Friday, August 11, 2006

Before and After...

Funny things happen when you get married. I mean Matt and I dated for eleven and a half years and still, funny things happened when we got married. The "funniest" was my amazing Willy Wonka Ever Expanding Behind! Really, it's amazing!

I hadn't realized how amazing until today. I have a pair of friends who share a house nearby. In fact it's right at a half mile from mine. So I walk there and back and viola, I've walked a mile. Apparently, I need to learn to run marathons.

One of those sweet friends... Beth. Yes, I'm naming you. Got a little camera happy when I stopped by yesterday. And then decided to email me the pictures of myself this morning.

And I was in total shock. I mean I have never been "skinny" but I used to be comfortable with my body. And I know I've gained a lot of weight since getting married. My doctor ran every type of test imaginable when I went for my yearly examine. And when they all came back okay... Well, except for my cholesterol, he sat me down and had a heart to heart.

Even then I hadn't grasped exactly how much weight I'd gained.

Here's the before:


And here's the after(thanks, Beth):
(I'm on the right. Susan, Beth's twin sister is on the left)


There were other pictures, but this was the least painful to see. Notice it's not a full body shot...

Not exactly the way before and after shots should go. For those hung up on numbers, there's about a 40 pound difference in the two pictures!

All kidding aside, I owe Beth because she gave me a really big push with that email. I've exercised twice today and recommitted myself to healthy eating. I had been overweight and lost 50 pounds at one time. Looks like I'll have to do it again. But hey, at least I know I can since I did it once, right? Let's hope...

So to those of you unmarried out there, if you choose to take that walk down the isle, remember to not let the walking stop there. And let's hope that by this time next year, the before and after shots go the opposite direction!

April :-)

11 comments:

Susan Rix said...

I've got pics where I was so skinny I looked ill and annorexic. I don't like being nearly double the size I am now, but if there's one thing everybody notices, it's how much happier I am.
The same goes for you. You still look gorgeous (and I mean this sincerely), but you also look incredibly happy.
I wish you every luck with achieving ypur goal, but please don't let the way you feel about yourself take away your happiness.
Sue :-)

Shelli Stevens said...

Oh I hear you on that! I lost 35 pounds once, looked great. Then got knocked up and gained 80! I'm still trying to lose about 35 of it. ACK!

But let me say, you don't look bad with a little meat on your bones. But I can understand wanting to lose it :)

Julie S said...

Oh look, you just told the story of my life! LOL. Same thing happened to me, but it really happened before the wedding. Unfortunately (or fortunately) DH loves me no matter what I look like, which doesn't exactly motivate me to lose weight. So...I'm trying to motivate myself. It's so hard, but I don't think I have a choice anymore!!!

Karen Erickson said...

Getting married is hard on the weight - I swear it's like you try and match them in their eating habits or something! Plus you get comfortable and happy and next thing you know...poof! You've gained weight.

That's my problem. Well, that and I had two babies in two years. I'm still trying to work off that extra weight. Wish sitting in the chair and writing was considered exercise. If that was the case, I would be as skinny as a rail!

Anonymous said...

April, I hear you, too. I gained around 30 pounds after I got married. I'm still trying to shed those. If you come up with a magic formula (other than eat less and excercise more), let me know. On a brighter side, girl, I think you still look good!

Cole Reising said...

Good luck April! I'll be cheering you all the way!

Cole

April said...

Glad to hear it's not "just me" :-) And really, hubby has been super about it. He loves me in any shape or form. Really, it's more of a health concern. My seemingly atheltic and healthy father had heart disease which caused a massive heart attack. And serious heart disease and diabetes run in my family. According to my doctor, my weight is really increasing my risks. So I guess exercise and diet are going to be my new... friends. I won't say "best friends" I'm just not liking them that much ;-)

Lis said...

Best of luck April! I know I have some weight of my own to lose (20 would be nice, more then that would be good) and its definitely hard to push away from the comp sometimes and exercise.
As an unmarried, I'm thinking maybe its better for my waistline to stay that way lol

Stephanie said...

April, I have a pic of me in a red latex g-string bikini, from the days when I was a workout freak. Now, 40 pounds later, I don't long for that bod (took too much work!), but would like to strike a middle ground. I recently became veggie and am working out again... let's keep each other motivated!

Unknown said...

Your story sounds like mine, April. I've decided I have to like myself again and taking better care of myself is a step in that direction! We can do this!

Jacqueline Hutchinson said...

I have gained 60 over the last 12 years of marriage, however I didn't start gaining until after I lost the weight I gained when I was pregnant with my daughter. I weighed less after her than I did in the years before we got married. then - i slowly lost control, it was only a pound here and there, but over the years it's added up.

With my recent back troubles I've also been told to lose some - if only I had the motivation for that. The good thing is I'm walking way more now that we have the puppy...

Good luck April and to everyone else needing to shed a spare pound or two. :D