Another First

When was the last time you had a HUGE smile on your face as you were trying on clothes?
Hmmmmm....yesterday!

After church, Dan and I just wanted to do some dreaming and have some fun. All my clothes are pretty big on me, so I've had to come up with some creative ways of 're-inventing" old outfits. I don't really want to spend a lot of money on clothes because I'm not staying in one size for very long. However, since I haven't bought a lot, I haven't really been sure what size I was at.

I haven't been able to shop at a regular department store in a couple of years. Okay, let's be real...probably the last ten years. Not even the plus size section in a department store. I had "moved on" to the extended sizes of the specialty shops. So it was a big deal yesterday when he asked me where I wanted to go try on clothes at, and I said, "Macy's." (Side note: I actually said Dillard's first, but we ended up going to Macy's. Totally not important...just free information.)

So, we went to the plus size section and I started picking up items. I chose a size that I didn't think I would be able to fit into, and...you know where this is going...all but two items fit! You have know idea how excited I was. I could not get the smile off of my face in that fitting room!

Another first, indeed!

(For perspective's sake, I'll just say that the last time I wore that size was circa 1996. Whoa.)

A First

Back in June, I joined a program called Slim 4 Life to lose weight. In Texas, I think they are primarily in the DFW area, but they are in other states as well.
I am not gonna lie, the program is hard. And costs money. In fact, I'm sure I would have probably quit already if I didn't have a "vested interest" in seeing it through.
But it works.
Of all the diets I have started and stopped, I have probably lost about 1000 pounds. But for the first time ever in my life, I have lost 50 consecutive pounds since June. Of course, there were days that I gained a couple of ounces here, or gained a pound there, but it always came back off.
I am so thankful for this opportunity. Every day I wonder why I didn't start and stick to something sooner. I think of all the time that I wasted being miserable. Don't get me wrong...I'm not finished. I still have quite a bit more to get to my goal, but every milestone is worth celebrating.
If you are miserable, don't wait anymore. Don't waste anymore time. I don't care if it's Slim 4 Life or Weight Watchers or Curves or counting calories on your iPhone or walking every day or whatever it is. It doesn't matter. Just do it. Today.
The results you see won't only be in your body, but also in the way you see things, the way you respond to problems, and the realization of the way you cling to things that "comfort" you.
It's a wild ride.
Well worth it.

Here are a couple of pictures. I'm just gonna first say that I H.A.T.E. the first picture. Not just because it's the "before" picture, but seriously, the only good thing about that picture of me were the three other people I cut out of it when I cropped it. Just saying.

After all that....

I dropped the choir class. :)

Evidently, I unknowingly did the process backwards. You are supposed to audition openly for one of the two choirs they have on campus. They choose which choir you will be in for the semester, then you add that choir class to your schedule.

I chose the class that fit into my schedule and went to the audition thinking that I was auditioning for that choir alone.

They chose to put me in the choir that did not fit into my schedule.

I sent a very nice email to the director, thanking her for letting me audition but that it wasn't going to work out with my schedule. She very quickly replied with an "Aw, shucks....Buh-Bye" type of email, and we were done.

The good news is that I spoke to financial aid, and I don't have to replace the class! So not only do I not have to worry about another class, I got the refund for that class!

Double blessing!