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| THE SINGING CANARY |
Once upon a time, a mama who had been trying to lose weight for YEARS...in fact--a girl who had been trying to lose weight since at least age 14 (and was now 38) was lying on her bed crying--no, WEEPING out to God to please, please, please save her from herself and her body's decline & weight & health issues.
That was September 2012. Later that day (or at least shortly following her pleas for help), her new magazine "Above Rubies" came in the mail. The first issue she had ever received. She sat down to read. Flipping through all the great pages of articles on faith, family, homeschooling and health, she saw it. IT. The "IT" she'd been praying for! The book was
Trim Healthy Mama, written by Pearl Barrett and Serene Allison--sisters, no less!
As she read the information on this book that was 5 years in the writing/publishing...about how these girls had tried it all...all the diets, eating plans, life styles, etc., but how at long last they believed they had the REAL answer...she wondered if this was the one to set her free! Was it too good to be true? Please, Lord, let it be true! She dared to hope! Weight Watchers; No Flour, No Sugar; Atkins; South Beach; Slim Fast; Bars/Shakes plans; Lean Cuisine; and now contemplating at last gastric bypass or gastric sleeve surgery. She had already gone through almost all the steps, met with the surgeon, filled out the financial paperwork, and then was convinced by her endo not to alter her anatomy just yet...just try a little harder & a little longer.
Today I'm praising God that I did just that! It was 5 a.m. when I drowsily woke up as my husband kissed me on his way to work and asked if I could please buy a book I had read about that might be the answer. That was the morning of September 19, 1012. I ordered the book that day for $35...the only one they had available on Amazon. Then I waited....It arrived October 2! 2 weeks!! I was dyin'...
When I got it, I started to read it...it was overwhelming! Over 600 pages! BUT, the beautiful thing was that we left for a road trip to Oregon on Saturday, October 13, so I put it away and waited. As we left our Idaho home and hit the road, I read...and wept with joy...and simply devoured page after page of freedom, hope, and joy! No more bondage, shame, and guilt? No more fear, embarrassment, confusion? Please, God!
I don't remember what I weighed when we left on our trip, and I know that we were so tight financially that I couldn't afford many of the specialty ingredients and that I only half-way started trying to follow it...but I didn't give up. I KNEW it HAD to work...I couldn't afford for it not to!
Fast-forward. Why I procrastinated, I'll never know! :( I went to see my doctor for a yearly check up on Wednesday, December 5 at 9:15 a.m. I did not weigh myself at home before I went. Let's just say I knew I was "fluffy" or "plush" or "sturdy" or whatever kinder word can be inserted here...
However, I weighed **4 at her office that day. Sigh. "Look, kids, Big Ben, Parlaiment!" I used to be **7 on the gym scale at my heaviest (**4 at home), and had gotten down to **5ish at home in January 2012 [-39 lbs.]. Then my cousin Jake died, we traveled...I ate carefully, but came back having gained 10+ lbs. after just a weekend!! I was so discouraged and disheartened...I kept trying, but struggled my way [weigh?] back uphill. Now, I had only lost 23 lbs. from my heaviest [a.k.a. gained 19 lbs. from my lightest], and was feeling worse for the wear. While there, she tried to convince me to try a nutrition shake/bar program being offered through the doctor's office. $200 up front/$100 per week thereafter. :( Do I even need to say it? Of course NOT...I couldn't even afford (or so I thought) to buy different groceries! or could I? Could I afford NOT to buy different groceries?
I came home, told my sister (who was watching the girls) everything, and it was right then and there that WE decided to DO THIS THING! I started that day, doing the best I understood how, but was still cheating on the weekends...So....**4 on her scale. I don't exactly know what that would have been at home, but I think I'll go for an even **0 (since I weigh myself before I get dressed here at home). :)
I began THM to the best of my ability, that day (minus the weekends), and then I GOT INFLUENZA A. It was Christmas Eve and I was dying on the couch...not really, but I was in a fever delirium and definitely happy to go to Quick Care after Hubby & the girls got home from Christmas Eve service. That helped give me a jump-start, because I just wasn't hungry/couldn't taste anyway. THEN, little by little, payday by payday, I have begun to add to my knowledge and pantry WEAPONS for use in this battle! :)
Probably no one will ever see or read this...I write it for me, at least for now, so I won't explain the plan. HOWEVER, I will update this:
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2013
Today I did the "happy dance" because I am half way done with Week 1 of a 2 week Fuel-Cycle, and this morning, I weighed **4.8!!! (I recorded **5, though, because the ounces fluctuated the 3rd time I got on, just because I was so elated and shocked!
DID YOU DO THE MATH? FOR MY "AT HOME WEIGHTS", I HAVE NOW LOST A TOTAL (not just on THM, because I will ALWAYS count my previous weight loss! :) OF:.........39 POUNDS!
YIPPEE!
39 Total
15 Since December 5, 2012...7 weeks! That may not seem like a lot to anyone else, but to me, it is!!! Thank you, Jesus, because it's all BECAUSE OF YOU and THROUGH YOU and FOR YOU!
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." ~I Corinthians 10:31, NIV
