I squeezed on my favorite bikini today, the one I want to look great in by the spring, and asked hubby to take a before pic. UGH. They are so much worse than I even imagined. I better have an amazing after pic in the months ahead!!!

i was going through some old pictures on my computer and found some of me right when i started my last diet. i had totally forgot about them. i know i weighed more than 311 pounds....that was the weight i was after dieting for a while and when i finally decided to step on the scale. when i found the pictures my mouth (im sure) was open wide! i couldnt believe my eyes. i was so huge. im glad that i have them. they are a great motivator. after i found them i decided to go ahead and take some more of myself at my weight now. i now weigh less than 240 pounds and although i am only about half way through i am able to see such a huge improvement already. i posed in my bra and panties so that i could see everything change. i cant wait till i am at the end of my journey and i can do it again when i look really good!

My surgery isn't until Oct. 20 and I am nervous about it. I think I will take my before pics & measurements now to look at whenever I have second thoughts about going through with the surgery. Should be very motivating. 52 year old woman, 5' 6" 250 lbs.

I too did not look at my before pictures which were taken the night before surgery. At one year out I am determined to take a picture in the same panties and bra although they might have been tossed away as too big already.

Additional advice: Take measurements. Weight is not everything. Write down the top 5 reasons you are having this surgery. Tuck away one piece of clothing you think you look great in and do not look at it again until you hit 50% of wieght loss goal.

All of the above are to encourage you. When you are not losing weight, you might be losing in size. When you become discouraged, your top 5 reasons with remind you of all of ways you are becoming healthy and happier...not just pounds lost. When you feel saddened that you are not losing like others on this site - you can physically see how much you have lost. One of my SoCal group members kept a pair of her jeans and put the size she was wearing currently on top of her starting size jeans. Her last picture was of her at goal standing in one of the legs.

This journey is not always easy but always worth it. I love my sleeve!

I was debating on doing this. But I think I will, and yes thank God for digital I can take, print and delete! Now to figure out where to hide them. Hmmm

I was debating on doing this. But I think I will, and yes thank God for digital I can take, print and delete! Now to figure out where to hide them. Hmmm

I took before pictures and update them each month on the 1st of each month. It is easy because I had my surgery on the 1st. I scrapbook so I have a scrapbook page for each months set of pictures. It is amazing what a difference just a month makes. The one thing I didn't do was take my measurements before I started this journey. I know that would be astounding and I am just a little over half way to goal. Each month on the 1st I clean out my closet too. It is really interesting to find clothes that fit me fine just a month ago and don't fit now. All of a sudden my husband has become very attentive to what I am wearing and if they are too baggy he lets me know it. This journey is so much fun.

I have NEVER been able to wear a bikini...

I have NEVER been able to wear a bikini...

and I NEVER will! I am ok with that though.