1 Year Ago

I was hunting yesterday in my files for a particular photo, when I came across one that was taken of me a year ago. And it scared me a little. I knew I wasn't healthy. I knew I was big. And I knew that I really hated being in front of the camera. I just didn't know that I had been this bad!

Mark knew, and he loved me anyway... Bless him. He's been a wonderful support, always encouraging. And even at my worst physical shape, he'd find something to compliment me on. And I just feel bad that that is what he had to look at every day!

How grateful I am for the opportunity to change. To change not only myself, but the lives of my family. My children eat healthier than most of the other kids I know! They dive into vegetables and fruits like there's no tomorrow. I can't keep apples and bananas in the house long enough to go bad, and they always want to help me eat my salad... I'm grateful for the opportunity to be an example and a support for friends and family, who see that I can do it so they can to! A friend is running with me at the track with her kids some days now. A sister is back into her size 6's. A new friend would love me to text her when I go to work out so she can join me.

I'm grateful for the physical changes that I feel in my everyday life. Everything is easier! Not easy, but definitely easier for my body to do. Things as simple as bending over to pick up something I dropped used to require an odd squat thing while exhaling out as deep as I could and sort of grunting while my insides were all squished up. Now? No problem, as I can touch the floor with straight legs anyway, even if they are slightly spread apart.

I'm grateful for the changes I can see as well. Wearing my wedding band again. A picture my sister-in-law took of me and my face doesn't look like a ball.

 Today's weight: 189.2 lbs. I am below 190 for the first time in 5 years! Total weight lost so far: 37.8 lbs.

These are my size 18's from my "too small" box, and a reward shirt in a 1X. I was nearly a 3X, 3 months ago...