Leaving for awhile (updated with pictures)

[tiggerlover]

The time has come to make the big transition from Italy back to the US. Our Internet at the house goes down late tomorrow or early Wednesday so I will only have Internet access from public computers every few days or so. I just wanted to tell everyone to keep up the great work and that WE CAN DO THIS! It may take some of us longer than others but persistance pays off in the long run. I joined the WISH challenge a little over 16 months ago and I have been following WW for a bit longer than that and I have lost 60 pounds and I never believed that was possible. Because of the support I have found on WISH I was able to succeed. I know the next two months will be hard as we will be living out of a suitcase until our furniture arrives in the US and we get settled, but I know with the things I learned here that I will be okay.

I have been maintaining for a couple of months now and my goal is to continue to maintain through the summer. Once we are resettled I will go back on plan (either WW or I am considering South Beach) and I will lose these final 10 pounds. Thank you fellow WISHers for your support!

Have a great summer and I will check in when I can. ONWARD AND DOWNWARD!!!

Ciao.

[thotfulspot]

Ciao, bella! Your progress has been completely prima! (I have now exhausted my non-restaurant Italian.)

I know you've got a busy time coming up now, but don't forget to take a few minutes now and then to breathe deeply and feel proud of yourself for all you've accomplished!! You've made a tremendous change and I hope you're pleased with yourself!!

Arrivederci!

[mishoe01]

Good luck with the move----check in with us once you're State-side!!

[ohMom]

((((DEBBI)))) i'm so very proud of you! i can still see the difference of your before and now pics that I"ve seen and you have made such a positive change in your life! I just realized you lost my DD! wowser! and she's not such a "little" person anymore

where are you going to reside now?

PD and best of luck to you and the fam during your move!!!

[ZerasPride]

I wish you well with your transition. Please check in with us when and where you can. Be strong and I know you can take those last 10 pounds off! I wish you a safe journey!

[AlreadyexcitedGrammy]

Debbie-

I keep "track of you" cause I am pretty much at the same step as you - need another 10 to go away - BUT I know that you will do fine and will be so anxious to hear from you when you can check in.

Great snack - protein bar by Kashi (ones like rice krispy treats) lowest price is Wal-mart- anyway - get some of those and stash in that suitcase - it will be a healthy indulgence :-)

Keep up the good work and thanks for you inspiring posts while you were in Italy!

Safe trip back to the USA!!

[Hollyann]

Good luck with the move, Debbi, I know you'll enjoy your travel time back to the states! Keep up the good work - I checked your before & after pics - WOW! Post as soon as you're settled! Best of luck! Ann

[tiggerlover]

Thanks everyone, you guys are what keeps me going some times, you are the best when it comes to support and encouragement!!

And since you mentioned my before and after pictures, I realized I haven't updated in a while, so I am posting some new ones. These were taken in late May, they are the most recent I could find.

DH and I.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid123/p93e0838746fac87800597855ca75f2e4/f82d3cad.jpg

My friends baby and I.
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid123/p723af60e0ad0f93eaacfcd8639560274/f82d3ca6.jpg

And for those of you who are new....here are my before pics.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid103/p8d9eef076a79a19e9fdf8770175eae0b/f9a6ed0d.jpg

[TigerBear]

You look absolutely beautiful! Best of luck with your move. :D

[antmaril]

Good luck with your move!!

You look fantastic!

[KimRaye]

OOO LA LA!! (Oh, sorry, that's French) :o

Fab-u-lous!! You're a great buddy, mentor, and inspiration Debbi!

I'll miss ya during your downtime and travel time, but I'll keep reminding myself that you're moving even closer. Have a very safe, peaceful flight. All my best wishes to you and DH and DS.

:hug:

[Hollyann]

Wow! You look fabulous! Debbi, I know you'll have a great time being back in the states. My biggest stumbling block when I got back from Italy is all the American food! I kept tripping over cheeseburgers and fries! You look so good, I just know you'll avoid that pitfall! Great post! Can't wait to hear from you when you return! Ann

[perfectmatch300]

Love those before & after pics. You really do look transformed.

Hope you have a safe journey on your way back to the USA!

[thotfulspot]

Just have to jump in again after seeing those before and after pictures to say WHOA!! What a difference! Check out the babe! Good on you!

[cinmell]

You look wonderful! Congratulations on all of your hard work!

[wilderness01]

You look so great!:Pinkbounc Good luck on your move.

[tiggerlover]

Since my Internet still hasn't gone down yet I thought I would check in one more time. Thanks again for the good wishes. I am a little worried about coming back to the land of food and super-size everything, but I am hoping that I learned enough this last year to try a little of what I want and not overindulge. Time will tell though. I will check in when I can and hopefully I can still stay on track.

[CarolA]

You look great! And if you could resist Italian food, McDonald's should not be an issue. (Trust me it's not near as good LOL!)

Welcome home and way to go.

[hlane]

I saw you pictures and all I can say is ****WOW****!!!!:earseek: You look great!!!:jumping1:

[trola2]

You look AWESOME!! Congratulations on all you have achieved and thank you for sharing your pictures!! Safe travels to you and your family!
~~Beth
:flower1: :flower1: :flower1:

[newholiday]

wow! good luck with the move
your weight loss is fantastic - youve done a great job

[AuroraluvsPhillip]

Congratulations Debbi, you look wonderful. Those before and after pictures are proof positive that all your hard work is paying off!:cheer2: Have a safe trip back to the States.
Jean

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by CarolA
You look great! And if you could resist Italian food, McDonald's should not be an issue. (Trust me it's not near as good LOL!)

Welcome home and way to go.

McDonald's won't be an issue for me, I am not a big fan. It will be all the other temptations that will test my willpower...lol!

[KatieBelle]

You are a true inspiration. Thank you for sharing the before and after pictures. You look amazing! Please have a safe trip home to the USA! :wave2:

[Beastlover]

WOW!! You look amazing!!! You should be so proud of yourself!!:sunny: :sunny:
Good luck on your move! :wave2:

[Mickey Nut 50]

Wow - you're just the inspiration I needed! You are magnificent! I finally broke my plateau - only to gain back 4 lbs. since Thursday morning!

You have inspired me to really "stick to it" today! (and the rest of the week!)

I hope to meet you when you get back to the US.

[WebmasterKathy]

Debbi-

Best wishes for a smooth move back home!

And you just keep looking better and younger all the time.:D LOVE the most recent photos- you look happy, energetic, and YOUNG! (And relaxed and elegant and very pretty, too!)

Wow- I've seen the "before" photo before, but it just doesn't look ANYTHING like the Debbie we know these days. Kind of hard to believe the transformation can be so dramatic, isn't it?

Maintaining during your transition, and then attacking those final little fine-tuning pounds sounds like a great plan. If you need help getting used to stateside brands and products again after the move, you know where to ask!

ONWARD AND DOWNWARD!!!

Kathy princess:

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by Mickey Nut 50
Wow - you're just the inspiration I needed! You are magnificent! I finally broke my plateau - only to gain back 4 lbs. since Thursday morning!

You have inspired me to really "stick to it" today! (and the rest of the week!)

I hope to meet you when you get back to the US.

I have plateaued many, many times and there was always someone here on WISH that helped me break through so I am glad to return the favor. We can do this....one pound at a time!!

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by KathyTX
Debbi-

Best wishes for a smooth move back home!

And you just keep looking better and younger all the time.:D LOVE the most recent photos- you look happy, energetic, and YOUNG! (And relaxed and elegant and very pretty, too!)

Wow- I've seen the "before" photo before, but it just doesn't look ANYTHING like the Debbie we know these days. Kind of hard to believe the transformation can be so dramatic, isn't it?

Maintaining during your transition, and then attacking those final little fine-tuning pounds sounds like a great plan. If you need help getting used to stateside brands and products again after the move, you know where to ask!

ONWARD AND DOWNWARD!!!

Kathy princess:

Kathy, thanks so much, you are good for my ego! I do have to agree with you on one thing, I do have a lot of energy, it is amazing! I power walked the lake with the family last night and I left them in the dust....that never would have happened before!

Thanks again to you all!!