Sometimes I feel like nothing has changed. When I get stuck at a weight, like I have been for a while, I forget that I ever lost any weight. I let myself get sucked into the fat thinking that I’ve always been this size, and it’s a fat one. I forget that even though I’m stuck, I’ve made progress. Sometimes I need a visual reminder of my weight loss so far. So, here it is.
That’s some progress. Look. Remember. I might be stuck now, but I’ve changed.
I’m fitter. I’m healthier.
I weigh less than I did.I’ve lost inches. I’ve lost dress sizes.
I’m training for a triathlon!
I can run! I can play rugby!
I’m not at my goal yet, but that doesn’t mean I should discount everything else. No, I shouldn’t do that. So this is reminder to stop doing that.
Just because I’m not at my goal weight, doesn’t mean I haven’t lost weight. It doesn’t mean I haven’t improved my life. It just means I’m currently rocking life and slowly on my way to the goal weight.
I’ll get to goal eventually and add a third picture to this lineup, but for now? Celebrating successes so far. Because they count too.
This is AMAZING! You should be damn proud!
For me pictures are the best way to see how far I have come since my mind still thinks of myself as the obese person I’ve alway been. Great job Mary! You have come so far! :) Life changing!! :)
Phenomenal progress. You have so much to be proud of. Having come this far, I would expect there’s nothing you can’t tackle. Best wishes on the rest of your journey.
You have done amazingly well! There is a definite difference! You’ve come so far already! Be proud of what you’ve accomplished and know that you will get the rest of the way to your goal! You are determined!
The first change I noticed in the two pictures is the look on your face. You look so much more radiant on the right. I’m very happy for you Mary.
Great post! Pictures really are the best way to see for yourself I think… and you have done an amazing job so far and continue to do so!
When I see pictures like these, I so wish I had taken some before pictures of myself. What a difference in your pictures!
CONGRATS! You should be very proud at your progress!
Now that is some visual Mary!!!!! Amazing & wonderful & fantastic & all the great stuff!!! Looking forward to the third pic but you, doing it your way!
Woo hoo!
You know, I NEEDED to read this.
I’ve been stuck at a 35 lb loss for 3 weeks now. (My halfway point). Thank you for this.
You look amazing Mary! Good for you seeing the positive changes in yourself, rather than focusing on the negative!! Keep up the great work!
Absolutely, positively awesome!!
Wow, merry, that takes guts to post that, and you look awesome! Thank you for motivating me, that it is ok, and we have to move forward!
Mary I mean!! lol
Haha, it’s okay Jackie. A lot of people get my name confused. No worries! :)
Wow what a difference.. Its hard to notice changes in yourself/others when they happen over time. Youre doing a great job!! :)
Wow, what a transformation! You go girl!
You’ve always had a cute butt!
teheheheheheh
Haha! Yeah, I’m a fan of it. The only time I don’t like it is when I’m running… cute, but not fun. ;)
So awesome, Mary!!! You should be very proud of yourself and how far you’ve come!
That’s amazing! I love photos like that, it totally helps your mind realize just how far you’ve come.
Congratulations!
The BEST way to track progress and to keep yourself motivated is through before and after (and during) pics. Great job, keep up the great work!
Brilliant! You’ve done so well :)
Photos provide such useful comparative perspective. I’ve never been good at seeing progress in the mirror.
That’s a fabulous difference. You are wonderful!!!
Good job Mary…a picture is worth a thousand words…or so ;-)
Congratulations! You look wonderful! Visuals are great reminders of the progress. I’m really happy for you!
Wow – so inspiring! You are looking so great, Mary! I needed to read this because I’ve gained back 20 lbs of the 45 I lost last winter and am finding it hard to get the scale moving downward again. I need to remember how far I’ve come and that all is not lost.
AWESOME!!! Thank you for sharing. You are SO right, we dwell on what isn’t happening, rather than the awesome things that HAVE happened. Give yourself a high five from me… you look great!
Love this:
Celebrating successes so far. Because they count too.
Awesome progress. It’s amazing! Had fun chatting with you on #fitblog tonight :)
Yeah, that was really fun! Let’s do it again next week? Hehe. ;)
Wow! You really have changed so much! You are really looking great! Thank you for reminding me to celebrate those accomplishments along the way.
What an awesome visual reminder! You are doing so great, good job!
Holy Shmokies! You’re doin’ it, girl!
I have to keep showing myself my progress pictures to remind myself that I actually have gone somewhere too. Way to go!
Wow, that’s just awesome Mary, definitely a great visual of how far you’ve come! And you’re absolutely right, especially when you’re still in the “in between” stage, not yet at goal weight, you sometimes have to remind yourself of all that you’ve accomplished. I know I have to keep reminding myself!
Great photos, great positive motivation. Yes! Wipe the negative thoughts away. I like the hint of a smile on your face in the second photo…
WOW!!!!!!
Crikey that is outstanding!!!! you should be so damn proud of yourself. Makes me wish I have a before photo that is totally blunt and out there too!
Hey!! That’s so true. Look at how much you’ve lost around your middle! You’ve probably improved your heart health loads! You’ve lost a lot in your arms too! Imagine if you repeated the cycle again…You’ll be at goal in no time.
Are you still going to the gym? Hmm, also, do you still have any of your old clothes? Maybe you could take a picture in one of them. And I think you should put this side by side shot on your blog so you never forget
Of course I’m still going to the gym! Hehe. I don’t post much about it because it seems boring, but I’m there 3-4 times a week. :)
I don’t have any of my old clothes other than what I’m wearing in the photos. I’m not one for clutter, plus moving so often, I got rid of everything I didn’t need. ;)
WOW! Thats some serious progress you made there – not just in your size (although, that’s changed dramatically), but the way you hold yourself in the photo as well.
You’re doing an awesome job – well done!
TOTALLY AMAZING MARY
now I want the other before and after.
a smileshot from BEFORE and from today.
You look awesome! Your progress is really inspiring, well done :)
You look amazing!! Just look how far you’ve come! :)
Isn’t perspective a magical thing sometimes? We can get stuck in our own heads and forget how much progress we’ve made. A visual reminder is incredibly powerful. You have come so far! You look amazing – and I agree with the comment above – you can see the happy radiate off you much more in the second picture.
Look at you go, girl!! A great visual reminder! Congrats!
For me pictures and measurments are the best way to get myself out of my funk. I just posted some before and afters on my blog to celebrate my 1 year weight loss journey. Prior to posting them I wasn’t feeling too hot about my progress, it just seemed so minute compared to the weight others were getting off in a year. But looking at the pictures really put it into perspective for me. I have done so many things I never thought possible.
Great job, Mary. Keep up the great work!
amazing job mary! i agree, the look on your face says so much more than the picture! great job! :)
Looking GRRRRREAT hun! Keep up the good work!
wow, way to go! That is some awesome progress. I really needed this encouragement so thank you for reminding me that I’m doing good:)
Fantastic reminder. And yes, don’t forget all you’ve accomplished!
Even though I’m totally late on the commenting train, thanks for this post! I’m having a bit of a downer day, and I really needed this. You rock. :)
You are amazing–as much on the outside as on the inside. Continue to hold your head proud of everything you’ve accomplished, Mary!
Thanks Jen. <3