Permissable, But Not Beneficial

Hello, dear friends! This post is a little different for me. As a part of my weight loss journey, I have been praying. I know, I know - Praying to lose weight? Really? Does God care about that? Well, yes. I believe He does. So do a lot of other women. You see, I am participating (1st time ever) in an Online Bible Study through Proverbs 31 Ministries. We are reading a book called Made to Crave.

Well, last summer, when I decided I thought I wanted to lose weight, I bought this book on my Nook. And I read the first few chapters. It was great. I loved the idea. I CLUNG to a verse I read:

I Corinthians 10:23 “Everything is permissible,” but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permissible,” but not everything builds up. 

Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Hmmmm.....So, that Snickers is permissible, but is it beneficial? Probably not. Those delicious cookies my sweet friend brought me from Rosie's....They are permissible, but are they beneficial? No, not for me. It totally changed my way of looking at things. I was no longer "denying" myself anything. I was allowing myself to choose. And did I always make the best choice? Uh - NO!!!! Did I always make the wrong (unhealthy) choice... No. I started making better choices, and then I was #EMPOWERED!!!! If I could resist once, I could do it again. 

On the flip side - I would say "It is permissible for me to sit here and watch Judge Judy and Dr. Phil all afternoon, but is it beneficial?" No. "It is permissible for me to stay home from the gym because it is cold, but is that beneficial?" No. So, just like I said before, I started making healthier choices. 

Now - Please understand, this was not easy, nor was it done by myself. I did not have the strength to follow through, but God provided it. He has provided me with opportunities for wellness. (My job pays for me to be a member of our Wellness Center). He has provided me with the courage to attend classes I never thought I would be able to do, and to go alone. He has provided me with the physical strength/motivation to push myself. He has provided me with a supportive family. He has provided me with a wonderful Christian friend who teaches one of my favorite classes. He has provided Christian fellowship and friendship with others in those classes. So, the least I can do is to say, "I know this is permissible, but is it beneficial?

So, months after purchasing the book, I see on Facebook, of all places, that there is going to be an OBS on this book, and I couldn't resist...Because, you see, God provided it. He provided it now, knowing that I need it before the surgery. He provided it now, to remind me that the surgery is not a "quick fix," but only a tool. And if I continue to crave improper things, I won't be successful with my weight loss. He provided it now, so that I may ask others to pray for me as I go through this journey.

"All things are permissible, but is this Bible study beneficial?" Yes. Yes a thousand times! 

Praise God!!!

6 Weeks and Counting

Wowzer! I just realized that it in 6 weeks, I will be getting ready for my surgery. It is still so unreal to me. I just cannot imagine!

I will be going for an all-day seminar on Wednesday, February 5. On that day I will learn about my pre-op diet, meet with someone from the Wellness Center, and do my pre-op workup. I have "heard" that there will be a 2 week extremely low-carb diet. (30 g of carbs a day). This is to shrink the liver, so that it is not in the way when they are doing the surgery. Then, there will be a week of clear liquids. (Prayers please.) After surgery, there will be a week of clear liquids, then a week of full liquids, then I will be able to add soft foods 1 at a time. (i.e. applesauce). I have a sweet friend who has spoken bluntly with me that there will be a rough 3 months. I am the type of person who likes to know what is going on, and I also tend to prepare for the worst, and hope for the best. That said - Please start praying for me now. God has really controlled my appetite during this journey, and I know He won't leave me now.

That said - I am now in a "hurry up and wait" mode. I am trying to monitor what I eat. (Yes, I lost that blasted 5# that I have fought with for 3 months again this week.) I am trying to work out as much as possible. It is my thought that the stronger I am at surgery time, the better I will recover. I am decreasing the Diet Pepsi (well, today anyway - I waver on this.) Today, I ate my lunch without drinking. (That is an after-surgery requirement as well.) I fluctuate on whether I want to "practice" now all the time vs. just going all out. I am trying to find a happy medium!

This is a brief update. I am dragging this evening. Thank you, water aerobics! I should sleep well tonight.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2014, friends! Another year has passed, lots of changes, both good and bad. But, that is life. No one wants to stagnate! I have refrained from making resolutions for many, many years, because I always felt like a failure when I couldn't complete them. Well, not anymore! I made changes in 2013 that I never thought were possible! Well, I say "I" made the changes, but I didn't do it alone. The BIGGEST difference in these lifestyle changes this time is this: this time I am asking God for help. And help He has! I pray that God will wake me up to get to exercise class or to go walking - Yeah, don't do that unless you are SERIOUS, because He will do it! I pray that God will decrease my cravings- Check! Ask for help in learning to change my tastes in food - Done! Ask for strength (physical and mental) to get through an exercise class without throwing up - Not a problem!

Before I start listing my resolutions, I want to say thank you to some special people who touched my life, especially during 2013.

1.  Dan, Sadie and Jon Carter - These guys have been great! Dan "allowed" me to stay home with the kids this summer, which gave me the much needed time to exercise, shop for healthy foods, and experiment. Sadie and Jon Carter - Well, they are the gym Nazis. "When are we going to the Wellness Center?" "Aren't you going to work-out today?" "You said we were going to the Wellness Center, now come on!" I definitely wouldn't be where I am without their support.
2. Victoria Derveloy. Waaaayyyy back at the beginning of this journey, she asked me to go to a Piyo class with her. I had never heard of such, nor dreamed of doing it. But I went, and I did it.  I didn't like Victoria very much during that first class, but I forgave her. And went back a few more times. This gave me the first boost of confidence that I had. I COULD do some of that stuff, with some modifications! 
3. Kelly Kenney - She too has been a great encourager throughout this. I just realized when our girls had their birthdays in December, that Kelly and I have been friends for almost 10 years. That's a lot of nursing homes, birthdays,  Chez Ami clothes, tween girls, and rowdy boys! We don't talk daily, or even weekly. But Kelly is one of those friends that I know I can count on in a time of need. She has proven that over and over. She is one of my "go-to" people about exercise. (We all KNOW that this stuff is new to me!). She has always been a cheerleader, and was one of the first people I told that I was considering this journey. And she has been an avid cheerleader every step of the way!
4. My "Sassy Seven Supper Club" girls! Wow! What can I say about you all! If you look at us, all in different stages in our life, with different hopes, dreams, and now jobs...We are an unlikely group. But I feel God has put us together for a reason! Y'all mean so much to me! God knew I needed a mentor, and he provided me with an entire group of them! Thank you all so much! I love you all, Sally Amos, Joannah Ballard, Victoria Derveloy, Teresa Gregory, Mitzi Nasce, and Krista Weems! FYI -I will still come to dinner, but my "order" will probably be a little altered, and quite possibly liquid/soft for a while!

There are many, many, many more people. These are just a few that have stood out in my mind recently, and that I am especially grateful for!

Now, on to the new. These are a few things I am looking forward to in 2014. Some are goals I want to achieve. Some are simple, piddling, trivial things that I want just because I've never been able to have them. (And some of these wants may continue into 2015...I am realistic!)

1. I want to read the Bible completely. I have taken the first steps, and started over on a You Version Bible reading already today.
2. I want to spend time daily studying God's word. I want to learn HOW to study the Bible, so that I may grow in the Lord!
3.  I want to be a better example of a Christian, especially to my family!
4. I want to learn some Bible verses. Now, I would love to memorize 1 a week for a year, but I am not "trusting" of my ability to do that. This is something I am going to have to work on/pray about!
5. I want to increase my health! I will "judge" my success with this in multiple ways - weight loss, cardiac endurance, blood pressure, cholesterol. Not JUST weight loss!
6. For some strange reason, I think I want to try to walk/run a 5K. Just to say I did it, once, for me.
7. I want a Northface jacket, some non-plus size jeans, and a Swatch. Yeah, I know. But I do want them! (I warned you some were trivial!)

I am sure I could go on and on...But I'll stop here. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and all of your support. I am so much more confident now that I know that you are all praying for me! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

Oh - And guess what? I got a call from insurance, and IT IS OFFICIALLY OFFICIAL!!! THE SURGERY WAS APPROVED!
 HAPPY NEW YEAR!