What To Do With The Blog NOW!!

NOW, I need to decide how I am going to use this log!! Will I upload my calories, steps, and activity every day?? Will I use it to show what I am eating?? Humm...decisions!!

The Dress, Part 2

Well, I have tried the dress on again. A year later, January 2010, it zips. I still don't look GREAT in it...but a WHOLE lot better!!! Now, I've got some toning in the arms and abs to do as well as continue to lose weight!!!

Don't mind the hair, I just finished working out!!

2 months we are having an adult prom, to raise money for project graduation!! I hope that I look incredible in this dress!!

Closing in on 200!!!

Well, I took a bunch of photos to show my progress January 21, 2010. I weighed 204!! I am quickly approaching 200!! I am SO excited!!! My hubby bought me the Bodybugg for Christmas and its been a wonderful tool!!

The Last Football Banquet

Well, I went to Travis' football banquet, December 2009. It will be the last one for my kids!! No more boys playing football. Beka graduates too...so no more water girl!!

I was thrilled with how slim my face is looking!

I weigh 218 lbs!

MOST Detested Picture!!

While out visiting my sister, we went dancing. I was MORTIFIED when I saw this picture. ANOTHER example of WHY I HATE having my picture taken!! I wasn't going to show this to anyone, but when a girl at work showed me her "before" picture, I decided to dig this one out!!

THE Trip to Arizona!!

OH MY GOSH!! How thankful I was to my sister for opening her home!! I was able to spend over a week with my sister! We had the BEST time!! It was GREAT to get away and get some perspective!!

I weighed 224 lbs.

The Second Baby to Leave the Nest

Boy...could this day have NOT come any sooner!! My life was in MAJOR turmoil!! This is my adopted daughter. She was making life pretty misrable for everyone at home!! I was GRATEFUL that we were able to see her through to her graduation. She moved out 2 weeks after this picture. Since then, peace has returned to the Mathews home!!

A month after this picture was taken, I had a complete and hysterectomy.

I weighed 226 lbs.

I was Confused!!

Apparently thought I looked pretty darn cute in this dress. I was losing weight and felt that I looked super cute. Looking back at this picture, I am wondering what in the world I was thinking!!!

I am not sure what is on my face...makeup?!!

I weighed 224 lbs.

Trip to Visit Friends

In February 2009, Rick and I went to
Joplin to see some of his high school buddies. I thought I looked pretty good, as I was losing weight. Needless to say, I was not happy with the way these pictures turned out!

The Dress, Part 1

OK...so my sister came out to visit me in January 2009. I just LOVE her!! Anyway, we went to Name Brand Clothing store to pick out a goal dress for me...to help encourage my weight loss. Well, this is the dress I picked out. It would not zip in the back. I won't torture you by posting the picture, you'll just have to take my word for it!! It was open about 6 inches at the shoulders and about 4 in the middle of my back. At this time I weighed 239 lbs!

Will This be the Last Birthday Over Weight?

This was my 37th birthday. Was this the last birthday over weight??? NOPE!!

The First of my Babies to Leave the Nest!

This picture was taken in May of 2008. My first born was graduating high school. A milestone in both our lives that came WAY TOO SOON!! I was not ready for it!! I was SO sad!!!

My Heaviest

This picture was probably taken at my heaviest. I am not sure exactly how much I weighed, but I am sure that it was over my heaviest known weight, 257. This picture was taken in April 2008.

There was a LOT happening in my life at this time. I was struggling with two teenagers who were making horrible choices, a husband who was never home, a job that put incredible pressures on me, and the list goes on. On top of all of this, I was struggling with depression...I could bearly drag my rear out of bed!!

I hated having my picture taken. This is what I have come to realize! Everyone around me can OBVIOUSLY see how overweight I was and am. I didn't want to take pictures because I didn't want to acknowledge where I was. Now I am embrasing it...its a part of me. You can't change that which you aren't willing to acknowledge!! PLUS, by putting my pictures out there...I have a little pressure NOT to slip back into some bad habits!!

First Successful Attempt at Weight Loss

This was my first successful attempt at losing weight. I thought I had reached my highest weight, 237, April 2002. I busted my rear and worked really hard. In 6 months I lost 50 lbs and reached 187, October 2002. Then life became very confusing!!

In June of 2003, after fighting workman's comp for 9 months, I had to a second surgery on my left knee. In August of 2003, we fostered and then eventually adopted a sibling group of 3 ranging in age from 12-14. Once again, I became last on the list of priorities!!