Ok, people who have known me for a long time on here (it's my 2nd year anniversary tomorrow!!!!!) will know every now and then I put up pictures of me in my pipe band uniform as a comparison.
Why do I do this? Well it is the one constant I always have. I always need my uniform, but I don't wear it too much between September and May. Only when it is needed, which is rarely. From May to September it is used a lot more as that is when we compete.
A kilt is fastened by buckles, the waistcoat is buttoned and the sporran (that thing that we keep our money in!) has a chain. 3 good ways of keeping tracks of things.
So this is the comparison in the uniform from 2007, 2008 and 2009. T
Minus my tie the only thing that has been constant is the kilt.
This has been taken in twice. The pictures show the stages. In the first I actually have a belt on to hold it up. In the 2nd it is still too big (despite being adjusted) and sits funny, the third it is perfect, but on the last notches of the buckles again!
The waistcoat in the first picture is horrendous. It is far too big in legnth as it has to go around me. In the 2nd it is a bit better as my mum done an adjustment on it but it doesn't sit correctly. The 3rd is a new waistcoat which fits almost perfect. I got it last year and have had to tighten it at the back since then to keep up with me, but still fine so far.
The sporran in the first doesn't sit right at all weight as is very low down to get over my flab. In the second it is a bit better as it is now sitting higher up. Although the sporran is different the chain is the same. The waistcoat legnth problem is obvious here as it covers up part of the sporran. In the 3rd the sporran is the same but I now use the actual chain that came with the sporran as it now fits, and fits really well too!
So 2 years here. And I admit it has changed my life. The comparisons are outstanding. I am dressing and acting in a way now I never felt I could before. I am starting to actually believe it when people say that the difference is huge. I look back at old pictures in disgust, and I am beginning to feel inside just how important these changes have on my life in terms of health etc.
I still have about 2 stone to go but to think I am 5lb off having a weight that will start 10 stone - something actually takes my breath away. From being bang on 16 stone when I started (and now considering - see my first post in this diary - that those scales seemed to be broke and under-value your weight) to now gives me a great sense of happiness.
Annoying my first posts on here don't state my weight at all, but I think it may have been about 14 and a half stone as I say I am 1 and a half stone down from my heaviest. So that is not far off 3 and a half stone I have lost here.
An interesting quote from my first entry
...now the thing with this is I know a mate of mine who has said recently he no longer sees me as fat (after I made a joke about being fat in one way or another). I take words of honesty on board really seriously and although I know I am not where I want to be yet it is always comforting to know people are noticing. In fact, when I put up the very right hand picture up there on bebo the other day someone said;
You have lost sooooo much weight, you look amazing! Good on you!
I best finish this post now, I'm starting to ramble.
But can I just say, the above is not a self-congratulating post from myself to me with self-back slapping thrown in for good measure. It is me highlighting how well I have done since joining here. And who do I think for this?
Well all of you of course! The people who read my ramblings, join in with banter and make the whole place a reason I want to come back to over and over again. If it wasn't for you folk I may have left the place 1 year and 11 months ago and lost all thoughts of losing weight in the process. It is the support you guys give (even when it is just a simple comment to something, or providing conversation through a thread) that helps! And I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Here's to the next year, and hopefully the last of my weight.
Stephen
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