It’s that time of year.
4 years of maintenance (or close to it). As long-time readers of the blog know, this yellow rose was the one that I bought myself for hitting 100 pounds down in 2008. Each year it has come back for the last 4 years and each year I am doing pretty well at maintaining my loss.
All of my rose bushes came up with long and tall canes this year. I don’t know if that had something to do with the winter we had or my pruning skilz.
Each year they are a little different. Each year I am a little different. I have learned many things about maintenance and there are many things still that I need to learn.
I am a little heavier than I was at my lowest.
I am a lot stronger than I was a few years ago.
I am 4 years older 😉
I eat differently now than I did 4 years ago.
There are still some foods that I probably will always struggle with (peanut butter cups, I am looking in your direction). But, that is okay. At least I am aware of that.
Maintenance is hard. I kind of consider myself a wobbly maintainer. My weight does go up and down. I never did reach my ultimate number goal and that really isn’t my focus any more. I want to keep off what I lost and stay strong and healthy. It’s funny how each year I mention that I never did get to my ultimate weight goal. Maybe that is where I am now and I still just haven’t accepted that. Not that I won’t keep working hard – because maintenance is hard work. It really is. It’s a mind game. It’s constant vigilance, which gets tiring at times, but I don’t care for the alternative.
I don’t ever want to go back here again.
My original Superstar pose in 2008:
2012:
You know, lifting has really given so much more shape to my body. I can’t say enough how much lifting is important to health. Not just how it makes you look, but how good it is for cardiovascular fitness, bone health and just confidence.
Here’s to another year!
You’re heavier NOW than in the original pose from 2008? WOW. Really shows how exercise can sculpt the body, because you do look much smaller now! Congratulations of 4 years of successful maintenance…I didn’t realize that you actually were dieting while in your 30s. Nice – glad you got it done so early!
Yes, I am heavier now. Actually a size bigger, too, but it is distributed different. And I was dieting in my 20s and 30s LOL!
Congratulations on your anniversary. You are always an inspiration for me to keep maintaining.
Congrats!
I am so happy to be celebrating this with you! What a great accomplishment. Since I have only known the thin you, your pre pictures look like fakes that someone doctored up! Yes yes yes on the weight lifting. I really do think that it helps as we age.
(LOL at your comment to Shelley about dieting in your 20s and 30s. And LOL–that cake still looks good to me!)
Isn’t it funny how my mind still thinks I am really that big still, but then I look at the old pictures and it doesn’t seem possible.
And yeah, cake always looks good to me.
Congratulations on the anniversary!! It’s a great inspiration to me. 🙂
Holy Crap! You look amazing in that last photo!!! Must start lifting…..
A – w- e – s – o – m – e !!
Congratulations!!! Love your new superstar photo!!!
Lori,
Kudos to you on the amazing lifelong changes you’ve made. You are a true inspiration. I read your blog almost every day and am so appreciative of your honesty, humor and energy. Thank you
Daria
**confetti**
Congratulations, Lori! Gorgeous photos at all your sizes, but I know you’re feeling awesome now!
Lori, you are fabulous! Congratulations on this great success. Looking at your pictures brought tears to my eyes. I love your honesty and your sweetness!
Congratulations, Lori!! I think I started reading you right after you lost all the weight, and caught up through the archives. SInce then, you’ve been one of my main inspirations on the internets! 🙂
Congratulations, Lori, on another great year. I love both the “before” and “after” Lori. You are wonderful just because you are YOU!
Many congrats to you & John on this anniversary! Thank you for sharing your story. I appreciate that.
Molly
Maintaining your great loss is THE ULTIMATE GOAL. Don’t forget it! You look amazing, the after after is even better. Lifting has really transformed your figure, you look lifted in all the right places.
Congratulations Lori! What an inspiration you are. Yes I must agree that maintenance is difficult. And for me so much harder than losing. You look amazing!
Congratulations Lori! Maintaining IS hard work!!! You look beautiful in ALL of the photos!!! Thank you for continuing to inspire me along my journey!!!
and your pictures are the best weight training endorsement, too.
no words needed 🙂
Here’s the ultimate compliment to the change….Since we have actually met you and John, I showed the first picture to Bill just now and he is still saying, “no way, no way, that can’t be her!” He also mentioned how different John looks so kudos to him as well as we know he lost quite a bit of weight as well.
Keep up the diligent maintenance. You maintainers are certainly inspiring to me and now that I’m really close, I’m going to need you!
You are amazing! Congrats.
I can’t believe how much better you look in the 2012 picture. Lifting does make a difference. Great job.
You look fantastic! Congrats!
Congratulations on maintaining your weight loss!
Happy Anniversary! I love your 100 pound rose – a beautiful reminder. I still can’t believe the “before” pictures. To me you’ve always been this bright, energetic, biking firecracker!
Congrats on maintaining. To me that is much much harder than the losing. You look marvelous!
YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lori – HUGE CONGRATS! Such an inspiration – not only the loss but your fantastic attitude & how you live life.
As you wrote: Not that I won’t keep working hard – because maintenance is hard work. It really is. It’s a mind game. It’s constant vigilance, which gets tiring at times, but I don’t care for the alternative. I don’t ever want to go back here again.
I SECOND THAT!!! Maintenance is HARD but worth it!
You’re one of my inspirations Lori because I think you show how maintenance is in real life – not a bed of roses (HA! I’m cracking myself up!) You have your cupcakes and bagels but not every day and you work out hard most of the time and truthfully, that’s what it’s all about (not the Hokey Pokey as others think….. ha!)
ITA with Shelley – you are a poster girl for lifting because you DO look smaller now than in 2008 😀
Congratulations Lori. You are truly a role model and inspiration!!!!! Here’s to another year indeed!!!! (I’m standing and clapping)
Congratulations Lori! You keep proving that it can be done. I read your blog every day and it encourages me to keep maintenance high on my priority list. You are awesome!
If I didn’t know that was you in the original pictures I am not sure I would recognize you! And I really need to start weight training!
Congrats Lori – you should be so proud of yourself!!
Congratulations on 4 years. You continue to inspire me every single day and I hope to learn some of your maintenance techniques after of re-lose what I’ve regained. Rock on!!
Great inspirational blog and beautiful flowers as well!
Congrats on 4 years–you have definitely defied the odds! I liked reading that you are a wobbly maintainer, because that’s what I am too (fluctuations, never actually reaching my ultimate dream goal). It gives me hope that I will be able to maintain in the future as well. Happy anniversary!