CHANGING A LIFE STYLE

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I happen to love Kripy Kreme. I believe that it is a southern thing. I am a southern big city boy myself. You are doing a good job. I am out of shape myself and it does not help that I am a nicotine addict. There has to be positive change in my life as well.
 
8/19/14

Confessions of a glutton. Why some might ask have you been over weight for so long?

Beside the fact that I love food I don't like cucumbers and sweet potatoes that have been covered in sweet goo both make me gag... Everything else is probably on the o.k. list for me.

When I was younger not that I was a knockout, but I was cute enough and was approached by a lot of guys I would rather have not had the attention of and after my divorce I figured if I got fat guys would leave me alone. That worked for the most part, but then something else happened. All of a sudden I became virtually invisible, go into a store where you need service and no one comes up to ask if you need assistance.

I can tell you when you have money to spend and you'd like information about tiles and no one comes to give you help it can be frustrating. I know I can go ask for help and do quite often, but when my knockout cousin is with me and she could care less about the tile shopping and the guys fall over each other to get to her, well you get my drift.

So part of this life style change is because I am tired of being invisible and would like to be seen again as a real human and not someone to be avoided. We humans can be mean at times maybe not even trying to be, but I have a news flash for all us, fat people are real people too and deserve love and respect.

I still have my money there was no tile buying that day and my bathroom still needs to be overhauled. When someone asks me if I need help at the next tile store they just might make a sale.
 
8/19/14 - Part 2

Temptations was another thread I was reading in today and I thought maybe it was a place we could list ours - temptations that is and as I read the thread it was speaking to Porn mostly and that is not my problem. A lot of my temptations are in the gluttony area and wanting to over eat or eat the wrong kind of foods.

Why is it that the most scrumptious ooey, gooey foods are so bad for you? What is wrong with fried, sauces, gravy or sugar anyway? Why is it that some of us can eat anything and still be thin and people like me can just look or smell it and it just seems to plaster itself all over my body and not in good way?

Since I have started this life style change I have been offered free boxes of Russell Stover candy, Krispy Kreme donuts, cheese cake or apple strudel that came with a meal we bought. I said no to the candy and the donut, I went ahead and got the apple strudel that came with the meal but gave it to the friend I was eating out with.

It is like satan is there every step of the way to try and trip you up and knock you down when you resolve to give your life to God to help you fix the temptations that are hurting you when you give in to them. I just thank God that He is stronger than satan and He has helped me when these road blocks have appeared.

I wish I could say I am always a winner when it comes to temptations, but as you can read in this blog I have failed in the Lays Potato chip area. Please Stop Making New Flavors!!!

One day at a time - just please keep me on track today Lord and thanks for Your help.
 
8/26/14

Have not posted every day as the routine gets a little tiresome to read on a day by day basis, but when I got on the scale this morning it looks as though 10 pounds have disappeared with luck and prayer it will stay gone. Time to have that evaporate was about a month and a half.......Being older and the scale moving slower in the down direction is no fun at all. BUT I AM SO THANKFUL THAT 10 POUNDS ARE GONE!!!!

We won't discuss how many more pounds need to evaporate but we will just say ALOT.... Hey but it's a start and I am happy for it. At this rate about 6 years from now I might be able to turn a few heads...lol

Part of my real goal though is my blood work and the sugar count and I am going to the lab this Friday and will find out results on the 12th of September first doctors appointment I have ever looked forward to. You know they always clean your wallet out when you go especially since I don't have health insurance...Yes I will be Obama penalized next year, oh well cheaper that $500 to $700 a month that they wanted to charge me for health insurance - figured I'd take my chances and trust God to keep me healthy and motivation to change my life style. So that's the update for now folks until next entry - God Bless You.
 
Or even 6 months from now. You are thankful in all things and that is a very good thing in the eyes of God.
 
8/29/14

I just really want to thank God today for all His blessings and the fact that He has helped me be better by making better food choices and it has not been as stressful as it has been in times past.

I can remember being on a diet when I was in my early 20's and I was on the couch holding on for dear life as I did not want to go to the frig and get something to eat but my mind was wanting food. That might have been when I was going to weight watchers oh so long ago. But this life style change is not a diet per say it is everyday living and changing my thought pattern to one of food to sustain life but not be my life. So thank you again my Heavenly Father for making it a little easier on me. Forgive me when I complain and always be with me. In Jesus Name Amen

Had the lab work done today and look forward to the doctor visit on the 12th of September. More updates to follow.
 
You have stated that eloquently in that food is to sustain life but not be your life. The reasoning of that statement can apply to just about all aspects of life in our service to God. I am going to take that to heart. You are a brave woman to follow the lead of the Lord and to allow Him to light and guide your path in your lifestyle transformation. Your whole testimony is a prayer to our Heavenly Father and I am sure that He is just as proud of you as I am.
 
8/30/14

I was relating a story to a friend today that happened to me when I was 5 or 6 years old I won't go into all the details but just say that two men in the neighborhood I lived in at the time touched me inappropriately. As I was writing this story down and I could see it on paper it stirred up feelings in me that had not surfaced before. As I re-read the written story I got angry and I was shaken as at that age no one had explained to me that it was wrong that those men should not have done that to me. Then I started to cry for the innocence lost and the shame and embarrassment I felt and feel even revealing it.

I started praying that God would help me to forgive these men who are at this point are probably dead. At the same time I am asking myself have I been punishing myself all these years for something someone else did to me? Is that why I have turned to food and hid myself for so many years?

Two things I have learned that were revealed to me today. The first one I knew and put into place years ago and that was -

1. I educated my young daughter that inappropriate touching was not allowed and she was to tell me right away if anyone ever did that to her.

The other two I just learned today

2. Even though those men were wrong - for my healing to begin I need to learn to forgive them and move on. They will have to answer for what they did to me on judgment day, but I need to learn to forgive wrongs done to me.

3. That I have been punishing myself for years for something someone else did to me, hiding behind food and harming myself in the process with too much weight resulting in ill health.

As a side note on all this back when I was a kid I don't remember anyone using a mental health doctor and it probably would not have hurt to see one way back then, that never happened for me and this dirt has been swept under the rug far too long and the damage has cost me in self image and self worth.

Today God revealed to me that I am worth something as I am His daughter and I am taking this dirt out with the trash. I have prayed God would help me forgive these men. I know I am worth a healthier life style and a better healthier body. I also thank Him for helping me deal with this issue painful as it was. But it helps me to understand what and why I had done this to myself.

So if anyone out there can relate to what has been posted and you are struggling with an eating problem. Give it to God and He will help you work it out. You are a child of the King and you are worth a healthier life style too.
 
This was an extremely touching and heartfelt testimony. Thank God that you had the courage to write this so that others may be touched and comforted by your heart rendering words. This is truly outstanding and you have performed a mighty work for the Lord.
 
9/1/14

I have been an emotional eater it would not matter if it was a happy or a sad time food was the drug of choice. Sweet or salty didn't matter the worse the food item the better. Candy not object pick your poison that is just part of the junk of choice then add fried foods, pasta, bread, starchy foods. Wrong choices and not that those are always wrong but when you eat too much of them my body just couldn't take it and I watched myself become obese.

Saddest part of it was I didn't care I wasn't worth anything in my way of thinking I thought I wanted to be left alone. I was wrong. When I came back to God about 4 years ago I still wasn't ready to make this change. But with continuing to read my Bible and staying close to God I knew I would have to make changes. God has let me know that I am worth a healthy life and He wants me to live in the best health.

So I gave myself to Him and asked Him to help me with this gluttony problem because that is a sin. I must treat my body as the temple of God and I have not done that for years. I want to trust and obey and with Gods help I will reach the goal of healthier eating and my body will change even if it is ever so slowly. But God is on this walk with me and He wants me to be the best I can be and with Him how can I fail? I won't. Thank You God for Your help.
 
I have confidence in you that you will not fail. In fact, you have already won. God has confidence in you too.
 
9/3/14

I have been feeling lighter the last few days so I thought I would get on the scale. Believe me this is something I avoid like the plague. I was so happy to see that 5 more pounds seem to have evaporated. So 15 down so far in this change in life style. I even am liking salad a little more. Potatoes that I thought I would never give up I eat less frequently than before and find I am not missing them that much. I do still eat them because I will never totally give them up, but having bags of potato chips in the house is only on special occasions now and not stocked on a regular basis.

Blood test was done last Friday so I keep looking forward to the 12th of Sept to find out the results. My goal is loose belly fat, eat healthier and get off some of the oral medicines I am taking because of being a diabetic. Avoiding insulin at all costs but from the healthy side of reasoning as I am not afraid of needles.

Loosing the weight is just a happy and welcome side effect. Thanking God for the progress made and I keep looking forward to the prize which is good health.
 
You are making excellent progress and I am proud of you. I am looking forward to the special occasions and I am not talking about eating Lay's even though those are yummy too.
 
9/9/14

Ah vacation and life style change eating habits....how does one do both at the same time. Well for three days out on St. Petersburg, FL Beach and wonderful food all around. Still making good choices and enjoying some of the goodies.

Ate at two different nice restaurants and because there was a frig and micro wave in the room I was able to split my green curry chicken in half and made two meals of it while also being able to share a key lime piece of pie. Did not feel one once of guilt.

The last lunch out on the beach did the same thing split my lunch in half took veal picata, broccoli, mashed potatoes home for another meal.

While lounging by a pool watching a movie at night also enjoyed one virgin pina colada - I mean really how can you not have one when you are on the beach. Enjoyed it guilt free. So I would say as long as you keep portions in check having a treat or two on vacation won't hurt the long term outcome..... Now back home to the real world..

P.S. Fireworks at night on the beach are highly recommended and the ocean view is peaceful and brings one closer to God.....
 
I love pyrotechnics. I am glad to see that you are eating, and sensibly too. You are coming closer to God...
 
9/11/14

I am so excited about going to my doctors appointment tomorrow and have high hopes that my A1c number will be much better than 8.4% which is what it was back in the end of May. I have worked hard at making better food choices and do believe this number will be down.

I will be happily reporting tomorrow what that number is and won't get discouraged if it happens to still be high as even skinny people are diabetic, but I will know I have done the best I could do to make that number go lower. And if I have to I will accept my fate of insulin and needle. Praying and in hopes for the best.
 
9/12/14

Thank You, Thank You, Thank you Lord!!!!!

Praise God He deserves all the glory....

Went to my doctors office and the results are in my A1c number last time was 8.4% today it was 7.3% it dropped a little over 1% and even though 7.3% is still a high number this change has taken place in a three month period so as long as I keep doing what I am doing it should continue to drop!! Right now this means no threat of needle and insulin....Yeah!!!

That was great news, but I also lost exactly 20 pounds from the last visit in end of May. I still have a very long way to go but what a fantastic start and my self confidence is growing day by day and the incentive to continue until victory is stronger. It is wonderful knowing God is on my side helping me to overcome my sin of gluttony!

My doctor was so pleased she even put her hand up for a high five....and said just keep doing what you are doing. I told her that I stopped taking the statin because I read it was linked to increase in blood sugar numbers and she agreed with me she had heard that too. So I no longer have to take that medicine so I am also off one of the meds I had been taking.

My cholesterol was a little higher so I will have to watch red meat intake and add more beans and vegetables, but a small price to pay to have better health and being able to get rid of paying for a drug... One medication eliminated working on getting rid of three more.

Baby steps, but BIG results.... So I carry on. This period of the next 4 months I am going to add exercise at least three times a week for 30 mins. Get ready guys to hear me whine and cry as I HATE to sweat, but I am going to do this as I want to research and see what exercise and eating right will do to my A1c number on January 2, 2015 as that is my next doctor appointment.

The journey continues....until next time.... I am one happy 59 year old fatty....lol
 
This was a very good report and I am very proud of you. One thing though, the last word you wrote was inaccurate. You are a beautiful woman and I pray that God will allow you to see this for yourself. You are very dedicated and committed to making healthy choices for yourself, and you are setting a fine example for others to emulate. Well done.
 
9/17/14

When making a life style change and there is a long way to go sometimes it can be hard to blog something as I don't want to bore anyone to death.... But I do want to share different things that come along.

I have prayed about this situation as I realize that my body is the temple of God and I want to be a better witness for Him. What I have noticed is that when I am going to do something as in going to get something to eat when I don't really need it. There is a little voice as I am walking to the desired food item that will turn on in my head that says to me.......Do you really need to do this? Do you really need to eat this? I am happy to report that most times I agree and have done an about face and detoured myself into doing something else rather than eat.

Do I listen all the time.... notice the word most times above....Sometimes I say I want it and by pass the voice....I pray I will get to the point that I will do an about face all of the times that I hear that voice as I know it is God helping to remind me that I don't always need what it is that I think I am wanting.

If I really do think that I am hungry or that I will do something bad as in a food choice late at night then I will get a V8 juice and drink it as the juice does fill me up and is not a bad choice.

Until next time...