So much better from where I started at a 15 minute mile! And people keep telling me they “can’t” lose weight and don’t “have time” to exercise. Hey, neither do I! And this is not judgement, because I spent the last 7 years of my life not taking care of myself. Make the time. 15-30 minutes a day, and move MORE throughout the day. No supplements, no gimmicks, no weight loss fads, and no weight loss company needed (Although if you use them with healthy eating and exercise, you will certainly get no criticism from me). Say no to the sweets, overeating, and fattening foods every other time to start, and gradually work your way to healthy! Your body, your mind, and your FAMILY will be so glad that you did! AND…I will be here CHEERING YOU ON:)

My “journey” has been like this:

August 18, 2014: 197 lbs (size 20)
*started eating a well balanced
healthy diet and gave up sweets and fattening foods completely

October 2014: 185lbs
*added exercise by just moving more during the day…not formal exercise

November 2014: 178lbs
*started walking 3 times per week; lucky to get a 15 minute mile and walk 4 laps (a mile) without passing out!

December 2014: 167 lbs
*started jogging SLOWLY, but surely; began adding a few sweets and sugars back to diet as treats

January 2015: 156 lbs
*continued healthy diet with occasional treats (Wednesday night McDonalds dipped cones with my Aidan;) tracking steps on Garmin, and averaging 16,000-20,000 per day (depending on my exercise)

February 2015: 148 lbs
*hit a plateau for a few weeks; talked with the most in shape person I know, Will, and he recommend I add some sprint to my “runs”; I also added more intentional protein to my diet, and started eating only “real” food; no boxes, no microwave meals, no preservatives

End of March 2015: 138 lbs
*jogging more than walking now, eating out occasionally and still have the occasional treat throughout the week;)

April 2015: 132 lbs
*stuck again! Maybe this is where my body wants to be…but I started toning exercises consistently (key word right there!) but I got busy and didn’t walk/jog for 4 weeks!

May 17, 2015: 127 lbs (size 6)
I did it!!! I lost 70 pounds, and 7 pant sizes in 9 months! And then today, I ran a 9:07 pace on my first mile. It’s not fancy,and I want to get where I can keep that pace for all 3 miles in a day, but it’s a start.

I am not saying any of this as a “hey look at me” in any way, and none of it is really all that impressive anyway, but people keep asking me how I have done it. The truth is, I’m not even really that proud of myself. I should have never been where I was in August to begin with. But life gave me more than I knew how to handle and there I was…obese, tired, frustrated, having many medical issues, and frankly, unhappy. My brother Will never once made me feel ashamed, and always encouraged me. He inspired me. So I prayed for God to give me a desire to lose weight and get healthy. His answer to me was so very clear I almost heard it aloud:

Anne dear,
I have already given you every reason you need to get healthy. I love you no matter what, but I am not going to make you skinny, even though that is what you are really praying for. (God knows our heart you see…) You have everything you need in your life to develop a desire to be healthy. Have I not already given you so much? Open your eyes precious child…see what I have laid out in front of you already. I want you to focus on the blessings and quit blaming the challenges and the hardships every time you need an excuse for not caring for yourself. I love you unconditionally, but you must also love yourself, and love and trust ME enough to make the change in yourself. I will walk with you, I will listen to you, I will forgive and love you, but YOU have to quit making excuses and make it happen.

Remember that I gave you food to feed your body, but you only need Me to feed your soul…to ease your heartache…to help you hold it all together when you just want to cry and give up…to comfort you through the toils of this life. Let Me be the nourishment for your soul and the respite for your worries. I love you no matter what. Remember? I sent my Son to save you. That is how much I love you. Trust Me. You can do this. Honor me through it.

I know it sounds so silly. And I know that probably isn’t even how God talks. I honestly often wonder if He palms His forehead and shakes His head in disbelief when He hears my prayers. The point is, God didn’t make me skinny. He knew that was what I wanted, for it to just “happen”, but that isn’t the way it works, nor should it. He reminded me that He has already given me so much more than that, and taking care of the body He gave me, should be a desire that I have as a result of honoring all of the blessings I have already and continue to receive.  I spend a lot of the time I am exercising talking to God. It has become a time of worship, and a time of prayer in my life. I think that is one of the reasons it has also become such an important part of my days. God knew I needed this, and he answered my prayer the way I needed it answered.

So, my challenge to those of you looking for a way to lose weight, is: find a reason to get healthy. This doesn’t mean skinny. I am NOT, nor will I ever be skinny. But I am getting healthy. Obesity is NEVER healthy, no matter how we try to explain it to ourselves. (Again, NOT judgement…I spent MANY years there!) Everyone can do something, and it won’t always be the same as what someone else does for their health.  We owe our families, our spouses and children, our co-workers, and our God, better than neglecting our health though. I am not saying that being overweight means we aren’t honoring God in our lives, or that we don’t love Him enough. I am saying that there is no reason to stay unhealthy (health within our control) when there are things that we can do to change that part of our lives. I always made it an either/or thing. Well, I might be overweight, but look at all that I do here, and everything I take care of there. Nope. That doesn’t cut it. Take care of yourself, too! It makes all of the other things you have to take care of, that much more productive, and enjoyable!

I want to be held accountable. I need to be reminded that this is an important part of my life. It is okay to take care of me. In fact, it is imperative. It isn’t selfish to take a little bit of time to make sure you are a priority to yourself. (I do mean LITTLE bit of time, because if you’re like me, that is all that there is!) If you need me, I am here. If you want me to jog with you, walk with you, eat with you, talk with you…call me! I would love to! I am certainly no example of how to lose weight, nor have I done anything special. But I did it…am doing it, and you can, too! You are important to me…to God…and there is no time like today to start making your health important to you!

Thank you all so much for the encouragement you have given me along the way. It seriously means a lot when someone reminds you that they love you. I have sucked so much prayer and compassion out of so many of you the past few years! I know you are exhausted with me, but please don’t stop!  I am still a work in progress! I want to encourage you the way you have encouraged me! Please let me know what you need from me, and it’s done! (Unless it is a lot of money…I only have a small amount of that, but if you need it, you can have it)

My love, and I wish you… GOOD HEALTH!