LIFE CHANGE

So about two years ago I lost about 60 pounds by counting my calories and doing at home dvds. you can read previous posts. I was very proud to do it on my own without a gym membership and without help from anyone really. As I got to that new weight, I began to get attention from not only guys but girls that were being friendly and it was so weird. I was no longer in my comfort zone. I was used to being the "fat" girl in the group and if you had a problem, I didn't need to have you as a friend. I had plenty of friends and I was ok with that. 

At this new weight I wasn't that girl anymore and I felt like I'd lost my identity. After a few decisions that were things I never thought I'd do. I got scared and instead of dealing with those choices I stopped caring about what I ate and slowly gained the weight back over the next year and a half. In fact I gained ALL of it plus about 5 pounds. I was back in the 200s and I wasn't happy at the number on the scale, but I was back into that comfort zone. 

After trying to get back on the health wagon and falling a few times I was just trying to eat fried food less. I still wasn't doing well but had managed to maintain the same weight. I enjoyed eating whatever I felt was ok and trying to stay within 1600 calories. I still wasn't losing any and I was tried of being at this weight! I was at a loss of what to do. I felt so alone. I didn't have much motivation but I wanted change. 

I was just talking to a close friend of mine and he asked me if I had time for coffee. I said sure because I love him and any time with him is well spent. 

We met at Starbucks on E North and enjoyed egg white sandwiches and peppermint beverages. He asked me about life and I was really honest about how I felt about my relationships and life in general but wasn't ready to share my struggles with weight because he is not someone that has ever struggled with it. He's active and eats whatever he wants. I mean he does CROSSFIT... SO he thanks me for my honesty and says that he wants to have an honest conversation with me about something important and that if it was off completely that we would just move on and be okay. He wanted to talk to me about weight loss. This is not what I thought he was going to say. But he continued and told me that he loved me and that I'm beautiful and that I have a great heart but that my weight is holding me back.

As the talk continued he told me that He's been praying about this for two weeks. He told me exactly what I had written in my journal about being overweight and He talked to me about a plan to join Crossfit and get active and learn to eat better. He recommended I listen to two messages on Gluttony (not just about weight loss). He prayed with me and I tried so hard not to cry because it was clearly of God! He told me he'd talked to a trainer and that I can meet with him and talk to him about food and try a crossfit workout. This friend was willing to embrace the potentially awkward to love me and talk to me. I am so thankful for him being bold and loving me! I can't wait to see all the things God has for him and his future wife! I'm glad we are all friends.

So I went to crossfit on Tuesday Nov 19th and I was sore for the next 5 days. I got to talk to Todd about nutrition and how to eat better. Here's the plan for a perfect day:

UNLIMITED: Lean Meat and Vegetables (10-12 is the goal for Veggies)

2    Nuts and Seeds NO PEANUTS

1-2  Fruit because of the sugar.

1-2  Starches a WEEK

NO SUGAR!!

I am not perfect any day but the goal is to be closer today than I was yesterday. I've cut out most of the processed grains. I eat a bagel probably once a week. I am no longer drinking anything but water and now I put a few slices of lemon lime, cucumber, or strawberry in my water. My goal each day is to drink 100 ounces. That sounds like a lot but If I keep that up I snack a LOT less!

This time that I am getting healthy it is not just for me. Me making healthy choices is for Jesus and for the future that he has for me. I get to pray to him all day and when I'm craving something I shouldn't eat I just pray to him about something else that is important. I am already down 4 pounds in 2 weeks INCLUDING the week of Thanksgiving (which I celebrated twice). I sleep better I feel better and have more energy. I can't feel it in my clothes yet but I already feel so much better that I know I will continue this. This lifestyle I can continue. I don't want to count calories my whole life.

If you'd like a little help getting yourself start Check out the messages from the Village church in TX, on Gluttony. You can listen on their app or online. Just search the topic. Feel free to add me on Instagram or twitter @jelizabethjb to follow my journey #TempleRepair #TonedfortheThrone