I have taken at least 3 or 4 sets of "before" pics over the years when I get an extra burst of motivation. However, I never get around to doing the "after" pics, since I never seem to have any positive results. Well, actualy I do have positive results, but by the time I remember to take the after photos I am back to where I started.

So as I was organizing my latest set of before pics, I found some I did 4 years ago. I was probably about 30 lbs lighter than I am now, and I look stick thin. I can recall what I was thinking back then, too! I had been dating my (now) husband for about 6 months, and I probably gained 5-10 pounds in that time period. On a 130 lb frame, that shows a lot, and it is enough to squeeze someone out of her size 7 jeans. So I got motivated to shed the extra weight, and took some before pictures. I don't think I ever squeezed my butt into a size 7 since then. When I got married 2 years later, I was about 25 lbs over my "single" weight. Fast forward another 2 years and I am up almost 40 pounds.

Today I am finally willing to accept the fact that there is a huge difference for what a 29 year old single person and a 34 year old married person need to do to keep weight off. Back then when I weighed 130 (which I thought was huge compared to my college days when I was 115), I would basically eat 1 meal a day. I didn't usually eat breakfast or dinner or even snack, and I never was hungry. I hardly ever worked out, and when I did it was hours at the rock climbing gym, or hiking trips, canoe trips or other fun activities that I didn't consider working out. For the special occassions, I just needed to eat a light lunch for a couple days and would miraculously drop 5 pounds that would stay off for weeks.

Here's where I am at now. Now I know I do not have the same calorie requirements as my husband, and as such I should not be getting 1/2 the pizza or pasta or whatever else we make for dinner. I also don't need to eat just because HE is hungry. If I'm not hungry for dinner, I can eat a handful of nuts and move on. I also do not need to eat just because we go out drinking. A couple beers is bad enough, so I really don't need the mozzarella sticks or fried mushrooms to go with it.

I have been doing better the last few weeks, but I will admit it wasn't entirely my decision. My husband quit his job and started going back to school, and I have recently become lactose intolerant (I think). So between our crazy schedule, lack of excess funds and my touchy stomach, I don't have much of a choice to eat better. I also don't feel pressured to "hang" with him as much on the eating.

So now is the perfect time for a new set of "before" pictures, and I promise on Sept 29th, 2012 I will take my first round of "after" photos where I actually look better than before! Well, I might not be able to tell a difference in 12 weeks, but I will at least continue to take pictures every 12 weeks and one day it will start showing. Heck, I might even take them weekly and have a nice flip book to show my progress!

JUST SAY "NO" TO BEFORE PHOTOS!