Wellness Wednesday #2

Hello Everyone! Thanks for the great comments and encouragements you all left me on and off the blog! I really appreciate all the input and those joining along who pulled off their masks too! It's not easy, but I think we need to stick together and encourage one another.

I think it was Donna (but can't find the comment to verify) who recommended the Prism Weight Loss Plan. If you are going to go on a diet, I would highly recommend this one. I had to laugh when I googled because it comes up with some really nasty criticism. It is labeled as a fad diet with extreme carb-cutting and a copy of the Atkins diet. I have to think that the people that write these things have 1) never been on this diet or even seen it's material and 2) have an axe to grind, possibly are anti-Christian. This diet is lowered carbs but is NOTHING like Atkins and it is not a fad diet either. It teaches you how to eat better. It does start out eliminating almost every white carb (is this such a bad thing?!), though you are allowed to eat rice and rice cakes. It starts this way because your body gets "addicted" to these and this helps you to cut the ties and also helps the weight come off quicker in the beginning. But after each session of several weeks you begin adding things back in so that you will learn how to eat them in moderation. The best part of this diet is the support group and the scripture/devotions. This is a Christ centered "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" plan. It works. If I were to actually diet again, I would do this program.

I don't diet anymore!

No, I'm not in denial. I still checked in at the same 325# this week...not surprising since I had pms munchies this week and enjoyed a lot of the homemade chocolate chip cookies my hubby made! :o)

I have been on a long journey with my weight and have been on many diets since I was in grade school. I started out with chubby baby fat and have ended up with morbid obesity. As a child I absorbed a lot of negative and cruel commentary on my weight and appearance to the point that I could no longer look at my body in proper perspective. Not only have I dieted and exercised, but I have also vomited and starved. When I weighed 120-150 pounds I was plump and healthy. My mind's eye looked in the mirror and saw someone who weighed 325#! When I go on a diet it begins to be a competition with myself until I get to the point of eating virtually nothing, being miserable, not losing weight and then giving up and bingeing. It's a vicious cycle of self hate and honestly I think it is not better mentally than drugs, alcohol or other destructive behavior.

So, a couple years ago I said no diets. I am going to learn to be healthy. The first step in being healthy is accepting God's view of you and giving Him total control of your life. Some of my obesity I cannot help, most of it though is my response to fear, anxiety, emotional pain and not trusting God. That was really hard to admit when I finally realized it. But over the last few years He has strengthend me, taught me, loved me and opened my eyes. I am in an overall healthier state of mind because He has healed me.

Still, I am left with old habits. Getting rid of the old habits is the hard part. But I have a hubby and three little kids that I wish to spend a long lifetime with. And so, I am working on change. I think it is often overwhelming for many of us to look at the big picture. For instance, I have a whole fat person to take off of me in terms of pounds! WHOA! That's scary. That's why I have to look at small goals and achievements.

My first small goal was to not gain more weight. The next was to take off some weight and keep it off. After that I began to tackle eating like a normal person...learning normal proportions and servings. That isn't easy in a super sized world. Eating when I was actually hungry...not when bored, nervous, scared, depressed etc, was another baby step. Then I began looking into healthier foods. I am now in the second phase of that, which I have shared on here before. (I have not started gluten free yet, still reading, but haven't given up on that plan.)

I think the next step for me will be adding increased exercise. This is a struggle for me since living in California because my asthma has been so bad. I have always been active and enjoyed exercising, but when you can't breathe, it's no longer fun. I hate huffing and puffing to keep up with my kids and I don't want to be on the sidelines forever, I want to be actively involved in my own life. I haven't decided how I will jump in for certain, but it will most likely be walking. Walking is a safe, all around exercise that benefits the body in many ways.

What steps are some of you taking in your journey? Do you get enough exercise? What exercise do you do? More importantly, when you look in the mirror, do you see a child of God or do you deny Him and see something else? What encourages you? How can we encourage each other?

Thanks for reading today if you made it this far. I will be praying for anyone who leaves comments about your journey!