Tip #8: A picture is worth a thousand words!

Be sure to take pictures of yourself at every 10 lbs lost. This helped me soooooo much! The first twenty pounds I couldn't see a different in the pictures; however when I lost 30 lbs and every 10 lbs thereafter the pictures showed a HUGE difference. There were days when I didn't "feel" like I was losing weight. Very few people noticed my weight loss which discouraged me greatly. Josh would then turn my attention to my "before" picture and compare it to my 30 lb loss picture and he would say, "SEE, can't you see the difference??" Pictures don't lie and even though I wasn't "feeling" good about the weight I had lost, the pictures always guided me back to reality!! I keep a little photo holder in my purse and carry it with me wherever I go. It contains several "before" pictures as well as a picture of me at least 10 lb loss. It is a wonderful reminder of how far I've come and how much I NEVER want to return!!! It reminds me of how my hard work HAS paid off and I can't tell you how many times those pictures have helped me to say "NO!!" to overindulging!!! Side note: It's super fun to post the pictures on Facebook!!! I didn't post mine until I lost 30 lbs... and I posted them with GREAT hesitation. However, I was encouraged by friends to post them and it was THE BEST thing I ever did. The encouragement I received from my FB friends while on this journey in 2009 meant everything to me!!!!!