Happy (it's almost my) Birthday to MEEEE!!

 Happy Birthday to ME!

34.

/sigh.

Four years ago I started a blog--30lbs by 30.   I didn't do it.   In fact, all I managed to do was gain weight...sure I would lose...6lbs.  Then I would gain 10lbs.  Start over.  "30lbs by 31" FAILED.  "30lbs by Whenever (just please, please please I need to lose 30lbs)"  FAILED.

So here I am....age 34...down almost 50lbs from my highest (non-pregnant weight) and it's bittersweet.
While I am so happy to be wearing the same clothes I wore when I turned 27, I'm frustrated with myself that I couldn't do this 7 years ago when I started gaining weight.  Chalk it up to life lesson, I guess.

Happy Birthday to me...Happy photo collage to you, readers.  Enjoy!

Annie.  Age 27.  

Annie.  Age 30.  I had just lost about 9 pounds.  Still 30lbs heavier than age 27.
See how I'm holding my arms? So that they don't look HUGE.

Annie.   Age 31.  Believe it or not, I weigh more here than I did at age 30.  (Like 5lbs).
Wearing a suck in suit and have strategically hidden my arms behind  wine glasses.
(ok, that just happened, I didn't plan it.)

Annie.  Age 32.  Preggers!  30lbs HEAVIER than at 31 but my hair looked fantastic!
 And I felt fantastic.  And I didn't care about my weight because everything was fantastic!

Annie.  Age 33

Age 33.  My heaviest non-pregnant weight...I weigh 8lbs less than I did at 32 and there's no baby in there!  I weigh 25lbs more than I did at 31...and almost 60lbs more than I did at age 27.  I couldn't get control of my weight.  No amount of calorie counting, running, lifting or crying was working and it took 6 months to lose 8lbs that, if I wasn't careful, I would gain back....

Annie. Age 33.  (OMG, my ARMS!)

And I did.  By the time I weighed in for Ideal Protein, I had gained 5lbs.

So here I sit on the eve of my 34th birthday...

...in awe of the pictures that my husband took last night at dinner.  That's me?  I look like I did when I was 27!  I am 45lb LESS than I was a year ago!  And while I am 10-15lbs more than I was 7 years ago, I am the same size (minus this fabulous baby belly which is making some things a little tighter).  This last week I was told "you've been looking pretty svelte these days!" I've never been called svelte in my LIFE!.  And someone else told me that now she's going to have to start doing something (she looks great!) because I look so good and I had a baby 20 months ago.    Now, she knows me...we go way back in my careers...so I'll take it from where it's coming but I thought, "Wow...wait...am I becoming one of those women who has a child but doesn't look like she HAD a child?"  Ohhhhhhh!  Nice!

Anyway...yea yea yea, Annie, get to the pictures.

I couldn't pick just one.  My baby is so cute.  hehehe.  Enjoy!

Annie.  About to turn 34.  45lbs lighter.  

With my happy, beautiful baby girl.

LOVE!!