No more hiding - Pictures

So, it's 2014 - the year that I will lose my last 30 pounds and be at my goal weight. It's also the year that I decided I was no longer going to hide behind my hair. I cut the majority of it off a few months ago to donate to Locks of Love, but then I realized I was still hiding behind it what was left of it. I always believed that my hair was the best thing about me - if I couldn't be average sized and beautiful, at least I could have beautiful hair, right? It wasn't until recently that I realized how much it held me back, even though it was shorter than I was used to. Every time I would look in the mirror, I would see the 360 pound woman that I was, not the 210 pound woman that I am now. Last week, I decided I needed a change.. so I cut it off (well most of it anyway). I thought I felt liberated when I donated it, but this time was 100x better, it was different; not to mention it feels so much thicker and healthier considering how much it had thinned out since surgery. I realized I don't need my hair to be beautiful, I am beautiful, this is the new me. I need to learn how to embrace it and not be embarrassed of how far I have come and how hard I have worked (Sometimes it's hard to admit how out of control I was). I have also kicked my personal trainer to the curb (after 5 years, I feel I have outgrown her and need something new), joined an all women's gym and made the commitment to myself that I will hit my goal weight.

I wish everyone happiness and success on their weight loss journey!

Before WLS;

After Locks of Love Donation;

New and Improved Haircut;

You look great! The last 30 will come off before you know it. :)

Very cute! I love it!

I love it!  Good for you!!!  I have been picking out my new 'do' for the past several weeks.  I have really thick hair that has been though the ringer in the last year (a series of flubbed hairdresser dye jobs, exploding foam product that had to be cut out and then a horrible haircut).  I'm so sick of trying to grow it back to it's original luster.  Instead, knowing that it is going to thin drastically I am taking the bull by the horns and getting a fab new haircut before I go back to work.  I'm even considering going from dark blonde to auburn and copper highlights.  I am starting out the new me with a bang!  Good for you for having the guts to let go of your security blanket.  You look so sassy!

Thank you so much! I say do it! Color change and all! I was nervous the whole time "will my face be too fat" "what will the back of my neck look like" all of the usual insecurities but once it was off, it was amazing. I've come to the realization that my hair won't ever be the way it was before I had surgery, and I'm okay with that now.

LOVE the new hair!  Thank you for posting all the pictures.  It is so great to see and read all these success stories!  I will be there with you on the "losers" bench soon.  Amazing JOB!

Love love love the new hair cut and you look fabulous !

That haircut is gorgeous, and you are beautiful! You have done a lot of good work with your sleeve, keep it up!

You look FABULOUS!!!!!! I love your hair too (wish I could get this style, but I think I'm too old).  LOVE IT, ENJOY every minute of the new you!

Denise

Wow.  You look great.  I love the hair cut.  Congratulations on a job well done.  You'll get that last 30 pounds this year!

Carol