40 lbs down - Sept 2013

September 2013 - 168 lbs. That's 40 lbs lost in 7 months.

Facebook Inspiration 2013

Here is everything of an inspirational nature that I wrote on Facebook in the past year.  Wow it is quite obvious that there were season this year where I wasn't as inspired by God's word but he was working on my discipline in other areas.

12/28

What's your relationship with God done for you lately? Have you ever stop to think where you would be if you hadn't surrendered your life to Jesus? I was all of 15 and I know I was saved from a multitude of wrong choices. Sure I have made quite a few wrong choices along the way but not nearly as many or as catastrophic as they would have been without Jesus. Not to mention all the painful experiences over the years I have felt that I chose to turn to my Savior for comfort and healing. So if you are feeling defeated as a believer, that you aren't doing enough, you aren't strong enough, or together enough, just stop and reflect on who you would have been and who you are. God has done an amazing work in you and he's not finished with you yet.

12/27

How do you train your thoughts? My brain can manage to think up all kinds of nonsense all day long that leads to no good fruit. Rehashing problems, nursing how I was right, planning for the what ifs, or just day dreaming. It is for this reason that I need to meditate on God's word all day long. So every chance I get I will choose to listen to God's word while I work and play that my mind may be renewed.

12/26

I had the 1st of many great Bible readings in my new hammock. It was delightful to be all cozy in a sleeping bag just my head popping out with my Bible in hand. I read out-loud as I need to hear the word to stay focused. I need to get over being selfconscious about being heard by others. Hearing the birds singing all around was delightful.

12/17

When all said and done I think all the Christmas activities is like birthing a Child, wonderful, amazing, PAINFUL and a big blur that leaves you with a giddy smile. The baby makes it all worth it. I would like to have a serious heart to heart with all the planning committees for these Christmas events. We will have attended 3 Choir performances, 1 Christmas Caroling and 2 parties. The only one that REALLY needed to happen during December was the Caroling. Come on let's have our parties and performances in January or even February. Not to mention my son has 3 major school projects due just before the break. As a mother of 5, I am wanting to decorate my house, put up a tree, bake cookies, take a horse ride to look at lights, have gifts for all the important people in my life and do it all in the Spirit of Christmas but I'm just spread to thin and pooped. So Christmas is getting done around here but I am exhausted, without make up, and my floors and laundry are seriously lacking attention.

12/16

Who are you and who are you not? Are you willing to be who God has called you to be, embracing all that is in you that is strong and weak? For both can be used for the Glory of God. How crazy is this, in my fear of appearing prideful or boastful I often don't fully exercise my strengths. Then being equally concerned that I won't be taken seriously due to my weaknesses. Yet today I will choose to let all be seen for the glory of God. For someone will be encouraged by your strength and another will find comfort in your weakness.

12/15

Reading your Bible BEFORE church will produce amazing results. If you get in the habit of this you will be amazed at how many times God will affirm His word through your Pastor's message. The other bonus is you will find yourself more receptive to His Spirit to notice what God sees at church. How many times have we come to church beaten down, praying to be restored. How awesome to come ready to help restore the broken hearted. Many of us come and SERVE at church because we signed up to but how many times do you come ready to serve as the Spirit leads.

12/12

I wrote this on March 22, 2011 - That will be 3 years ago come this March and I could have written it today. Hard to believe that I am still "standing" one day at a time as God has called me.

Oh what joy and conformation has filled my heart. Reading for my Bible study about "standing". No action, just standing before the Lord. Given the story of Elijah. He confront Ahab for his sin, then proclaim a drought. Then what does God do with this mighty prophet of God. He hides him in the house of a widow, doing nothing for 3 years. Bearly surviving on bread. His only mircle that of keeping the bread flowing and healing the ladies son. Yet at the end of this time of "standing" God brings him to his most note worthy battle. The fight against the prophets of Baal.
Lord how I thank you for this story and man of God that was often brought low emotionally, isolated and fearful. Yet he walked powerfully for you and I will to. For just as Eijah was held up in the widows house isolated for the purpose of being in your presence, I to will rejoice at this time of preparation. What joy to be called to the service of standing in God's presence.

12/14

Please let me know if you would be willing to get behind me in the ministry God is having me walk in. I am in desperate need of DAILY prayer covering. I am seeing a trend. The more I walk in His Spirit the greater my emotional crash the next day. Yesterday I was hearing from God powerfully to minister to others and today I feel like the winner of close boxing match.

12/10

I have noticed a couple of posts regarding broken relationships due to being repeated wounded by anothers actions/words. I would like to share what I do and what I have taught my children. 1) Ask God to heal and hold you in your pain and fear, 2) Ask for discernment if you are to take anything in from what was said or done, 3) Ask the Lord to remove all hurt so that you don't become bitter, 4) Forgive the person for hurting you and ask the Lord to convict them of their part, 5) Bathe every conversation with this person in prayer. Ask that no harmful word or action would be able to come against you, in the name of Christ. - Accept that those that hurt us like this are deceived and will not seek our forgiveness or reconciliation till they seek God for themselves. No matter the injustice of the division this causes we can't bring about their conviction only our healing, spiritual protection and forgiveness at the hand of God.

12/7

Wow. Talk about answered prayer. I was ready to leave His presence yet God said wait. He has something he wanted to tell me. He has a message he wants me to share with those who desire to hear it. Please pray and let me know if you would like to receive this amazing message of hope and perseverance.

Today makes 9 days in a row of quality time in the word. Thanks for joining me. Before this group I was hit or miss. 15-20 minutes a day and only 3-5 times a week. No McD's runs anymore. Can't wait to see the harvest. Please don't compare what you are doing to what I am doing. Just be obedient to what God has asked you to do. Yet I ask that you hold me accountable to do what he has called me to do. Math 25:15 "To one he gave five talents,[b] to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away." God has called me to preach the good news over FB, to lead others to find freedom in Christ through personal relationship and study, to be steadfast in love standing firm for God in an unequally yoked relationship and be a light to my children. To do all that God has called me to do I need to spend no less than 30 minutes a day in the Word but most days it is more like an hour. The time is not important, it is about me being obedient to not go on with my day till God releases me. Please hold me accountable to stay till God releases me. I have to many hearts, minds and souls that count on me to be sharp to hear from God and not my flesh. I don't want to lead anyone astray because I was acting in my flesh.

12/5

In the Daily Bible group we will give and receive encouragement to get into God's word. If you join you will be asked to share weekly what you are reading, if God is speaking to you through His word and so much more. One to one we will lift each other's struggles in prayer and even offer a word or two of correction. If you have an awesome daily devotional then maybe you are to join to encourage. While others of you need to join to even know where to begin. So I pray that all levels of spiritual maturity will join so we can learn from each other. Your approach to the Word might be just the ticket for someone else. The group will have a big kick off January 1. Yet I want each of you to have ample time to prepare your hearts, calendars and minds. All are welcome!

12/4

To walk without fear we must learn to ABIDE. Do a key word search on Bible gateway to learn how to ABIDE. 1 John 4:13-18, 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

11/13

What a strange new world this is for me. So glad to not be the fat lady in the room. No longer sizing up my Zumba class to see if I am the biggest girl in the class. See, there is a bond, like seeing another pregnant lady, when you enter a exercise class as a fat lady. Eye to eye you say to her you can do, you are awesome just the way you are, were in this together and were going to show all those skinny's. Now more than ever I want to tell her that she can do it. My body no longer tells my story so I guess I will have to find another non verbal way to communicate my passion for her.

10/10

Wouldn't it be awesome and humbling to know the impact we have had on the lives of others? To know that we sowed a seed that built faith, brought hope and set their eyes of Christ. Yet I would equally want to know when my words or actions gave someone doubt or caused them to be tempted to sin. I pray that this day my words and actions only bring about good fruit and that those around me are left only thinking about Jesus. For I am but the messenger. Guard all of us that we only be a messenger of what God has called us to do.

8/16

To teach and be taught. Now that is living. The longer I live the more I realize I need to learn. Then why do I teach? Because I must give away what God has shown. That it may be further cemented in my heart and further refined under the scrutiny of others and His word to be found pure. If I hold on to the truth God has placed in my heart, my own heart might corrupt it. Yet shared among others any deception in it will be relieved.

7/26

Have you every thought about carrying your bible around more? What a blessing and conversation starter it was yesterday. I brought it to read while getting an oil change. One of the mechanics commented that I brought my sword. Love it! Another mechanic said he has his at his bedside. He is reading in Acts these days.

7/18

It is with great joy that I was blessed by these words today. For life brings with it many struggles. Some completely out of my control while others I am humbled to admit come from my unrefined character. Yet I am learning to rejoice even in my personal failings as I know my hope to do better next time is found in Christ in me. The more connected I am with His word the more victory I have. May today be an example of such victory.
Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance, character, and character, hope. 5 And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 8:1-3
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh,

7/6

I have been thinking a lot about what we tell our children about our need to loss weight. I want to teach my kids that bad choices, seeming every so small can have a snow ball effect. I didn't get fat over night. For me it boils down to love the sinner but hate the sin. They need to know that we have been making bad choices. That I have done this to myself and that I am doing something about it. That my fat body is the result of my poor choices and even though I can forgive myself and be forgiven I am saddled with the consequences of my actions till I do the HARD work of climbing the mountain to retrain my choices. Let's be honest with our kids. Anything we let turn us into a snowball has become our master. It is not about poor self image it is about being faced daily with the consequence of our actions. I pray that one day after I have climbed the mountain that I can stay at the top but I will never under estimate my desire for the easy life. I want my kids to know that whatever area they struggle with be it food, lying, anger, etc. that they will have to choose daily if they will let it master them or if they will work to keep it in check. I hope that my children never have to climb a mountain as high as mine to undo the effects of their poor choices.

7/3

I am down another 3 pounds. I love it that even though I have been sick these past two weeks I am still able to stick to the plan and continue to loss. I am so glad that exercise is not required to keep losing. I use to have so many obstacles to stay on a diet and I am overcoming all of them. My Dr even took a double take at me the other day. He had that ogling look as he commented on my weight loss.

6/5

No weight loss again this week. Given my eating I should have had a loss. I am going to chalk it up to my continuous breakthrough bleeding, 10 days now, YUCK. It is time for me to learn something about how my body reacts to weight loss. Any weight loss over 3 lbs a week and I will start bleeding and for as long as it lasts I don't loss weight. So no more rapid weight loss for this girl. Slow and steady wins the race. Any tips to get my breakthrough bleeding to stop? I am not due for my cycle to start till June 14th.

5/31

Someone better pinch me. I have clothes I kept from before I had my 1st child. They are at least 14 years old. The elastic is all cracking. I was able to paste on my power red suit. It is sleek, fitted and definitely sexy. When I can wear in comfortably I will be ready to maintain. The end or rather my beginning is in sight.

5/13

I am so glad that a cheat day is part of my diet. I don't plan on taking one every week but when I need it to stay sane I will give myself permission to eat anything I want. I just got back from a girl scouts camping trip. I brought all my own food and by the end I was feeling disconnected and sad that I wasn't apart of what everyone else was doing. Then I show up at church and they are giving away amazing muffins to mom's. That was it. I rose the flag and declared it a cheat day. Best part was I declared it. No eating in hiding. Really messes with my head. Now today is a new day and I am ready for my strict day.

5/7

I have a new theory on eating good carbs such as beans, fruit, etc. Things like lean meat protein and low carb veggies will give us energy but if we work out hard, burning a high # of calories in a short time we will quickly burn up all the usable energy we have and the body can't convert our fat storage into fuel quickly enough. This leaves us depleted and lightheaded. So the best and ONLY time we should eat the good carbs is before a hard workout. If we eat these carbs and then exert little to no energy the body will turn it into fat to be used latter. So you want to eat that apple, a piece of whole grain bread or some pinto beans. Fine. Then get off the couch and use that fuel to do something. I am looking forward to testing out my theory.

5/2 

May 2, 2013 - 187 lbs , that's 21 lbs lost in 3 months.

 

4/22

I am only sharing my personal pitty party as it is the little things that seem to get me down and cause me to eat poorly. I am frustrated. I got a tone of fresh herbs and now I am afraid they will all dye before I figure out how to use them, grrr. I cut up the big beautiful carrots for easy snacking, put them in water and they are getting soft, grrr. I bought a tone of tomatoes and eaten plenty. Now my mouth is inflamed with mouth sores, I feel sick and I can't eat anything crunchy. Lastly I caved and ate a piece of my homemade apple pie. I'm not a perfectionist but I hate waste, so if you are in the neighborhood come by for some tomatoes. I still have a tone.

4/18

Life really is looking up these days. I am excited to invested in my health. Today I got a heart rate monitor and a weighted ball. I am ready to eat lean and exercise at the gym or at home. Not only am I NOT tired of the life style changes I have made. I feel like I am just getting started. What a joy to fall in love with wellness.

4/10

Week 9: 17.6 pound lost. Diet still going well. Starting to see life style changes cementing into my brain. I don't see breads or dairy ever coming back into my diet on a regular basis. Life is to good without it. Measurements are a bit confusing. I don't think she ever took an accurate measurement of my abdomen. The tape measure likes to slip. I have to laugh at how little people seem to notice the change. My clothes feel differently but let's face it I am far from being a skinny girl. I am learning to accept the long haul ahead of me. Slow and steady wins the race.

4/2

Have you every walked away from time with your best friend just feeling amazing. Knowing you could take on the challenge of the day. They didn't say anything particularly profound. You just knew you had someone in your corner. Loving you for you. Well that's what my time with God was like today. Can't put my finger on any one thing I read, but I was changed by being in His presence. He is waiting to refresh your soul. Take a moment, make it today. Open his word and he will make you new.

4/1

I am so looking forward to leading a discussion about the book Boundaries starting May 2nd. I am adding a bit of my own spin. Going to start off every session with 30 minutes of prayer, then I am going to help those that come determine who are the safe people in their lives using "Safe People." Lastly I am going to ask everyone that participates to put time with God above everything else. Boundaries are great tool but if not lead by the Spirit they are just tools.

3/26

Loving life is about loving yourself enough to keeping trying to achieve your goals. Sometimes we have to take a break, regroup and find a new path. Other times we need to buckle down and work through the pain of obedience. Yet no matter the approach remember that with God all things are possible. So pray 1st, ask God if today is the day. I am on my way towards a long awaited goal and I couldn't be happier that I didn't give up.

3/28

I am so excited. I have measurements that I took back in 1999 prior to having kids. I am almost half way to having the same size midsection and hips. It also give me hope that I may weigh more than I did back then but still be able to have the same measurements. This momma must have more muscle than that sweet young thing. What great news. Glad to know I don't have to loss another 60 lbs to be my old sexy self.

3/13

I was very frustrated with this mornings weigh-in. No change in the measurements AGAIN and only a marginal loss of .4 pounds. I worked out harder this week than any other week and I stayed to the program. This is the hardest part of dieting for me. Nothing to fix, nothing to do better, just keep, keeping on knowing that my body will eventually have to let go of this fat it so dearly loves. I have to keep reminding myself that I am at the weight now that I have been stuck at for almost 8 years.

3/6

Week 4 of Ideal Protein. No change in inches but down 2 more pound for a total loss of 11.2 pounds. I can't believe I have made it this far without cheating. If must be God. I have certainly prayed enough for the ability to have this kind of willpower. It sure feels good. I am so shocked. Just this week the family has had enchiladas, popcorn, chocolate toast, been out for ice cream and pizza. I am beginning to just enjoy them eating it for me. Junk food looks way better on their hips than mine.

One slight drawback of this weight loss. My hormones are off and I can prove it. Yes, losing weight can affect your menstrual cycle. Any large weight adjustment causes a shift in hormones, because estrogen release is partially based on your fat cells. When you lose a large amount of weight, estrogen automatically declines.

2/13

I am totally shocked at my willpower. I have made cheese and crackers, PBJ, smoothies and more for the kids that are NOT on my diet. I haven't even been tempted. Well maybe a little bit, but not because I feel like I am missing out. I hope this attitude lasts. I am already in a pair of jeans I couldn't wear a week ago.

 2/9

February 2013 - 208 lbs w/shoes

Here's that skinny girl. No matter what my size this is who I am. One day soon I will look more like her than I do today.