Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Taking Pictures to Mark Your Progress & Making Goals for Yourself

As you can see to the right, I have added a slide show. If you click on any of the pictures, it will open it up in a new window to show you more about the photo. They range from 2005 when I started getting out of control and continue to 2006 when I hit rock bottom, or rock fat. Then, onto 2007 when I started making changes, and into 2008 when I started to really push myself to change. I should have some new pictures of 2009 up soon!

I am not real thrilled with sharing my "fat photos". As I get braver, I will post more of the old ones that I took for reference (read that as a sports top and tight shorts). But, it makes me accountable. I can't figure out where I want to go, and stay on a path to get there, without remembering where I have been.

But, remembering isn't enough. You need proof. You need to be able to look back and see what you were. I like to remind myself of how I felt then. (Huge, heavy, tired, un-sexy, unmotivated, lazy, sad, depressed....etc) If you watch all the pictures, you can just see me start to come alive in them. I can tell by looking at the 2005/2006 photos that I was a very unhappy person. But 2008, the smile is real, the fire is back. I look and feel alive! I cannot wait to see what happens in the future!

But, anyway, I know a lot of you are like me, and the worse you look, the more likely you are to yell at the person with the camera "No, don't take my picture" But, it is so important. Own up to your numbers. Your weight, your chins, your clothing size, your measurements or whatever those numbers are, own them, and decide to change.

Write down your measurements. Write down your weight. Write down your clothing size. Now, make goals for yourself. SMALL goals. Right now, my small goal is to be below 185 pounds. I am 185.4. If I get below 185, I will be able to say I have lost 50 pounds. WOOHOO, yeah me! So, that's all I am concerned about right now. Do I want to be 185 forever? Oh hell no. But right now, .4 pounds is what I need to concentrate on. Breaking your weight loss into smaller, more manageable chunks is key to success. I didn't start out saying, "I am going to lose 50 pounds." Nope. I started out wanting to be out of the 230's. At one time, I just wanted to be out of a size 18 jeans. I change my goals too depending on how I feel. I make them small and manageable.

Write them down!!!!! This is important. You need to come back to that and be able to see where you have been! Yeah, I've said this a few times because it is so important. Maybe your goal is to go down a jeans size. Maybe it's to take an inch off your waist. Maybe it's to lose 5 pounds. Maybe it's to run a mile without stopping. But, make a goal. Right now. Go write it down. I will wait.

Okay, now you have a goal. Now, finish reading this and go take a picture. Label and date it and put it with your goal. From day to day, no one sees the changes. But from month to month, year to year, you will be glad you have the comparison. It will help keep you motivated and help keep you on track!

Love, laughter and light,
Mrs. ChildFun

3 comments:

  1. Wow who is the hot chick in the top right picture?

    ReplyDelete
  2. HAHAHAH. Whoever you are, you made my day :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Way to go Mrs. ChildFun!  I am supposed to be planning my Sunday School lesson for tomorrow when I saw the link for tips on weight loss and read your story.  You should and I think do feel so happy with yourself and your new figure.  How exciting this spring and summer will be to wear some adorable outfits that you will look GREAT in!  Thanks for sharing and for wanting to help others in the battle of the buldge!

    ReplyDelete