Defining Differences

A little while back Melissa suggested that I do a side-by-side comparison of my before photo and of my current progress shot. I am actually going to hold off on doing that until I am officially in maintenance mode, but I did think that it was a good idea to look at how far I have come just since the beginning of the year.

The one other photo comparison I have done (which, funnily enough, was also the result of one of Melissa’s suggestions) showed a drop of slightly less than 24% of my body weight. It illustrated the difference between my August 12th starting weight of 254.6 pounds and my December 5th progress shot of 193.8 pounds. The comparison I am posting today actually shows the over 20% drop in body weight from my first weigh-in of this year – 181.2 pounds – compared to the one I just did this month which was 144.4.

It’s interesting for me to look at these pictures side-by-side. I don’t see the dramatic weight loss that I did in the first comparative set (although there is a significant amount of that too), but rather some very obvious changes to the definition of my body.

In the first photo I am very soft and rounded still, but in this most recent one I notice a lot of bone structure and muscle definition. No, there isn’t as much of a decline in the circumference of my waist, but there are lovely hollows along my neck and collarbone and there is more than a hint of strength in those arms that wasn’t visible before. I love seeing these changes!

I think that it is so important to recognize all of the different aspects of this type of journey. Weight loss slows as goals are neared, and it is important to key in on the many reasons that continuing along a healthy path is beneficial. Too often I hear that maintenance is hard and I think that it is because it is so easy to miss the excitement of dropping the pounds when there is no more weight left to lose.

But other elements of this journey can't be forgotten or overlooked. The definition of certain muscles, a growing level of fitness or endurance, a lack of joint pain, the ability to play freely with one's children, and the satisfaction of walking into a typical clothing store and not feeling out of place are all things that should be enjoyed and recognized as a continuing part of healthy living. Even when weight loss progress slows, and eventually tapers off completely, there are still many changes to be proud of and to celebrate!

FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 8 glasses of water
- 2 cups grapes
- 1 wrap on a soft tortilla shell with deli ham, cheese, dried cranberries, spinach, fat free Miracle Whip, mustard, and pepper
- 2 1/2 cups Caesar salad with bacon bits, Parmesan cheese, and croutons
- 4 bites of a garlic wedge
- 4 slices of apple
- 1/4 cup red grapes
- 4 large sesame whole grain crackers with cheese
- 1 mug cherry white chocolate steamed skim milk
- 1 plum and pomegranate energy bar
- 2 Oreo cookies

EXERCISE:
- 30 stomach crunches