56 pounds - Before & During pics

One year ago (June 2010) i was attending my stepdaughter's highschool graduation.
i had lost a little weight (not much) but was feeling 'good' to degree i was not even horrified at thought of having my picture taken.
i did not even see this picture until months laster (in the early winter).. and just as well as i would have been sick to have seen it while i was still this size. (By the time i saw the pictures i had already started losing weight but not yet joined mfp)

In November 2010, i weighed in at m Dr's office at 242 pounds.
i am 5' 7.25" tall.
Not a good combination as, as i've gotten older my weight was settling around my stomach instead of all over as it did when i was younger.
(yes, i truly have been overweight [mostly obese] since i was born).

since November i have lost 55.5 pounds (i love how mfp rounds up to 56 *L*).. and i i am now 186.5 pounds. No longer obese!

My 'goal' is to reach 160... at that point i will no longer be overweight, i will, for first time in my life, BE in normal/healthy weight range (albeit the high end of it). Once i reach that point (and believe me, i WILL be reaching that point, i have no doubts about that), i will re-evaluate and decide if i can and should go a little lower.

i am proudest of the fact that i have done this PURELY by eating in a healthy manner, eating 'clean' most of the time, lowered sodium, LOTS of fruits and veg, whole grains, no refined sugars or flours, no artificial sweeteners...and i can honestly say i am enjoying food more than i ever did now!

i eat my calories! yes, even most of my exercise ones.. as i soon found(after joining mfp) that i lost MORE per week by eating all my base calories (1200) as well as at least 1/2, usually more, of my exercise calories.

i go without nothing that i love *S*.. i have pasta,(whole grain unless at a restaurant), i have cheeses, i have pizza (usually i make my own now on a whole wheat pita as a crust), i have chocolate (dark choc, 70% or higher).. the only difference now is.. i have them all in moderation! And i truly DO enjoy them more NOW than when i was mindlessly eating 3 chocolate bars or a bag of cookies all at once.

i KNOW i will be eating this way for the rest of my life... and since i have never felt healthier (in mind as well as body) or more energetic, i am thrilled!

if i could encourage anyone it would be to say:
'be patient and eat in a mindful, healthy manner.. you are fueling the only body you will ever have. There are no fast gimmick fixes in weight loss that will give you the life long health that simply eating well and becoming more active can bring you.. for LIFE!'

so without further delay *L* (can you tell i was stalling not wanting to post this before pic? *LOL*)

One year ago:


one week ago:


(hope the pics post ok *LOL*)