I smile because I'm happy....

2 CORINTHIANS 12:9-10 BUT HE SAID TO ME, "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS."...FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG. Lately, life has been throwing some curve balls, but God keeps catching them for me so I don't get hit in the face! Since I have been in Kentucky I have let loose a bit on the eating. I had to catch myself and start asking the same questions I had to ask myself when I started this journey to a healthy lifestyle. I can't let "life" mess up "my life". I want to be as healthy as I can be to prevent big doctor bills! Recently I met someone who has really been helping me out with my health and I am so thankful! He is helping me realize the good from the bad, giving me substitutions, and encouraging me to keep going. I don't think this was the plan for our meeting, but I am ok with that. I am sure I am annoying people with my healthy facebook post and my comments about clogged arteries at work, but this actually helps me. Maybe I should just shut up...haha. I want to be clean on the inside and out. I want to make the right choices and, if I can, help others as well. I am anxious to learn and grow as my healthy lifestyle continues and one day...hopefully soon, I want to go back to school and learn about nutrition from beginning to end! Too many people get sick or die from things that could have been prevented early on in life. I know only God knows when we will leave this world, but God also gives us the knowledge to make the right choices (2 Corinthians 7:1 Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness our of reverence for God), not just by going to church and telling others you love them, but by treating your body right. We should not overindulge in anything (Proverbs 23: 20-21 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.) I started losing weight and telling myself I can do this and it can be successful because of God. In all the diets I had tried before I never included Him or asked for His help. God saw I was struggling and He proved to me He was there. Some may think, "Oh God doesn't care about weight loss!", but my God does because it was something that was hurting His child. Once I added God into the equation I began to see the beauty within myself. I began to take a spiritual journey that I never want to let go of. He has helped me overcome many emotions and He has kicked out those demons in my closet (because they were haunting me!). Before, I was not trying to lose weight for me. I was trying to lose weight to find a man to love me because no one likes a fat girl! Or, I thought all financial issues would magically disappear somehow if I was skinny...WHAT?!?! I was connecting everything in life to a world of skinny for some reason, but I wasn't connecting God. He is there at all times, in all situations if you let Him reside. With His guidance and with the strength He gives me I can't give up. When I step off He will remind me to go back to that place I was earlier in the year...that place that contained Him, that place where my happiness started to begin and then.....I say THANK YOU and I smile. :-)

PSALM 84:1-2 HOW LOVELY IS YOUR DWELLING PLACE, O LORD ALMIGHTY! MY SOUL YEARNS, EVEN FAINTS, FOR THE COURTS OF THE LORD; MY HEART AND MY FLESH CRY OUT FOR THE LIVING GOD.

THE 20LB GOAL HAIRCUT BEFORE AND AFTER

ON TO THE 3RD GOAL!

Well, I did it! I made it past my 2nd 10lb loss! I am so proud of myself and I was so happy to get that goal haircut! Not only has the weight loss made me feel better, but the haircut is also a confidence booster.

This week I have not been able to exercise like normal because of the busy work life, but I have still been doing good on my eating. I hope to get back in the gym soon. I have another hair appointment before I leave to work at Fort Knox for the summer and I am so excited to see what I will weigh by then...the appointment is on the 19th of May...I am 163 now, that is about a month and a half away...I am averging about 1-2lbs per week...I have about 7 weeks so I could lose up to 14lbs or more by then which would put me at 149lbs!! Oh my, I don't even know the last time I was at that weight! I am going to set the goal to 144 which is 19 more lbs to lose by then...I have some work to do, but 20 more lbs gone sounds so good!!! After that I will only have 14 more lbs to go before reaching my goal weight!!! I can't believe I started at 54 and the thought of having to lose 54lbs was not a good one, but with God by my side I am getting there...As of now my number is 33....these accomplishments make me feel so blessed and proud!!

Almost to my second goal!!!

I am so excited and so extremely grateful for the strength God has given me on this weight loss journey. I started with 54 pounds to lose and, yes, that seemed so dreadful until the pounds started falling off. I am now at 15 lbs down, passing up that first 10 lb goal and 5 away from the 2nd!! It is almost time for my new haircut!!! (Please see picture; that is what I am getting.)

In the past month and a half..or near there..since I started this journey and since I have been so motivated I have wanted to learn more so I am able to share and help people. I want to know more about fitness, health, proper nutrition...anything and everything!!! I want to go back to school for all of this, but right now I don't have the time. In the meantime I plan on taking advice on books to read, videos to watch, listening to people who know about all of this..who have been there, done that...I want to be smart on this. I know I have not done some things correctly...I know that my eating habits, although I only consume 1200 or less calories a day, are not correct. I know when I went to the gym and just went at it like I was a pro and pulled that muscle that I did something wrong...I want to know how to fix all of that. If you have any suggestions feel free to post them. I am game for anything. Until then I will continue with my cardio and counting my calories and doing my best on what I think is healthy. God Bless!!!

I'm proud of myself...

I am happy with the way things are going. It would be nice if there was a magic button to push and make all the weight go away, but since there isn't I will just have to keep on keeping on! I am at a 13lb weight loss right now. Only 7 more to go until I get that haircut I have been wanting for soooooo long!!! I know I will be there soon and 20 lbs down?!?! That is awesome...these small goals have helped lots. I am not focusing on that "long term, this is going to take forever, oh my gosh I still have 41 more lbs to lose"...so, I am proud of how far I have gotten in a little over a month. The end picture is going to be great, but seeing the picture AS IT IS NOW, the progress I have made...well, that is really helping me keep my head up!

I am happy with what I eat, happy with how I exercise, happy with the way my clothes are looking on me now, and happy that I have not given up. I may have a little junk food every now and again, but I know my limit and I know what happens if I keep on eating that junk food. I don't want to go back to that miserable life again. I want to continue to be happy and I WILL! God is so good. He has really been guiding me through this process and I will NEVER let go of His hand!!!

He is SO good to me!

Blessings are everywhere... just look around!

Oh my...it hurts!

I ask God to give me strength to get through my workouts and He does! I wanted to increase the incline on the treadmill, but I kept telling myself how much it would hurt and I just couldn't do it. Well, the past couple days I ask God to just push me..to let me do what I am capable of...to not let me tell myself that I can't and then I thought of one of my favorite Bible verses....Phil 4:13-I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I have been strengthened! Today I increased my incline to 7.0!!! I was sweating and holding on to the handles of the treadmill at times but I didn't stop until my hour was up! It hurt but felt so good...so good because I took that strength God gave me and I conquered!  Even though my body now feels like I am a body builder it feels good! Feels great actually!  Thank you Lord for my strength, motivation and perseverance! There is nothing I can't do as long as You are by my side!