I am really, really proud of myself. It's been a long (very long) weight loss journey since I took a year off in 2007  (but didn't gain a darned thing). But I am down almost 100 pounds. I lost 33 pounds before 2007, and I've lost 60 pounds since January.

I know this is a food blog, but I have gotten a ton of incredibly nasty comments and e-mails since I've started this blog about how I am a "disgusting pig," and that I have no right to be posting about food since I apparently "don't care about" myself at all. Faceless people on the Internet can really make some interesting judgments and say some horrible things.

So I say, screw them. If being fat was the worst crime I've ever committed in my life, I would venture to say that I've done pretty well, then. I have a wonderful husband who has loved me through every single pound, up or down. I have two beautiful Dachshunds who don't care about the size of my lap, as long as they're able to climb into it. I have family and friends aplenty, and none of them have ever based their opinions of me upon the size of my jeans.

I did this instead for ME. No one but me.

And now, I give to you a few "before" pictures.


This was in September of 2006, and I was at 267 pounds. I'd been through an awful lot, including 3 abdominal surgeries and two failed rounds of IVF (including 2 miscarriages). I gained a lot of weight, but after this picture was taken I was determined to lose it.




This picture was taken after losing about 20 pounds. I obviously had a LOT to go.



Taken at my brother's wedding in July of 2007, I was down 33 pounds, but I was still incredibly heavy and unhappy in that outfit.




My birthday, May 2008. I was probably about a size 16 here, and around 190.



Taken later in May on vacation!



In June or early July... probably down another 7 pounds or so.



And finally, now!!!!!!!!!!!! I still have about 30 or 40 pounds to go, but I am extremely happy and excited. Depending on the clothing maker, I fit in anything between a 10 (big) and 14 (cut very small). Mostly 12's. I am technically now smaller than the average American woman. So all of you judgmental pricks out there can go fly a kite!









P.S. Don't say horrible things to people. Even if it's a faceless person on the Internet. That person is still a person, and it just might come back to bite you in the ass someday. Karma is a bitch, I tell you.

OneChubbyVegan's Veganized Avgolemono Soup

1 quart vegetable both
1/4 C long-grain white rice
3 TB nutritional yeast flakes (optional)
2 tsp tamari (optional)
1 C soymilk, or other unsweetened vegan "milk" of choice
2 TB cornstarch
1/4 tsp tumeric
1/3 C finely chopped chicken-style seitan (homemade or storebought)
2 TB vegan margarine or extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 to 1/3 C fresh lemon juice (use 1/4, then test for tartness, and add more if necessary)
zest from 1 small lemon, or 1/2 large lemon
1/4 C chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper to taste (about 1/2 to 1 tsp of salt, and 1/4 to 1/2 tsp of pepper)
Fresh dill for garnish (optional)

Add vegetable broth, rice, nutritional yeast, and tamari (if using) to medium stockpot. Bring to a boil, and then lower heat, cover, and simmer for 25 minutes, until rice is cooked.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the soymilk, cornstarch, and tumeric with a fork or whisk and set aside.

When 25 minutes is up, re-stir the soymilk mixture, and add to soup. Stir well, until thickened. Add seitan, margarine, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix well, and test for tartness. If more tart flavor is desired, add extra lemon juice.

Add parsley, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir well. Serve with some freshly snipped dill, if desired. This recipe will double well.