Things that Weigh Fifty Pounds...

 A bulk bag of dog food.....

                                             A small bale of hay...

  

The average 1st grader...                                                                                 










                             A bag of concrete mix....

 The amount of weight 50 cent lost for his 2010 movie...

                                              This dog...

 A big bag of taters...                                                                         

I've lost 50 LBS!

Wow!  I can believe it.  It has not been easy but I know that I have people praying for me and that makes all the difference.  Over the last few weeks I have gotten a lot of compliments (that have been very nice to hear) and a midst all of those have been a very common question:  

"How are you doing it?" 

This is many times followed by a look of anticipation for what I may say next.  As if I may have found the magic formula.  Most of the time my answer consists of a shoulder shrug and a statement somewhere along the lines of "Eating less, exercising more". Which are both true but, we all know that it take so much more than that. Losing weight, esp a large amount, takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice. Making bad choices is inevitable and, it's my opinion, necessary. We women are so hard on ourselves to be perfect. To do things the right way, the first time, every time. However, I have good news....it's not gonna to happen!  You can't do it!

 When I started to think about writing this blog, I went through a list of things that I could share. Things like food, exercise, schedules, and all other types of information that I have come across. Tips that have worked for me in this process. But tips, tricks, how much exercise you should do, how much tofu you should eat, or how many times you should analyze your caloric intake, are not what you need. You don't need someone else telling you what you are doing wrong or why it's not working. What you need is hope and peace and

LOVE!

This may not be what you want to hear.  I know that for longest time I didn't.  As humans we want something we can DO and I for one, do not like being dependent on anyone else.  See, the key to weight loss or any struggle you are going through is Jesus.  Just like in everything else in our lives He has to come first in our weight loss.  Really, why wouldn't you want Him first?  He created the body that you are working so hard against.  He knows what is happening with your body.  Every calorie you intake, every pound of fat you burn, He knows!

"O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up.  You discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.  Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.  You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, it is high, I cannot attain it." --Psalm 139:1-6

How exciting is that?  He knows everything about you!  and then, if that weren't enough read this....

"Since the children share in flesh and blood, he himself also partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery." --Hebrews 2:14-15 

Now that is LOVE! He not only knows everything about you, knows your weaknesses but, He took on those same weaknesses so that we would no longer be a slave to them!
We must make Jesus the center of every aspect of our lives.  We must get into our bibles for that is where God speaks. God's world is alive and changes those who read with help from the Holy Spirit.  That is when change comes.  Lasting change that glorifies our creator God.

"Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead..."  --Phillipians 3:13