IT'S A GOD THING – Part two. (How I lost 72 pounds.)

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Christmas 2014- Size 8 dress coat Amazing! Body by God

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Fall 2014 My first “Size 12” jeans since 1974. Amazing- Body by God

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Lunch with Mom- May 2013 Wearing the pink blouse I grew to hate. It still fit at 241 pounds.

Several have asked me, “How have you lost weight? What are you doing?”

This is my story:

Weighing 241 pounds I cried out in desperation to God.        

After 40+ years of struggling with numerous  assorted diets and compulsive overeating with a food addiction.  I was now defeated, hopeless, and broken with a failure complex.  I had reached the end. I wondered just how big would I get? Would I just explode? None of my clothes fit. I wore a pink blouse, the last one that still fit me until I hated it. I waddled when I walked.

I felt like a complete helpless failure. I could not see food, smell food, or even think about food without getting something to eat. Food commercials sent me to the kitchen, the store, or the fast food drive through. Sometimes I’d overeat until I went to bed sick or pass out to sleep it off on the sofa.  Food and the compulsion to overeat controlled me. I was a food drunk.

Then on May 25, 2013, during a personal time with God, I cried, “I can’t stop eating. Do I need to go to a professional counselor for help?”

He spoke to my heart, “I am your counselor. Come to Me.”

“Lord, I’m a failure. I can’t stop eating. I can’t diet anymore.  I’m burned out and I’ve failed all of them. I think I might need to see a counselor.  What can I do?”

“This is what you do. Come to Me for I am your counselor.”

“But Lord, how do eat? I’ve failed every diet.  Please don’t put me on another one.”

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“Eat just the three meals each day with no snacks.”

“But what kind of food do I eat?”

“It doesn’t matter what food you eat, it doesn’t matter how much you eat. I just want you to follow one rule, eat only three meals with no snacks.”

“Lord, can I have a desert with my meal? You know how I love deserts.”

“Yes, you can have your deserts. It doesn’t matter. Just eat the three meals with nothing in between. Do this for forty days.”

I thought, “I can eat anything I want, it doesn’t matter what or how much. . . . I can even have deserts. . . .  Maybe I can do this.”

“Okay Lord, I’ll try this.”

(It took me sixty days to achieve consecutive forty days with three meals and no snacks. The Lord knew I needed to taste success and baby steps was the best I could do. He gave me something I could succeed at even if it did take me sixty days.)

Once I reached that goal, I asked the Lord, “Now what do I do?”

“Now cut your food in half. Continue to eat just three meals a day with no snacks. You can still have anything you want including your desert, just cut it in half. Do this for forty days.”

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I finished that second forty days and still continue eating three meals a day, half portions, and no snacks. Occasionally I’ll give up deserts. Sometimes I decide to give up other foods for a short time.

When I go out to eat, I ask God to direct me about what to order. Then I eat half and bring the rest home to eat later. This way I feel like I get two meals for the price of one. I get to enjoy eating that meal twice. That’s a good deal.

I do not count calories, carbs,  or servings. I don’t do meal replacements of any kind. I don’t take pills. I haven’t had any surgery for weight loss. I haven’t tried to exercise to lose weight until now.  Now I’m trying to walk 5,000 steps a day to help with the last five pounds of this healing process.

IMG_0408The sweetest time of my day is when I get up before the sun to spend time with the Lord. During this private time with Him, I write my thoughts, meaningful scriptures, prayers and praises in spiral notebooks. It helps me focus. I value this precious sweet time in His Presence. It’s like I’m talking to my very best friend. He is my best friend.

I feel that I’m healed from my excess weight, compulsive overeating, and food addiction. It amazes me when I try on clothes that fit last month and now they’re too big. Food no longer controls me.

I’m free and delivered from obesity.  This weight loss has not been  a fast weight loss, but it has been the easiest weight loss. I am able to live this way.

Hubby asks, “Why didn’t you do this before?”

My answer is, “I never knew about this before. I always tried another diet. I thought I had to diet to lose weight. God told me what to do. He gave me the answer that I’ve been looking for my whole life.”

IMG_2030Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may  obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

I Need Thee Every Hour

I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;                                                                   No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.

I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;                                                                       Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou  art nigh.

I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;                                                                                         Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.

I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;                                                                                    And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.

I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;                                                                                             Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son

Refrain:                                                                                                                                                         I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;                                                                                                           Every hour I need Thee;                                                                                                                         Oh, bless me now, my Savior                                                                                                                  I come to Thee.

Written by Annie S. Hawkins 1872                                                                                       Copyright: Public Domain

 

17 comments on “IT'S A GOD THING – Part two. (How I lost 72 pounds.)

  1. […] My largest focus going forward will be on mindful eating.  I’m inspired by successes like Deborah Crocker and other people that have stopped snacking. It is a simple and powerful change.  Simple […]

    • Thank you so much. All I know is that God has set me free.

  2. I love this post so much, Deborah!!! It shows that when we follow a “diet” we make that diet our god. When we follow GOD and do what He says, He becomes our LORD and all else falls into place. I base my diet philosophy on 1 Corinthians 10:23 and the First Commandment. It’s a lot less complicated that way. God is so proud of you! “Well done, wise and faithful servant” continue to keep up the good work. Blessings,

    • Thank you Ellie. I looked up your scripture and yes, you are so right. The point is not to follow another set of rules, but to seek God’s will/advice over all that we do and say, including what we eat. I don’t always do exactly right, but I keep seeking and keep trying. It is wonderful to know that if we mess up, He forgives us, picks up our pieces, and gives us strength to get up and start over with a new freshness full of His Presence.
      Thank you so much for the encouragement. I am honored with your words of affirmation.
      Thank you, blessings to you,
      Deborah

    • Also thank you for telling me that God is proud of me. My heart’s desire is to please Him. He is my BFF.

  3. You have an amazing story! I love how God helped you!

    • God deserves all the credit! He is healing me from obesity. He is so wonderful!

  4. Congratulations, Deborah. What you’ve achieved is truly fantastic. The reward for your efforts is in those photos. You look great, you really do. After 40-odd years of trying you’ve succeeded, which I’m sure is wonderful for you and your story is also an inspiration to others. Thank you for the support you provide to others on their own journey. You know it means a lot, that it really makes a difference to other people’s lives.

    Once you’ve reached your goal the next phase starts, one that is equally as challenging, and that’s maintaining your weight without putting it all back on again, and I know you have the strength and determination to achieve this.

    Well done 🙂

  5. It’s interesting to read your blog entry about weight loss. I had to cry out to the Lord the same way about losing weight and me not eating my feelings. I’d eat my feelings no matter what they were. I asked him one night during prayer and since then he’s changed my thinking and I’ve lost 20 lbs in about 5 weeks. I’m not sure why I didn’t consult him to begin with but I’m glad I did. It goes to show that sometimes we need to stop, pray and listen to the Lord for guidance and direction. Jesus never fails!! Thanks for sharing. God bless sister

  6. Exciting journey with God!

  7. Kudos to you for sticking to the plan. You look great.

    • Thank you so much. God gave me this plan. Over all those years of diets, I never thought of this before. Now if I want cake, I eat it, just half of it.
      This has been the easiest weight loss ever. I am constantly amazed at what God has done.

    • Oh and this morning, the scales said I have lost 73 pounds

      • Yeah!