I’m putting myself on the bravery report.
I decided to share some assorted unretouched photos to show you my slide up and down the scale. You can read my weight story here, or by selecting Laurie’s Weight Story from the menu.
At first I didn’t want to have “Before and After” type of photos as part of my blog, because I focus much more on the here and now of the present moment. But I decided to share my weight story in the hopes of encouraging other brave companions that have yo-yoed forever, that there IS hope to come to peace with your food issues and body. I’m not ashamed of any of these. They are all part of my story and what makes me who I am today.
Much love to you brave companions
29 or 30 years old and my first success with Weight Watchers getting to goal. That time I went from 200 down to 146 in 12 months. It was WAY easier at that time. This success was the first time I was not overweight or obese as an adult. It lasted less than one year. When I moved to California at age 31 I was already back to the high 180s. Even at this weight, I was very self-conscious about the size of my thighs – but my chest and face were getting skeletal, so I decided to stop losing weight here.
Dancing with Mark when we were first dating. Probably around 225 – the same weight I was when I started the show. On a fast track to 245, what I weighed on our wedding day, and then on to over 300. I was 34.
Near my highest weight of around 300 pounds. Age 38 or 39
After two years of hard focus, work, support from friends, AND exercise bulimia I’m at my goal of 153. I stayed here one day total. Then maintained 159 for a couple of years. I was 42. I’m holding my “before photo” of me at 3. I don’t really believe in before and after photos, because as long as we breathe we are changing.
One of the professional photos taken after my 2nd Body for Life cycle. (Same time as my bikini shot) I intended to pursue once again my goal of becoming a motivational speaker to encourage women past 40 that they could lose weight and get fit. But as I’ve shared in my show, I actually felt like I was too fat and a failure and only threw these photos into a box, never to be seen until now. My heart was breaking as the photos were taken. I had to “go on with the show” because I had many friends there for the scheduled shoot. It was supposed to have been a triumph, like the “After photos” in a magazine. I weighed 172 and was 45 years old just 8 months after a hysterectomy and weight gain that put me back up to 189-190. Now I think I look really well.
I just took this one for episode 52. It’s my first full body photo since my after shoot. I’m 55 and at my current weight of 207. I love this photo more than all the rest, because I am at peace and love my body as it is. My hope is that I will continue to feel this way as my journey to an integrated life moving toward authentic relationships with people and away from fear of food continues.
My latest bravery. I asked Mark to take a photo of me full body in my clingy bike gear on our last bike ride! Age 55 and Weight 209.