My Journey To a Healther Me

Last week I announced that I was going to share a major life change and become a healthier me.

As most of you are aware, and of course just by viewing photos of me, you know that I am – well to coin the medical term – morbidly obese.  I have struggled with my weight almost all my adult life.  Like so many people I have dieted, loss weight, gained weight plus more, dieted and ….. Well you get the idea… yo-yo dieting.  Unfortunately all this yo-yo dieting has taken a toll on my body.  

Along with all this yo-yo dieting I have suffered with multiple chronic health issues for almost 30 years.  Between eating like most Americans – larger portions than we need, and taking multiple medications that promote weight gain, my weight has gone to an all-time high.   

Upon several years of soul searching, prayer, seeking guidance from family, friends, and doctors, I have finally received peace that gastric bypass surgery is the right lifestyle change for me to become a healthier me.   Some of the things that helped me decide were:  extremely low metabolism; I have become non-weight bearing do to weight and chronic health conditions; certain personal needs; and a husband who now has debilitating chronic health issues that will only become worse over time. It’s time for me to be able to take care of my needs, do more around the house, and take care of my husband for a change.  

I know that many of you may think this is way too drastic or why can’t you just lose weight dieting?  Please know that I have not come by this decision lightly.  And I am NOT taking the “easy” way out!  There is NO easy way when it comes to gastric bypass.  It will be the hardest thing I will ever do in my life.  It will totally change me – literally inside and out.  

What I desire of each of you is to be my prayer warriors.  If all goes according to planned I will have surgery June or July of this year.  In the mean time I am to lose a certain amount of weight prior to surgery; take behavior modification classes; diet classes; support groups; and multiple doctor visits and exams. 

I plan on journaling my progress, thoughts and prayers on my personal blog, http://beelieve-ahealthierme.blogspot.com/ .  I ask that if you desire to follow my progress, be my prayer warrior, or just jot an encouraging word, that you would click to follow my blog so you can get updates.  These blog posts will be separate from my other blog/website - http://www.beelieveyoucan.net/  .  Also, the facebook support group page is:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/becomeahealthierme/  If you wish to join the group please let me know.  

I have quite a journey ahead of me.  Hold on tight because I moving forward and not looking back.  

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”   Philippians 4:13

Journey To A Healthier Me - Update

It's been two weeks since I last posted. Time sure flies. These past couple of weeks I have been busy...for me that is. The past few months I had been planning a family reunion to be held this past Saturday, but an unexpected guest choose to crash the party - Hurricane Irene! I was really upset that we had to cancel, but we had to make sure everyone was safe. We did get lots of heavy rain and wind in our area, other areas in our state as well as much of the northeast got hit pretty hard. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who were affected by the hurricane. One "mixed" praise in all this - where we were to have the reunion/picnic (which is on our church property), had three trees come down. Praise the Lord no one was present at the time.

A Little Encouragement Can Go A Long Way

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken."  Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NLT

I love this picture!  I cannot tell you how many times I have had to stand on the scale at the doctor’s office and wanted to either run or cry!  For the first time in a long time, yesterday I was excited to stand on the scale at my doctor’s office.   The nurse even said, “Wow, I usually have to push and prod people to stand on the scale.”  I replied, “Just wait until you see why I am jumping on the scale!”

Update: Good News and Bad News

Good news first:

My journey to a Healthier Me is coming along….slowly…but each pound lost is one step closer to my goal of a Healthier Me. 

Here we go – drum roll please…….. I am down 40 lbs. since I began on June 6^th.    For those of you who have been following my Healthier Me Journey I truly appreciate your continued support and prayers.  I have a long way to go, but I know with God all things are possible!  

When one thinks about all the things that are against me in my journey it truly is God who is moving mountains!  I have doctors who say I cannot lose all the weight without weight loss surgery because of all my health issues and because of my health issues I am to do non-weight bearing exercises.  But with all that is against me I am now averaging 2 lbs a week weight loss.   Lord, “In Your strength I CAN crush an army; with my God I can scale ANY wall.”  Psalm 18:29

Fitness Friday Update

I have not posted in a couple of weeks.

I am still on vacation. It is very hard to stay on "track" while at my mother's. I am watching my portion control. I am walking, almost every day. Unfortunately, we have had rain for three days now. I did have my mom take me to a mall yesterday for me to walk. My IBS has been acting up because I am not able to eat organic foods. I have been doing the cooking the past three days which has helped.

The walk has been about a 1/3 of a mile... half of which is uphill. I could walk further I believe if it were not for my right hip and left foot. Pray I can find a pedometer (is that what it's called?) so I can measure my walks.

I am praying this rain stops soon or maybe we should build an ark! LOL! I'm a little tired of the rain and dampness.

For other participants please click here.

Health Trackers

Health Trackers is an easy-to-use tool can help you reach any health goal you set your mind to. Log and track your daily health habits and get personalized, in-depth analysis of all of your health weight loss and fitness goals.

With My Health Trackers, you can:
Create a personal food journal to track calories, fat, protein, fiber, vitamins, and more
Log your workouts and daily activities to see how many calories you burned
Enter your weight loss goal and track your progress daily
Watch your waist, hip, and thigh measurements change as you lose weight
Get detailed nutritional information on thousands of foods
Track your mood, stress, and energy levels
Monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and more
Track whatever YOU want, such as sleep, caffeine intake, and headachesBegin your transformation to a healthier life now

To read more on Health Tracker or Start Your Own, go here:http://www.prevention.com/cda/healthtracker.do?&fdpath=oi%2FFitDay%2FHome.html%3F_a_Date%3D1242086400.%26_a_rdata%3DFitWrapper%26_a_rurl%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.prevention.com%253A80%252Fcda%252Fhealthtracker.do%253F&rdata=FitWrapper&rpagename=Home&rpagecategory=Home