HAPPY TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY ~ the Wedding Edition ? “It is NOT about where you’ve been, it’s about where you want to go”.?
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20 years and a lifetime of choices separates these two photos. The evening of Feb 5, 1999, I stood on a church platform, took the hand of the man I loved and promised I would do my best.
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My best has taken on many forms and sizes over the years, but one I could never seem to master was my weight.
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By Feb 2017 I reached more than 400 lbs. I was extremely depressed, anxious, miserable trying to exist but feeling like as a prisoner in a body that no longer allowed me to truly live.
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On 4-10-17 I decided I would no longer let my history control my destiny, I switched to a Clean Eating lifestyle that literally began to change everything ?
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I’m now 46 years old and over the past 21 months I’ve lost close to -190 lbs ~ I have not had to eliminate any food groups, deprive or starving myself to do it ~ I’m losing the weight HAPPILY, healthily, consistently and ? naturally! ?But the best part is truly being present and active in my life with the man I love ?
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20 years ago I didn’t get the blissful wedding dress shopping experience every bride hopes for ~ oh I loved my dress ~ it wound up being the most glamorous I’d ever felt in my whole life, but walking into a bridal shop to try on (look at) dresses was torture. (I wrote more about that yesterday)
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That was NOT the case this weekend!!
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My amazing spouse Ralph (@ralphhfowler) took me dress shopping this weekend and I FINALLY got to try on ALL THE DRESSES!!!! Talk about bliss and bling ?
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Life is still not perfect. Far from it! ? I still have days where I feel defeated, frustrated, doubtful and disappointed only now I accept what I cannot control and I control the things I have the power to change. And that’s what real living is all about! Learning and loving and growing and doing your very best!
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Now I know I can choose something different and I choose something different!
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And so can you ?
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Don’t let your History control your destiny! You are more powerful, capable and equipped than you may know!
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I’m cheering for you ?
? HANDS DOWN, this will go down as one of my very favorite moments in my entire extreme weight loss journey so far! Fitting both myself AND my husband into my wedding dress from 20 years ago this week is truly the most priceless moment of sheer JOY!!
(And holy crap what a team player @ralphhfowler HE is ?)
I had no idea, NO IDEA if changing my food would change my life but that’s where I started and everything since then has just been such incredible thick, luxurious, rich, icing on the figurative cake of my life ?!
There are such good things ahead and I am SO grateful that YOU have chosen to share the journey with me; with us!! ?
This photo is still making me giggle and cry tonight ??stay warm!