Thankful for a Year of Less

Last year, on Thanksgiving Day, I posed for a photo with the women of my husband's family.  At the time, I had no idea that it would become my "Before" photo.

Thanksgiving 2011 / July 22, 2012

I remember standing between my sister in law and dear Grandma Joyce thinking, "Ugh.  I really do not want to be in front of the camera."  It was uncomfortable and embarrassing.  I had been using the "I just had a baby" excuse since August and I knew it wouldn't hold water a whole lot longer.  Evan's grandmother asked me to also take a couple photos of her grandchildren and I had to get in the photo of one of those as well.

Thanksgiving 2011

Now, I can't with any degree of honesty say that it was seeing the photos of my husband and me together that created the kick in the pants that we needed to get our weight under control.  In fact, we didn't start doing anything about it until January.  But, looking back on these photos from Thanksgiving last year, I am that much more grateful for the year full of blessings we have had.

November 4, 2012  (Just shy of 20% body weight lost!)

Tomorrow, we will gather with these same dear family members, but things will be different.  We will enjoy our meal, but we won't get winded just from the effort of eating it.  We will smile for photos without cringing underneath.  We will say numerous prayers of thanks to the God who never gave up on us, who knew we had it in us all along.

November 12, 2012  (Down to 125 pounds!)

This Thanksgiving, I am forever thankful that 2012 was the year we reclaimed our health and our confidence.  I have reached my goal weight and I now battle to keep it.  Evan's journey with Weight Watchers continues and I am proud to be his biggest cheerleader.  We are so much happier and healthier than we were last Thanksgiving and I can't wait to see what another year brings.

And to Evan, I am so proud of you.  You have worked hard this year and have seen what success you can achieve when you set your mind to it.  I am thankful for your support on my weight loss journey as well and for your decision to take control of your health for the sake of our family.  Keep it up, don't quit and this next year will be even more incredible.

I totally think we need to take a Thanksgiving 2012 photo tomorrow just so we can compare.  :)

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!  (Take it easy on the gravy and pecan pie. I'll be at the gym next week, to be sure.)