But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. I Corinthians 15:57
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This is a Victory Chart to keep track of your victories during this Christmas season. We do not have to gain weight this
As you surrender to God’s will in your eating, He will grant you victory.
As you go through this month, it will amaze you at the victories God has given you.
A reader informed me that the link for this Victory Chart on my earlier post did not work. So I decided to re-post. Use this as a tool to help keep up your food plan. Eating in surrender brings victory.
Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. Thought I’d express my thankfulness to God for 92 pounds lost and the freedom He’s given me. Enjoy the rest of your Thanksgiving weekend.
On Thanksgiving Day I ate my usual three meals with half portions and didn’t get seconds. I did have some desserts, but only in small portions. I didn’t blow my diet because I’m not on a diet.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ICorinthians 15:57 NKJV
Thank you Lord,
1. that I’m not on a diet, just portion control.
2. that I can eat anything (within reason) I want at holiday gatherings without self-condemnation.
3. that I can have desserts, but only half servings.
4. that I have the freedom to choose what I want to eat.
5. that a prescribed diet doesn’t tell me what to eat or not eat.
5. that a serving of dessert won’t throw me into a week-long binge like in the past when I blew the diet of the month plan.
6. that I can now eat ice cream without guilt. (about half a cup)
7. that I can even have a cookie with my ice cream.
8. that I can eat just one cookie.
9. that the bag of cookies no longer controls me and makes me do what I don’t want to -eat the whole bag.
10. that I no longer feel defeated by any food item. I am free. Thank you Lord.
11. that I don’t have to feel cheated or deprived when I look at the bounty on the Thanksgiving table because “the diet” tells me what I can eat. I choose.
12. that my focus wasn’t all about the Thanksgiving food.
13 that I was able to enjoy visiting with my family.
14. for my family that still loved me when I weighed 241.
15. for my family that tells me how proud they are of me.
16. that whatever I decide to wear, it makes me smile as I look in the mirror.
17. that since losing 92 pounds, I don’t have to wear something I don’t like just because it still fits.
18. that my husband tells me how good I look now.
19. that he no longer suggests I lose some weight for my health. Yea, right.
20. for his smile as he puts his arms around me.
21. that he says, “I can get my arms around you now.”
22. that I feel attractive to my husband even though I’m in my 60’s.
23. that I can wear leggings and they look good too. I just don’t have the guts to wear them out of the house. I am in my 60’s, after all.
24.. that there is a space between my upper thighs now. I never had that before.
25. that my thighs no longer rub together.
26.. that my thighs no longer get raw from rubbing together.
27. for giving me the idea of a Victory Calendar to focus on my victories instead of feeling deprived over the food I didn’t eat. victory-calendar 1 (Click here for yours.-Free)
28. that I don’t have to go to family gatherings all tense because I don’t know if there’s something I can eat on my diet. I can have anything I want now.
29. for teaching me how to eat successfully in the plan You gave me and still lose weight.
30. that You always have a good plan.
31. for the friends I have made while writing this blog.
Release date Jan. 1. You can preorder now on Amazon.com for Kindle. ($4.99 pre-order price)
32. for the book You allowed me to finish.
33. for seeing this project through to the finish line.
34. for helping me fulfill my dream. I’ve dreamed of writing a book since the 80’s.
35. for giving me this book assignment to write.
36. that I don’t have to feel judged by other people because of my size.
37. that I don’t have to feel judged by other people watching me eat.
38. that I can enjoy seeing the shock on their face when they realize I’m not dieting.
39. that I can have sugar. Last week I listened as someone lectured me about sugar being poison.
40. that I don’t feel threatened by the dangers of sugar. You set me free.
41. for only giving me three rules to eat by: 1. Eat only three meals. 2. No snacks. 3. Half portions.
42. that I don’t have to worry about eating “clean” for You made me clean Yourself.
43. That this has been the easiest weight loss of my life. (Maybe the longest too, but I like easy vs. quicker.)
44. that I can live with Your easy plan for my eating for the rest of my life. I’m not on a diet.
45. that I now weigh less than the day I got married.
46. that I usually wear size 10 pants. I did wear a pair of size 8 jeans to the Thanksgiving famiy gathering. Wow!
47. that I now wear a small top, size 10, 8, or even size 6. Amazing!
48. that I don’t feel unworthy anymore.
49. that I’m not embarrassed about my size anymore.
50. that I can wear clothes to show off my small waist.
51. for the boots that I can now zip up and wear. Before My legs were too fat for boots.
52. for spending time with me in our morning quiet time.
53. for being with me whenever I look for You.
54. for all Your encouraging words in Your Word.
56. for loving me just as I was, 241 lbs.
57. for loving me so much You wouldn’t let me stay 241.
58. for my friends that prayed for me through this journey.
59. that I don’t have to gain those famous 7-10 pounds during the holidays like the experts say I will. Putting my fingers in my ears now, “La La La La La.” I’m not listening.
60. that I don’t have to eat uncontrollably until I’m sick. You set me free.
61. that I have no more “food drunks” to sleep off.
62. that I didn’t leave my husband back in the 80’s over that candy bar. Yep, that was the biggest fight we ever had over my uncontrollable eating.
63. that he didn’t leave me over that candy bar.
64. for leading me to a life of freedom with my food.
65. for giving me a more abundant life, full of Your love.
66. that I no longer have an abundant waist, hips, or butt.
67. that I don’t need a “tummy tuck”. It shrunk.
68. that I have more energy now.
69. that my knees no longer hurt due to excessive weight.
70. that I can walk around the block without thinking I’m going to die.
71. that I don’t feel deprived if I choose not to eat dessert. I chose.
72. that Hubby called me his “trophy wife” today. He was teasing. He used to tease me about being overweight.
73. that my adult children are proud of me.
74. that my grandchildren are proud of me.
75. that I am proud of me.
76. that my closest friends are happy for my success.
77. that I feel pretty now, except for a few wrinkles.
78. I’d rather feel pretty in my old age versus my young age.
79. that I’m getting better with age.
80. that instead of hearing, “You need to lose some weight”, I now hear, “Don’t lose anymore.”
81. that I get to see the amazement on someone’s face at my weight loss when they haven’t seen me in a long time.
82. that I can actually feel my ribs now. I couldn’t at 241.
83. that if I suck in my breath and look in the mirror, I can see my ribs now. Never could before.
84. that while laying in bed, I can feel my hip bones. Never could before.
85. that if my husband buys me clothes for Christmas and they don’t fit, it’s not my fault.
86. that I’m free from the gluttony monster that forced me to eat uncontrollably at night.
87. that I can now sleep better because I’m not going to bed bloated from the binge
88. that You Lord are helping get stronger in dealing with my emotions.
89. that I no longer use food to sooth my emotions.
As you eat with a submission attitude, seek God’s wisdom with your food choices, and surrender unnecessary extra food, God will grant you victories.
Use the Victory Calendar to write both your surrenders and your victories throughout this holiday season. Rejoice in your victories for they will be many.
Why? Why would God deliver an old woman in her 60’s of 92 pounds? I have to ask why? Why do you think?
Could it be to show you that He is able to heal someone from obesity that has failed every diet she tried for 41 years?
Could it be to give you hope? Could He possibly do the same for you? Do you think it’s possible for you? How many years have you been trying to lose that extra weight that seems to hold on no matter what diet/ exercise program you try? Continue reading Why? What About You?
Due to several short trips out of town and a friend at church that needed assistance, I procrastinated responding. While Hubby is watching his football game, I’m having my own award night catching up on thank you’s and my apologies. “Itsgoodtobecrazysometimes”, I ask for your forgiveness.
Thank you for the honor of your recognition. I’m glad you enjoyed my blog. I enjoy reading yours as well, especially about that cute little fella of yours.
“Itsgoodtobecrazzysometimes” is a member of the Mental Health Writer’s Guild in the UK. She writes an blog about her struggles with mental health issues and her life in the UK with her adorable little boy. In spite of her struggles, she regularly encourages others by nominating them for awards to recognize their work. You will enjoy her humor and her occasional posts about the history of UK.
So my 3 questions are:
What is your favourite four legged creature and why? (My favorite four-legged animal is Suzy, the cat I inherited from my mother-in-law. She is the easiest pet ever, but she won’t let me touch her. She defines the term, “Fraidy Cat.”
2. Name 3 things in nature you find most beautiful. (The sunrise on the water, the petals of a rose, and the beach.)
Sunrise picture taken by my Dad, age 80.
3. What do you think is a good question to get to know someone more? (How can I help you? Everyone needs a little help now and then.)
This is what 10 pounds looks like. My friend, Donna said, “Feel how heavy this is. This is what 10 pounds feels like. Imagine this on your body.”
Lord, today is weigh-day and I’m afraid. What if I’ve eaten too much? I know there were times when I got too full. I am afraid of what those scales might say.
My child, as you look to Me, I will lead you. I did not give you this fear. Why do you let this box with numbers rule your life? Trust Me. All of your struggles have been because of lack of trust.
When You were confronted by the problems and struggles of life, you ran to food for comfort.
When you felt hurt, rejected, or disappointed in others, you ran to food for love.
When you worried over your needs, finances, or the needs of others, you ran to food for peace. True peace never comes from food.
Know ye not thatI have come to give you abundant life, peace, love, and joy unspeakable?
If only you would run to Me, the One that loves you beyond your comprehension, instead the idol of pleasant pleasure food. Then you would find yourself walking in the freedom of My love. My freedom brings peace, joy, wisdom, and abundant life.
The idol of pleasure food brings entrapment. It brings damage to your body, but the worst is that it brings defeat and shame to your soul. I want My children to walk in victory, not defeat. I have come to set you free. Can you believe that?
Now don’t worry or be afraid of those scales. don’t look for your confirmation of success from numbers on a box. Look to My Presence for your success. I AM your success.
As you yield yourself to Me, I will grant you increase, not increase in body size, but increase in My love and power. I will increase My power within you to give you the ability to say “No” when necessary and “Yes” to My will.
I will increase My love within you so it will spill over to others and they can be filled with My joy as well, for I am the one true joy. Tell them to come to Me, for I AM the One true source of joy, peace, and love.
Yes Sir. Thank you Sir. I give myself to thee, do with me as You will. Help me to obey You in all things.
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For God has not given a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7 NKJV
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9 NKJV
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:17 NKJV
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NKJV
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye. Psalm 32:8 NKJV
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Last week a friend asked how I ate. I tried to answer her questions. She wanted more information. I thought a picture is worth 1,000 words, so I’ll just take pictures of my food.
Disclaimer: I apologize to all who eat clean, carb free, or follow diet rules. These food pictures don’t fit any of those plans. This is how God instructed me to eat. I’ve lost 87 pounds, gone from a size 18/20 pants to size 10 pants and from size X-L /14-18 tops to size S/6-10 tops. Wow!
Taken May 2013, weighing 241.
I’ve failed every diet I tried with 41 years of failure. My first paid weight loss group was in 1974. We ate tuna fish 5x a week. Yuck. It’s amazing what we do to lose weight. I never tried surgery, only because I was afraid.
In May 2013, I weighed 241 pounds. In desperation, embarrassment, and total defeat I cried out to God. I’d tried everything only to end up in failure. I was broken in defeat with no hope, no other options and turned to God begging for help. Considering all the people in the world with severe needs, it was pathetic.
God didn’t care how pathetic I was, He reached out to help me. I was a food drunk eating almost 24/7.
God whispered to my heart, “Eat three meals a day with no snacks. Eat anything you want including desserts, but no snacks. Do this for 40 days.”
Seemed simple enough. I thought maybe I can do this. It took 60 days to achieve 40 days of three meals with no snacks. Then I asked Him, “What now?”
Again He spoke to my heart, “Continue eating your three meals with no snacks. Now cut your food in half.”
You won’t believe how I eat now, yet continue losing weight. I feel like a walking, talking miracle. So here goes, food pictures:
Friday: Breakfast- I/2 apple with peanut butter & a caramel flavored rice cake. (I like the flavor and crunchiness.)
Lunch- Forgot what I ate, don’t keep a food journal. Mostly I just eat half of whatever, so I don’t need to write it down. It may have been soup & 1/2 sandwich.
Supper- We went out with friends to a new Italian restaurant. I ordered house salad with Thousand Island dressing, Penne Basilica with extra mushrooms, and Tiramisu for dessert. (Shared dessert with husband.)
New Italian restaurant. ***** five stars- great food. Highly recommended. Large portions, enough to take home for later.Our friends ordered an appetizer of fried onion rings. I ate one with the mariner sauce.The side salad. I ate the large vegetables and left half the lettuce.Penne Basilica- chicken, broccoli, pesto cream sauce with pasta. I ordered extra mushrooms. My plate was the largest serving on the table. Wow!Tiramisu- Hubby and I both ate half. Not my favorite.I took home half the entrée with a piece of bread. I ate a half piece of bread at my meal.
Now for Saturday’s food :
Breakfast: One large serving cheese grits from a gas station that served breakfast. I left about three large bites and threw it away. Hubby and I were out and about.
Lunch served on a saucer, half the leftover pasta. The other half was still in the go box. I added three pieces of fried squash. (Southern favorite. The only way Hubby will eat squash.)A favorite dessert, ice cream with pear pieces and juice. I usually eat half a coffee cup of ice cream (about 3 large spoonful’s.)
Lunch: Leftover pasta, fried squash, and dessert, ice cream with canned pear pieces.
Saturday supper: I ate one whole can of soup 200 calories. Don’t count calories, but thought it was okay to eat all the soup due to low calories.My dessert with Saturday supper. One, yes I said one Hersey’s kiss. Let it melt in your mouth, lot of chocolate pleasure for only 22 calories
Now for Sunday’s meals:
Skipped breakfast. Hubby insists on being at church at 8 a.m. for his music practice before church. Hoping someone brings a treat to our Sunday School class.
No treats in Sunday school. After church we ate lunch at a favorite neighborhood restaurant, “Neighbors”. Large servings, plenty to bring home for later. Great food, whatever you order. Five stars. ****
Almost forgot to take a picture. Ordered three-piece chicken dinner with sides of turnip greens, mac n cheese, and corn bread. The plate came with four pieces and a roll. I asked for cornbread. You can’t eat turnips without cornbread.I ate half the turnips, half the mac n cheese, two small pieces chicken, and one half of the corn muffins. There were four pieces of chicken, so I thought I could eat two of the smaller pieces. That’s half, right?
Sunday night after church there was a reception to honor our pastors. Since I didn’t eat breakfast, I could now eat cake. Yea, my favorite. This would be my second meal today.
I love, love cake icing. I know, pure sugar and lard.Since I eat half the cake, I eat my favorite part, the icing. Throw away the cake part.
When we got home from church it was soup and sandwich again. I overstocked canned soup so we’re trying to eat it.
For late supper I ate a whole can of soup. In hindsight, I think I should have eaten only half because I felt too full afterwards. Lesson learned, don’t eat past full. Hubby has two slices of bread and two slices cheese, grilled in butter. Mine is one slice bread, one slice cheese, grilled in butter. That’s a half serving, right.Another half coffee cup of ice cream with a half cookie for dessert. I like ice cream. Can ice cream count as a milk serving?
Then for dessert, more ice cream. I always eat my ice cream in a coffee cup for portion control.
I haven’t weighed since mid-Sept. I’m seeking God’s will for my goal weight. Now I can wear size 10 dress pants. Wow! I don’t ever remember wearing that size in my life. I plan to weigh on November 1. I’ll let ya’ll know how it turned out. Then I guess I’ll discover what maintenance is.
87 pounds forever gone!
So far, 87 pounds of excess weight gone forever. Since I’m not on a diet, I have nothing to go off of. I am eating normal just less. I can live with that. I feel like a walking, talking miracle. God has set me free from a lifetime of obesity, obsessive dieting, (another form of bondage, and a failure complex. I’m walking in the gift of His victory for me. It’s not through my works, but through His grace. He has healed me and set me free.
Uh- No Lord, You did it. You delivered me from this 87 pounds. But what about this last 4 pounds, so I can say I lost 91 pounds? Continue reading Who Did It?
(True story.) When she walked into the room the fragrance of sweetness followed her. As she stood still, the aroma settled over her. Everyone could smell the sweetness that surrounded her. I leaned back to breathe in the sweetness. Hmmm.
A reader informed me that the link for this Victory Chart on my earlier post did not work. So I decided to re-post. Use this as a tool to help keep up your food plan. Eating in surrender brings victory.
