Looking back, I am so glad I pushed ahead. 

I almost committed myself too early to a larger weight, because I really didn't want to give up my entire wardrobe (so I told myself). Like many gals, I love my clothes, and through the years I invested a great deal of time and money in my totally-me wardobe.

So, it had seemed OK to decide to commit to a size 10. It was so much better than a size 14 and 12!  And as a size 10, I could still wear many of my size 12s.

Good enough, right?

But good enough had never been good enough for me before at work. Why would it be good enough in my own personal life?

As I recently wrote, Ali of "The Biggest Loser" helped me decide to drop that last weight. I'm sure, if I hadn't seen the huge difference between her at 140 and the 120s, I would have decided to stay at a size 10 (with an unheathy high percentage of body fat), instead of venturing to a size 6.

Thank you Ali!

What helped me through the sizing transitions: Goodwill and other thrift stores. What is wonderful about the smaller sizes (besides being able to actually fit in them): So many women buy them, and outgrow them ... before ever taking the tags off the items.

Think about it.

I've always been one who loved to tell a good "Women's Fishing Story." (Guys, that is a story about The Big Catch, the big deal, while shopping. "Can you believe I only paid x for it!") 

Since beginning the drop in sizes, I learned that Goodwill's weekly color-of-the-week sales (of 50% off) start every Sunday. On holiday weekends throughout the years, most colors are on sale, to some degree. Also, in many communities, Target disposes of their excess inventory in Goodwill. Those are the new clothes that have a blue label.

While my new size 6 wardrobe is almost entirely from thrift stores, a good portion of the clothes came with the tags still intact. 

Do I dare tell you of my best fishing story?

At Goodwill I found a size 6 Donna Karan black-and-gold label suit jacket for $10. On the web, I read that that black-and-gold label typically doesn't sell below ... $900! 

As for letting go of my large-sized wardrobe: I may have loved the brown tweed duster suit that eveyone commented on, but I loved more that when I last tried on the pants, they slid over my hips to the floor, while fully zipped and buttoned.

How cool is that!

If you are trying to lose weight, know that it really is possible, and realistic by making smarter choices each day. It doesn't have to be a dream. Persevere, maintaining a positive attitude of losing one pound at a time. And instead of saying you hate the process, repeatedly say the mantra, "I'll love the results."  You will!