Before and After

A year ago today I made a huge life style change. God challenged me with an opportunity to have a better life. I looked at the life I had as a very overweight person that probably wouldn't make it to meet my grandchildren and then looked at the life I wanted to have as an average human being with a normal and healthy weight. I accepted the challenge and went after the life I wanted and the life I deserved to give my children. When I look at the before and after picture in this post I can tell that I lost 130 pounds. Part of me is so proud and happy for myself that I overcame myself and part of me is just ashamed that I let myself get that overweight. It was very hard to find a "before" picture. So sad... there was not a single picture that I could find that I wasn't trying to hide myselfbehind my children or another person. Today is a celebration for myself, Adam, Emma, and Eli of what our whole family has gone through in the past year. It has not been easy at all- a lot of mind over matter. Challenging to say the least. I'm not done. Technically with my height I am still considered "overweight". I have about 8-10 pounds I want to lose. I have an important appointment coming up on April 12 so I am intensely trying to get as close to my goal by then as possible. Stressful. After that appointment I am going to ease up- but just a little. I am struggling with the balance everyday because right now I know that I am fanatic. I need balance. But what I don't need right now- or ever- is the people in my life that say "You've lost enough." "You don't need to run that much" "You look great- take a break!" "You don't need to lose anymore weight." I am lucky enough to have more positive cheerleaders in my life than the negative ones that are always motivating me with their awesome words of encouragement "Hey skinny minny!" "Keep up the good work!" "You just keep losing weight and you look awesome!" I had a wise person tell me recently to keep putting those positive people in your life and avoid the negative ones.... so much harder than it sounds. As I have lost the pounds I am feeling like I have lost something else from inside with it. Sounds cheesy, I know. Something we are working on, but negativity doesn't help at all. So today I have been trying to remember what it was like to be so so so so overweight. I remember it was miserable. Trouble breathing. Hated going up stairs or walking long periods of time. Hated who I saw when I looked in the mirror. No self respect. Today I am thankful for my 30 minute runs that I enjoy going on. Thankful for the healthy eating habits that have replaced the double cheeseburgers and other fast food garbage. It has been a year. 365 days/52 weeks/ 8760 hours/ 525600 minutes I have shed a lot of blood sweat and tears over the last year and I wold do it all over again in a heartbeat if I had to. Because of this past year, I can live the rest of my life. Happy Anniversary to me... or really maybe it has become a sort of birthday to me.