So, here it is. The post you've all been waiting for... the new, made over ME!!!
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| The finished project!!! New hair, makeup, clothes, shoes and jewelry!!! |
I can't say enough how glad I am that I won this makeover. Not only was it incredibly fun, but I learned a lot about myself in the process. The makeover started at Victoria's Secret where I got two new bras (push-ups, of course) and very sexy! I was pleased to find out that I was still a 36D because after being triple that, I have been feeling anything but well-endowed! Then I got to go to Macey's department store (no, my sweet little niece, not the grocery store) where I had a personal shopping consultant, Eugena, pick me out a perfect, little black dress complete with a jacket and a $100 pair of shoes! Yikes!
Even though I loved the finished outcome, I also learned that even though I was trying on size 6 clothes and not size 26 clothes, I still don't LOVE shopping. I know crazy, huh? I also learned that I am not a brand-name kind of girl... aka - I'm cheap! Even when I wasn't spending my own money, I was shocked over the cost of things. Eugena kept telling me to choose quality over quantity. Hmm... she has obviously never had to stick to a budget! I also don't like getting waited on - let me get my own pair of shoes! Oh well, I guess there are worse things in life than not being a Diva, right? :)
The second part of the makeover was hair and makeup. My stylist's name was Kenzie and she was a sweetheart. She gave me a hip, new hair color and style, and even though I tend to like me better in dark hair, I actually really liked it. Plus, it's super easy maintenace which is perfect for a low-maintenance gal like myself! Seeing I haven't cut or colored my hair since my surgery, this was a much needed upgrade!!! The makeup was fun too because I learned a lot of really cool things. Now I just have to remember how to do them...
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| My stylist Kenzie working her magic. |
The third part of the makeover was the "Reveal". Nervous? Extremely! Especially because we only found out we had to speak a few hours before the event! It turned out to be just fine though, and was even kind of fun. My old pagaent days kicked in and I actually felt very comfortable in my own skin and speaking in front of 100 people! Check out the videos!!!
What a fun night! My husband Chad even won a nice watch and a movie gift card! But, I have to mention this part too just because I always want to be honest with myself and anyone else who is going through this extremely difficult weight-loss process. After everything was over, and all that was left was me and my thoughts, all I could think of was how heavy I still looked as I browsed through the pictures and video of the evening. I had felt so pretty and special and yet all I could think of was how I needed to loose 20 more pounds!
It was a reality check to me that self-confidence, self-esteem, contentment and happiness still need to come from the inside out, and I'm obviously not there yet. I've pretty much been at the same weight now for several months, so I need to start accepting where I am at now and be happy and grateful for everything I've accomplished. I've lost over 140 pounds in under a year. I truly have worked my butt off!!! Diet and exercise really is the key to weight loss, but it is DANG hard!!! I have made so many sacrifices over the last year, and even though I still have a stomach "pouch" and enough extra skin to make my very own Frankenstein, I'm going to run, jump, hike, snowboard, dance and play with my little girl until I learn to love myself inside and out!!! Afterall, it's not about what number is on the scale, but the number of times you don't have to miss out on life because you're too heavy - and I already have dozens and dozens of those. So, I consider my weight-loss journey thus far a complete and total SUCCESS!!! Hurray for me!!!
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| Me with my short, shrimpy surgeon, Dr. Smith. |
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| Me and my fellow makeover winners, Debbie and Linda. Between the 3 of us we've lost over 500 pounds!!! |
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| Our "Makeover" Crew!!! |
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| Had to include this picture because Charlotte was too funny. She had to be in all the pictures and would pose just like her Mommy!!! |
I just wanted to say congratulations! I had surgery back in 2005. My starting weight was 302lbs and today I weigh 132. I went from a size 28 to a size 4, and I know what a great feeling it is to look back and see how far you've come. You look amazing and I'm so proud of you! Keep up the great work!
ReplyDelete-Jilly-
www.thestrasburgfamily.blogspot.com
I was offended by your choice of words describing your surgeon, the man who made your current condition possible. What if someone called you "huge and elephant-like"? It's rude. And so is "short and shrimpy." As a formerly obese woman I don't understand how that could not register for you. It doesn't take much emotional intelligence to see this.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to take the high road here. Just as you don't know me or my relationship with Dr. Smith, I also don't know you. I don't know your name, your gender, or where you are at in your weight loss journey. Perhaps you yourself are short and that's why you'd be overly sensitive where most people wouldn't notice it at all, or better yet, take it in context with the other hundreds of thousands of words I've written that are nothing but positive and uplifting. I could lash out and start a debate with you, but I won't. My intentions are good, and as hurtful and "emotionally unintelligent" that your own words were to me, I'm sure that your intentions were good as well. This was actually a good lesson for me, and hopefully for you too. I realized that just because something might not offend me, or even the person it was directed at, that doesn't mean that it won't offend someone somewhere. On that same token, when correcting other people who might either intentionally or completely unintentionally make hurtful comments, we need to make sure that we ourselves don't come across being as rude and hurtful. But, awareness is key, and for that I am grateful. And please never hesitate to contact me directly. My contact information is readily available on the RMAP website. I wish everyone success in their journey!!!
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