's motd Saturday January 15, 2011

[Guest guest]

"AFTER" ALL

Saturday, 15 January 2011

Now I know that many people just

love having their photos taken. But...there

are some people who simply...don't! Back in

the old days, when I was still gaining weight, I

didn't feel very good about myself and the way I

looked. So it should come as no surprise that I

didn't like having my photo taken...ever. It

seems I was constantly running away from cameras. And

even if there were an occasion where I couldn't avoid

the camera's eye, I never wanted to see the photos

that had been taken of me.

When I talk to some people on the

phone about them getting started on a weight-loss

program, I ask, (if they haven't already), to send me

a photo of themselves. And here's a reply I often

get: ", I don't like having photos taken

of myself. So I don't have any photos of me to send

you." But come on, I know they must have a

photo of themselves...somewhere!

Now here's the bottom line. If you're really looking

to make a change in the way you look, you've got to

have a starting point...a record. And by

that, I mean you should have a photo of

yourself to show what you weigh now. It

would become your before photo. And along

with that photo, to lose the weight, you've got to

have a plan.

A lady wrote me several months ago and sent me a

picture of herself at her highest weight ever. She

enlarged the photo and taped it to the door of her

fridge. So every day when she had to open the

refrigerator, she was looking at that photo of herself

weighing 279 pounds.

She told me that she

never criticized the photo of herself but she did talk

to it...everyday. She'd tell that photo, "You're

not going to look like that much longer. You, the

lady in this picture, you're going to inspire and

motivate me. You're gonna keep reminding me to work

hard to reach my weight-loss goal." And you

know what? Those little talks she had with the photo

of herself have paid off. Today, she has lost a total

of 90 pounds, with just 40 more pounds to

lose before reaching her goal!

It's taken her a-year-and-two-months to get to where

she is today. And get this, she's taken a new

photo of herself, now weighing 189 pounds.

She had the photo enlarged to the same size as her

first photo and now the two pictures share a place on

her refrigerator door. So every time she goes to her

fridge, she ends up with a big smile on her face.

Those photos remind her that she never wants to weigh

279 pounds again. And you wanna know something else?

I just know she's going to lose those last 40 pounds!

So, do you think you can do this? Can you have

someone take a picture of you right now so you can

tape it to your fridge? Sure you can. Now

one thing you must not do is look at that

photo everyday and use it as an excuse to put yourself

down. I don't want you saying things to yourself

like, "Why was I so stupid and gained all of this

weight?! Oh, I look just horrible. There's

no point in even trying. I'll never lose

this weight!" (Boy, talk about defeating the

purpose.)

On the contrary. You have to look at that photo

everyday and remind yourself that it is possible

for you to improve your health and change the way you

look by losing every pound you need to lose.

Do it! Document the

journey to the new you. I think it's a great way to

stay inspired and change that before picture...into

your after picture. I mean, after all, don't

you think you deserve to be in shape and feel happy

about the person you are? I believe you do. In

fact...I know you do!

Love,