Today I put on a pair of jeans I haven't been able to wear in years. Not even two weeks ago. (Which, is pretty awesome since I've been having a mental fight with myself over the fact that the scale won't seem to budge! The scale is only one way to measure success!)
So, I decided to post my 12 week photos here with me in those jeans. Guys, LOOK at the difference in me! It is CRAZY to look at these photos. I can't believe I look like that. I still feel like the "before" photo girl. I'm so glad I'm doing a photo journal of my progress or I just don't think I would believe it.
Today I realized that I can cross my feet and close my thighs. CRAZY! I don't know when the last time was that I could do that. My stomach was no longer interfering and my thighs weren't so large that they couldn't even touch each other.
I am moving faster. I do feel lighter. My sister-in-law reminded me that I've lost almost 50 pounds of butter. Whoa! Good perspective.
I climbed in the backseat of a vehicle this afternoon with two other women and had a brief moment of "Gulp! Am I going to fit back here with them?" Oh...no problem! I didn't even feel like I was hogging up all the room.
I needed these pictures as encouragement today. I needed to put those jeans on this morning. I needed people to stop me today and say, "You are melting away, girl!" Because this has been a terrible week. I have been an emotional wreck. I've been busy and tired and overwhelmed. And the scale hasn't moved and there's nothing I can do about it--but yesterday I was ready to just quit. I mean, mentally, I knew that I couldn't and wouldn't do it. But I was so anxious in the morning that I almost just poured myself a bowl of cereal and said, "This just isn't worth it to me!"
WHAT?! It just shows how a moment of weakness can creep up on me so quickly and unexpectedly.
But it also shows how kind God is to remind me that it IS worth it. And not for vanity. (Though, it is pretty cool to look better!) It is worth it because it is what HE wants from me. And glorifying Him with my body is a wonderful thing.
WOO HOO!!!! I just want to run down the street and cheer.
I am soooo proud of you. Truly, this is a transformation from the inside out. You are winning!!! Go Julie Go!!!
ReplyDeleteI love you, Julia.
ReplyDeleteThe proof is in the pictures, Julie. :-) Look at the change!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And the inner change is as dramatic. So proud of the faith that you are applying to the fight.
ReplyDeleteLove you!
I'm delighted for all the non-scale victories you are seeing this week. You're seeing them for what they are: success, and a sign that you are making SIGNIFICANT changes in your life.
ReplyDeleteI'm telling you stuff you already know, but let me ramble anyway:
Your emotions are valuable, but listen to your mind and your reason when you get stressed. Emotions said "eat cereal." Mind gave you wiser advice. :) Keep on thinking about what is right and true, and don't let yourself freak out about the flitting thoughts of eating cereal. (Did I tell you about the day I went into Oregon Dairy and considered buying and eating one of every item in the bulk section?!) The brief thought is not a reason to condemn yourself, unless you let that wrong thought produce wrong action.
You go girl. You're doing great!