Welcome back to those of you that joined me for Makeover Monday last week. If you haven’t any idea what I’m talking about…you might wish to start HERE and then come back and join us for this week’s Makeover Monday.
After last week’s confession of my 7.5 pound gain over a two-week period, I knew I had my work cut out for me. There’s just something about announcing your struggles for all the world to see that equates to accountability. I worked hard this past week, because I didn’t want to let God down, my hubby down, me down, and all of you down. Last Thursday, I went to my doctor’s appointment for my weekly weigh-in, and…drum roll please…
I lost 8.5 pounds!
Yes…8.5 pounds in ONE week! I don’t know that I’ve ever done that in my life. Granted, a lot of it was water weight that I had allowed to creep back on from too much sodium I had taken in the two weeks before, but several pounds of it was pure-T fat! My doctor happens to have one of those fancy scales that measures not only overall pound loss/gain but fat, water, muscle mass, etc. I learn a lot about what’s going on inside this evolving body of mine. I (nor the doc) dreamed I’d lose all I gained in one week plus a pound, but – by God’s sweet grace – I did! So, I’m up to a 26 pound weight loss. Little-by-little, a day (sometimes an hour) at a time…I’m getting there.
It’s funny how losing weight reminds me a lot of what it was like when I first became a widow. I never thought I would feel happiness again. Gracious, I couldn’t wait for evening to come just so that I could close my eyes, take a little sleeping pill and go to sleep for the rest of the night. I literally lived hour-by-hour in those early days, because I just couldn’t think past the moment.
In a similar way, I know that I’ve got quite a lengthy journey in front of me. But, just as God has worked miraculously in my life before…I have no doubt He’s got a handle on this too. So, for now…I focus on the small joys…the baby steps until I reach that end goal.
Speaking of goals…I find that if I make some small ones along the way, I feel success a little sooner.
This week’s goals:
1) Lose 5 pounds…I know that seems extreme, but it’s possible with the type of program I’m on (not every week but occasionally). I’m going out on a limb and trying for a 5 pound weight loss this next week.
2) Exercise 4 days for at least 30 minutes. This is a STRUGGLE for me. I used to love to exercise, but I injured my knee a little over a year ago and ended up having surgery to repair my meniscus, so exercise isn’t quite the same these days. I’m praying God would restore that desire again.
3) Water – I’m doing fairly well in drinking 64 ounces a day of pure water plus other liquids, but there are some days I’m a little short on the water. I’d like to change that for this week and have a successful 7 days straight of drinking my water minimum.
I’ll report in next week on how I did with my goals. I promise to remain accountable to you as well. Would you keep praying for me? I need all the prayer I can get to reach goal. I’ll eventually share more about how long I think it’ll take, etc., but I’m just not quite ready for that yet. Baby steps…
For those of you joining me in making some health and/or fitness changes…how did your week go? I would LOVE to hear about it. Good week or bad week…I’m cheering you on!
Hi Leah,
Way to go! I’m not overweight but I definitely run to food to fulfill me instead of God often times. Your blog has encouraged me to rely on Gid as the source of my comfort and not food. I’m trying to make better food choices. I’ll pray for you.
In Christ,
Erin
Erin – Thanks for the encouraging words and especially the prayers! I know God is pleased with us when we put Him before any idol in our lives. Yes – He is the One True Source of our comfort indeed. It’s so easy for me to understand, but I always struggle to put it into practice. Hence…the needed prayers.
Thank you for your inspiration on putting God first above all else… I have totally dishonored God with my food
use… It has given me comfort and happiness on one front… Plus I have used over eating to punish myself, when I am feeling insignificant or unloved…. Pretty crazy my eating habits have been….
Now I want to put God first, seek his help and get rid of the idol of food…………….My goal for this week is 6 glasses of water a day, plus wise food choices, (talk to the holy spirit to guide me, before I reach for the food)….. Thanks again for your help Leah…… kathy
WOW Kathy! Your words warm my heart! I love seeing how God uses the messes of others (in this case…mine) to speak to another of His children. We can do this…THROUGH Him!
Yay!!! Good for you and those seem like some good goals to have. Mine would be for #1 at least 2-3 pounds weight loss. I loose the same 2-3 pounds over and over again (after gaining them back) so I would like to get past that. I’m doing 1 liter or more of water, juicing every morning. I’ve got to add the exercise. Thanks for the update and keep up the good work.
I used to juice a long time ago, and that might be something I’ll get back into soon. I always felt so “clean” when I juiced – internally clean. Hard to describe! Exercise is happening…slowly. I just want to be passionate about it again.