Reflections on Week #3: Be Honest EVERY Day

My son and me--last Christmas.  Stuffing our donut holes!

As of this morning, I am down 18 pounds.  What is so significant about 18 pounds? (Other than it is incredible weight loss in three weeks time?!)

When I joined Project Pounds Away at my local YMCA last September I worked out like a crazy person.  When I had hardly seen results after the first 10 weeks, I joined it a second time.  I was LIVING at the gym.  My life was out of balance.  My family was suffering.  My housework was suffering.  I was exhausted.  Instead of believing in what God could do in me and through me, my faith started to pale.  I finished the second season in April--having lost 18 pounds over eight months.

I'm not saying PPA wasn't a great thing or that my trainers didn't do their job.  Those experiences were part of a greater plan for me and my two trainers were amazing people who really believed in me and pushed me to be the best I could be.  But I left them broken.  Which is good, in a way, as I needed to be confronted with my brokenness. 

I was beaten down.  I didn't know if I could get up again. 

Or if I even wanted to try.

Why couldn't I lose weight?  Other people were losing.  What was wrong with me?  Why wasn't God helping ME?  Didn't He know how hard I was working?  Didn't He love me anymore?  Where was He?  Was I just destined to live my life overweight and unhappy?

Have you ever felt any of these things?

It took faith for me to start Take Shape for Life.  I just couldn't start another attempt that ended in failure or discouragement.  In tears, I asked God to pick me up from my desperate place and carry me wherever he wanted me to go next.  And that's exactly when I was introduced to my health coach Shirley--thanks to my pals Matt & Audrey who had enormous success with TSFL.

Today--only three weeks into the program, I have lost what it took me MONTHS to lose in the past.  Was it worth it to pass the food on Christmas without dipping into the carbs and sugars and processed foods?  You bet!  Does each day make me feel stronger and more encouraged?  Absolutely.

Does that mean every day is easy?  No way!

There are days that are hard.  Just because I baked cookies and didn't even feel tempted to lick my fingers doesn't mean that I can do that everyday.  Each day I need to be willing to ask myself, "Can I handle going to this party today?"  "Can I really be around all that temptation right now?"  "Is this the best thing for me to do/place for me to be...RIGHT NOW?"  And then, I need to be honest.

If the answer is "NO" then I need to make a phone call and say, "I'm sorry we can't come to the party tonight." OR  "I was planning on baking, but I just can't right now."  OR  "I need to go/stop what I'm doing...right now."  Maybe people will be hurt or offended that I can't do what they would like me to do.  But, again, just like the recovering alcoholic must be keenly aware of his/her weaknesses, so must I--and any recovering food addict.

What I am able to do and handle changes on a daily basis.  I cannot let down my guard.

I read something today that goes along with my post Think on What is True.


So...whenever you slip into thinking of yourself as useless, as worthless, as a failure, a hopeless case, or a loser, remember what is true:
* You are a child of God (John 1:12)
* You are His workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)
* You have been bought by the precious blood of Christ (1 Cor. 6:20)


Oh how I want you to understand the importance of training your mind to think on what is true and real!  To love God with all your mind!  When you do, what happens?  You experience the joy and hope of being God's child.  And blessings upon blessings, you experience spiritual encouragement, powerful enablement, and fresh energy for handling life as the Holy Spirit uses God's Word in your heart and mind!

Elizabeth George, Loving God with All Your Mind

I need to keep being honest with myself--EVERY DAY!