May 2005, at my heaviest, 223 pounds.  That poor piano bench!

(That’s Teen Daughter#2)

May 2006 – At this point, I had started working on my health, just a little bit.

Christmas 2006.  I found out earlier this year that I have Type II Diabetes, and had finally gotten very serious about exercising and watching what I ate.

(That’s Mr. Pea with me, not some random stranger I met a the office Christmas Party.)

Now…there’s a long gap in the timeline here without any pictures because a) the camera bit the dust; and b) by the end of the gap, I was fat again!  I worked my way down to 159 pounds by the summer of 2007 and held it there for a little over a year.  By January of 2009, I was up to about 165.  By December of 2009, I was all the way back to 185.  Right after Christmas, spurred on by a well-intentioned but still hurtful comment from Mr. Pea and still reeling from the aftereffects of my stroke, I had a major discussion with myself.

Me:  “Self?  You do know you can’t go on like this, right?”

Self:  “Uh, yeah.  I’m tired of feeling tired.  I’m really tired of looking at you and seeing rolls.”

Me:  “What do you mean your’re tired of seeing rolls!?  You have no right to criticize!”

Self:  “Yeah?  So what are you going to do about this?”

I joined Weight Watchers.  I forced myself to move.  I started running,  then picked up speedwalking.

May 2010, 179 pounds – On my way.  Thank you exercise!  Thank you healthy food choices!

Today.  Yes, I know I’m cutting a cake for crying out loud! 

Not the best example for healthy eating, but it IS my birthday today, and my children made this cake for me, from scratch; they even make those tasty truffles decorating it.

Truth be told?  I only ate a tiny piece.  Teen sons will polish this cake off tomorrow after bike riding and football practice.  They can do that eating cake thing.  I choose not to.