Here's how: (#2)

I got a second "hands clapping" charm after attending 32 meetings. You get one every 16 meetings, if you want one.
The only charm left for me is the "lifetime" charm, in the shape of a key. I have 4 more weigh-ins until I'm a Lifetime Member (you have to maintain your goal weight for 6 weeks, and then when you become a lifetime member you never have to pay again, if you gain no more than 2 lbs above your goal weight).
And here's all of them put together. I always have the keychain on the zipper of my purse. At first I thought it might be embarassing, but I realized that I wanted it there as a reminder that I can do anything, once I decide to!

(I didn't want to smile like that in the picture, but A. tricked me into smiling)

Here's how: (#1)

After seeing some Halloween pics, and after not being able to play with P. the way I had with the girls, and after not being able to buy any clothes that fit, I decided I needed to change my life. So I tried eating healthier, and lost 6 lbs in November. I got really down because I realized that I was not strong enough to do this by myself. My mom told me about a girl I grew up with who lost 40lbs on Weight Watchers, and I was impressed. My mom offered to pay for it if I was interested, and I accepted after swallowing MAJOR pride (I really wanted to say that I did it all by myself, and at first I thought joining WW would be embarassing).

So, I joined! (in December) The first goal with WW is to lose 10% of your body weight. Studies show that just this step alone decreases all kinds of health problems, etc.

They give you a key ring that's in the shape of a "10," and note that it has little pictures on the left of the major WW weight loss accomplishments. After you get your 10%, you set your ultimate goal with your leader.

The next thing I got was this little "weight" that says "25," because I had lost 25 lbs.
Then I got a "hands clapping" charm after attending 16 weeks of meetings (1 meeting/week)
Then I got the star charm when I reached the goal weight that I had set with the leader.
Here is the "weight" charm I got when I lost 50lbs.

See next post...

Thank You All SO MUCH!!!

Wow, I'm both amazed and a little embarassed! I had NO IDEA so many people would look at my pictures. I didn't know some of you even knew I had a blog! Thanks, everyone, for your support--those of you who commented here, and those of you who told me privately. I'm grateful to know such awesome people!

AFTER

About 56 lbs less...

This is SO hard for me to do, people. You KNOW how much I hate pictures of myself. I'm counting all the flaws right now...

BEFORE

OK, you asked for it, and I'm humiliated to give it, but here goes nothing:

These were taken on September 30, 2007, and early October, 2007

recent random pics

"It looks like a dead chicken," D. said sadly as she was getting ready for church.
You can't really tell, but there are 3 different marks at the bottom of her game sheet. These marks are her name written 3 different times, starting with tiny letters, then the next one was tinier, and the last being the tiniest. She did this with her school work all year long. I usually can't even find her name. Other than doing small print, she likes changing her actual lettering almost every time she writes her name. That totally reminds me of my dad, who once said his ideal job, if he didn't have to be responsible for earning income, would be creating fonts.
D. and her preschool friend, Lauren.
No explanation necessary.
Yup, he's still flexible.

A.'s cousin's daughter's baptism

Which means she's my first cousin once removed, by marriage, right?
It's really nice that A.'s cousin lives in Davis. We're lucky to be close to some family members.