1. one year

    the photo on the left was taken exactly one year ago at my college graduation.

    i remember that day perfectly! i came up with every excuse i could think of to NOT go to it. i didn’t’ want to be seen by my entire college community looking the way i did. i remember the fear in my mind about being looked at. i felt so insecure. so fat. so ugly. why would i want to parade that on stage? but in the end, my parents made me go.

    i was 260 pounds at the time. i remember thinking that i was so big that i was going to bust out of my gown. 

    my college graduation was supposed to be one of the happiest days of my life. instead it was a day filled with insecurity. 

    AND not to mention, i was graduating with a degree in EXERCISE SCIENCE! shouldn’t all of those people be FIT?!

    well, my friends, a lot has changed since may 2011. 

    now take a look at the girl on the right side of that picture. THAT is what happiness looks like. today, for the first time i since i was 12, i was able to look in the mirror and smile at what i saw in the reflection.

    i can’t imagine a better feeling than what i just experienced.

    there’s nothing more beautiful then self acceptance.

    i know i’m still quite far from my goal, but i am SO proud of what i’ve accomplished so far. 

    May 12, 2012
    1. youbecomealegend reblogged this from amandaleightyson
    2. ambulancesandapples said: Amazing job!! Congrats on graduating and the weight loss!!
    3. amandaleightyson posted this