the summit of a mountain overlooking the sea. I had nothing appropriate for that so I had to throw together an outfit by wearing one of my sleep shirts (too tight to wear outside, and I knew it) and a pair of shorts I NEVER wore without leggings. The location really was beautiful, but all I remember from that day is pain and humiliation as I tried to hide how much less fit I was than my friends and how much I was struggling. And then having these suckers tagged on Facebook a few days later. It wasn't a wake up moment so much as one in a long string of bad experiences that eventually pushed me to starting this weight loss venture.

So. Me then and me ~70lbs lost later:





And me this weekend, after completing a hike easily 3x as intense as the one from a year ago:



Feeling fit, happy, and healthy! I've still got a long way to go, but I know I'm going to get there!