So here it goes...with pics

Today I read a really well written blog on this site on the power to inspire people around you. The people on MFP do this for me on a daily basis. I have met some really wonderful people on this site and have turned some really wonderful people in my life onto this site.

Now, I know (at least the logical thinking part of my brain knows) the amount I have lost is a large number. I still struggle with the emotional side of actually being a smaller person. I have thought all my life that I was just “big boned” or “athletically built” or any other fallacy that I told myself to accept or justify being fat.

Now the reason I am posting this. Today in our weekly sales call, my boss very publicly (there were about 30 people on the phone and in our conference room) asked me what my “number” was today. He knows that Friday is my weigh in day. I told him and all who were listening that I had lost 56lbs as of today. Now most of the people in the room and on the phone knew I was on a “journey”. They have seen me go from 230lbs to 174lbs. This was not a surprise to them. It was however a surprise to a couple of people who were just hired in the past month or so. Their jaw dropped and one stammered out “how did you do it?”. I gave the standard “diet and exercise” speech that I have given a hundred times to others.

What I didn’t realize was that these new people to our company would never know “Fat Jen”. The people I meet from this point forward will never know “Fat Jen”. It was a realization that kinda hit me like a ton of bricks today.

So, full circle, I hope that I can provide even one person the inspiration they need to keep going. I still have about 25lbs to go (I think). For those who want numbers, I am 5’8” and 36 years old. Here is my progress (hope it works):