Sole Mates

One week ago today my precious husband and I walked a mile and one half after we took our little one to school and before he went to work.  The fellowship was sweet and with him by my side, I was so encouraged.  The next day we did not walk, because we had to be up bright and early and ready for our new washing machine and dryer to be delivered.  What we thought was going to be an easy process ended up turning into a nightmare.  In the end, as a result of the negligence of the man installing our washing machine, the entire back half of our house was literally flooded. Our master bedroom and bathroom along with our home office was completely saturated with water - FLOODED!!!!.  We stayed at a hotel for four nights while wonderful people from ServePro worked at drying out our home.  Jeff and I have both been stressed, but we were able to laugh some (believe it or not) - AND it was in those moments that I was once again reminded of how very thankful I am to have a "helpmate" that God designed specifically for me. I am VERY THANKFUL that God created the institution of marriage to mirror the relationship that we should have with our Heavenly Father.  So, the plan is to once again start walking together each morning (AFTER we are freed up in the mornings from waiting on floor contractors and insurance adjusters).  Until then, we will have to exercise at home with videos and exercise equipment.  Either way, time spent together with my helpmate is precious! 
God taught me something else that is of even greater worth to me than the remembrance of having such a wonderful husband.  My best exercise partner is my Heavenly Father.  He is with me every step of the way.  What better way to keep my focus than to realize that I am never walking alone! 

"For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said:'I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God,and they will be my people.'" 
- 2 Corinthians 6:16b

Choices and Motivation

Ok, I AM STRUGGLING!!!! Tomorrow will be exactly one month since I have posted and it is all because I have made poor decisions for the last month and have therefore lost my motivation.  For the last month, I kept wondering WHY I was struggling, and to be honest, it was because I was trying to do it on my own and MY STRENGTH was depleted quickly.  Because summer was so hectic, I made poor choices in every area of my life. So, as I am COMPLETELY TRANSPARENT on here, I am going to list my bad choices and the results thereof.  HOPEFULLY I am not the only one who can and will learn from my mistakes. 

• BAD CHOICE #1 (and the most detrimental) - QUICK QUIET TIMES  

For the last month, my time with God has been reduced to reading my small devotional Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young - Now don't get me wrong, that is a GREAT DEVOTIONAL, but I had begun to lean on it in a quick manner and forfeited really digging into God's word on my own.  Let NOTHING be a substitute for your time of actually moving the pages of God's word with your hands, looking at the gems of scripture with your eyes and even feeling the words on your tongue as you read aloud the promises of God.  When your time with God is cut short, the quality of your life is cut short as well.  God has given us eternal abundant life on this earth, STARTING NOW, and it is our fault if we miss His blessings by failing to live out that powerful point in our own lives.  My next word of caution is to make sure that you are not replacing God's word with a devotional, but rather let that be the icing on the cake after you have spent time in the pages of God's word yourself. 

• BAD CHOICE #2 - POOR FOOD CHOICES 

QUICK and CHEAP is most likely the unhealthiest form of  choosing food to eat.  I LOVE what The Biggest Loser trainer, Jillian Michaels, said one time.  She said that if our food doesn't come from the ground or it doesn't have a mother, then we should leave it alone. You know, she is right! The last I checked, double stuffed Oreos weren't growing in any one's garden, and Lucky Charms Cereal surely isn't birthed by anyone.  So, for the last month, I have been making poor food choices and I would challenge you to examine your choices.  Make "Drive-thrus" "Drive-bys" and that is a great step to making better food choices. 

• BAD CHOICE #3 - MAKING EXCUSES 

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses.....We all know how to make them, and we all know that behind every excuse is one of two things, either a feeling or a lie. For the last month, I have been making excuses for my not eating right like " I deserve it" or "It's the summer" - The fact is that I was experiencing great feelings of depression and therefore was trying to eat as a way of "comfort" I didn't deserve it...that was lie.  The fact was that the feeling of depression over my brother and his wife moving to Hawaii and the fact that I LOVE THEM BOTH and MISS THEM SO MUCH was something that I tried to work through with food instead of my Savior.   The next time you go to make an excuse, stop and think, WHY am I doing this? What feeling or lie is behind me making this excuse?  If you ask yourself those questions, then you will be amazed at how quickly truth comes into perspective.

So, as you can see, there have been several variables as to why I have been unsuccessful for the last month, but it ALL STARTED with quick quiet times.  Then, it snowballed from there. 
The older I get the MORE AND MORE I realize just how VITAL our time with the Lord is each day, because if we slack off the least bit, IT WILL EFFECT EVERY AREA OF OUR LIFE - whether we want it to or not.

Let me leave you with this thought and the verses that God has given me about how to better CHOOSE HIM as I seek HIS WISDOM.  The thought is this:  The less room we give to Jesus, the more room we give to Satan.  How much of Jesus permeates your life? Do you need His wisdom? We all do,  All we have to do is meet with Him each day, and HE will give us "knowledge and understanding," (Proverbs 2:6). 

"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as silver and search for it as hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of Christ.  For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding." - Proverbs 2:1-6 (NIV)

Time For a U-Turn

Well, I must admit that I fell off of the "weight-loss wagon."  Did I mean to?  NO!  Did I want to? NO! Did I, though? YES!  My frustrations are high!  It started because I slipped in one area (ate desert at my brother's rehearsal dinner) then I slipped in another area (ate wedding cake at my brother's wedding).  Next, I stopped writing things down in my food journal.  We went to Youth Camp at Look-up Lodge and I didn't write down what I ate everyday.  Next, I snacked at night with my girls in the cabin, AND NEEDLESS TO SAY, I have gained my weight back, all but two pounds.  So, originally, the six pounds that I worked so hard to lose, I have gained right back.  Now, I will have to fight the same battle to gain the same ground that was once mine.  My frustrations set in, and Satan has had a grand time at beating me up with this.  However, it was not without my permission.  I have allowed him to make me feel defeated and I refuse to any longer.  I am so thankful that U-turns are permitted in life.  Just because I was headed the direction of not sticking with it, doesn't mean that I can't change directions and start back towards the goal that pleases God. 
So, this morning, I weighed, even though it was not a typical weigh-in Thursday, and I weigh 300 pounds even! So, I am getting back on track and here I go again. 
I am so thankful that my weight-loss journey is an example of the way God loves us in spite of our failures.  Just because one may be headed in a deadly direction, does not mean that they have to stay on that same path.  God is there to offer you grace and forgiveness - hope and strength.  So, that is what I am taking hold of.  He is there to help me get back on track.  It's time for me to get back on the path that God set me on originally.  So, here  I go again, and HOPEFULLY my failures have been a lesson to someone.  Let me ask you, friend, what path are you on?  Do you need to make a U-turn?  What a joy to know that they are permitted!

Weigh-in After Week 1

Well, today was marks the end of week one.  So, I stepped on the scale this morning and it said, 294.  I am down 8 pounds from what I was one week ago.  Praise the Lord, because it was through Him that I was able to stay focused and gain a victory.  I didn't expect to lose this much this week.  I missed exercising for three days and I felt as though I had failed.  Yet, even though I thought my body wasn't working at dropping the weight, IT WAS!!!! I have learned a tremendous lesson in this week! There are times when we are doing all that we can do and we feel as though God is not working.  Just because we can't see Him working does not mean that He has stopped.  Jesus never fails! His strength is perfect - I know, I've seen it this week! So, if you are beginning to wonder if God is even noticing you or your situation, wonder no more.  He is not only noticing, but He is at work too!

A Saturday Morning Walk

Last night, we went to Greenville to stay with my in-laws, because we had an early morning birthday party down in Piedmont.  We also celebrated my Sister-in-law's birthday last night with a birthday dinner and fun family fellowship.  After the events of the evening were over, I set my alarm clock, to get up and walk this morning.  My father-in-law said that he would walk with me and I welcomed his suggestion.  As we walked this morning, we talked and laughed and the "hard work" of walking early on a Saturday morning was replaced with sweet fellowship.  After our walk, I got to thinking.  What is it that I kept dreading about making this lifestyle change? It was the fear of me thinking that I was going to have to do it by myself.  The task before me seemed insurmountable on my own.  THAT WAS MY PROBLEM!  I had the wrong mentality about the entire thing.  I was called by God to take care of my body, but He doesn't leave me to do it by myself.  Instead, He walks with me each step of the way and He will remain there as long as I do not stray from His presence.  What a comfort to know that He is always with me, and the joy of His presence replaces the dread of the task ahead!

First Full Workout

I just complete my first full workout - 55 minutes of "hi-def sculpt" from the fitness series The FIRM! I can actually say that I LOVED IT!!!! Yes, I am sore, and yes I will probably wake up tomorrow with even more soreness.  The fact of the matter is, the soreness is proof that I am exercising my muscles.  The key to having a sculpted lean body is exercising consistently and working through the uncomfortable parts.  The only way that I can stay focused is by keeping my eyes on my Savior and clinging to the promises of His words! So, at 302 pounds, if I can do a complete 55 minute workout, you can do it too! I didn't do it on my own. NO WAY!!! Instead, the joy of the Lord is my strength.  Knowing that I am bringing Him joy by honoring God with my body and time spent in His Word is what keeps me keeping on! Is the joy of the Lord, your strength?  If He's not, then what's keeping you from it?  His strength is made perfect in our weakness!

"...Do not sorrow for the joy of the Lord is your strength." - Nehemiah 8:10

Where Do You Go for Comfort?

Here I am on day two of my journey and  I am thrilled at what God has shown me in His word this morning!  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says,  

"Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God's." 

I have read these verses before, but I have also never really lived them out.  If the body that I have is not mine, but God's, then all of these years, I have been deliberately mistreating God and disobeying Him by putting unnecessary food into my body.  This body that I am in is not mine, but God's and therefore, out of direct obedience to Him, I should take care of my body.  The body that I have is also "the temple of the Holy Spirit," and I have been destroying God's temple by not treating my body as such.  Food has become an idol in my life, and that is what motivated me to get rid of that which I put before God.  Instead of running to God's word for comfort, I turned to two candy bars and a Pepsi.  Those things could not help me cope any more than a pagan idol centuries ago could help people cope.  God longs to be our refuge.  What is it that you run to for comfort?  If it is anything else other than the precious Creator that fashioned you, it will never be enough!

No More Wasting Time

For years, I have battled with my weight.  However, I have never let it get so far out of hand.  This morning, when I stepped on the scale, it said that I weigh 302 pounds.  That is mind blowing and body-killing. I must admit that today was not the first day I saw that number on the scale.  I weighed yesterday and got the same result, and THAT MOMENT was when I realized that I HAD to do something to make a positive difference in my life enabling me to lose the weight.  So, yesterday I decided that I would blog about my journey in a way that would help hold myself accountable.  Each day I will blog about my struggles, my losses, my victories and all that God has shown me in the process.  I have realized that time is of the essence, and I am determined not to waste any more time.  So, today I started making positive lifestyle changes that will help me lose the weight and get my life back.  I have realized that I have already wasted too much time and NOW is the time for me to start somewhere.  So, I choose life and I am going to fight for life.  With each decision I make, I pray that God will bless my efforts in doing the best that I can to honor Him with every part of my life.  This life I have is not my own, so now I must firmly commit to change.  After all, I want to live - not exist, but really live where I am not overweight and fit enough to enjoy the things in life that everyone else does. 
I will be posting pictures as a form of accountability.  I will weigh each Thursday (only once a week) so as not to get discouraged and become obsessed with the scale.  I look forward to sharing this journey with anyone who wants to follow along.  Thanks in advance for the prayers, support, and encouragement that I may receive from some of you! To God be the Glory, GREAT THINGS He has done and WILL DO!!!