April 22, 2008 Photographic Evidence

A few days ago, I dug out the scrapbook I had started when I had my WLS. It shows me at my heaviest, and then shows the progression as I lost weight. But it stops at the point where I'm down 236#, to 250. Which is HIGHER than I am now! There were a few photos stuffed in there but not actually "scrapped". So I decided it was time for an update. I went through my pictures from the past 5 years or so, and printed out the ones I wanted to use. And then tonite, for some reason, I decided to put it all together.

So now my scrapbook covers my entire 250# loss, as well as the 50# gain that followed. I realized that the picture that started it all was the one from Disney this past November. I saw that picture and realized I was out of control. I had gained back 20% of the weight I'd lost--that's 50 pounds! I decided then and there to do something about it. So I put that in, along with the picture of me from last week in the dress I wore in Turkey in 2004, when I was at my lowest post-op weight. And I could REALLY see the difference between the 2 pictures.

It all got me thinking. I have so many pictures of all the trips we've taken, places we've seen, people we've met, special occasions, etc. etc, etc. But I have very few pictures of ME. OK, a good part of that is that I'm the one holding the camera 90% of the time. But I COULD have someone take a picture of me, too. I just choose not to, becuase I hate how I look in pictures. I think that needs to change. So, this summer, when I am on vacation with my family, I will make sure to be on the OTHER side of the camera sometimes, so that I can be IN the pictures. And in Scotland? Lets just say that there will be pictures of me WITH the hot guys in kilts! THAT should make for an interesting page in that scrapbook!

The scale was down again today, 3.4 pounds. So I am only 6 pounds above my lowest. I figured out that if I lose just 1-1.5 pounds a week from now on, I will reach my goal of 210 sometime between Labor Day and Christmas. Of course, this doesn't allow for vacations and surgeries, which will certainly impact the weight loss somewhat. But at least I know I WILL get there. Somehow, "I want to lose 32 pounds" sounds soooo much better than "I have to lose 70 pounds". Amazingly, I'm more than halfway there!

60 minutes on the elliptical today--it was easy. As in, really, truly, EASY. Sure, I was sweating like crazy, but it was not like I was struggling to finish. It's hard to believe that just 3 short months ago I struggled to do 15 minutes. And who would have EVER thought I'd actually enjoy exercise?!?The changes are dramatic and exciting. And I have the photographic evidence to prove it!