Monday, May 13, 2013

FIVE YEARS - My Diet and Blog Anniversary!

With the exception of my marriage, I don't tend to stick with things all that long.  So I'm quite pleased to report that tomorrow will mark five years since I started this blog, and my weight-loss journey.  And I'm still going strong with both!  Well, the weight-loss has turned into mostly maintaining that loss, but I've changed my eating habits drastically from where I was over five years ago, and that is why I've been able to keep most of the weight that I lost off.  And blogging - wow.  I started this blog to have a record of how hard I was working to get the weight off, so I could go back and be reminded of the effort and hopefully not return to my old ways of eating.  I never thought it would blossom into what it is today, and for that, I have you, my readers, to thank.

Today, five years after I started what I hoped would be my last diet, I'm a normal-sized person.  I haven't had to shop at Lane Bryant for years (and I finally seem to be off their mailing list, lol).  Not only do I exercise regularly, but I don't think twice about doing something as simple as going for a walk or climbing a flight of stairs.  Losing over 100 pounds has changed my life in ways I never could have anticipated, because I was overweight for so long that I kind of forgot that it was possible for me - ME - to join in so many fun activities.  I'm the same person I've always been, but now I'm also the person I used to only envision.

In previous anniversary posts, I've posted my before-and-after pictures.  Here's two befores that I've never posted, and they're pretty awful.  But I think it's important to not only celebrate the body that I have today, but to also remember where I was - the saying "Those who cannot remember the past are condemed to repeat it" is very applicable to me.  Apologies for the poor quality - these are scans, as they were taken before the digital camera era.

This is me in 1998 - 10 years before I started my diet:
Taken during our trip to Washington D.C. - I thought I was going to die with all the walking we did.

This is me in 2003 - 5 years before I started my diet:
Taken during my trip to Oregon - I thought I was going to die with all the walking we did.

This is me in 2013 - 5 years after I started my diet:
Pretty happy with myself!

Year four
Year three
Year two
Year one
Very first post

31 comments:

  1. CONGRATULATIONS!

    You look much younger now than 10 years ago in 2003 and I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your dress in the last pic (I think it's obvious I love the dress LOL, could definitely buy that myself.

    I can't believe it's "only" 5 years since you started blogging because I have been following you for about 4 years now (started reading yours around this time 4 years ago) and I have always thought your were blogging much longer than 5 years.

    I'm happy and glad that you didn't quit blogging, nor the weight loss and I'm happy and grateful that I found your blog on this huge thing called internet. Even though we never met in person and it's not certain we will ever will, I consider you as a friend and you give me inspiration and motivation every time.

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  2. You look so good and your hair in that last pic is fantabulous!!! I swear you look like you are on your way to a high school dance or something. Congrats!!!! Looking forward to another 5 years!!!

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  3. Congratulations, Shelley. You continue to be an inspiration of balanced and healthy living. I enjoy the glimpse of your life you share on your blog.

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  4. You rook mahvelous!!! Your hair is gorgeous. And wearing a fitted waist --who would've thunk?

    I swear we look like twins in our before pics --look, we even have the same shirt on! Lane Bryant! I had almost forgotten.

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  5. You look stunning and it's not simply because of the gorgeous dress and shoes. I think you finally freed the real Shelley. Congratulations and THANK YOU for continuing to be a positive role model to so many of us!

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  6. LOVELOVELOVE THIS and the fact youve invited us along the way.
    Ive adored watching you do and find and SEEK new things and experiences.

    xo

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  7. Congrats Shelly! Weight maintenance takes a lot of day in day out work. Bravo!!

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  8. And you should be pleased, you've done a great job. Happy Anniversary!

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  9. Wow, it's been five years? What an inspiring journey and so many outstanding blog posts and fun photos along the way.Happy blogversary!

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  10. Bravo! I'm sure you feel much better now. They say it's much harder to maintain than to lose the weight, so congrats on a huge accomplishment!

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  11. WTG Shelley! You look year younger now than you did ten years ago. Way to get to who you were really meant to be! Thank you for being real, for your wit and wisdom and the inspiration you've given us all as we've shared your journey. Congratulations!

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  12. Happy Anniversary, Shelley! It's so important to commemorate the day that you decided to change your life, and see just how far you've come! And how cool to become the person you envisioned, and be able to enjoy so many fun things now. Congratulations!

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  13. Happy Anniversary! You look great! Your pictures tell the story of ongoing hard work and determination. I saw pictures of myself from mothers day yesterday and I see that I need to make some changes. Your pictures are very motivating to me :).

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  14. Awesome Shelley!! Happy blogiversary!!! That purple dress and shrug are too cute!!

    I get so inspired reading your blog and seeing your progress. Makes me realize that it's not impossible!! :)

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  15. When I get home tonight I am going to go back and read your first post! Congrats to Five years!!! You look amazing and continue to inspire.

    I've "known" you since January 2009 and am happy to call you my friend! :D

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  16. Congrats. We started blogging in the same year. Btw: you look great. Younger and thinner.

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  17. Congratulations on your 5 years! You give me hope. I found your blog through the AIM posts and am reading through all your posts. I just started the 2012 posts. I am older than you and have more to lose but after reading about your journey and those of the other AIM bloggers I feel like it is possible to lose and maintain a large amount of weight. Thank you for the inspiration! I may even start blogging. :)

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  18. Happy Anniversary, Shelley! Look how far you've come - and how many people you've inspired along the way. You've got a lot to be proud of.

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  19. Congratulations Shelley!!!!! You continue to inspire and I'm so happy you share your life with us!! Cheers to the next 5 years of blogging and health!

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  20. Bravo, Shelley. And thank you for your presence here in the blogosphere. You've been such an inspiration to me, and even gotten me back into knitting!

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  21. Congratulations to you on your 5 year anniversary!! Thank you for being an inspirations to so many including me :) Keep up the awesome work!

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  22. Congratulations Shelley on your blogiversary and your weight maintenance!

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  23. Congratulations on your 5 year anniversary. You look marvelous! Truly fabulous.

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  24. Happy happy 5-years, my friend!! I love that you've put yourself out here. Your voice is so honest and real and contagious!! I don't run, as you know, but I want to move more just because you love it so! (((Shelley))) Thanks for being such an integral part of my weight life :)

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  25. Congratulations! Wow just WOW :) Awesome

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  26. Congratulations, Shelley! You've accomplished so much!

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  27. WOW WOW WOW. Thank you for all you've shared with us over the years. You have truly been one of my biggest inspirations.

    I think the thing that makes me the happiest about your after pictures is that you actually look years younger and you can see the happiness on your face!!

    p.s. LOVE the long blonde hair too :)

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  28. Happy blogiversary!!!! As always you look spectacular!!! :-)

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  29. 5 years!!! Youre my hero!!! Loving that dress!!!
    And it was fun to go back in time and read some of your beginning blogs!!! Love your humor!!! I wanna be like you when I grow up!

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  30. Congrats Shelley! I always look forward to reading your blog, thanks for putting it out there for us. You look amazing and happy!

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  31. I've had this saved in my tabs for weeks. I wanted to thank you for not only being a wonderful cheerleader and friend, but for being a source of inspiration and hope to me -- I love seeing posts like this showing us how far you have come and for how long. It makes me realize I can do it too.

    Plus, I Love love LOVE your new blog design!!! Happy 5 year anniversary -- what a way to celebrate!!

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