Here is a “Before” Picture. Probably around June of last year. It has the unique quality of being a picture of me that I actually liked! In this picture I am well over 200 pounds. Probably around my start weight of 212.8 
This picture is also basically a “before” as it was taken about ten days into the journey. I was probably down about five pounds.
This was on our trip to Colorado in September. I had lost 17 pounds and gained a lot of fitness. We had a very active week and I loved it! And although I was still quite overweight, I felt cute anyway!
Now we’ve reached the end of October and I’m down almost thirty pounds. The dress is a 14 from Coldwater Creek and I’m very proud to be wearing it! 
Here you see Christmas Eve. This picture was a huge hit with my family. My mom promptly framed it. By now I’m 45 pounds lighter and looking better than I’ve looked my entire married life.
Right after the end of Happy Heart. I think I’m starting to look sorta athletic! 
March 6th, 59.4 pounds gone. Starting to really enjoy my looks…but still some work to do!
April 11th, 68.2 gone and people are starting to tell me I’m done. But I’m NOT!
Today. I still don’t quite know the best way to stand. And I’m not convinced that this skirt (a stretchy size 4) is the most flattering thing under the sun… But I weigh in at 134.6. 78.2 pounds gone. .4 under goal.
For comparison - Look at this:
The new suit was bought a week or so ago. So in these shots I’m four heavier than I am today.
And then look at this:
Don’t let yourself or anyone else tell you it can’t be done. I did it.
And I do plan on losing a little more- 5-10lbs. (so yes Brandi, goals get revised!
) But I still feel like celebrating!!!
Comment by blestwithsons — May 28, 2007 @ 6:41 pm |Edit This
Oh my goodness!! Look at you, woman — you look AMAZING! We are all very, very proud of you! You weigh less than I do!! Congrats
And I say that without even a twinge of jealousy! I’ve had a rough last 9 months or so, and I’m ecstatic with where I am. Thank you for being such a wonderful encouragement — I seriously do not think that I would be where I am right now without this site and community. And while I am certain that you are blessed by many things in your life — you are definitely a blessing to me!
Comment by Anne — May 28, 2007 @ 7:02 pm |Edit This
I think you know how proud I am of you. But just in case….Blest, I am SOOOOOO proud of you. You truly have worked hard for this. Yay for you!
YOU DID IT!!!!
Comment by Bethany — May 28, 2007 @ 9:03 pm |Edit This
Hey! Wow! Congratulations!
Comment by CJ — May 28, 2007 @ 9:22 pm |Edit This
Blest, wow, that’s amazing. I’m so proud of you
Comment by Debs — May 28, 2007 @ 11:51 pm |Edit This
Weigh to go Blest!!! Oh…and by the way, how good does it feel!!??
Comment by Tami — May 29, 2007 @ 4:33 am |Edit This
WTG WTG WTG!!!!
Comment by Stephine — May 29, 2007 @ 6:12 am |Edit This
Go ahead, celebrate like it’s 1999! You deserve it! Congratulations!
Comment by Anita — May 29, 2007 @ 6:24 am |Edit This
I don’t know what else to say but YAY! It was so smart of you to take pictures along the way, to chronicle the journey visually. It is very inspiring and has been very encouraging to watch you disappear before our eyes, you sassy thing!
Comment by lady laura — May 29, 2007 @ 6:25 am |Edit This
Yay! Well done Blest!
Comment by Bekki — May 29, 2007 @ 7:52 am |Edit This
O Blest.How brave to share the pictures with us but thanks so much for doing it. Well done you. Loads of congratulations.
Comment by elly — May 29, 2007 @ 8:42 am |Edit This
Blest, this made my day (and I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks so)!
It will be so cool when you are the guest on Oprah and the audience is full of these women you inspired on this site! I’ll be on the front row. Hehehe!
You have to tell how this accomplishment FEELS!!
Comment by missy — May 29, 2007 @ 10:21 am |Edit This
Oh I will!! That’s another post. I sat down with my journal on the first day I saw that number on my scale (last Thursday) and wrote and wrote about how I felt.
I’ll put it up later today.
Comment by blestwithsons — May 29, 2007 @ 10:45 am |Edit This
YEAH! Yes, you did! And I’m so excited for you and proud of you.
Comment by Tracy — May 29, 2007 @ 2:36 pm |Edit This
I am soooo proud of you! Thank you for being so transparent along the “weigh.” So many people keep their dieting secret. I don’t know why. Maybe in case they fall off the wagon.
Anyway, I know the Lord gets all the credit for Eric’s and my success, but thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing yourself to be the instrument He used to inspire us. Especially Eric–I mean, come on! 35 pounds in 11 weeks? Amazing!
After several years of diet “busts” I was starting to wonder if he would ever be able to shed the extra weight. What really made the difference was “meeting” someone who actually did it. And told us exactly how. Thanks again!
Comment by Brandi — May 29, 2007 @ 5:41 pm |Edit This
Wow! Blest, you look fantastic! Thanks for posting before and after pics, what an inspiration! You done good.
Comment by Caroline — May 29, 2007 @ 5:42 pm |Edit This
Too cool!
Comment by Bird — May 29, 2007 @ 7:03 pm |Edit This
Wow, that is GREAT! Now comes the challenge of moving into the maintenance phase ~ but you can do it! Way to go!!!!!!
Comment by Lorri — May 29, 2007 @ 8:25 pm |Edit This
Congratulations Blest! What an amazing transformation! I’m so happy for all that you have accomplished. =O)
Comment by Mandi — May 30, 2007 @ 5:11 am |Edit This
Blest, did you take before and after measurements? How many inches have you lost?
Comment by Anne — May 30, 2007 @ 7:08 am |Edit This
You look so amazing! Congratulations! It must have felt so great to see that number!
Comment by Christy — May 30, 2007 @ 8:11 pm |Edit This
Wow!
Btw, though delayed, I am planning on starting South Beach on Monday. My better half bought the book. I hope to have success at it. Your story is so inspirational.
You look great!
Comment by Bill — June 1, 2007 @ 9:32 pm |Edit This
You look amazing! Well done.
Comment by mopsy — June 2, 2007 @ 7:40 am |Edit This
WOW!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Leann — June 2, 2007 @ 12:52 pm |Edit This
Three cheers! I’m on vacation and not keeping up on my daily blog reading but I’m so glad I popped in to see this!
You look beautiful and so so happy!
Comment by KimC — June 2, 2007 @ 4:13 pm |Edit This
Wow! You look fantastic! WTG!
Comment by Terri @ in His hands — June 2, 2007 @ 6:33 pm |Edit This
You rock, sis!
Love ya!
Comment by SCPanther — June 4, 2007 @ 7:59 am |Edit This
Whoo-hoo!!!!
Way to go! What an inspiration you are!
Comment by roberta — June 14, 2007 @ 4:45 pm |Edit This
Congratualtions on your success! You look fabulous!
Comment by Cheri — June 15, 2007 @ 9:00 pm |Edit This
Hi Blest,
Your pictures and story are so inspiring! I picked up a copy of The South Beach Diet last week at the library, and this is my second official day on the diet (although even before that, I was trying to reduce the amount of grains and fruit I ate). I feel great, I have lost three pounds already, and my stomach is noticeably flatter. Thanks for the motivation! I gained 65 pounds during pregnancy and still am carrying around 10+ of those, plus I had some extra padding even before getting pregnant.
I really appreciate your transparency and your encouragement that anyone can do it!
Comment by Melissa — June 22, 2007 @ 10:55 am |Edit This
Are you running in the Peachtree Rd. Race? I’m looking for someone to profile for a TV news story and your blog popped up in my search. If this is right, could you contact me?
Comment by Catherine Williams — June 26, 2007 @ 9:51 am |Edit This
Congratulations!!! I am very proud of you! Very inspiring!!! After two pregnancies back to back I feel like I have totally lost myself, but as I sit here in tears and know I can get it back!!!
Comment by Susan Cooley — August 15, 2007 @ 9:33 pm |Edit This
Hello my wonderful wonderful friend. Yes, I’m commenting on a very old post, but I don’t care!
I’m going through all the weigh-ins making a spreadsheet of my weigh-ins cos I’ve lost the bit of paper I was writing them all on. I’m almost feeling depressed about them, but I’m not(!) becasue I know that I did get past that seemingly impossible to pass 260, and I’ve more than 30 pounds past it.
Anyway, the point I was trying to make (and yes, I did have one) was that having seen you in person, I can see an amzing difference in you from even the last pics in this post, and how you look now. You are way more toned, and look even more beautiful than you did in these pics.
You’re a star, and I love you to bits. Thanks for not giving up on me when I just wasn’t getting it, and thanks for letting me come live with you and discover what this exercise thing really is all about.
D xx
Comment by Debs — March 3, 2008 @ 4:23 am |Edit This
And you know what? I am so gonna get there too
Comment by Debs — March 3, 2008 @ 4:23 am |Edit This