WLWed: A Vacation Souvenir…For You

Last week I was running short on time and ideas.  So I went with an open topic for this week.  I hope you'll join me and share whatever is on your heart today in regards to your weight loss journey. 

Ok, so the real truth is that I was on vacation when I wrote last week's Weight Loss Wednesday post.  Actually I was in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico on a cruise ship.  I had purchased a plan to use the Internet on board, which is rather expensive.  And I was literally running out of time. 

I only had so much time left on my account.  So that's why I didn't take the time to think of a topic.  It was all I could do to get the post written!

BUT…now I am back home trying to get back into routine. And oh, it's SOOO hard.  Can I go back on vacation now?!?!?

I did bring a souvenir back with me just for YOU, my lovely loyal blog readers:

A picture!

But first let me offer some perspective. 

This is a picture of me about six months before I started losing weight…

This is me now….

Can you believe the difference?!?!?

I'm shocked actually.  I knew I had lost a lot of weight.  But I didn't realize the difference it made.

Now can I share a truth with you?

I felt amazing on vacation!

After losing over 60 lbs, I had to buy a whole new wardrobe before I could even go on vacation.  It felt really good to wear dresses/skirts and high heels that showed off my new figure.  I didn't feel stuffed into my clothes.  Instead, I felt comfortable in my own skin.  It was an amazing feeling.

It was also a reminder of one of the mantras I kept holding onto while I was losing the weight:

Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.

I say this not to toot my own horn.  Or to make you feel guilty.  Instead, I want to give you hope.

That girl in the first picture didn't think she could really lose weight.  She didn't think there was any hope of change.  She was tired….and discouraged.  But she decided to try anyway.  And she managed to make a difference in her life.

And the truth of the matter is…

You can too, my friend!

You don't have to stay where you are. 

You can change.

All you have to do is take a step.  Make a small change.  Maybe it's cutting down on the number of sodas you drink a day or cutting them out entirely and drinking mostly water.  Or maybe it's starting with a ten minute walk twice a week.  The point is to start somewhere.

Then when you feel comfortable with that change, make another one.  You don't have to make a major lifestyle change all at once.  That's too overwhelming.  But eventually those small changes will  add up and you will start to see real changes at the scale. 

Maybe you're already trying to lose weight.  And you need a little encouragement today.  Let me remind you how strong you are.  Keep up the good work.  Don't let a disappointment at the scale knock you down.  Keep going.  You're worth the effort.

Wherever you are in your weight loss journey, remember that you have the power to change your life, my friend.  Don't ever lose hope. You can do this!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Hebrews 12:1-3

How are you doing with your weight loss goals my friend?  Why don't you join us for Weight Loss Wednesday and share?  Remember…we're all in this together!

It's easy.  Write a blog post about this week's topic and link back to this post.  Then register with Mr. Linky below.  Please know, though, that I reserve the right to delete any link that does not conform to the spirit of Weight Loss Wednesday.  You can also join us on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #wlwed. 

Also please remember to visit some of the other participants as well.  It's very encouraging to know you are not alone in this journey.

Next week let's talk about disappointment at the scale.  How do you handle it when you are working your hardest and the scale isn't moving?  I hope you'll come back and share with us.  We could all use the encouragement for those discouraging days!

In the meantime, remember….

Quitting is not an option!

PS – Now that I am back from vacation, I am trying to get caught back up.  So hopefully today (or tomorrow) I will get to read last week's Weight Loss Wednesday posts…and this week's posts.  So don't give up on me.  I'm coming.  I promise!