DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!!

A very wise friend once told me, never show your "before" photos until you have your "after."  Well what if you have your before, "before" photos??  What if you have photos that show how fabulous you were before you gained weight??  I certainly could take my friend's advice and save myself a hill of embarrassment by not posting these photos until I reach my dream size, but what fun would that be?!?  It would be a cowardice move on my part because anyone can stand next to a size 24 cardboard cut-out of their former self when they are lean and mean and wearing a spandex bodysuit that shows off their new washboard abs.  No one needs the "new and improved" when they are stuck drowning in a weight problem.  What people need is someone who is right there in the moment with them.  So if anyone struggling with their weight is out there listening, I'm here!  Right there with ya!  Struggling too!  And no I haven't reached the "after" yet!  If I withhold these pictures until I have, then it just means I've already given up on myself.  I must not believe I'm gonna reach the "after" or I wouldn't have to hold-off.

It's not easy being this big. This is about as real as it gets!  Take a good look.  Did you see my chins in that one shot??  No make-up, no fancy clothes, no fancy hair, and no Photoshop.  I just took the pictures as I was on this day.  You know how in those infomercials for exercise equipment they always show people pushing their stomachs out while slouching to look extra fat in the "before" image??  In the "after" shot they are suddenly all sucked in, gleaming, looking 100 pounds thinner even though the caption says they lost only 15 pounds!  Well let's just say I have the "before" down, and I didn't have to resort to such antics.  The fat just showed up naturally!  No need to slouch here!  I am just that bloated and washed out!  My skin looks peakid.  I look tired.  I don't look the least bit youthful or energetic.  I actually look sickly!  My husband was quite right when he compared me to a meth addict.  Bare in mind, these photos were taken AFTER I had already lost 7 pounds!!  Good Lord!  I think I've deiced one thing after viewing these photos.  If I EVER write a diet book, fitness journal, et cetera, the front cover will be one of these photos with the title, "Don't Let THIS Happen To YOU!!!"

“To change one’s life: 1. Start immediately. 2. Do it flamboyantly. 3. No exceptions.” -William James