"And the angel said unto the them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Merry Christmas,

I think that in all the hustle and bustle of the season we forget just what Christmas is really all about!!! What a glorious announcement by the angels that we have a Saviour!!!!

Well, today was a weigh-in day!!! As usual when I weigh and have a large loss the next weigh in is either a gain or a maintain. Well today it was a .4 gain--look close that is a point 4. Not a very big gain but the good news is that I lost about 5 and 1/2 inches from various places. It is amazing at how the inches come off with no pounds lost.

I asked Gloria for my chart to compare the inches lost since I began in January 2008. I was really amazed at the loss. I have lost 8 and 1/2 inches in my chest. You girls will understand what I mean when I say it was a blessing to go from a F cup to a DD cup. This is a substantial difference. I have lost 7 inches in my waist and 9 inches in my hips and 9 and 1/2 inches in my Abs. Three inches in each of my thighs and 2 3/4 inches in each of my arms. My dress size has dropped from a 32 to a 24-26. I can also where a 2x instead of a 5x.

All of this is wonderful but I want you to know that it is still a struggle every day to keep the weight off. I battle the temptation to overeat everyday!!! I pray everyday for the Lord to help me to not let the food control me. Some of you may not believe the struggle it is to avoid the foods you should not eat when you have the urge to eat just those very foods!!!!

For those of you who are trying to live healthy remember that we have to take one day at a time and eat right and workout. I know that if I eat what I should and continue with Gloria, working out and doing my cardio that regardless of what the scales say I will lose the weight and get healthier!!

I hope each of you have a blessed and Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. My first year on this journey to a healthier lifestyle will come to a close on January 16, 2009. I hope to make it to 75 pounds lost for this first year, I have 4 pounds to go. But my journey will not stop there. I intend to lose another 75-80 pounds in 2009!!! I'm gonna look fine in 2009!!!!

Thanks for coming along on this journey I am on and I hope I have helped or encouraged you in some small way this year. Write me at healthierfaith@yahoo.com and let me know!!!!
Faith

The Pain-The Pain

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

Let's talk about the pain!!! A rather new client at the gym made this statement this morning, "It has to get easier." Well after almost a year let me tell you it does not. If it did it would do us no good to workout. Exercise and weight training are not suppose to get easier. But they do get more beneficial!

Believe me when I leave the gym I usually feel great. All revved up for the day. But later in the day or the next morning--these old bones and joints HURT!!! It amazes me at the joints and bones I have that I never used before. You work through the pain. The old adage No Pain-No Gain is true. What good would it do you to put forth all the effort if all that work did not benefit you!!

Now this is coming from a 56 year old woman who can hardly walk this afternoon because of the workout she got this morning!!

Everyone have a good week end and email me at healthierfaith@yahoo.com.
Merry Christmas, Faith

Sweet Success--Detox Worked

Well I weighed in this morning and I am back!!!! I lost the eight pounds I gained since vacation. The detox worked along with the daily cardio and two sessions of weight training a week!! I feel so much better and thrilled that I am back to the 71 pounds lost. Now to move forward with my healthy eating and exercise program!!!

Tomorrow will be great!! I am determined to eat healthy and enjoy my family!!

HAVE A BLESSED AND THANKFUL THANKSGIVING!!!!!

Thanks for following my journey to a healthier lifestyle. Write me at healthierfaith@yahoo.com.
Faith

Day 5

I started detox on Sunday Nov 23rd. It has been a real experience. I have had only two real problems and they are low blood sugar and leg cramps. But I think I have remedied each problem.

Yesterday the 20th we celebrated Thanksgiving at work. Two long tables full of food. Rich food. Wonderful food. Delicious food. Savory food. It was unbelievable. Would you think I was addicted to FOOD!! Well I resisted the temptations and ate some turkey breast, lean ham and steamed veggies. For my dessert (and my carb) I ate a little plain sweet potato. Pretty good, right!!

I will be weighing in on Wednesday Nov 26th however my detox does not end until Friday morning Nov 28th. The pounds will be great but I am more interested in getting my body cleansed from the wrong foods I ate on vacation. It is unbelievable how some foods cause you to crave the wrong foods so intensely!!!

Well I will talk to you next week after weigh in. I hope you all have a glorious and healthy Thanksgiving. Email me at healthierfaith@yahoo.com. Faith

DETOX

If you read my last blog you know that I have had a really hard time since October 10th. I talked to Gloria, my trainer at Body Dimensions, and she has put me on a detox program. I am so thankful for Gloria and how she understands and works with me at times like this. I started yesterday, Sunday November 16. I will continue on the detox for the next 12 days. I eat every three or four hours and have only protein and fibrous veggies for the first three days. Thank the Lord for Lorin and Living Lean meals. She has been such a blessing in preparing some of the protein I need for this detox.
I will keep you posted on how I hold up!! Email me at healthierfaith@yahoo.com. Faith

The Worst Month Since January

Well, I think this is the hardest blog I have written. I haven't written in a while because I was too ashamed to do so. Since I got back from vacation on October 11 I have struggled with my eating. I am hungry all the time--I eat things I should not and more than I should--feel guilty as sin about what and how much I eat-then eat some more!!!! It is a vicious cycle. Even though I ate meals from Living Lean I would eat more.

I am addicted to food. Some foods like white starches, (potatoes, white rice, white bread) just trigger my urge to eat. Then it takes me weeks to get through it. I know this yet I do it anyway. Now I have been really faithful to my eating program and my exercise program since January 16, 2008. But since Oct 11 I have really struggled.

I have tried so hard to get myself back on track. I did not want to disappoint anyone so I did not say anything to anyone about what I was experiencing. It is unbelievable how food can take hold of your life. I would lie in bed at the end of the day and swear that tomorrow I would do better. But would not!!! I would even---this is so hard for me to say---sneak and eat something so no one would know. How pitiful it that!!!

I had to go for a yearly physical and when I stepped on the scales on Nov 4th and they read 288 tears came to my eyes. I had gained 8 pounds. I had lost 74 since last going to the doctor in April of 2007 but through all the praise of the doctor all I could think of was, "I gained 8 pounds. How can I face Gloria." I did not want to face Gloria, Lorin, my fellow gymsters, my supporters at work, those of you who read my blog and especially my husband, who makes sure to tell me how proud he is of me everyday!

I finally decided about 2 AM this morning that I was going to talk to Gloria. So after 30 minutes of cardio (mind you I did not miss my workouts until 11/7 and I had a stomach virus that day), I told Gloria I needed to talk. I confessed to her all that I have told you. To my surprise she said she expected something was wrong.

You are probably thinking 71 pounds is nothing to ignore. You are right and I am pleased more than anyone knows with the progress I have made. BUT!!! now is not the time to get slack. I have learned from this that I have to watch every single morsel I put in my mouth. I will never be able to eat without thinking about what I am eating.

I weighed this morning--a new beginning. Gloria told me not to beat myself up over this. I just need to put it behind me a begin anew. The scales showed 285.8. I hate having to lose pounds twice. I know that I need to weigh in every two weeks no matter what. It is a way of being held accountable for my actions. I also know that a food diary is a must!!! When you write it down you are more conscious of what you have eaten.

Well I am sorry if I have disappointed any of you. Truly, truly sorry!!! I especially apologize to Gloria and Lorin who try so hard to help me get healthy!! I know I can do this!!! I am beginning again. As of Sunday November 16 I will have been on this healthy journey 10 months. It seems so long but has gone by so fast. I will do my very best to get as close to the 100 pound mark as I can by January 16, 2009!! I will have to lose 35 pounds. I hope each of you will stick with me through this valley and be there when I reach that ultimate 100 pound goal.

I have a new email address: healthierfaith@yahoo.com. Email me anytime. I would love to hear from you. Love, Faith

Approaching the Finish Line

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Philippians 4:13

Well I am approaching my first major finish line. I have made little goals along the way and am now working towards that grand finale, my first 100 pounds. I have 29 pounds to go by January 16, 2009.

We had a wonderful vacation on Oak Island. The weather was great!!! I walked everyday. Most morning my husband and I walked on the beach early. He was my time keeper and my body guard (against the dogs). For some reason dogs love me and just have to sniff my feet. We walked an hour or more, 30-40 minutes out and then back. Some days we went sightseeing in Southport and would walk for hours in and out the shops and looking at the old homes. We visited Brunswick Town and walked around the historic sights. To my surprise I really missed the cardio and workouts at Body Dimensions Fitness. Eating on vacation is another story. We ate in a few meals but most meals were eaten out. I tried to keep it healthy and watch the portions. Portion control won out over healthy most of the time. One can eat only so much broiled and grilled seafood before one gives in to fried. My chicken was roasted and I ate sandwiches open faced. I ate omelets and pancakes with light syrup. Needless to say vacationing for a week is hard on one's eating program.

But I am not going to dwell in the past and got right back on my Living Lean as soon as I returned home!! But oh!! the temptations of life!!!! We had a birthday celebration at the office last week, a home-coming style meal at my church on Sunday, we are having a grilling at the office on Wednesday and my assistant is on vacation this week. The birthday celebration wasn't too hard because I stay in my office away from the kitchen as much as possible and there is usually something healthy amongst the dishes brought for birthdays. The meal at church was harder because my husband and I spent most of the day on Saturday cooking for the meal on Sunday. Then on Sunday there is so much food it is hard to resist. However my mother, God bless her, brought grilled tenderloin and there were some healthy veggies. My mother also brought sugar free banana pudding and I had a small portion. So I fared pretty well. Now as for the grilling at work I do not have a clue what is being served. BUT!! I need to learn to eat as healthy as possible in these situations. As for my assistant being on vacation---well I am addicted to food and stress really turns up the appetite!! When things get stressful I turn to food to help me over through the situation. So this week will be a little harder than usual.

I have had a few days of asthma problems. Changing seasons is always a challenge. These challenges kept me from attending the Race for a Cure on Saturday but I am so proud of all who took part. One of my goals is to be able to walk in this race next year. Congrats to all who crossed the finish line!!!

Well until next time enjoy the cool crisp mornings and the beautiful fall season. I love this time of year. I look forward to hearing from you. Write me at healthierfaith@bellsouth.net. Thanks for coming along on my journey to a healthier life. Faith