Progress is slow.

It's hard to be satisfied with slow progress. Losing weight (if you do it in a healthy way) is a slow process, especially if you have a lot to lose. When I started, I had about 77 pounds to lose. So I knew I was in this for the long haul, but that doesn't make it less hard to stay consistent and be satisfied with slow progress. For this reason I find pictures so exciting. I can look at images side by side and compare how I looked then and now. 

Bethany bought me this jacket a while ago, somewhere around 10 months ago. When she first gave it to me, it was tight and I couldn't stretch it over my chest. Over time it became my measure of weight loss. This morning I was able to button it for the first time! Don't let the pictures fool you, it's tight when I button it and I feel more comfortable with it unbuttoned. But just the fact that I now can button it makes me smile because I never imaged when I got it how that would be possible. 

These pictures span 38 weeks in my weight loss journey. I can't say (without looking at charts) how much that has translated to in pounds. In reality the pounds don't matter, it's about how you feel and look. And these pictures say more about my 38 weeks than a number. I will use them to stay encouraged. 

My stats to date: This year through losses and gains I have kept off 4.8 pounds. My goal is still 30.