free2praise

I haven’t posted in a million years. I decided to stop in and update you on my progress. I essentially stayed the same and even gained 10 pounds over the last year. The in early August I was rushed to the hospital with severe stomach pain. After days in the hospital with no diagnosis, I was sent home with instructions to eat a blander, lighter diet. I did.

Immediately, my husband and I replaced most of the junk in our house with healthy alternatives and I started walking at least 4 times per week. I am done 5 pounds over the past 22 days. I feel great.

Last night we had homemade hamburgers and we both noticed how bad we felt, tired, heavy. So eater better has helped us to see how eating things that are not the greatest really make us feel. So all things in moderation, but some things we will be eating rarely.

I wanted to encourage everyone to keep on towards your goal. You may fall off, but it is not the end. Find an exercise you enjoy and JUST DO IT. Figure out what healthy foods you love and stock up so that when the urge to eat hits you are prepared and you don’t have to reach for a jelly donut.

Stephanie

Often times we focus so much on the negative.  Especially during the weight loss battle.  But the key is to turn that focus around.  Look at the beautiful you.  No matter what your size you are beautiful.  God made us all unique.  No two people exactly the same.  We all fit a very real and important purpose while we are here, whether we are overweight or not.

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So today, look at the beautiful you.

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You know it is so easy to get overwhelmed and run over by life.  But sometimes just the simple act of doing something small can revitalize and restore your strength.

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Lately I have been very tired with work, family, apartment search and my grandmother’s care that I have neglected me.  So last night I was tired and desired only a few small things, to be at home and to eat pizza, brownies and Pepsi for dinner.  That was it.  No fuss.  And I did just that and now this morning I feel renewed.

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No fanfare, no big production, just something small without thinking of the worries of the day.

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I have to thank God for keeping up my strength and for allowing me to make it through this time.  To have the honor of caring for my grandmother.  For blessing me with an apartment near my home and for keeping my family safe.

Growing in Grace

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I don’t care how many times I face this reality, it always strikes me hard. The reality of success, promotion and deeper knowledge all take work. Like most people, I often start projects and goals full speed ahead. But after a few weeks (or even days) I am tired of the process, bored with the journey and otherwise off course. It is similar to those of us who start an exercise or diet plan every year, to start out with the right mind-set and great potential only to fizzle out before you reach your goal. Can I get an AMEN!?

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So here we are again with all these good intentions, viable ideas and not enough motivation to see it through. Now I ask, where do we go from here? My recent experience has been with my service to God which includes my writing. It had been lack luster and I could not tell you the last time I completed a undeadlined writing project. I was literally just going through the motions.

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Until Sunday when I expressed my heartbreak to a minister, in short, who told me that as long as I didn’t put God first, nothing would seem to come together. Wow, was that it? Had I really been putting God on the back burning while I walked through my daily life complacent and almost uncaring? The answer is yes. I figured everything was just “fine”. No worries, no problems, normal stuff. But God is not ordinary.

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He does not want us to have an ordinary life. He is powerful, extraordinary and wise and that is what our lives should reflect most of the time. Of course we will have some times of quiet and some times of complete chaos, but if we are depending on God then no matter what we are equipped to ride the ups and downs of life with victory, triumph and assurance.

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If you have been living a life below your means, and I don’t necessarily mean financially; I mean spiritually, emotionally. Is your life be full of meaning and purpose? Could you serve God more or in better ways. Are you using your God-given talents or are you squandering your life away in miserable circumstances. This boils down to all areas of our lives. Jobs, relationships, and many other situations that sap our energy from what we should be doing to glorify God. In every position, we should work it as if we are working directly for Jesus himself. In our relationships we should always exhibit Godly attributes and leadership. There is never a time where we should fail to follow God’s leading over our lives.

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When we fail to follow God we simply fail. Our stress level goes up, our communication skills go down. Our direction gets swayed. Altogether things just do not seem to work out.

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I would like to encourage you to take a look at things in your life. Are you satisfied or complacent? Are you full of purpose or do you lack direction and follow through? If you seem to be riding the same rollercoaster over and over again, I strongly recommend that you seek God in new ways. That you serve God in new ways and that you open your heart to hear God in new ways. I promise that He will do amazing things in your life, if you just put him first. This is my prayer for today!

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Your Sister in Christ For Reading and Meditation

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Stephanie Blackwell Isaiah 54:10

I have maintained my walking for these past months, but my diet sucks!  Right now I just feel like I get so consumed by it, and that is not healthy.  Anyone else ever feel like that is all you focus on?

I was listening to the radio yesterday, and something struck me.  Well let me go back a little; I always say how the desire to eat junk is soooooo overwhelming.  Now I am a believer in Christ, and I have tapped into my faith for so many other things, but barely for my weight loss success.  I have stopped cussing, I have been faithful in my marriage and have conquered hurts and abuses from my past, so why have I not turned to God just as I have for so many other things, that He was faithful to help me through? 

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So as I am listening to the radio, the minister on says “Jesus has already set you free”.  You know what, I knew that.  But I hadn’t made the connection with my weight loss or my addiction (or so called) to food.  So now my excuse cannot be “ohhhh I just can’t help myself”  because I can.  I have the power through Jesus not to be a slave to food.  I already have the victory, I just have to start tapping into the rewards.

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This week my exercise has been on point.  Thank God.  I have started to turn my walk time into prayer time as well as friend time with my buddy who often needs to talk and vent her personal frustrations.  I must tell you using it as my prayer time truly makes me lose track of time so I am not only getting in shape physically but also spiritually.

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I am giving myself a new BIG goal…..30 pounds by my 30th birthday on November 28th.  What do you think?  The way I feel now I am ready to do it.  I want it!  How about you?

I got interrupted, as I am actually supposed to be working. But getting these feelings out is very important right now. As I am sure happens to a lot of us, we have habits. My afternoon eating is the worst. Prior to vacation, I was doing well. I had more self control and made wise choices. On vacation I did not, but I exercised and ate in moderation. Now here I am day 3 back at work and I need to put a stop to my destructive behaviors.

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When I first signed up for this site I found it helpful to have a place to get out my weight loss emotions and it helped, so I need to practice what I preach to others and get back up and use the next moments as a place to start fresh. I have the opportunity to eat better for the rest of the day as well as maybe go for a walk or some sort of activity to make up for the Snickers bar I just ate!

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So there you have it! It is time to be for real with myself and quit hiding what I am doing, face it head on and DEAL WITH IT!

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Stephanie

It is summer time and all the little clothes are out. Now it is not my dream to have my butt crack showing or to wear pasties on my breast. But a nice sundress would be cute. I just came back from Florida for vacation and let me tell you there was NOOOOOO shame there. All shapes and sizes were in bikinis. Yes even size 28’s so here I am in my size 18 and I have decided I will not be ashamed!

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Yes I am overweight, duh! But that does not mean I am not beautiful or intelligent. So I wanted to encourage all my buddies to do what makes you feel good. Wear something cute, get a good hair cut, girl, get a pedicure, but don’t let the weight stop you from having a great life. I am realizing daily that life is to short and while I am trying to lose the weight I can still be having fun and doing great things in the lives of others!

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So will you let go of your same and have a good day today?