Inspiration Picture

If you’ve read my blog for a while you may remember the story of how my best friend wasn’t supportive of my weight loss efforts. One of the ways that she showed me her lack of support was a comment she made when she saw my inspiration picture taped to my refrigerator. She said, “You don’t think you can be that size again do you?” As you can see, the picture on the refrigerator wasn’t a picture of a glamorous movie star, but rather a picture of me before I got married. It was this picture:

You can see where the picture used to be in a frame. When my weight ballooned after the birth of my first child, I took the picture out of a frame and stuck it in my drawer. I no longer looked like that young woman so I didn’t want to be reminded of how fat and ugly I had become. Every so often throughout the years, when I was cleaning out drawers I’d come across that picture. I remember holding the picture in my hand and crying. “Why had I let myself get so big and fat? Why? Why?” Surprisingly, instead of crumpling the picture up and throwing it in the trash, I’d stick it back in a drawer, sighing in resignation over the fact that I’d never look like that again. Or would I?

When I finally got serious about losing weight I searched through all my bedroom drawers until I found that picture buried under some t-shirts that no longer fit me. I took the picture to the kitchen and taped it on the front of the refrigerator.

It was my inspiration picture.

I knew I couldn’t look exactly like that picture again, but it served as a reminder of the old Diane who had gotten lost under the layers of fat and whose self esteem was in the toilet. Every time I saw that picture I was reminded of how healthy and fit I used to be. I was reminded that the old Diane wasn’t gone forever. I was filled with hope.

The picture also helped me when I felt weak. The refrigerator sometimes held forbidden treats like ice cream, left over sweets, and butter. The refrigerator was very near the pantry, which also contained foods I was trying to limit or avoid. Seeing my happy smile wink at me every time I walked to the pantry did help. As I lost more and more weight, I began to realize that although I’d never look 21 again, neither did I have to look old and tired until I actually was! And I wasn’t ready to give up on my life and declare myself done.

No, I was still inspired to look the best I could, feel the good about myself again, and get healthy. That picture was one of many tools I used to be successful on my journey to lose 150 pounds and keep it off.

I’d like to put a challenge out there for you. Do you have an inspiration picture or object that you can put where everyone can see? If you don’t, I’d encourage you to think about finding something that is special to you and using it as your inspiration. It doesn’t have to be a picture. It can be a sports trophy, an article of clothing, or a letter.  If you haven’t already, I challenge you to find a visual inspiration and put it in a place where you can’t ignore it. Perhaps you might even want to put it on your blog! When the days get tough you can look at your inspiration and be reminded of where you want to be, or what you want to accomplish.  Will you do it today?    Diane