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.

Congrats on the weight loss - you look fantastic! Were you following any special plan (Eat to Live, McDougall, Fat Smash) os the old stand-by of "eat less, move more"? However you did it, it worked and you look great.

I started out with Weight Watchers, but it really and truly makes me a little obsessive about food, and therefore I'm always hungry. I am an avid exercise-hound now, and Weight Watchers doesn't end up giving me enough food. It doesn't track nutrients, either, and that bothers me. So I'm basically eating less and moving more... but also following SparkPeople as much as I can, since it's free and it tracks my nutrients, calories, and exercise for me. I don't get obsessive that way, and I feel like I am at least keeping tabs on myself. Thanks so much for your feedback!;)

WOW! How amazing!! You were hot in the pics before, but now even hotter!:)Congratulations! I am sorry to hear that you had to endure so much in the past. But screw what people think and say. I used to weigh 300 lbs. and am now down to 145. And like you, I did it for myself and not anyone else. People where always cruel when I was larger and I was dumb enough to think it was because I was fat, but now I know people are horrible and sometimes stupid.

Hi. I just found your blog through the PPK and wanted to say what a cool, strong, and inspiring person you are. I am so sorry that you had to endure that kind of abuse- I'm not sure how people go about their days after writing that sort of cruel and cowardly junk. - Debra p.s. You look sensational.

First of all, shame on all those people who sent nasty comments, did they send a picture of themselves? Of course not. I think you are beautiful, and the fact that you are willing to share this journey with your readers, shows your care and confidence in yourself. Keep up the great work and ignore the ignorant!

You look beautiful and really have come a long way! I'm also a 'chubby vegan' and working on weight loss - I had not been overweight until a hysterectomy at the age of 20, and have fought weight gain ever since. I completely understand your situation, having a whole family who have struggled and suffered from the horrible biases of our culture. We ARE humans, and deserving of dignity and respect. Well, - you have mine. Go you!

You are awesome! Thank you for this honest, touching post. I agree with you, screw those anonymous ***holes! Each person has a life to live as they feel is right, but not to judge others or try to bring them down. I always read this bumper sticker, that's on a car I walk by every day: "Those who abandon their dreams will discourage yours." Don't let 'em!

:)I congratulate you on losing your weight, as it will add years to your young life. In addition, you seem so happy with your family and friends. Your shy smile is contagious! You are truly blessed!:)

PS: You and your husband seem so happy, too! Congratulations to both of you.;)

You look fricken amazing. I have been sad that you left the blogging world and kept wondering where you were off to. I am just in awe of your weight loss and how you kept it up. I am about where you are in the first picture, so I am just starting my journey, and I hope that I get to where you have! What kind of exercise did you do? I am using myfooddiary (sounds like the website you used to log calories/nutrients/calories burned) and am having some success. What is your best advice you can offer? What kept you going in the midst of asshole comments on your blog?!?!

I tried to comment before but somehow it didn't come up! I am totally in awe of your weight loss! I am about at the first picture point so seeing your success is incredibly motivating and makes it seem possible to lose weight. Screw those that tried to bring you down, you are beautiful in all those pictures, but you have got to feel so proud of what you have done. So it seems you kept a bit of a food diary (without obsessing) but what sort of exercise did you do? How did you start out? Did you do weight training? Just looking for some of your success tips!

katie

I just want to say that you're beautiful and don't ever let anyone tell you different. 'Nuff said. :)

How wonderful for you to share you success! I ran across your blog while doing a search for "vegan eating for one" which I heard of from some blog or another but ended up not being able to find. But YOUR blog did show up on the search, and being quite the chubby gal myself I decided to check your blog out. WOW! Is all I can say! You are such a beautiful person with extra weight or not, and your big heart shines thru... Thank you for creating such a wonderful and inspirational blog of your weight loss journey. I look forward to reading your entire blog soon! It's such a shame that people can be so mean. Just know you have many fans that love you. (and I am the newest on that list!) Keep up the great work and "Keep on Keepin' on"

You do look really great! Congratulations! :):):)

I just found your blog. From one faceless person on the internet to another WAY TO GO! I too am on a weightloss journey. My husband and I have been vegetarians for a month now and I see myself gaining a pound, losing a pound over and over again. We are making the push to veganism. I'm so excited about trying all the wonderful recipe you have posted!!!! :)

You look gorgeous and you've come so very far! That green dress looks fantastic on you, and any of those negative buggers that had the audacity to post mean things about you are just jealous of the awesome curves and lovely glow you have! Down with mean people, yay for healthiness!

You were beautiful in all those photos but I can see how happy you are in the most recent ones. I am so happy for you and proud. I'm a fat vegan and have heard the comments. I'd rather be a fat vegan than skinny and eat animals.

I was just reading your blog and wanted to say you go girl! You look awesome and as someone who fights with wt gain all the time you are an inspiration. I lost 120lbs then got pregnant and gained 60 back so I need to get back on the wagon myself. I don't know that I could do complete vegan but I will do something for me cutting carbs will do the trick I just have to get motivated and out of the rutt I am in! Great Job! I hope you get more positive comments than negative as people who are negative are usually negative about everything and jealous of other's accomplishments! Kinda like penis envy!;)

I was drawn to your website because of the title. I've thought about starting a website called thatfatveganchick or something like that. I know I don't look like the typical vegan...I still like food! Congrats on your weight loss. You look awesome.

I just stumbled across your blog by accident...you look great! Congrats on the weight loss, I know how difficult it is too lose weight...way to go! And um, just for the record? I think you looked fine in the before pictures too. Its surprising to me that you got nasty comments...you looked like a normal curvy women. what the hell is wrong with people?

Hey,

I just found your blog and I thought I'd add my comments to your statement about faceless people.....

but then I realized I didn't want bad karma myself.

You go, girl! You write with a great, fun voice- I love it!

(Plus, your recipes look really tasty. I'll haev to feed some to my housemate soon...)

hello!! i am so happy i have found your blog, and more importantly, i am so happy for you! you were beautiful in ALL you photos and it saddens me so much to think that some pompous s.o.b.'s think they are better than you because of a few numbers on the scale. shame on them. i have battled my weight most of my life and am finally losing on WW core program, which suits me well since i am vegetarian. incidentally, i have gotten 'raised eyebrows' from people when i've told them i am veggie (vegan 98% of the time) and it really urks me because i do not have hypertension, no diabetes, arteries are free and clear of cholesterol and aside from 100+ additional pounds, i am most likely healthier than most of them! anyhow, you are an inspiration. i know your struggles, and i know how you hurt with those comments. just think, they have to get up every morning, look in the mirror and know that they are stuck with what they see... a heartless, hollow shell of a person. go and be happy! big hugs, christine
oh come visit my blog and say hi! :)

:)Hello from Sunny U.K!Very inspiring to read your journal and see your pictures.My partner and I are both Vegan and both overweight, he is 6ft 4 and I Am at 5FT 4 and female HIS ideal weight. Our embarrassing moment...going to a vegan nutritionists talk and hearing her say"only 1% of vegans are overweight" there we were, attempting unsuccessfully to shrink into the corner! Ahem...we must be that 1% I will watch this space and register with your suggested free website. I used to do weightwatchers pre vegan,(5 yrs ago he has been vegan over 20 yrs)but had no idea things were not balanced nutritionally. I am about to semi retire, so hop ehte reduced stress/extra time to focus on me willhelp me get healthier xxx thanks very much for just being you and phooey biscuits to the nasty peeps!:P

I think that you are a total hottie. Congratulations. Seriously, if I saw you at a bar, I'd try to get your number.

I can tell by your blog and success that you are really happy with what you've accomplished. What I want to tell you is that you are REALLY inspiring. I am a heavy girl. I am also a vegan. I am trying to lose weight with all my might and I think it is so great what you have done for yourself. Congratulations! I'm sort of wondering if you're done blogging, because it has been a really long time. Happy New Year!

You look AMAZING!:)

oh wow, well done girl.

I think you're totally hot. If I saw you at a bar, I'd totally try for your number. Love your blog! Congratulations!

You look beautiful! Definitely an inspiration!

I think you should be very proud of yourself. You've come a long way and I think you can lose that remaining weight you want in 2009! God Bless

You look so beautiful (:

You are beautiful and you are loved so it doesn't get better than that. Feel pity for the shallow people..they only have their vanity to keep them warm at night!

i just wanted to say congrats.
great job, really.
self discipline is all so many people need.
and you have proven that you have it.

*cheer* well done. Way to stick through it and keep going! I think whether it's 10 pounds or 100 we all go through the same struggles, self-esteem issues and bad days filled with chocolate and pizza. you are wonderful and keep going!:)

p.s.- I am using stumble upon and I found your blog that way.

Well done you. I normally leave about one comment a year on a blog, and even though I don't know you from Adam (or Eve), I'm proud of you.