Never knew I had such a lesson to learn...

"i'm feeling good from my head to my shoe,
know where i'm going and i know what to do,
i've tidied up my point of view,
i've got a new attitude" -Patti Labelle

I usually don't like to talk to much about personal stuff, the attention- whether good or bad- from others makes me uncomfortable and self-conscious, but something miraculous has happened in my life and I felt the need to share.
As many of you know 6 months ago, I decided to take control of my life, and my weight, and I received the lap-band surgery in order to change my unhealthy lifestyle and become the woman on the outside that I was on the inside. I realized that, unfortunately, the world isn't fair and as much as I would like to believe that socially I could succeed on my "amazing" personality alone, I realized I couldn't and needed help. What a difference it has made. 6 months later and I am feeling wonderful. The road hasn't been easy, I've had to cut out a lot of foods that had become best friends and emotional crutches when I needed them. I have missed them, I don't know if those cravings will ever end, but I am a strong person and have finally learned the ability to say "no thank you". It has been so worth it. I feel like I have truly made a lifestyle change and I see the difference every day. I have cut out my once necessary daily "naps", go to bed earlier, have energy throughout the day, get attention from boys, and can "drop it likes it hot" on the dance floor and not get winded. I love my life.
So on to the news....
I bought my first pair of jeans from a regular store yesterday! size 14. To many of my "non-weight challenged" readers, this may seem uneventful, but for me-a girl who hates spending money on clothes yet has had to buy jeans from plus-sized specialty stores since she can remember- this is a huge accomplishment. I don't remember the last time I could buy clothes in regular sizes, and it feels so good to finally be able to. The total amount of my weight loss is a mystery, since I never weigh myself as to avoid becoming a "numbers" person instead of a "how I feel person", but for the record-I am down from a 20 to a 14 in pants and a XXL to a M in shirts. Amazing.
I am so thankful for the courage and strength I have been given to accomplish my goals and the support of family and friends each day. I still have a ways to go until I reach my final goal, but these little victories, these small accomplishments give me the drive I need.

Before:


After:

(this picture is a movie re-enactment from atop the "rocky" stairs in philadelphia----and not a cheesy "biggest loser" I DID IT picture)