Ch-ch-ch-Changes

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It occurred to me this weekend that I haven’t posted any photo updates of my weight loss journey in awhile and I think it’s time because, based on comments I’ve received lately, I’ve passed another visible milestone.

I noticed, when I first started losing weight, that it wasn’t until someone – an obese someone – hits about 40 pounds lost that people really start noticing. I mean, sure, your mom and your spouse are going to give you compliments and tell you you’re doing well, but getting those “Hey, you’ve lost weight” comments from friends and acquaintances doesn’t seem to start happening until about 40 pounds.

Then, apparently, at about 70 pounds, you start getting another round of, “Wow! You’ve really lost some weight.” I say that because, last Wednesday, much to my delight, three different people commented on how good I’m looking. Their words, not mine, but oh, so nice to hear.

Then, over the next few days, again, I had several people comment on my weight loss. I decided it was time for an updated blog photo. Until I took the photo and compared it to the previous one, I hadn’t realized how much my face has changed, even though the scale hasn’t moved much since the last photo. I think sometimes it’s surprising how much your body is still changing, even though the pounds may not be coming off as fast as they were at first.

I’d really like to update with some full-length photos, but I forgot to get my daughter to get a few of those the other day when she was taking some new headshots for me. So, I thought I’d do a photo update that you’d notice if you only know me through my blog photos.

Note: The first two photos are from before I started trying to lose weight. I didn’t take any “before” photos when I started because, quite honestly, I didn’t expect to be successful.

December 2008

June 2009

(Maybe not topped out at 220 pounds, but still, morbidly obese.)

March 2010 – 35 lbs. lost

May 2010 – 50 lbs. lost

July 2010 – 60 lbs. lost

September 2010 – 65 lbs. lost

March 2011 – 70 lbs. lost

Even I, former avoider of the subject-side of the lens, can see the difference in the last photo and the one from last March. I look at that last photo (I mean, really, I keep staring at it) and think, “Wow, I look pretty.”

I never thought I’d be happy with my appearance again. I never thought I’d have come this far. It’s a good, good feeling. If you’ve just started your journey or are just thinking about getting started, do it! Hang it there! Persevere. It is so very worth it.

Kris Bales

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Kris Bales is a newly-retired homeschool mom and the quirky, Christ-following, painfully honest founder (and former owner) of Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers. She has a pretty serious addiction to sweet tea and Words with Friends. Kris and her husband of over 30 years are parents to three amazing homeschool grads. They share their home with three dogs, two cats, a ball python, a bearded dragon, and seven birds.

8 Comments

I started following this blog from pretty much the beginning. Not sure how I found it though. Just wanted to say you look fantastic! and Congrats!!!

Thanks, T!

You DO look pretty! And I agree with people not noticing until I hit the 40 pound mark…and some not even then. The first time I was WAAAAYYY too sensitive about it was back in October when I was at 35 pounds lost, came home from work in my baggy purple uniform, and my brother-in-law (who hadn't seen me since 10 pounds lost) said, "Hey, you look like a purple "Oompa-Loompa!" I sulked privately all night. I'm sure it wasn't ill intentioned or even insensitive on his part. He is, after all, a male. Sometimes their Sensitivity Level needs tweaking. I do have people notice now at 43 pounds lost (still), but not as much as I would've hoped. And Joe, always the encourager, mentions it frequently…and that keeps me going.

wow! Yes, you do look pretty!! Isn't that a great feeling? Keep up the good work!

You. look. fabulous! And you do look so much more at ease in the latter photos. 🙂

I'm glad you mentioned about the 40 lb mark. I'm at 30 lbs lost, and *I* am beginning to really notice in photos. No one else has mentioned anything, but that may be because they're being … polite? … cautious? … considerate? … something.

Yes, Mamosa, what would we do without encouraging husbands sometimes. For all that we may complain about their faults, for many of us they are our biggest fans and our greatest encouragers. I don't think I'd have been as successful without Brian.

Noodle, I think you have a point about people being cautious or polite. I have had people tell me that they never know if they should comment on weight-loss or not because some people get offended.

I have assured my friends and family that I will never get offended if they tell me I look like I've lost weight. 😉

WOW! Kris what a transformation – you looked pretty in your first photos but you look beautiful in your latest shot and as Noodle said you look much more comfortable in your own skin too.

Well done you!

Thanks, G. I do definitely feel more comfortable in my own skin these days. It's a good feeling.

Kris Bales

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