I think what's different about me and most people here is I love myself, maybe a lil' too much. I don't aspire to be thin, I don't want to be skinny. I love my curves, my shape, me. I'm an hourglass, maybe the big ben of hourglasses but an hourglass nonetheless.

Part genes part hard work, regardless of how much I weigh I still have a "shape" and it's not just round. When I lost weight before I kept the same shape, just a smaller version of it. I'm in faith that the same thing will happen now. I like me, I like my big butt, musclar and powerful legs, I like my arms, my face (minus the double chin lol) and my breasts. YES there's room for improvement, that's why I'm doing this.

But I just don't look in the mirror and think "ugh" like some of the people I've talked to on here do. We're all beautiful in our own way and pardon the pun but weigh, as well.

300, 200 or 150 I'm still fly. I'm still beautiful, I'm still me. And because of that I think this journey will be easy for me. Self love is what it takes.

Yes I could sit and point out my double chin, my backfat, how the tops of my thighs aren't so solid any more, but hey I can still wear a skirt or bathing suit an nobody really notices.. I could point out how I have a stomach, that thankfully is soft so people don't mistake me for being pregnant I could point out how my upper arm is a lil' loose as I age, I like to think its from all of the beauty waving I did lol...j/k

But point all of that out wouldn't do me any good, besides it doesn't define me. I have always been and will probably always be a plus sized woman. Yes yes, I know we all want to be skinny, yeah not me. I'm just not part of that crowd. People keep making comments to me about "You're so pretty, imagine what you'll look like after" - Fa' real? I mean really?? was that supposed to be a compliment? I look pretty freakin' good now, and I'm not sure the world is ready for a skinny Yvette LMAO.. Ok maybe that's just funny between me and my BFF.. lmao.. but I digress.. I'm just saying.. if we love ourselves it makes the journey easier.. If you're not constantly jumping on the scale, getting caught up with who from your surgery month is losing more than you or whatever the situation is, you're bound to succeed and do it with ease.

Excuse the outfit, this was takin' before a "trailer park party" but as I was going through old pics I figured I'd stop and show the world what 5'5 315lbs looks like on me...

Not embarrassed, not covered up, just me. Loving me. I know skinny women who don't love themselves the way I love me. I don't think that's something that size on a rack can teach you. Has to come from within.

I think you are rockin! I have a shape when I'm thinner (I'm talking 200 lbs, because I've never been thin), but as I gained weight, I have lost my shape. I'm looking forward to seeing more definition in places, but like you I like curves!

You are ahead of the curve--good for you!