August 15, 2016, my journey began on the day that I was moving my oldest daughter into her college dorm on the sixth floor. “Let’s take the stairs Mom, I don’t want to wait for the elevators.” Well, little did I know that would be the defining moment in my life to decide once and for all to take the extra baby weight (from 13 years earlier) off. Huffing and Puffing up those stairs was embarrassing and humiliating. I stopped on the third floor and said “Lord, I know there have been days when I have forgotten you, have not been as faithful to you as I could be, and I know I have disappointed you, but if you will help me get through this move in day without being a burden to my family, and will help me to not land in the emergency room, I am going to make a change once and for all.” It was amazing! An immediate weight in my spirit was lifted and I managed to get through the rest of that day. Once we returned home, I recognized it was me and the Lord and I somehow had to make some changes in all our lives! My husband comes from a long line of sweet eaters, they eat sweets for breakfast even, cake, cookies, and pies. And yes, he has only gained 7 pounds across the span of our 22 year marriage 🙄
Always weighing more than your husband is a horrible feeling and it made me feel like a linebacker. I just wanted to feel petite and feminine. Hard to do when you outweigh your husband by 15 plus pounds. The feeling was so overwhelming and I didn’t know where to begin. Lucky for me I work with some amazing women who were facing their own health and fitness problems. One happened to know Julie House. We began an Equipped group that met once a week prior to work. I saw someone in front of me that I wanted to be. She walks the walk and talks the talk. I was so inspired after our first meeting that I knew I could do this. Julie sharing her journey with us, walking us through God’s plan for our
lives. Allowing us to share all of our burdens, failures, and triumphs was my door of opportunity and let me tell you I sprinted through it! As fall turned to winter and winter into spring, a transformation began in my life. I began to have a spring in my step, I felt the Lord take over so many burdens I had been holding on to, and I felt my inner joy spring forth like the fountain of youth. I am very proud of my 22 pound weight loss and I never want to 
be close to 160 pounds ever again on my 5’4 inch frame. I’m not tall enough to be able to handle that weight, nor do my knees, hips, or heart enjoy that either. There are days when I fall off the wagon, there are days when I am very frustrated that my husband can literally eat 1/2 a cheesecake and never gain an ounce but the difference now is I know the Lord has got my back and he will keep picking me up, dusting me off, walking beside me, and will say “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart “ 37:4. The desires of my heart are to be around for a really long time, to see my kids grow up, get married, have careers, and children of their own. I do not want to be an observer but someone who walks down the path with them. I want to cheer us all on because I know….If I can meet the weight loss challenge head on…so can anyone! I have managed to maintain a 22 pound weight loss for almost 6 months and it is amazing! Journaling my food and relying on the Lord are the two biggies. Water and a support system are a plus. Those amazing women I work with, laugh with me, cry with me, and snatch bad food right out of my hand!!! I love my life and the people in it! Trust and believe in yourself and NEVER GIVE UP!!!
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