Good evening blog friends!

I hate to be posting so late tonight, but it’s just been one of those days…

As I type this, I’m sitting in front of the TV watching the Biggest Loser. That is honestly the only show I’m committed to watching on TV each week. I watch very little TV, in general, but I can’t stand it when I have to miss the Biggest Loser. I love to watch these people go from defeat to victory – all within a matter of months. Often, their story could easily be my story. And…I’ve been experiencing a few of my own weight loss victories lately.

I’ve already shared about my 20 pound weight loss. I’m still riding that victory wagon these days. I’ll weigh again “officially” on Saturday – maybe Friday – but, I’ve taken a few peaks already, and I like what I see. 🙂 But, you know what? The numbers don’t rule me. Don’t get me wrong…I like seeing the numbers drop, but I can’t live by those numbers. As I’ve been going through Made to Crave with a great group of women, I’ve learned soooo much about the victories God gives me aside from the numbers.

1) Last week, I was sick…yucky sick. I ended up so run down towards the end of the week that I actually started running a fever. I really had no energy at night to do anything other than go to bed. In the past, feeling sick would cause me to abandon all good eating habits and only eat the foods that made me feel good. Not this time. I remained steady with my no sugar, low carb, no soft drinks, etc. new way of eating. God gave me victory.

2) By Saturday, my antibiotic had totally kicked in, my cough was gone, and I was feeling as good as new. We also had some dear friends come visit, and we had the best time together. Gatherings of this sort generally allow for overeating – heavy snacking – all in the name of fellowship. Not this time. I stayed with my eating plan. God gave me victory.

3) The past couple of days have been some of the worst I’ve had in awhile. Very difficult. Very stressful. All excellent reasons to “drown my sorrows” with a piece of cake or several cookies or even a banana split (bananas are fruit…right?!). While that may have been my course of action in the past…not this time. God gave me victory.

Friends…I’m learning that regardless of my emotional state – whether I’m extremely happy, extremely sad, angry, full of joy, sick, disappointed – my emotions don’t control me. God is in complete control. As I learn to crave Him more each day, He gives me continued victory in this battle.

Remember the word that I shared in my January 1 post that I felt God revealed would be my theme, of sorts, for 2011? DELIVERANCE. I’m seeing evidence of that taking place in my life already. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead in the days and weeks to come.

Oh one other fun thing to share…click on this link and take a look at who made the Success Stories page on the Made to Crave website? You just might recognize the girl in pink at the bottom of the page. Continued victory. All Glory belongs to Him!

Thank you friends for such an outpouring of encouragement and congratulations regarding the excellent news I received on Saturday morning. And…if you’re hearing this for the first time and have no clue what I’m talking about…in short,

I’VE LOST 20 POUNDS!!!!!!!

Yes, indeed! 20 excess pounds on this body of mine are GONE! I can’t tell you how ecstatic I am about this, and let me just say…this is only the beginning. As I’ve said before, for the first time ever…I feel I am finally being delivered from this bondage. I say “being”, because this is ongoing. This is not a one-time, wave a “magic wand”, drink a special concoction, and call it “done” kind of thing. This is a process. And, from my history with processes, they often hurt…they are often difficult…but, they often bring the greatest victories!

I’ve had a couple of you ask me how I’m doing this and what plan I’m following. That’s actually not easy to answer. I wish I could say I signed up for “such and such” plan, and I’m on Day ____, but that’s not the case this time. I believe there are some wonderful programs available, but in all honesty…I’ve done so many that this has to go deeper than that. This is between God and me, and because I’ve “failed” on said plans many time before, I’m letting Him direct me exclusively on this. So, here’s a brief synopsis that’s led to the 20 pound loss:

1. In November, I was diagnosed with some health problems – multiple, actually.

2. In December, I had surgery to correct one of them, and the other two miraculously “disappeared”. Seriously.

3. Also in December, God started revealing to me during our quiet times together that 2011 was going to bring something significant in my life: DELIVERANCE. In my heart, I knew that to was to include deliverance from my weight problem.

4. Towards the end of December, God started dramatically changing my eating habits. Friends, I know this was a God thing, because it was completely outside of my “normal” habits.

5. In early January, I participated in a Daniel Fast and began eating only fruits, veggies, and beans. I fasted from meat, dairy, and sugar and totally placed my physical body in subjection to God’s Holy Spirit. I had actually planned a “no food fast”, but God wouldn’t let me do that this time. Funny thing is…I’ve done several no food fasts successfully, but I firmly believe that God was teaching me something during this fast that included food!

6. God also revealed to me in January that I’m to give up sugar. Not just during a fast, but entirely. And I have. I’m not about to say that I’ll never eat sugar again, but for now – it’s gone!

7. I’ve given up sodas – even the diet ones. I eat very few carbs, and those that I do eat are not of the refined type.

8. Exercise is not yet part of my plan but will be VERY soon.

9. Prayer and Bible STUDY (real STUDY) are my cornerstones, and

10. Reading Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst and journeying through MTC with a group of ladies that God has allowed me to join up with has provided encouragement beyond explanation.

There you have it. That’s the “plan”. Honestly, the only reason I feel I’ve been successful up to this point is because…each day, I have to die to self…each day, I have to let God take control of my food choices, and each day, I choose to crave God more than food. It’s a choice friends. And, God has undeniably honored that choice!