Weight Loss Update {Part 2}

I promised you an update after Kempton's 1st birthday. My goal was to be wedding day weight by his birthday. By the grace of God, I saw that pretty number on that day! Woot! And I continue to hang out right around that weight.

I still have 6-8 pounds I'd like to lose and am continuing to work toward that. But otherwise, not a whole lot has changed since this post over on my sister-in-law's blog. So if you haven't seen it, go check it out!

Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

Weight Loss Update

Monday, April 22, was my deadline for reaching my weight-loss goal: Within 5lbs of pre-baby weight.

Praise God Almighty, I was one pound away from the weight I was the day I found out I was pregnant with Marie!

That is a total of 34lbs in 6 months.

I'm very excited about that victory, but also a little frustrated at myself because I know I could have hit that weight and even lower if I hadn't been slacking so much in the last few weeks. It really is completely the grace of God that got me where I am. I have to daily... no, moment by moment, deny myself and be filled with the Holy Spirit.

I fail... a lot.

My next goal is to reach the weight I was on our wedding day by Kempton's first birthday (August 7). That is only 5-6 pounds away! I would truly appreciate prayer to have continuous victory over my struggle with the sin of overeating/emotional-eating/careless-eating.

Now for what you all really want... (unedited) pictures! I'll tell you, this is hard for me! I have desperately avoided the camera for almost 5 years. Please be kind.

The day before Kempton was born...

204 lbs

On Kempton's 2 month birthday and shortly before the weight loss began...

175 lbs

I started the weight loss count at 175 pounds because that is when it stopped coming off without effort. And that's how much I weighed when God really got ahold of my struggles.

Here is a middle-of-the-process pic...

159 lbs

Aaaand currently...

141-143 lbs

How did I do it? Well, I didn't. God did. But if you're wanting specifics, I counted calories, added lifting heavy weights to my workouts, and listened to the Holy Spirit. Check out this post for more.

I've also had lots of support from amazing family and friends. Thank you!!

Look for the final update in August!

2 Keys to Losing Weight.

Source: etsy.com via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

If you know me, you know I'm on a journey toward a healthier life. A big part of that right now is losing weight.

By the grace of God, I have had consistent victory over the sin of emotional overeating for 2.5 months! And in that time I've lost 17-18 pounds!

Praise the Lord from whom all blessings flow!

The Kempton weight and the Jack weight are gone. Now for the long haul... losing the Marie weight. I'm halfway there! 17lbs to go.

Why is this time different? First and foremost, God started it. I've struggled with eating my whole life. Finally, through a series of little events (or maybe better... God interventions), I truly repented and am no longer a slave to food!

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. John 8:36

My sister-in-law said it wonderfully in her post entitled THE Key Ingredient to Getting in Shape.

The #1 key to losing weight/getting fit/becoming healthy is...

A right relationship with the One True God. 

Shake your head if you want, but it is fact. I've lost weight numerous times in my life, but every time I found myself obsessing even more about food! This time... this time I don't obsess over what my next meal will contain. I don't run to food the moment I'm discouraged or angry or tired or happy! Sure I struggle and often want to do those things, but I've found victory in Jesus! The sinful desires are all but gone and I'm finding contentment... fullness in Him alone.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26

While true repentance seemed to happen all at once, change is always a process! Daily I am in the Word and in prayer. Daily I am running hard after Him. That is the only way.

How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

Looking for key #2? My sister-in-law talks about this all the time, and since I came to my senses by the grace of God, I finally started listening!

The #2 key to losing weight/getting fit is...

Lift Heavy Weights.

Source: fit-and-healthy-for-tomorrow.tumblr.com via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest

There are a number of other "keys" to weight loss success but following the most important key of getting right with the Lord, this has had the most impact for me.

You may recall I trained for and ran a half-marathon before getting pregnant with Kempton. During that 5 months of training I lost a total of... wait for it...

THREE pounds.

The problem? Well, I wasn't watching my calories for one. But mostly, I never lifted weights! I basically did nothing but run.

Now I haven't even started training for my next half yet (scheduled for June!), and I'm already dropping the pounds. With the help of my SIL, eating right, and lifting weights, I finally have a metabolism that works with me rather than against me!

Oh, and I'm already running at a faster pace. Woot! Thank you, muscle!

No more excuses. Get to it.

Source: images.search.yahoo.com via Derek Lindsay on Pinterest