Minus 116 Pounds and Counting: When You Believe God
Hey Friends, life has been hard. My husband’s aunt, his mom’s twin sister just passed-away. Losing her has been like loosing Iris all over again. It is hard to lose such an integral part of a family. We have laughed and cried a lot. We are still transitioning our little foster-love home. Our oldest son is preparing to leave for Marine boot camp. My husband’s business is going through some extraordinary changes. And I have been super sick. What started as an allergic reaction to some medication has my auto-immune disease on overload. Last night I crawled up the stairs at 6 pm covered in hives with a fever and bleeding headache. I sent a text to my friend and R&F leader Jennifer Abner of Random Musings of a Domestic Goddess Blog and said… “Help!”
I am delighted… and discouraged. I love health and wellness. Not feeling good and still choosing what is beneficial is hard. But as I grappled with how to still encourage and keep on going I prayed, “Ok God… who?”
And Jennifer flashed in my mind.
Change is never easy.
Perseverance is never a given.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Change is never easy. Perseverance is never a given. #healthandwellness” quote=”Change is never easy. Perseverance is never a given. #healthandwellness”]
Jennifer is an inspiration.
Please welcome her to the sticky floor and cheer her on – she’s a scrappy little thing. Thank you, Jennifer, for helping me and being all kinds of spunk, sass, and wonderfulness.
MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY: THE BEGINNING
I get asked all the time about why I decided to lose weight. The first thought that comes to mind is “Are you blind?” But with much restraint, I don’t say that! I always have to stop and think for a second what to tell them because there isn’t just one reason. There are several reasons I have, the least being about appearance…
All my life I have been a little above average size. Not obese, not skinny minnie, just a little overweight. Being 4’11 is not easy. 10 pounds overweight on someone this height might as well be 40! I was always pretty active; marching band, living in the Sunshine state. However, I was never viewed average, I was overweight to everyone.
Now fast forward to 2005. I weighed 140 pounds, not terrible, but for my height, I was 30 pounds overweight. At the same time, I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter. After she was born via cesarean, I weighed 175 pounds-yikes!! I started to exercise and promised myself that I would never get over 200 pounds….I would die before that happened. Well, guess what happened? I broke my promise.
At the end of November 2007, I was pregnant again with my second daughter. This pregnancy was dreadful and the most difficult thing I ever went through. I was sick my entire pregnancy. Everyday, I felt weak and sick to my stomach, but I still gained weight. My daughter was also diagnosed with health problems during the pregnancy as well. Lots of stress! When she was born I weighed 260 pounds. I cried for days! I was so depressed. I felt ugly and like a failure. People treated me differently, except my husband. He always told me how beautiful I was…everyday! That helps, but when you don’t see it, its hard to believe.
In 2009, I finally got enough motivation to start on this weight loss journey. We got a Wii, which came with some fitness games. It was fun and was helping me to lose weight. I went up and down for the next year, but I got down to 250 pounds. Then, in 2010 it happened again. I found out that I was pregnant with my 3rd daughter. I didn’t care much about weight gain, I was super excited. I was more active during this pregnancy. I did gain a lot of weight, and some was fluid and baby, but the scale doesn’t count it separate! After I had my daughter (you might want to sit down for this), I weighed 305 pounds. No I didn’t type that wrong. I was shocked to say the very least. I was determined more than ever to lose this weight. I needed to be healthy for my family, so began the journey!
I started exercising to Zumba. I have to say, man, it was exhausting, but so much fun. I started with the game for the Wii. I changed my diet, cut down my portions, and cut out sugar. I literally ate egg whites and turkey bacon for months. In 2012, I got down to 227 pounds! I was so proud of myself! I had more confidence, had more energy, and felt great!
You know how the story goes. When things are going good, something always comes and throws you for a loop. In December 2012, my mother came to visit with us for Christmas. She was very sick, and looked horrible. Over the next 6 months, she lived with us and I helped her. She finally got a clean bill of health, and then tragedy struck. She had a massive stroke, and passed away a week later. I was devastated. I didn’t care about losing weight, or anything for that matter. I shot back up to 285 pounds… continue reading here.
1 Corinthians 10:23 Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial.
AND here is Jennifer’s latest… You Go Girl!!!!
Don’t forget to comment and share!
May your floors be sticky and your calling ordained. Love, Jami
[…] via Minus 116 Pounds and Counting: When You Believe God — Sacred Ground Sticky Floors […]
You’re an inspiration… God Bless you and yours.
Absolutely fantastic!! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve battled weight issues my whole life. Last year was a turning point for me. God spoke to me about getting serious about my health once and for all. He started me on a 40 day fast which went well – with the little weight i lost before, at the end of the 40 days, i was down 20+ pounds and had between 40 and 60 to go. He then challenged me to a 90 day fast and i failed… miserably. I’m finishing up a 19 day fast about pressing in and this one has been the hardest yet. However, God’s not done with me. This post really spoke to me, right where i needed it. Thank you for sharing your journey. My motivation isn’t there but i have the want to to want to. In fact, I woke up this morning determined to start exercising 6 days a week again. I had been faithfully exercising through December when i got bronchitis and it derailed from there. I’ve attempted several times since January 1st to begin and be consistent but i woke up this morning determined to go forward. Thank you again for letting God use you to encourage me. I love this statement the most: I am still in awe of what is possible when God is on your side!
He is for you. You got this!!!
He is for you and your successes! So happy to see how this ends! Jami
You are truly blessed, Jami! Now, I know it may not seem so, as much as usual anyway, in this season of your life, but it’s true. And I’m sure you know it.
A. Good and like minded friends who hold you up when in need. Such a blessing.
B. You, Your hubby and God have raised a young man who WANTS to serve others as a warrior and peacemaker. Big blessing on all of you.
C. You have loved a precious baby, until such time her mom was capable of loving and caring for herself.
And I’m sure you will continue to love and support her the rest of your life. A loving gift of God..
D. Your dear aunt has gone on to meet her God. What joy she must feel!! I can only imagine! True blessing!
E. Hmmm….fever? Hives? Aww, Jami…I’m so sorry you’re going through all of that.
But, I wonder…maybe He is forcing you take a little time to ponder all these things…not worry. But to ponder the good in all these things. It seems to me you spend your everything on others…and maybe He wants you to spend your everything on you.
It’s okay to do that….we’ll wait on you. <3
Love, Debbie
Thank you so much. Such truth.
Hi Jami….
Just wanted to say hi…so praying for you through all these things…
My adopted daughter and I had a conversation recently about her foster mom- my daughter just turned 30….
We were talking about how very much she was loved during her time with her and all the above and beyond things this woman did to bring my Hannah to a place of feeling loved and safe and secure. I could see on placement day when we were to bring Hannah home how we also brought a piece of her heart with us as well-such monumental love. 30 years and we still talk about her…foster moms ….angels with flesh….❣️
Thank you. I would be lying if I didn’t feel like I am dying of a broken heart. But I believe in a God of restoration. I am hopeful He will continue to move in this sweet baby’s life. Thank you so much for the encouragement. ❤
❤️
The thing about weight loss that amazes me is what a short attention span I have! It can be completely on my radar, my goal
and my focus one minute, then one hunger pang or the smell of something cooking and it is the last thing on my mind. Am I 7 years old? Or a goose? Every day is a new world? Why am I so easily distracted? One problem is that for 14 years I was on a prescription medication (I guess) appeased my appetite. I didn’t realize it until I was no longer on it and could suddenly eat the wallpaper! Suddenly needed to retrain!
awesome !