It's been awhile since my last Before & After.

I know we all love to see a good old ugly duckling photo, admit it - it's fascinating. I love befores and afters of other people and could spend weeks on the internet just glued to them. In fact, I did this a lot when I first decided to change my diet.

I am very grateful to the people out there who have chosen to post before and after raw pics on the internet, because chances are if they have posted them, I have seen their photos, and they have unknowingly given me courage and motivation to take the plunge into this lifestyle AND stick with it.

Looking at others' transformations helped me have faith that when you make good choices, good things tend to happen. Sometimes it is difficult when you have just started making those changes, or have been doing it for awhile now but your transformation is going so slowly in your mind that you're wondering if you could really ever look or feel different enough.

That was true of me, most of last year, and sometimes still, especially when I look at my wrinkly twin skin on my belly which, yes, is still there even though I'm skinnier now and all. But more about that in a future post. It is a daunting task to stay positive and see the good in yourself during this stage.

My favorite cousin in the whole world posted an old photo of me on Facebook the other day and after I begged, threatened and blackmailed her not to tag it so any of my friends would actually see it, I saved it to my Macbook just in case I ever felt brave enough to share it with my blog friends.

Today I woke up and thought, I feel like posting that pic! So before my guts become atrophied from lack of use, let me present:

Me, in 2001.

This was about 2 months after my twins were born, so yes I was still carrying the pregnancy weight, probably 40 lbs worth still. I remember that morning well. I really wanted us to take some family pics in the studio (I have since decided to hate photo studios and take all my family pics myself. I mean seriously, couldn't SOMEBODY there have told me to fix my hair?!).

I'd had no time to get myself ready, nothing fit me except Kevin's t-shirts, and my hair decided to hate me that day. Also I wore makeup, and I was very white - whiter than my white as snow husband - since I saw no value in being outdoors, ever.

I did go on to lose most of the twins baby weight...in this next photo I was probably around 115 or so, which is pretty heavy for my height. This was taken after my 2nd pregnancy and shortly before I decided to try gourmet raw: (Keep in mind, I was mostly vegan at this point - I say "mostly", because after several years of being vegan I did digress a little during this pregnancy.)

Me, in May 2005

And here I am, 3 yrs later. The following pic was taken today. I was frantically ripping dresses from my closet because I needed to find a formal dress to wear to an event I have to be at, and I decided to stop and take a photo since I rarely wear dresses. Here is the original for you purists who grumble (I know you do!) that I only ever post black and white photos of myself. I'm a compulsive Photoshop-er and I LOVE B&W OKAY! So I will just put my nice b&w version on my blog profile pic - there, that way it's a win-win.)

Me today, 16 mos 80/10/10, tanned from getting so much sun, no makeup and of course, no poo. Hahaha.

When I embarked on the 811rv/fruitarian path, it wasn't about looks, it was about regaining my health and yes, losing those last few pounds, which I guess is part of regaining health. We all know that looks are not important. The world may tell us it is, but really, beauty is just a passing thing and it is fruitless to focus on that. We are all going to die some day and we're not going to look very pretty then no matter how pretty we were when we were alive. There are more important things to live for than looks!

But I will tell you what...I have been surprised by some physical changes I didn't even know would happen, and it is a lovely feeling to occasionally catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and be content and confident about who I see staring back at me, imperfections and all. I may never be a Heidi Klum, but I can be the best version of myself possible! Just think, a happier, healthier and better looking me was hiding under all those layers of poor lifestyle habits all along, and I never knew it!

So if you're out there reading this and you have been considering making a change for a healthier lifestyle, I hope you will take this as a personal kick in the butt nudge from me! There is no better day to start than today.