I’ve always loved before and after pictures. Wouldn’t you agree Jennifer Hudson looks awesome 60 pounds lighter than her “curvy” American Idol self? I believe she’s now an inspiring spokesperson for Weight Watchers.
I was a Weight Watcher myself several years ago, but I fall into that disclaimer category that reads something like the following: “While Jennifer’s weight loss results are not normal, most members can expect to lose anywhere from 1 to 2 pounds a week,” and then turn right around and find those lost pounds lickity-split as soon as you stop eating celery and lettuce exclusively. Sorry, it's sometimes tough keeping my snarky side under wraps. What can I say, I’m only able to share before pictures of my experience with Weight Watchers, but believe me, when I can put my money rather than food where my mouth is, you’ll be the first to see the after pictures.
I do have some before and after pictures I am willing to share.
Here’s mighty Haleakala before Jim and I reached the remote Hawaiian village of Hana on Maui.
I was a Weight Watcher myself several years ago, but I fall into that disclaimer category that reads something like the following: “While Jennifer’s weight loss results are not normal, most members can expect to lose anywhere from 1 to 2 pounds a week,” and then turn right around and find those lost pounds lickity-split as soon as you stop eating celery and lettuce exclusively. Sorry, it's sometimes tough keeping my snarky side under wraps. What can I say, I’m only able to share before pictures of my experience with Weight Watchers, but believe me, when I can put my money rather than food where my mouth is, you’ll be the first to see the after pictures.
I do have some before and after pictures I am willing to share.
Here’s mighty Haleakala before Jim and I reached the remote Hawaiian village of Hana on Maui.
Somewhere off the eastern coast of Maui.
Here’s mighty Haleakala after Jim and I drove through Hana and continued around Haleakala, which by the way means House of the Sun.
Lava after it's cooled and aged to perfection; about a million years or so.
Same volcano; same island; astounding difference.
Before and after pictures are always astounding regardless the subject matter. For more on astounding transformations, check out the mug shots of meth users at the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office in Portlant, Oregon at the time of their first arrest, before meth took over their lives and then months or years later when they were arrested a second time, after meth has taken hold of their looks as well as their freedom. Or you can check out these before and after shots of Joplin, Missouri following the tornadoes.
Go ahead. I’ll wait to share my story behind Haleakala’s amazing transformation.
Oh, good, you’re back. Okay, on to something a little more uplifting – our trip around Maui’s million year old volcano, Haleakala – the difference between night and day, between 80 inches of rain and 10 inches of rain, between a tropical paradise and an arid desert. How did she accomplish such a feat?
Check out yesterday’s blog covering the details of the before portion of our trip around Haleakala to the remote town of Hana, population 1235, or you can see the drive condensed to approximately 7 minutes here or 45 seconds here. Once again, I’ll wait. I’ll run and grab something to eat (I’m thinking celery or lettuce) while you catch up.
I’m sure your snack was tastier than mine. So, now that we’re all on the same page (or volcano, as the case may be) I’ll explain why the Road before Hana went from lush and tropical rainforest
Before and after pictures are always astounding regardless the subject matter. For more on astounding transformations, check out the mug shots of meth users at the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office in Portlant, Oregon at the time of their first arrest, before meth took over their lives and then months or years later when they were arrested a second time, after meth has taken hold of their looks as well as their freedom. Or you can check out these before and after shots of Joplin, Missouri following the tornadoes.
Go ahead. I’ll wait to share my story behind Haleakala’s amazing transformation.
Oh, good, you’re back. Okay, on to something a little more uplifting – our trip around Maui’s million year old volcano, Haleakala – the difference between night and day, between 80 inches of rain and 10 inches of rain, between a tropical paradise and an arid desert. How did she accomplish such a feat?
Check out yesterday’s blog covering the details of the before portion of our trip around Haleakala to the remote town of Hana, population 1235, or you can see the drive condensed to approximately 7 minutes here or 45 seconds here. Once again, I’ll wait. I’ll run and grab something to eat (I’m thinking celery or lettuce) while you catch up.
I’m sure your snack was tastier than mine. So, now that we’re all on the same page (or volcano, as the case may be) I’ll explain why the Road before Hana went from lush and tropical rainforest
There is a real Garden of Eden on the Road to Hana.
to dry and rocky desert after Hana.
More like one lane highway.
As they say in real estate, it’s all about location, location, location.
I’ve always thought anywhere on Maui would be the perfect place for paradise. Apparently I know as much about real estate as I do dieting.
I do know about 10 miles after passing through Hana the only road around Haleakala went from paved to gravel to something resembling packed dirt
I’ve always thought anywhere on Maui would be the perfect place for paradise. Apparently I know as much about real estate as I do dieting.
I do know about 10 miles after passing through Hana the only road around Haleakala went from paved to gravel to something resembling packed dirt
These cows were just about the only sign of life we saw on Haleakala's southwest side.
and finally back to something resembling paved. The hairpin switchbacks had been replaced with incessant bumps.
At least there wasn't any road construction.
I know at one point in those first 10 miles past Hana I questioned the wisdom of our decision to continue rather than turn back although I wisely refrained from sharing that doubt with Jim. He was on a mission (looked to me like a mission to the moon) requiring his full attention and no distractions. Fortunately the number of vehicles on the road had diminished considerably making the roadway that much easier to navigate given we didn’t have to share the sometimes harrowing narrow passage.
Guardrails obviously weren't in the budget.
But then the sheer beauty of this island in her stunning new attire
Those clouds seldom have anything to give once they make it over the mountain.
highlighting her stark and finely honed features
These trees at Haleakala National Park are a testament to nature's fury & perseverence.
with mesmerizing contrasts made the journey all worthwhile.
The trade winds have made all the difference in the world, at least the lush tropical world of Maui before Hana and the stark, decimated terrain after Hana.
The lush tropical windward side of Haleakala benefits from the northeast winds buffeting this dormant volcano high above the beaches of Maui. The moisture carried daily on those trade winds from the Pacific waterworks gets trapped and pressed into fluffy clouds that often grow heavy with moisture. Those clouds dump their contents on the windward side of Maui before dissipating or moving on to the leeward side. Dry and mostly impotent after so much effort, what Haleakala doesn’t take the afternoon sun sucks up, so that very little moisture finds its way across this demanding mountain of a volcano?
To miss the efforts of these unique and fragile ecosystems responsible for this younger of Maui’s two volcanos would truly be paradise lost.
The trade winds have made all the difference in the world, at least the lush tropical world of Maui before Hana and the stark, decimated terrain after Hana.
The lush tropical windward side of Haleakala benefits from the northeast winds buffeting this dormant volcano high above the beaches of Maui. The moisture carried daily on those trade winds from the Pacific waterworks gets trapped and pressed into fluffy clouds that often grow heavy with moisture. Those clouds dump their contents on the windward side of Maui before dissipating or moving on to the leeward side. Dry and mostly impotent after so much effort, what Haleakala doesn’t take the afternoon sun sucks up, so that very little moisture finds its way across this demanding mountain of a volcano?
To miss the efforts of these unique and fragile ecosystems responsible for this younger of Maui’s two volcanos would truly be paradise lost.
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