Gambling? No, just donations.

I like to buy scratch off tickets every now and then.  (What I should say is that every so often I like to contribute to Tennessee's educational system through their lottery.)  

There's a little store at the state line where we stop and scratch.  They have a little area at the back of the store with table and chairs...the kind where the chair swivels and is connected to the table.   It was such a tight squeeze for me that I would swing the chair sideways and sit with the back of it to my side.

Today...I plopped myself right into the chair, and had room to spare.

:::Big Smile:::

Christmas Week doesn't mean Christmas weak

Two days past Christmas.

Still at 58 down.

We're quickly coming up on the New Year

And I still plan to hit 60 pounds gone by then.

I still haven't had sugar in the form of 

cookies, candy, cake.

But on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

I did enjoy some dressing, bread,

...like dressing isn't wet cornbread!

(yummy wet cornbread)

And other non-low-carb tasty morsels.

On New Years Day

I will be using my regular blog for weight loss updates.

I'm not sure what I'll be doing with this blog, 

But because I am master of the domain, 

At least for the next several months,

I won't be deleting it any time soon,

If at all.

Losing Weight in December....

58 pounds!

Well, not all 58 pounds...

Only 8 of those pounds in December.

So far.

I think I'll reach 60 by New Year.

Walking in Freedom is so much more fun

than counting calories, carbs, and fat grams.

I will rejoice and be glad....

I have to say, I do feel a little excitement today.

Yesterday was "jeans day" at work.   About a month ago, I wore a pair of jeans that I couldn't get fastened a few months ago.   I wore those jeans again yesterday.  Two co-workers told me, at different times of the day, that "my jeans were falling off" and that I "needed to buy some pants that fit."  

So...

I tried on a pair of smaller jeans this morning, and they fit!!

The history to this jeans story is that the jeans I have on today I couldn't wear the day I bought them.   So I went back and got a larger size (the ones I had on yesterday).   The larger size didn't fit, either.  I was too ashamed to take either pair back.

Now...one fits, and the other is too big.

I am truly grateful.

As promised...

A picture at 50 pounds lost.   This is a much bigger deal to me than it is to you, I am fully aware of that…I don’t like pictures of myself, and I don’t see a huge difference in the two shots…most of what I see, as a matter of fact, is “huge.”   I had hoped the difference would be bigger.

But 50 pounds is 50 pounds, right?   In Wal*Mart the other day, I picked up 40 pounds of potatoes, and it was heavy!   So, the fact that I’ve lost 50 pounds should bring a little excitement.   And it does…for the future.  I have yet to be able to put myself in the position of being excited and happy for me today.   

My daughter chastised me just this morning for not being excited for my progress thus far.  I explained that I’m very grateful, but…as of right now, I don’t think I’m excited.

I am excited at the prospect of going to Florida with her next spring (even though I don’t care for sand).  I am excited for the coming summer because I know I’ll be more active and able to do more.  I’m excited for next fall when I go back to the Great Smoky Mountains, and perhaps do a few of the hikes I haven’t bothered to try before…on and on…excitement for tomorrow, but none for today. (All of my plans above are contingent on the Lord being willing.)

I have to say, though, that it’s exciting to be excited for the future.  

It’s not a weight thing.   I have already learned that my happiness comes from within...that is, from Him living within me.  My size doesn't change who I am, but it does change how I react to life.   I want abundant life!  Not a life where I sit on the sidelines and watch it all pass me by, making myself content with watching, lost in my fantasy world where I’m not the person I am in reality, but what I could have been..if only… 

So being excited for the future is enough for me now.   I’m grateful for each and every pound that melts away, grateful that I can already feel a difference health-wise, though slight, it’s there.   I am free, and I am…grateful.

But the biggest thing of all…the biggest change of all…is my walk with God.  I am making an effort to get to know Him, really know Him.   I don’t always spend as much time as I should in His Word, but I’m learning to lean on Him, trust him, know Him.  And I am going to make an even better effort daily renew my mind.  This is a thought I can be excited about TODAY.   

The picture on the left from is today; the right was taken in June.

Not a real big difference, is there?

Speaking of Obedience...

This blog, of course, is all my own opinions, my own experiences and missteps, and my stepping stones in learning this new way of life for me.

When I speak of obedience, I simply mean (when referring to losing weight) not being a glutton.   If I continue to shovel in food when I’m already full, I am being disobedient.   When it comes to eating pizza or chips, it’s a choice.  Eating those things are not sinful, neither is eating sugar.   However, when I make the choice to eat those things, I will reap the consequences in that I may be fighting the urge to eat, eat, eat that night and into the next day.  (When it comes to eating sugar, that would be DEFINITELY fighting, not “may be fighting.”)

I haven’t had refined sugar (candy, cake, pie, etc) since August 13.   I have had sugar free candy, and twice I have eaten Pizza.  I have eaten chips three…possibly four…different times.   I noticed when I ate tortilla chips at the Mexican restaurant, I did feel the old familiar nagging to eat…anything…just eat.   When I ate a few Muncho chips with my barbeque (no bun), I did not notice any cravings.   When I ate peanut butter on whole wheat, I didn’t feel the cravings; when I ate pizza, I did, though it was slight. 

Even when I figure out I can eat certain items with no ill effects, that doesn’t mean I do it often.  Partly because of fear of going out of control (I shouldn’t fear…but sometimes I do worry), and partly because I want to keep my carb count low so that I will lose weight faster.   I do not count every carb that goes into my mouth.   I guess-timate, and because of years of counting calories/carbs/fat grams/fiber, etc., etc., I am largely (no pun intended) familiar with what the carbier items are.  I eat small portions of fruit and vegetables, though I usually stay away from higher carb fruits and veggies such as bananas and corn.  I do occasionally eat lightly breaded (with cornmeal) fried fish.   

This morning, I am at 49 pounds lost.

I am grateful.

Monday Update

I'm creeping up on 50 pounds....I'm at 48 pounds down this morning.

While I have still had no sugar,
I have had plenty of carbs.
Including Pizza.
Chips and salsa....

I have found, though, that when I choose to eat those things,
Weight loss really slows down.
But, I can't realistically think I'll never eat such things again.
I can realistically think that I don't ever have to eat sugar bombs again, however.
No sugary cereal.  No candy, cakes, pies or donuts.
But the main thing
Is remembering
Where my help comes from....

And it's not me doing my thing
Or watching every calorie, fat gram, or carb
It's me trusting HIM.
Me being obedient.
Me doing my part...trusting Him.
Being thankful.
Learning to lean.