I can’t believe it has been six months since I started this weight loss journey and 8 months since I have had any Diet Coke or soda. If this is your first time reading about it, you read more about my journey here: weight loss update #1.

 I’ll start with the important stuff. This month my weight loss is up to a total of 109 lbs which is a weight loss of about 8 lbs this month. Compared to previous months it is a much smaller number. However, I have really backed off trying to lose weight while I try to get my health in order. I am perfectly happy with only losing 8 lbs this month.
Here is a picture I took yesterday with the kids before church. I haven’t worn a dress in ages(I usually go with a skirt/shirt combo), and I was really excited to find a dress that I thought was flattering. Plus it was 90% off on Kohl’s clearance. Man, I love that place!  I still have a long way to go, but I’m getting there.

Last month I promised a ‘Before’ picture. It’s a good thing I made a promise or I might just have chickened out. It’s pretty embarrassing for me to share. I avoided cameras as much as possible, so the only before picture I have is from a wedding in December of 2011. I think I was about the same weight, so it’s pretty accurate.

 Okay, here is another progress picture. I can’t end it with that ‘before’ shot. We went out to a nice dinner at Rainforest Cafe to celebrate when I lost 100 lbs. I tried the whole self portrait thing with my kids.

Now for an update on the health problems I mentioned in Weight Loss update #5.
Warning: This is where you find out way too much about my medical situation. However, I mentioned it previously, so I think it’s only fair to follow-up. 
I last left off telling you that my hair was still falling out and I had some abnormal blood test results. The hair is still falling out! However, I had a scalp biopsy to confirm that I have telogen effluvium. It’s a temporary hair loss and it happens when your body undergoes big changes or stress like rapid weight loss or child birth. I just have to be patient and it should stop at some point and start growing back again. 
Now for the blood test update. I had elevated liver enzymes which indicates that your liver is being damaged/not working as it should. I have had a total of 4 blood tests and an abdominal ultrasound to rule out all sorts of nasty chronic liver issues. Thankfully, I don’t have any of those scary things wrong with me. I may have fatty liver disease, which can be caused by losing weight rapidly, among many other risk factors. Even though it has the word disease in it, it is the best possible scenario because it can be reversible. I am going to continue my healthy lifestyle and monitor it over time.

 Phew! Congrats if you made it all the way to the end of this post. My birthday is October 5th, so I will be having a fun giveaway to celebrate. I hope you’ll come back enter!