I have a wonderful online friend, Chasity, who has bravely started posting her weightloss journey.  Although I only have a small goal to reach, and my trials may not be the same as hers, or yours, I have decided to jump in and journal my progress.  Which should be interesting since I don't have a scale.  I just know that my clothes are tight, and I had to take off my wedding band the other day, either the band or my finger, which woud remove the band, so either way it had to come off. 

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At my heaviest I was 184, and that was prior to delivering my 4th child.  My heaviest non-pregnant weight was 180, and that was 6 years after giving birth to the same child.  I lost 50 pounds of that, partly do to stress, in fact I lost 20 pounds in 2 weeks.  I went through 2 wardrobes in 2 weeks.  Many people would say wow that is great, anyone in their right mind would know that 20 pounds in 2 weeks is not good.  I could not eat, food would hit the back of my throat and come right back up.  In fact the only thing I could keep down was antiacids, and I was up to a roll a day. 

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I kept losing and got down to 130, which is about right for someone who is 5'3".  I have since put a few pounds back on, and gone up 2 sizes.  I will measure myself this week and start posting inches instead of pounds, as I don't have a scale, and I don't really worry about pounds, just the jiggly parts.  I like the way Lucille Ball said that she just wished her arms would stop waving when her hands did. 

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Okay so I am joining in with those who want to be healthy, feel good, and yes let's admit it, look good.  Not Hollywood good, just average will do.  I tell my close friends I would just like to look good in a 2 peice swimsuit, not that I would wear one in public, but maybe some day my husband and I will be on a private beach, just the 2 of us, and well who knows I may wear a 2 piece then.  Well I take that back, I do have one of those tankini's, but then when we go camping, we go camping, and let's face it, it is just not easy to go to the bathroom in the woods in a one piece.  We like to camp near a stream for water, swimming, and well we just like the sound of running water at night.  Well my husband does, I keep wanting to get up, yell at the kids, and turn off the water. 

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So good luck to everyone else, I look forward to making even more online friends.

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Valerie Neal