What a phenomenal change you've made.....kudos to you Yvonne for your strength and hard work!!!

May 2010 bring good things to you and your family.

Hugs

Fi
xxxxx

You look AWESOME woman!!!

You're doing GREAT work -- and remember, the slower it comes off, the longer it stays off!!

You go, girl!

You look fantastic. And remember this, slow and steady wins the race.

Whoooo! Hot mama! You look fantastic, and remember that you're probably gaining muscle mass even as you shed pounds of fat. You look terrific and I *know* how hard it is to lose weight with a bum thyroid and insulin resistance. I'm proud of you!

You look fantastic! Those 38 pounds have transformed you already. Please keep posting about your fight to lose weight and get fit and healthy. I for one am very interested. I'm fighting right along side you and cheering you on every day.

You go girl!

Holy crap, woman, that looks like a hell of a lot more than 38 pounds between those 2 pictures. You look AWESOME.

For what it's worth, I don't think you're a broken record. I know you write them for your own catharsis, but I think these types of posts really inspire and help people more than you know.

Keep it up, lady. We're behind you all the way. And we're checking out your amazing ass while we're back here. xoxo

You're looking GREAT!!!

I know you feel like a broken record, I'm singing the same tune, but you need to do what helps and motivates you! You can beat that diabetic bitch, keep up the good work!

HECK YES! Y, you are amazing and beautiful and inspiring. I love you so much and I wish you nothing but the best of luck. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you!

Looking great Yvonne!! :) Congratulations on working so hard and being successful in your pursuit of better health.

You look so great- young and healthy! I know I don't know you IRL, but I'm still proud of you for persevering!

You look amazing! Congrats! I'm working on a 5K this year as well. It's tough but I know we can do it!

You look fan-freakin-tastic, girl! You give me hope, too. I have the dayum hypo (not Hashimoto's...to the best of my knowledge) and I've been stuck for the last couple of years. I would love to hear more about what you've done - and continue to do - to break through!

Well I am sitting here crying. Crying for you and how damn hard you have worked and how frustrated you get and crying happy tears for you in that you look wonderful! I am crying for me too because for the life of me I don't know why I am such a wimp at the gym. I worked with a trainer for awhile and kicked ass but on my own... not so much. Everytime I read about you running on the treadmill I am inspired and tell myself I can do it too but....
Anyway this is not about me but about how freakin inspirational you are. (ok that is a little about me cause, well I am inspired by you)
In other words You Rock Y!!!!!!

You are an inspiration, & holyCOW you're looking great!

I follow your blog, but I don't think I have commented before. Please don't think you sound like a broken record. I feel compelled to comment...despite the fact that it is personal for me too. I believe you have said you have PCOS? I was diagnosed several years ago. I take Metformin as well. I can tell you are working so hard. I know how it feels when you are working like crazy and your body is fighting you. I know you are probably SWARMED with advice and I am not the first but wanted to ask about what else your doc is prescribing? I only ask because I struggled so hard and finally found a doc who know what the hell he is doing. Before I had my son and he diagnosed me, he put me on Metformin and he said he theorizes that all women with PCOS also have a rare thyroid condition called Wilson's Thryoid Syndrome. (It's a form of underactive thyroid). SO I also take synthroid. Also, after I had my tot, he had to check my hormone levels...I was gaining tons of weight...depressed...etc. For some women with PCOS, pregnancy can create hormone problems. I went through some hell and now take bio-identical hormones. The weight comes off easier and I feel better. Like I said, I know you probably get swarmed with advice and I am just some stranger, but I truly do feel your pain. If you'd like to chat, I'm pretty passionate about the subject. You can email me...even if to commiserate a little?
You look great...don't give up!
T

You look awesome! Keep up the good work! And, no, you're not a broken record. It's inspiring to read about your journey.

I'm going to hump you this weekend. You look gorgeous. I have thyroid issues too, and I know how hard it is. I really do.

Dude, you look freaking fantastic! Keep it up girl. You are awesome and an inspiration. Really. I know you may not feel like it, but you are. Just as much as the encouraging words from your readers help you, your words help me.
Thank you for that. Good luck to you this year!

I think you look wonderful. I don't know if you have seen this site yet or not but I just found it today! I am trying to drop about 20 lbs and I think following this lady will help me do that.
http://www.fityummymummy.com
Check her out, she has a lot of helpful videos on her blog :)
Best of Luck to you in 2010.

Lady, you have made such a huge progress. You look AMAZING. My very last post was about this very thing, what a pain in the ass losing weight has been, but for entirely different reasons (My skin, bleh) than you. Remember, you are working hard. You're not just losing weight, you are transforming your body. Therefor, the numbers don't tell the whole story. I guarantee with the asskicking you give yourself, you have gained a ton of muscle. I am certain you have lost more than 38 lbs of fat. Perhaps you've lost 50 pounds of fat and gained 12 lbs of muscles. That is great!!! :D

Y-

I have gone through a lot of the same issues in feeling guilty about posting what's been going on. 2009 was one of the worst years for me healthwise. I've had a headache for 5 months. I had 3 lumbar punctures and countless MRIs. My blog reads like one big gigantic whine. Because it is.

But the thing is, it's my blog. Like this is yours. The people who love you for who you are, who read here because they care about you want you to be able to talk about this. We want to celebrate with you when you succeed (like you have, you freaking foxy lady) and we want to cry with you when things are shitty.

You look incredible, skinny mirror or not.

I don't care what freaky mirror you're in front of, you've made A SHIT TON OF PROGRESS!!!!!!!! That is the most important part. And I'd bet dollars to donuts you feel waaaaay better. Great Job, Y!!!

You look amazing. And I think you are wording it wrong. Instead of saying "It's taken me 2 years to lose 38 pounds." Think "Holy Fucking Shit guys! I've lost 38 pounds. I've kicked the shit out of 38 pounds right off my body! And its never coming back."

You can do this, just keep up the good work.

Wow! You look great!! Keep up the good work, you can do it :)

You're awesome. I'm so glad the work is finally paying off. Here's to pounds melting away in 2010!!

What a phenomenal change. Be proud of yourself. Show that whore who's boss!

I see a huge change in the photos. Not just dropped weight - you also hold yourself differently. The look on your face is stronger, less glum. You look more like you are kicking ass and taking names now.

So what I have to say is this: that diabetes is going to get her a** WHUPPED. You are going to make MORE progress this year, whatever that is going to look like. Hopefully it will mean kicking the Met, but even if it doesn't, just LOOK at you! You look AWESOME.

I still remember your post about being stuck in the one Daisy Fuentes track suit and having to wash it every night to wear it again the next day. You have come so far from that. Maybe it's hard to remember that every day, but you have made INCREDIBLE progress. Seriously. You are awesome. You are an inspiration.

Do an honorary Worm for yourself. You have totally earned it, and I hear you do an awesome Worm.

You look great! Period!
Keep up the good work. :)

Mad props to you, Yvonne. You look fan-freakin'-tastic. :)

I'm so proud of you for persevering, Y. It shows how strong you are. Jeep up the good work - it's finally paying off!

xoxo

You're transforming. That doesn't happen overnight. I wish I had started 2 years ago.

Skinny mirror or not, every time I see a picture of you, I think you look thinner than last time. You look phenomenal, and I *know* that you can reach your goals. Go Y!!!

You know what????.....you've done great!...you've been committed....you're going to DO great!!! You're going to end up "the winner"!!

You look AMAZING Y!! Wow! I'm thoroughly impressed and so, SO proud of you sweetie!! You have such an amazing attitude and I believe you are and will be a wonderful inspiration to so many people. Hugs!!

You look awesome! Even if the gym picture isn't quite accurate, the shape and tone of your body is way different, and it's amazing.

I don't have as severe health problems, but I do have thyroid probs & PCOS that hinder my weight loss. I lost 30 lbs last year but it was really hard & took 8 months. My point is that I really respect you for the amount of hard work that you've done, I know that it's taken a lot and you are doing really great!

Sod the two years. Dude, you've lost 38 freaking pounds and have kept it off. That is AMAZING. Weight that comes off fast tends to come back just as fast (I should know. I lost almost 20 pounds after I had my first child on account of the not sleeping and the not eating. I gained it back six months later when he settled and I actually stopped being stressed and started to have regular meals again. My husband also lost 20 pounds during two weeks of paternity leave for the same reason, and sure enough gained them back when he went back to work.

It's only with the enduring lifestyle changes like you have made that this has a hope of working. Well done.

Girl, you look AWESOME! I've been reading your blog for a little while but never commented, but this post pushed me to do it - while I've never had weight troubles, I know people who have, and how easy it is to get down on yourself if things aren't working the way you want. Just remember to keep focusing on your health and not the numbers - if you always remember that this is to make yourself as healthy as possible for yourself and your gorgeous kids, the weight will come off.

Good luck, and remember, you've got a whole mass of women behind you, even if you don't know us all :)

As someone who has also struggled with my weight for years, I just wanted to tell you that you're looking great! I also just hit the under 200 lbs and it is a great feeling. Keep up the great work - you're an inspiration to me!

You look wonderful! Keep it up! (And I really like the weight loss posts, it gives me hope.)

I look at this pictures and all I can think is: holy CRAP, look at that amazing progress.

Sure, it's taken what feels like FOREVER (to you, not me) to get it off... but look at you - you look GREAT. You actually look happier!

I know this journey can't be easy - but you CAN do it!!

No! No! No! It's the mirror in the first picture that is wrong. You look fantastic.

I wish you well in keeping up the good work. Hopefully now that you are taking the mediaction your body needs (NEEDS!!) the weight will continue to come off.

Anyway good luck and happy 2010!

So effing proud of you, Y. And you don't sound like a broken record, I quite enjoy watching you succeed against the odds you've got stacked. You're inspirational and beautiful, inside and out. xoxoxo

Dude, you lost a TODDLER. 38 pounds, no matter how long it took you, is nothing to scoff at. You fought, sweat and busted your ass for every single one of those pounds, so don't undermine your accomplishment. I'll be right there with you on the 5K, 10K thing this year, so know you're not suffering alone! You (WE) can do it!

Regardless of what the gym mirror shows or doesn't show, the fact is is that you've lost weight and are healthier now than you were then. Your dedication, especially with the challenges you have (hashimoto specifically), is nothing less than inspiring. You are wonderful Y and I wish I could know you in real life.

My goal for 2010 is to lose my weight (30-40 pounds) and to work on getting to "Blogher" eoither this year or next.

You look awesome awesome awesome! My older sister is 50 and did a mini tri last spring! She was at about 200 pounds and has lost more than 50 since she's been on a huge wellness kick! Keep on truckin' mama!

You look fantastic! I need to lose 35 pounds, but I keep doing NOTHING about it. You are an inspiration. Why do you hesitate to post about your struggles? Like you said, it's your life everyday. I for one can say that reading about it does not in any way make me want to read your blog less. And what's up with mirrors! I hate that I look better in some than others. And I must say my favorite photo is one I took of myself on vacation last year in a "trick mirror" - one that makes you look tall & skinny. I actually just look good in it because I'm short & not skinny!

Y- You're doing FAnTASTIC and you look fantastic, too. 38 pounds in two years is nothing to sneeze at. I lost at that same rate when I lost mine. 18 pounds the first year and 20 pounds the second. Kinda frustrating when you want it to happen faster, but you're doing it and that's what counts. Keep it up, girl. If you're interested, you can see my before/after pictures here - http://sneakeradventures.blogspot.com/.

Don't comment a whole lot but do love your blog - just wanted to say that you look great and that is a wonderful accomplishment of losing all the weight!!

Keep it up and keep at it!!

all the best
Mich

I don't mind at all the posts about your weight struggles/loss. You're right, it's your life, and that is what I want to read about.
You look great! Haul that gym mirror home!

You look amazing! I am staring the same whore in the face if I don't get a handle on things and you inspire me -- don't give up and don't quit posting about it -- I need to hear your words of inspiration!

I love when you talk about your weight journey. It motivates me to keep going. Keep moving forward and sharing your journey. You look wonderful!!

You look awesome, congratulations on your weight loss! And might I remind you that this is YOUR BLOG?! You can write whatever you want, no apologies necessary!

Hang in there!

Lookin' Hawt!

Oh my goodness, you look awesome! Amazing Amazing progress. You should be so proud. You look great & I love yellow on you btw!

Okay so I knew these guys in college that had a boob/belly test... i.e. a girl "passed the test" if she walked up to a wall and her boobs hit it before her belly did (yay for big boobs!). I would just like to say-- you totally pass the boob/belly test now! Congrats!!

Fantastic, Y.

And I'd steal that mirror. Those are hard to come by!

You look amazing! And as for the 38 lbs thing, it's good you're taking it slowly. Rapid weight loss often leads to rapid weight gain. GO YOU!

You rock. You do. Just believe it. You are making this thing your beyotch. And I love your honest photos, don't ever stop posting them, they inspire.

I think you are amazing and I think 38 pounds is A LOT.

Keep it up. You look fantastic.

"It's taken me 2 years to lose 38 pounds. If I dwell on that, I would cry. I would give up."

Ok, let's see:

24 months = 38 pounds
12 months = 19 pounds
6 months = 9 to 10 pounds
3 months = 4 to 5 pounds
1 month = 1.5 to 1.75 pounds

Now looking at this intellectually, over the course of a year you have appeared to not gain, not stabilize, but LOSE weight. It has STAYED off. Any doctor worth his or her weight in gold (excuse the miserable pun) will tell you that it is the person who sheds pounds SLOWLY who has truly won a weight battle, because the slower it comes off, the longer it stays off. On top of that youve stayed commited for the most part to exercise, no small feat with three kids running around.
You're not even in your 40's yet, when unfortunately the battle becomes even tougher to fight, BUT, with a pattern like you are in continuing, YOU will be one of the fortunate ones in ten and twenty years who will keep the excess off and STAY looking good.

Don't look at the big picture, which, in this case, overwhelms you that "it's not enough in two years". Break it down and look at what a great pattern of shedding you've been able to stick to. The slower the better doesn't just apply to sex :)

You could blog about your weight and your weightloss or lack of it every day and I would read every word. I adore your blog and because of that I adore you. You are a gem.

You look fantastic. That's all.
Jenn

GO GO GO! Also: I want that mirror.

you look FABULOUS! what a huge accomplishment! losing 38# in two years while fighting health battles is AMAZING!

I know you're doing this for your health... but you also look awesome :)

You can do it! I'm trying to lose some weight too and begged for a Wii fit for Christmas. Now, I am trying to overcome to want to sleep in...

Girl, u look good! Kudos to you! I know it's hard, but YOU CAN DO IT and YOU ARE DOING IT!

You're an inspiration Y, for all of us who are stuggling with losing weight. It's not easy, it's a battle and takes, more than anything else, will power. I admire your tenacity, your spitfire determination and humility in admitting you do have the ocassional set-backs. It takes guts to put yourself out there like that on a blog read by so many. Thank you and Happy 2010!

You are not a broken record. You are a kick ass, divine, dedicated, warm, creative, devoted, inspirational, motherf*cking rock star.

Carry on.

WOW you look amazing! Makes me want to get up and do some exercise. Sometimes things take longer than you'd hoped, but just look at the results - wow!

i so rarely comment on your site anymore. but my sister is battling that same whore- and weirdly, is UNDERWEIGHT and was only 115 pounds when she was diagnosed (she's 50 in a few days). it's weird.

and here i am, the one who has always struggled with my weight- makes me wonder what lies in store.

you are a rock star. those mirrors don't change much. you look amazing, though i humbly admit you have always been beautiful.

You look awesome, I'm so glad for you. Also, you look 10 years younger!

OMG, Y! Guess what? One of my FAV authors reads YOUR BLOG!!!!

http://www.jennsylvania.com/jennsylvania/links.html

I think you are amazing, and strong. From someone who has struggled her entire life with her weight, believe you me I understand. The fact is, you are keeping the weight off. It is a day by day thing. You build a tower, brick by brick... Look at what a diff 38 lbs make! You look amazing - and that should be what motivates you every. single. day . Keep up the good work!

You look fantastic! And if that's a mirror that makes you look thinner, uh, where can I get it???

Y, I know it has been so difficult for you, but I'm so proud of you for keeping with it. Your persistence is admirable. Your hard, hard work is paying off and it shows.

the difference in the two pictures is amazing. you look great and really are an inspiration. thanks for taking us on this journey with you!

Here cheering you on!

congrats. you look amazing! give yourself credit--it's not the mirror. it's you. :) and you're HOT!!

You look fantastic! And you are gonna make it, no question about it.

hugs,
Lisa

what vickie said--that is 1.5 pounds a month for 2 years! hello success! be proud. and you look damn good. i like that you think it is a special mirror that makes you look thinner! uh, i don't think those exist, esp. at a gym where they need you to feel fat so you keep coming.

and i agree with some others--it looks like way more than 38 pounds off your body. what a difference.

keep on keepin' on!

I know you said it is partly the mirror, but I don't buy it. Your arms and shoulders, etc look more toned in the new photo. I think you must've converted a lot of your body mass to muscle over the past 2 yrs. It's really a great transformation! Nice work!!

This is my first visit to your blog (I came by way of searching for diabetes info), and I have to say - your weight loss progress is fantastic! I think you should be mighty proud of yourself.

I've had type 1 diabetes since I was six years old (autoimmune diabetes - don't make a lick of insulin at all and I wear an insulin pump), and I'm currently expecting my first baby. I've been searching for some blogs about motherhood, and I'm glad I've stumbled onto your blog.

Best with your weight loss goals, and nice to meet you!

- Kerri.

Wow! You look great! I've been trying to lose weight for as long as you have, but only ended up gaining. :( Still trying, though! Just started a new blog to help with motivation to get it done!

http://www.wiitoanewmii.com

I started to write "Wow! You look great!" but then, I saw the commenter just before me had already said that. So...ditto!

You truly are an inspiration. You look incredible--I can't wait to see what 2010 has in store for you...thank you for the inspiration to keep up with my own weight loss battle! If you can do it, I can do it, right?! Congrats on your accomplishments thus far!!

My guess is that you ARE as thin as the mirror in the 2nd picture makes you look ... you are just not used to seeing yourself that way. Congrats.

This is actually so wonderful... You have done a GREAT job... I am about the same as the first picture and I really need help. People don't realize how HARD it is to lose weight. My little girl just told me that some little boy at school told her that her mommy is fat and it hurt her feelings, and that is killing me! :( It is just SO hard... This is motivating beyond belief. Just those two pictures. Thank you more than you know!

"Only 38 pounds in 2 years" - are you kidding! 38 pounds is a fabulous amount to lose - in any amount of time. I've been on a (continuous) "diet" for 30 years and have yet to lose 38 pounds. You go girl!!!