When the producers on Oprah were putting together my segment, they kept asking for more and more "before" photos. I just didn't have that many because I hated having my photo taken. My aunt and mother had a few that I'd never seen before and saw them for the first time when I saw the Oprah episode (Harpo producers had a courier pick up the photos directly from my mom and aunt so I didn't see them first). I still have a hard time looking at them, but as part of my path to understanding who I was at 290+ pounds and the woman I am at 130 pounds, I thought it was important to share them here.

Inside my head, I was pretty much the same person I am now. I'm just trying to accept the outside person. I was large and uncomfortable. In fact, I didn't realize just how large I'd become. Looking at these photos, I realize that I didn't see me as being 300 pounds. I get sad now for the woman who refused to see the truth. But then, as I've said before, that woman knew to lose weight. That woman saved me.

Here are a few more photos from my past. I'll let them speak for themselves.