Day 74...The First Step

Dear Reader,
As of today the second month of the New Year is nearly done and I dare say most of us who made New Year's Resolutions to lose weight and or choose a healthier life style, have either laid those resolutions aside or never actually got started. The danger in this is we can procrastinate (with good intentions mind you) all the way to 2011 where we begin the vicious cycle all over again. I know. I've been there.

May I say it's not too late.

Oh I know there are a billion things that seem more important right now. I also know the resistance that comes anytime we try to stop living to eat instead of eating to live. But you can do it. You are just a decision away.

I've heard it said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with just one step. Just one step towards freedom...just one step towards good health...just one step towards not feeling FAT.

Is it easy? Hah! Ask Donald Trump if becoming a billionaire was easy. Ask Thomas Edison if creating the light bulb (after over 1000 failures) was easy. Anything worth doing in life is never easy. You just have to determine if it's worth it.

Compare your life the way it is now to the way you'ld love it to be. Wouldn't you love to take less medication because your healthy eating is healing your body? How about wearing attractive clothes again? How about climbing stairs without losing your breath or your joints screaming in pain. How about no longer dealing with the guilt and shame that overeating brings?

Just one step...one decision and you can start down the path to an abundant life.

Will it cost you? Yes it will. But you and your body are worth the investment and sacrifice it takes to overcome where you are now.

I encourage you to stop telling yourself it can't be done and you'll always be this way. The devil is a liar. You do not always have to be this way.

Oh, I can hear all the buts. But I've tried countless times and failed. But it's so hard. But I have so little self control. But I'm the one who shops and cooks. But I'm too old and set in my ways. But I'm too young and just want to have fun.

Dear Heart get your big but out of the way and go for it...take a chance...try AGAIN! Not just once, but over and over until you can do what it takes to conquer this. You're not a quitter. You are victorious!

I averaged a weight-loss of 2.7 pounds a week since mid-December 2009. The program I'm on promises 2-5 pounds a week for those who follow it to the letter. Is 2.7 pounds pretty good? Sure, but I'm pushing for the high end. I'm conquering years of mind sets that have held me down for too long. If I can do it so can you.

God believes in you and so do I.

Lord please give strength to this reader to overcome food bandages. Give my brother, my sister courage to take that first step towards victory. Help them to not give in to hopelessness. You are for them and not against them. You desire to give them a future and a hope. May they put their lives, health, and choices in Your hands. In the name of Jesus...Amen.

Never Give Up! Never Surrender!
Lauren

My coaches are great...for more information about Take Shape For Life go to www.iwanttohelp.tsfl.com

Day 63...Obsession

Dear Reader,

Took a mini sabbatical and in the midst of it I discovered somethings I don't mind sharing. But first things first.

Last weigh-in: 152 Today: 144.6

My personality tends to lean towards extremism.

It's been 2 months since I started Take Shape For Life. If you have been following this blog you know that losing weight is important, but dealing with the real me is more important. I believe nothing of true and lasting value happens until you deal with YOU and nothing gets done until you remove the excuses.

I'm not talking about naval gazing. Obsessing over every imperfection is just as dangerous as denial. Going back to your childhood and analyzing every hurt to find excuses for your current behavior is self defeating.

I'm talking about recognizing your weaknesses, owning up to them, and changing what can be changed. There are weaknesses that just are and will always be. But what I can't change I can certainly work around. For instance, one may have a terrible memory, but that can't be an excuse for not getting things done. Work around that terrible memory with post-it notes, planners, cell phone reminders, whatever it takes.

What does this have to do with losing weight? EVERYTHING!!!

I have found that I carry an obsession with food. I love food! I love new recipes, texture, color, and layers of flavor. I love smell, taste, crunch. I eat when I'm happy, sad, discouraged...(when I'm angry I clean) I talk about food constantly. Every celebration is surrounded by food! Even my friends have noted how much I talk about food.

During my sabbatical I put away the scale so I wouldn't be so concerned about my weight. I still spent most of the time thinking about how, when it was over, my husband and I were going to celebrate our anniversary with food.

I think about food more than God. This is my weakness.

What you think (obsess about) is what you eventually will do. I can do all the right things concerning eating plans and schedules, nutrition, and exercise, but if my mind is daily filled with nothing but cheese cake, cheese burgers, and triple cheese pizza then I can expect a cheese binge somewhere in the near future.

Left to myself I will fantasize about food. But if I'm willing to make some effort I can certainly work around this weakness by doing the following...

1) I read along time ago it is impossible to just stop thinking about a thing. However you can replace a thought with another thought. It's really a sin that Jesus takes a back seat to food in my thoughts. So meditating on scripture will help me focus on Him.

2) Organize my food life. I am responsible for shopping, meal planning, cooking. It's said that those who fail to plan plan to fail. Having grocery lists made up to go along with weekly menus will cut down on the amount of time I have to think about and meals for my family. Also it will cut down the amount of time I spend at the market.

3) Take time to enjoy my food when I am eating. Food is not a sin or something to be afraid of. When I am eating I need to allow the enjoyment it brings.

4) Eat to live not live to eat. If I'm not hungry why eat?

5) Drink water. Lots.

6) Stay accountable. You will not believe how this blog helps me not to jump overboard. Knowing I have to be honest to you keeps me from quitting.

Now this is all easier said than done. So feel free to pray for me. I still appreciate all the encouragement. If you have any other ideas to help me take my mind off food send them in. Better yet...why don't you join me?

Until Next Time,
Lauren

Day 55...The Top 10

Dear Reader,
It's been about 7 days since I've last written. (For Ladies Only!!!)
Today I just want to share the top 10 things I've learned since I started changing my eating...

1. I'm really blessed by the many people who are so supportive. The encouragement, advice, prayers, and nice comments have been numerous.

2. Every now and then you'll meet someone who is not supportive. Jealousy looms it's head in the strangest places. Meet it with grace and mercy.

3. Fail forward. I never knew I was a perfectionist. Perfectionists want to do everything perfectly, with nooooo mistakes. They will either never attempt something for fear of failure or they make everyone around them miserable as they attend to every detail with painstaking perfection. In the past I'd drop every diet I made a mistake with, figuring since I failed what's the point. My husband and I are both learning it's OK to fail. Just learn and keep going.

4. Forgive yourself.

6. Women never weigh in when you're bloating.

7. When you plateau on the weight scale use the tape measure or check your clothes.

8. When dieting it's easy to become self centered. Get your eyeballs off yourself! Don't be obsessed with your weight loss and how you look. Vanity is very unattractive.

9. Don't worry, after awhile people will get used to the new you and stop commenting on how much weight you've lost. In the meantime smile.

10. You are not what you weigh.

Back in a few days.

Oh yeah, no weigh in. I'm avoiding the scale for 10 days.
God Bless Everyone,
Lauren