I think I answered all the comments today, but if I missed one, please let me know. I’ve been busy at home the past couple of weeks, but should be back on track for more frequent updates now.
My weightloss is still plateaued and a friend suggested to me that I may be at the weight that God wants for me. I’m not sure I’m willing to accept that yet. I fluctuate between 180 and 185-pounds, depending on the time of the month. That’s down from a high of 240-pounds. I’m thankful for the 60-pounds gone, but I’d sure like to lose another 40 or 50-pounds. I’m not sure what to do about it. If I want to try to watch my calories very closely again, or just keep doing what I’m doing for a little while. I’m prayerful over it, and hope that God will give me a good sense of direction before too long.
Otherwise, the family is happy and healthy. The yard needs work, but hanging up the clothes on the clothes line is easy again. We’ve got plenty to eat and not a one of us is going naked, so I don’t have much to complain about.
As usual I’ve got lots of plans of things to share on the blog, but I’ll get to them as I’m able. I’m making an effort to be gentle with myself because pushing myself like a mule only hurts me in the long run. Hope everyone else is enjoying the spring weather. I know I am.
No disrespect to your friend, whom I’m sure is a thoughtful person, but I disagree with the idea that God’s will might be so narrow that He would have a specific weight for you to be!
Ultimately we know that His will is to love Him with all our mind, soul, and strength, and to love others as ourselves. We can do that at 80 pounds, at 150 pounds, at 260 pounds, at 320 pounds. I know plenty of mean, petty people of all weights, and kind, generous, God-fearing ones too!
If being overweight interferes with your ability to love God and to love others, then certainly keep plugging away at weight loss. If you find yourself hyper-focusing on it to the exclusion of loving God or loving others – – if it’s become a way to feel sorry for yourself or inappropriately proud – – – then leave it behind you.
I hope you don’t mind this comment; I have so much gratitude towards you, it’s difficult to express. You frequently have corrected my perception to one that is more wholesome and healthy – think energetic eyes, for one – and have done so since your HH days, at the very least since 2008. But I just hate the idea that you might give up on your weight loss only because of frustration.
No worries Joy. I enjoy the opportunity to learn from a different perspective. I haven’t given up on anything yet. I am resting for a little bit. Since I’m at a plateau, it seems a good place for it. I guess I’m praying about what efforts the Lord would like me to take. I’m not hearing a clear answer yet, so I’m waiting patiently until I do. I think my weight loss journey is just half done. When my friend suggested that her weight loss journey had stopped at a weight that was higher than her original goal, she shared that she had an absolute certainty that it was the Lord’s will for her. I do not have that certainty. I am certain that reducing my weight is His will for me, because it allows me to better serve Him and to better serve my family, which is part of my God-given duty. I’m certain that there are more steps for me to take, but am not completely certain what those steps will be. I am frustrated with my lack of progress, but have absolutely no desire to give up. I’m just giving my body time to adjust to the new weight, the new changes, and giving my mind time to adjust to the all the new ways of thinking. And giving my spirit time enough to be quiet, so I can hear God’s will for my next step.
I’m glad you enjoyed the Energize Your Eyes article. It was a fun one to write. Keeping my priorities straight is always a challenge for me, so it encourages me that my writing can help others get their priorities back into perspective. I think that’s something we all need from time to time.
I just re-read my comment and it came across much more emotionally than I intended. I think I imagined if someone had said to me “Well, if God wants you to lose more weight, he would have done it by now!” which is not the same thing you reported your friend as saying. I lost about 40 pounds and have kept it off almost three years, but I intended to keep losing. Sometimes I try harder than others (currently in a try-hard stage) and it certainly is frustrating – I haven’t had much progress. I do better when I remember to be faithful to a nicety about my food journal.
Congrats on the weight loss and the Amazing three year maintenance. I could not agree more about the food journal. It keeps me aware of every morsel I eat instead is letting me fall into denial. That’s probably what I need to be doing, instead is hoping/wishing I didn’t have to *resort* to such extreme measures. Aaargh. I know better, and still I resist the food diary sometimes. Surrendering to the journal should not be this hard.
Thanks for the reminder Joy. 🙂 Now please pardon me. I have a horse to climb back up on. Even though it’s thrown me more than once.
Ride ’em, cowgirl!
Yee Haw!