Sunday, March 3, 2013
Stomach Flu!
Well, one benefit to being sick is that I lost some weight. Now, it may or may not come back, but now that I'm on the mend, I want to slowly start introducing regular foods and exercise to my body again. Here we go!
Friday, February 22, 2013
Here we go...again
Well, it has been almost a year. The 'minor' surgery turned out not to be so minor. There was a significant complication that happened and I'm still dealing with some of the repercussions. Well, with all the stuff going on this past year: planning to move out of the country again, stressful family situations, friends deaths, panic attacks, moving, and massive disappointments, I haven't done so well. Right now, honestly, I feel happy that I didn't have a nervous breakdown although I came so close many times!
I've decided that I need to try to get healthy again. Life throws a bunch of stuff at us, but just because we fall down, it doesn't mean we have to stay down. It's time to get up and try again.
I did a weigh in today just to see where I was at. It wasn't great. I'm a few pounds over the heaviest I've ever been. Boo. So, it's time to get up and go.
Lord give me your strength and help me not to lose focus!
Let's gooooo!
I've decided that I need to try to get healthy again. Life throws a bunch of stuff at us, but just because we fall down, it doesn't mean we have to stay down. It's time to get up and try again.
I did a weigh in today just to see where I was at. It wasn't great. I'm a few pounds over the heaviest I've ever been. Boo. So, it's time to get up and go.
Lord give me your strength and help me not to lose focus!
Let's gooooo!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
The proper focus!
I have been neglecting this blog for no better reason than that I've just been busy with life. Preparing to move to Korea, talking an online TEFL course, and impending minor surgery, job searching, church obligations, life obligations, etc, etc, etc...
But one of the things that makes my life so busy is that I've been working out at the gym for 5 weeks now. Tomorrow (or should I say today since it's after 1am) will begin my 6th week. This is huge for me! No, I haven't lost those 15 pounds yet. More like 5, but I have lost inches, gained some muscle and am doing my heart a huge favor. I have been eating breakfast every morning (huge again for me) and I've been constantly exceeding my exercise goals. And surprisingly, I've been having fun! But most importantly, I'm doing this to honor my God. My focus is right. By my own effort I fail, but God in his mercy lifts me and gives me the strength to stick with this. Many times while I exercise, I put on my favorite songs and worship God. It's phenomenal and most enjoyable!
Now I should head off to bed so that I can get up to exercises tomorrow!
But one of the things that makes my life so busy is that I've been working out at the gym for 5 weeks now. Tomorrow (or should I say today since it's after 1am) will begin my 6th week. This is huge for me! No, I haven't lost those 15 pounds yet. More like 5, but I have lost inches, gained some muscle and am doing my heart a huge favor. I have been eating breakfast every morning (huge again for me) and I've been constantly exceeding my exercise goals. And surprisingly, I've been having fun! But most importantly, I'm doing this to honor my God. My focus is right. By my own effort I fail, but God in his mercy lifts me and gives me the strength to stick with this. Many times while I exercise, I put on my favorite songs and worship God. It's phenomenal and most enjoyable!
Now I should head off to bed so that I can get up to exercises tomorrow!
Friday, January 6, 2012
The Return
I have successfully gained back the 15 lbs I lost last year. You see that? I used the word success to make it sound better but in reality it was a failure. I admit that life got busy and I resumed some of my bad habits all the while justifying it by saying that it's not as bad as before.
The cool thing is that God is still working with me, convicting me, forgiving me, and helping me to see overeating for what it is...sin. All is not lost. My focus is back on Christ and he will give me the strength to do what I need to do.
Let's go!
The cool thing is that God is still working with me, convicting me, forgiving me, and helping me to see overeating for what it is...sin. All is not lost. My focus is back on Christ and he will give me the strength to do what I need to do.
Let's go!
Monday, June 20, 2011
So...it's been awhile...
Basically I've been struggling with consistency in eating and exercising. I haven't been very disciplined lately and I am in no means on the right track.
Basically I've been struggling with consistency in eating and exercising. I haven't been very disciplined lately and I am in no means on the right track.
Transformation first begins with repentance.
"Have mercy on me, O God,
because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion; it
haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
I have done what is evil in your sight."
-Psalm 51:1-4a
Time to get back on track. As my heart has been connecting with God more and seeking him out this past month with studying the 12 spiritual disciplines, I realize that I need to continue to honor him with my body, and that includes not using food for emotional comfort. Easy to forget when I'm traveling, frustrated, or going out to eat with friends who are moving away. May was a hard month. It seems like an overwhelming task to continue eating right and adjust my lifestyle again, but with God, all things are possible. As I was reading in Psalm 51 today, one verse really stuck out to me.
"Restore to me the joy of your salvation,Lord, this is my prayer. Give me joy in you, and help me to be willing to obey you, especially in the areas of eating and laziness. Amen.
and make me willing to obey
you" Psalm 51:12
Monday, April 25, 2011
Success!
Easter has come and gone and I did not stuff myself like a piñata! This is huge for me! A few weeks ago God convicted me about how I was not spending time with him. I had been avoiding the scales for awhile too so finally I got on them and realized that when my focus was off of God, so was my desire to please him and fill up on him rather than overeating. And I had gained a few pounds. He brought me to the place of repentance and I now have been fighting hard to spend time with him everyday and continue to stay active. He finally got me back on track 2 weeks ago and it's been going well! Easter was a big test, as there was much food and desire to eat all of it. Instead I ate just enough and felt really good.
Praise God!
Praise God!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Day 60 - Testimony
Read my testimony below:
Emotional eating is something I have struggled with since I was young. When I celebrated with family and friends, I ate. When I was alone, I ate. When I was happy, sad, stressed or bored, I ate. After doing the Way of Purity course and seeing God eradicate that sin in my life, he showed me that I next needed to turn away from the sin of gluttony/overeating. I began The Lord's Table because I wanted to desire God more and learn to get rid of habitual sin that I had grown used to over the years. In this case, it was overeating.
Diets have never worked for me. I was not very disciplined and also it didn't fix the issues at heart. Diets always contradicted each other so I never bothered with them much. Instead of giving the glory to God, they tell us to work hard to 'fix' ourselves on our own and take all of the credit for ourselves. When I began this course, my focus was on myself and what I wanted to look like. I was nervous coming to The Lord's Table because I had failed with trying to lose weight in the past and was afraid I would fail here too. That was the problem. I was looking to myself instead of to God for the power to overcome sin. Through reading the Bible, praying, and doing the studies, God has shown me that I was using food as an idol. I looked to food to satisfy me instead of to Him. I was also guilty of the sin of laziness. I tried exercising many times, but because the weight didn't drop off as fast as I liked, I usually gave up soon.
When I first began The Lord's Table I had a hard time understanding that overeating is a sin. I didn't think it was good, but I didn't think it was that big of a deal. That's how deep the sin was. Thankfully, over time, God granted me true repentance and helped me to see the sin through his eyes. This course was amazing because it helped me keep focus on God, really understand my sin, and find satisfaction in God. I was very encouraged by the lessons and by the testimonies and I am thankful for my mentor who was able to relate to my struggles and encourage because she had dealt with this sin as well. I confess that on the first day I was quite overwhelmed by the prospect of doing this study. It seemed that I would have to change for real, and I guess my sinful flesh did not like this prospect. The cool thing is that God guided me through it all and gave me the energy and desire to push forward in discipline and grow closer to him. I was very blessed to have my sister and mom doing The Lord's Table alongside me and we were able to encourage each other.
God has really shown me that I need to fight to spend time with him instead of letting the busyness of life distract me from Him. Staying in his word and growing in relationship with God is the only way I will ever be able to stay focused on him and not fall back into habitual sin. It's more than just something I should do as a 'good Christian'. It's what I NEED to survive this world. After completing this course I am so much closer to God and able to do more for those around me. I enjoy exercising and I look forward to my time with God. At meals I am able to enjoy God's blessing of food so much more, without needing to overeat. I have so much energy now and the weight continues to come off. But most importantly, I have a deeper relationship with God. Thank you Lord, for the amazing things you are doing in my life!
Emotional eating is something I have struggled with since I was young. When I celebrated with family and friends, I ate. When I was alone, I ate. When I was happy, sad, stressed or bored, I ate. After doing the Way of Purity course and seeing God eradicate that sin in my life, he showed me that I next needed to turn away from the sin of gluttony/overeating. I began The Lord's Table because I wanted to desire God more and learn to get rid of habitual sin that I had grown used to over the years. In this case, it was overeating.
Diets have never worked for me. I was not very disciplined and also it didn't fix the issues at heart. Diets always contradicted each other so I never bothered with them much. Instead of giving the glory to God, they tell us to work hard to 'fix' ourselves on our own and take all of the credit for ourselves. When I began this course, my focus was on myself and what I wanted to look like. I was nervous coming to The Lord's Table because I had failed with trying to lose weight in the past and was afraid I would fail here too. That was the problem. I was looking to myself instead of to God for the power to overcome sin. Through reading the Bible, praying, and doing the studies, God has shown me that I was using food as an idol. I looked to food to satisfy me instead of to Him. I was also guilty of the sin of laziness. I tried exercising many times, but because the weight didn't drop off as fast as I liked, I usually gave up soon.
When I first began The Lord's Table I had a hard time understanding that overeating is a sin. I didn't think it was good, but I didn't think it was that big of a deal. That's how deep the sin was. Thankfully, over time, God granted me true repentance and helped me to see the sin through his eyes. This course was amazing because it helped me keep focus on God, really understand my sin, and find satisfaction in God. I was very encouraged by the lessons and by the testimonies and I am thankful for my mentor who was able to relate to my struggles and encourage because she had dealt with this sin as well. I confess that on the first day I was quite overwhelmed by the prospect of doing this study. It seemed that I would have to change for real, and I guess my sinful flesh did not like this prospect. The cool thing is that God guided me through it all and gave me the energy and desire to push forward in discipline and grow closer to him. I was very blessed to have my sister and mom doing The Lord's Table alongside me and we were able to encourage each other.
God has really shown me that I need to fight to spend time with him instead of letting the busyness of life distract me from Him. Staying in his word and growing in relationship with God is the only way I will ever be able to stay focused on him and not fall back into habitual sin. It's more than just something I should do as a 'good Christian'. It's what I NEED to survive this world. After completing this course I am so much closer to God and able to do more for those around me. I enjoy exercising and I look forward to my time with God. At meals I am able to enjoy God's blessing of food so much more, without needing to overeat. I have so much energy now and the weight continues to come off. But most importantly, I have a deeper relationship with God. Thank you Lord, for the amazing things you are doing in my life!
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