Not JUST Weight Loss

Several weeks ago I posted about a 5 week challenge I was doing. The challenge was not just to start exercising and eating better, but to be "active" in reading (and memorizing and meditating on) God's Word. It was exactly the kick-start I needed. 

I'd been stuck in a rut for far too long.... Eating what I wanted, when I wanted and how much I wanted. It wasn't a good thing, even though eating all those good things sure was (and is!) nice. Even though I was exclusively breastfeeding (up until the 1st of October, anyway), my weight wasn't coming off. But it's hard to expect to lose when you don't exercise and don't have some sort of control over what you eat! I knew I needed to do something, but I couldn't (and can't) make the change on my own. It's too easy to say, "I'll try again Monday" or "Maybe when Charlotte's doing ___ I'll try" or "I just don't feel like it." A true procrastinator can find any excuse to avoid doing something. 

Thanks to my bestie and my fabulous SIL, we've worked together on this challenge. The challenge has already ended, but we're still keeping each other accountable. We check in on FB daily. We talk about our struggles, our victories, what encourages us and what convicts us. It's a pretty awesome system, especially when you factor in the fact that we each live in a different state and time zone. Obviously I'm the furthest one out, but it's still pretty darn awesome. With their accountability and my Bible studies, I've been able to do a lot. I'm on my way to a total lifestyle change, and I'm already seeing some of the benefits.

This is me when I started the 5 week challenge, weighing *gulp* 160lbs. {I can't even believe I just put this number on my blog...}

And this is me just a few days ago...weighing 151.5lbs. Yes, I lost 8.5 pounds in 5 weeks!

I know the recent photos are more zoomed out, but I didn't realize that until I went to edit them a day later. *sigh* But, seriously... I can't believe how much I've lost in just a short time! I'd love to attribute it to breastfeeding and working out, but that's not the whole story.

So what have I done? I've done a lot, though it may not seem like it. 

Bible study. 

As I said before, I'm on my way to a lifestyle change. And that is thanks to God and God alone. The big game-changer for me is my way of thinking. Not thinking of food as the enemy, but sin and Satan. (Which is actually the truth.) Not thinking of exercising as another chore (although it certainly feels that way sometimes!), but as a way to honor God. And the way I've changed my thinking in these areas is through the Setting the Captives Free study I'm doing, called The Lord's Table. It's a 60 day, very in-depth study on sinful eating habits and how only turning to God can free me from them. Yes, it's true, you can have sinful eating habits. I'm an overeater. I may not look like one, but I am. I want to change that. I want to have a healthy body and I want to not feel overwhelmed by cravings.

I'm also participating in studies done by #SheReadsTruth. I'm not always "attached" to the online community there, but I do participate in their studies online. I love them. It's usually a very great add-on to the Captives Free study. God has a wonderful way of tying them in together when I least expect it.

Exercise

Exercising is part of having a healthy body. I don't believe God ever meant for us to be lying about all day... Or just going about our day not being active. Exercise has always been difficult for me. I have allowed my asthma to be an excuse to not work out in the past. And yeah, some days it keeps me from doing a full workout. I can't use that excuse, though, because I can do something. I'm not an invalid. And I need  to do something. Working out actually helps when I'm doing it consistently. Imagine that. 

I've been doing Lindsay Brin's Postnatal Boot Camp 2-3 days a week. It's a heck of a cardio and toning DVD program with all sorts of different workouts. I'm doing her 12 week program because it's easier than piecing together my own. But seriously, it's hard. It's not Jillian Michaels hard, but it's close. I'm also doing Pilates on the other days. I take 2-3 rest days because, well, I'm not in great shape. Also, I think working out 4 days a week is a feat when you have a 6 month old, laundry, dishes, meals and a husband to take care of.

"Diet"

It's in quotations because I'm not dieting. I'm just changing my outlook on food. The Bible (and God!) specifically says there are no foods I cannot eat. None. But it does say this:

Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:23

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31

So I'm trying my hardest to only eat when I'm hungry - really hungry. I can convince myself I'm hungry when I'm really not. Like when I'm bored or upset or lonely. It's hard not to eat during those times!! And when I'm "PMSinsg"? OMG is it hard. And when I do eat, I try very hard to only eat until I'm full. Not "I'm going to explode" full, but "Yeah, I think I've had enough" full. Learning the difference can be hard.

Reading

I've started reading the book Made to Crave. I'm only a few chapters in, but I can relate to everything the author talks about. It's refreshing to know I'm not the only one dealing with an addiction to food, giving in to cravings and eating too much during a meal. And it helps to be given ways to understand that we humans were made to crave...but we weren't made to crave food or anything here on earth. God made us to crave Him. He made us to crave a relationship with Him because He's the only one who can really, truly satisfy us and bring meaning to our lives. 

So there it is, folks. My "diet" and weight loss plan. Not much of a diet and not much of a plan, but more of a "this is how I'm doing it." More accurately, this is how God is working in my life. And it's awesome. And hard. And amazing. And hard. Overcoming this, losing weight, and changing my lifestyle isn't easy. But I know - I know - it will be worth it!