"IT'S A NEW ME!!"

I'm amazed. I started SparkPeople 8 months ago. I never could or would have imagined all of the changes I have experienced in such a short period of time in this stage of my life.Positive ones,for a change.It's a new me I see in the mirror.It's a new me energetically going up 4-5 flights of stairs w/a 20-30 lb work bag(My 'Office')to see Patients that live in non-elevator buildings.It's a new me not snoring anymore(Much to the happiness of my Beloved Hubby!)It's a new me shopping for clothes 6-sizes smaller than I bought last November, and buying sneakers to start working out at the Gym this week in addition to my work outs at home. It's a new me with a new attitude on food and exercising.It's a new me eating at Applebee's choosing the 550-or-less calories entree'. It's a new me sharing my success with everyone(Including a waitress at Applebee's. I sure hope she joins SparkPeople.)
It's a new me saying,"GOAL ALMOST MET!"
When I first started with SparkPeople I was very determined to lose the dreadful weight I had put on over the past 3-5 years;stress,poor eating habits,&denying I had a problem in the first place were all culprits.Once I started,though,it took some time to see results,and so much courage not to become disheartened when I didn't. Even when I gained 7 lbs of "Fun Weight" during my "Canadian Honeymoon," last month,I didn't beat myself up for eating all the things that I had shunned for months.(Not being able to track my foods due to poor Internet access didn't help,either.)When I returned home, I just worked a little harder at my workouts & returned to my "regular" eating &food tracking pattern,& before June was gone the extra pounds were.
I am hearing from people that I haven't seen in a while"You've lost weight!" "You look younger!" "You look so good!" "I didn't even know who you were!" The incredible feeling I have when I hear these exclamations is indescribable. What is more astounding though is having to pin my old work clothes or tighten the belt to the last notch.The icing on the cake is fitting a size 8 again. I almost gave alot of fantastic dresses/evening gowns that I love away because before SparkPeople I thought I would never be able to fit into them again.Thanks to SparkPeople,now they do.I also learned a very valuable lesson-Never say NEVER!
About those brand new size 14s that I bought just last November.They'll be altered by a Church Sister who is a seamstress.Glory to God!!
***I might be new, but I'm not rich!"***