Woo-hoo!!  By God's grace, I actually saw the numbers on my scale go down this week.  Let's see... I started out my week pretty good.  I exercised last Friday, Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday... but then the rest of the week pretty much got away from me.  I've been better about not snacking at night, so I know that has helped some, too. 

My healthy accountability goal this next week is to exercise five times and daily time in the Word each day.  With God as my focus, the rest should fall into place. 

Today's stats:

Last week's weigh-in:  155.5

Today's weigh-in:         154.4

Total LOSS:  1.1 lb

How are you doing in this area?

~LISA

Okay... here I am again.  For many months, I've been basically maintaining my weight around 150 lb.  My ideal (for my frame and height) is to really be between 135-140; however, I've been content with 150 lb.  However, in this past month, five pounds has crept on.  I stepped on the scale this morning and it said 155.5.   

A little bit ago, I started another blog on here that I hoped would motivate me to be disciplined in this area; however, it's been difficult for me to post daily as I had originally intended.  And honestly, I don't know how many people really want to read what I ate every single day.  It's just too much for me to keep up with.  It's more than enough to keep up with this blog that I hope to minister to and bless you with! 

So, I'm not going to be posting to my other blog anymore.  I'll leave it up and running for a few months and then probably request it to be deleted.  You can go over there if you'd like to read my story.  I also have goals posted there.  I think instead, I will just have a section on my sidebar for those.  I'm at that point again where I'm at the end of myself.  I was visiting Hippiechycks blog today, and I completely related to all that she wrote in her entry "Wednesday Thoughts on Weight Loss."  It does help to know that I am not alone in my struggles and feelings, but, oh, how I want us all to be victorious over this!! 

Romans 8:5 says, "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit." 

It's pretty clear:  If I set my mind on my flesh, then I will live according to my flesh and its desires, but if I set my mind on the things of the Spirit, I will live according to God's ways and desires. 

I'm determined to stay in the Word and be strengthened only by God's grace and provision and to turn my eyes away from worthless things... and instead feed upon the Bread of Life and drink The Living Water... Jesus.  He is my only hope in finally overcoming this struggle I've held onto for much too long.

I will post weekly on Friday to maintain accountability and hopefully have encouraging words for you as well. 

Only by His grace,

~LISA

Well, I've been ignoring this area of my life for a while now. I just haven't wanted to deal with it. I haven't wanted to discipline myself. I've been maintaining for the most part, so I figured, that was good enough. Well, it is IF I was eating right and exercising, which I'm not... and now the pounds are creeping back on.

So, instead of ignoring the scale and waiting until I've added another ten or fifteen pounds to my frame, I am getting back on track. 

I realize that to most people, I do not necessarily look overweight.  When people learned I was attending WW, they would say, "Oh, but you look fine," or "You don't need to lose weight."  Well, for me, it can't all be about what I look like.  *I* know that I am not at MY healthy weight.  *I* know that I have not been disciplined in this area.  *I* know that I have not honored the Lord in this area.  I also know that I have health issues that demand that I deal with this now or else I will regret it later.

I've been struggling with emotional issues and feeling spiritually dry lately.  Instead of seeking the Lord more so, I've been feeding my flesh with junk food.  As I'm attempting to fill myself, I'm shrinking on the inside, yet getting bigger on the outside!  The only way that I will be victorious in this venture is by God's grace alone.  And, so, I must seek Him first.  As I seek Him first, then HE will fill my emptiness... the inside of me will be full, and the outside of me will shrink.  Well, at least at that point, it will be in the Lord's hands and not mine.

Our church's worship director said something a few days ago that really struck a chord with me (no pun intended).  He was sharing something out of his life and he said that in his circumstaince he learned that God will not extend His grace to us until we stop trying to take care of things on our own and turn to Him and trust Him for the results.  He was talking about something completely different, but the Lord put this issue of food and weight loss on my heart when that was said. 

I can continue down the road I'm on right now and try as hard as I can... and ultimately, knowingly fail.  Or, I can surrender this once and for all to the Lord, disciplining myself, denying myself, and follow Him... and reap the blessings that come along with that.

So, without further ado, I've decided to start another blog - NewCreation!  This blog will be a place for me to be completely transparent and honest and be accountable... without it taking over this blog, which I originally intended to be a place to encourage other homeschoolers. 

I am not a "wing-it" kind of person.  I've always been a person who does better with some structure and a plan.  Hence, I also do well when I journal daily about my eating, etc.  Having a blog for this will make that a little more fun... and I pray and hope that it will be a place for others who struggle in this as I have, to be encouraged, inspired, and motivated.... while it also helps me to be accountable and stay on track.

I will soon be adding a link for this on my sidebar here.  If this is an area that you would like to chat about and be involved with me, please be sure to stop by often to read and comment.

Praise be to God our Father!  It is in Him that I trust!

Blessings,

~LISA

Well, I started this Healthy Accountability thing, so I need to be faithful to post about it, right?  It's fun to post when I'm doing well, but I've just really neglected myself in this area for about a month now.  No tracking points and no exercise.

I went to my meeting last night, and I gained 2.8 pounds.    I'm at exactly 151.0 pounds now.  I'm not sure what it's going to take for me to get back on track.  I'm not even sure I should continue going to these WW meetings.  They obviously aren't helping me much.  Ever since the holidays - yes, we are talking three months now - I've just maintained pretty much.  Well, maybe I've lost three pounds in those three months and maintained that.  It is just not worth the money spent to continue going to these meetings if I'm not going to apply their program. 

So... today is a new day.  The key for me is exercise.  Somehow, I have got to create the time to exercise again - and push myself to do so even when I don't feel like it. 

Romans 8:5  "For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit"

Lord, please help me this next week to set my mind wholly on You and not on the things of the flesh.  Amen.

~LISA

Okay... thanks to my friend over at LifeWithBoys for keeping me accountable!

I didn't go to my WW meeting last night.  Honestly, I didn't want to go; however, I was still going to go.  I've not exercised at all in three weeks.  It's so hard to find the time now that the boys are in baseball.  No excuse, I know... but my husband was on vacation for two weeks - we were out of town for almost a week and just busy... and I just haven't gotten back into the swing of it.  I've not been making consistently wise choices with my eating, nor have I been keeping track of the points I eat.  UGH.  I need a good kick in the rear - I need to motivate myself again.

Last night, I intended to go to my meeting; however, while driving there I realized I didn't have my pre-pay pass.  I had left it at home... not on purpose either!  I didn't have enough time to go back home and get to my meeting before having to be at worship rehearsal, so I just didn't go. 

I think I probably gained a pound this past week, according to my scale.  That's okay, I guess, since I haven't been exercising or keeping track of what I put in my mouth.  BUT... I don't want the scale to creep back up to where I was.  It's so easy to let it go and have that happen! 

So.... new goals for this week only: 

1. Exercise of some sort for 30 minutes - minimum four days
2. Keep track of what I eat
3. No snacking at night after the kids are in bed

I think three specific goals is enough for one week!  :)  Pray for me, if you will... and if you need prayer in this area, leave me a comment and I will be praying for you as well.  I desire to honor the Lord with how I take care of myself and to discipline my body, my flesh, and turn to Him for all I need!

Blessings,

~LISA

Well... I went to my WW meeting this evening, and guess what?  I was EXACTLY the same.  Not one ounce up or down!  Still at 148.2 lb.  So, the leader who weighed me looks at my little booklet (which is now full) and sees that I have been practically maintaining the same weight for quite some time now.  She also tells me that, according to my height, I am within my healthy weight range.  I am 5'5" and, according to her, my healthy weight range is between 120-150 lb. 

So, basically, I can SAY that I am at goal weight and maintain it for six weeks and then be a lifetime member and not have to pay for these meetings anymore.  I could have done that two months ago!  ugh.  I told her I would think about it. 

When I first started going, I made 140 lb my goal weight for WW.  Ideally, my goal weight is 135 lb; however, I can't even seem to make it to 145 lb.  I haven't been 145 lb since my second son was born over seven years ago!  So, maybe it just isn't realistic for me anymore to want to be less than that.  Maybe my metabolism isn't want it used to be. 

So, I can go to my meeting next week and say I've reached my goal.  It just doesn't FEEL right.  So, forgive me for trying to talk this out on my blog.  I'm just not sure what the right thing - the healthy thing - the God-honoring thing to do is. 

I think I need to look at the core reason that I want to lose more weight.  I actually am content with myself as I am right now.  It just would be nice to weigh even less.  I would just feel better about how I look.  Hmmm....

I don't know!  I guess I have this week to think about it and pray about it. 

What do you think?  Or are you still trying to understand what on earth I am talking about?!  LOL 

It's late and I need to get to bed!

Blessings,

~LISA

Well, after skipping my WW meeting last Thursday evening, I went tonight and I am up 0.8 pounds (from two weeks ago).  I'm okay with that.  After all, last week, we ate out almost everyday (at Disneyland, etc)., and I've not exercised for two weeks!  So, a gain of less than a pound isn't too bad.  I do plan to start exercising again tomorrow and hopefully I can keep it up (again). 

It's too late for me to make one of those cute tickers tonight.  I'm quite tired.... and I will post more tomorrow.. maybe... :) 

My mom offered to watch our kidlets tomorrow afternoon so my husband and I can have a "date."  Not sure what we are going to do yet...

Anyway, blessings on your day!

~LISA

It's almost not even worth sharing, but I lost 0.2 pounds this week!  I went another week with no snacking at night; however, it didn't seem to pay off in weight this week.  I will not be discouraged, but I will continue on and hope for some results next week.  

Blessings,

~LISA

And it moved in the right direction, too!   

I didn't do great over the weekend; however, on Sunday night I committed to no snacking at night for the remainder of this week.  I went to bed hungry three nights in a row.  My body is so used to snacking at night!  What a bad habit I've developed!  However, with the Lord's help, I stuck to my committment and it paid off!  I lost 2.6 pounds this week! 

I am determined to keep my eyes focused on pleasing the Lord in this battle I wage!  I commit again to no snacking at night and to exercise at least four days this next week. 

Praising God for blessing my efforts this week!

~LISA

Well, in an effort to remain accountable somewhere, I will be honest with all of you.  I didn't go to my WW meeting tonight.  I just could not bear the thought of standing on a scale in front of someone knowing that I gained again this week. 

Since baseball season for my boys has started two weeks ago, I have not been exercising, I've not been counting points, and it was Valentine's Day this week.  Need I say more?

Lord willing, and by His grace and strength, I am going to get back on track tomorrow...

Goodnight!

~LISA

Can't quite figure out what is wrong with me.  I did so good the first ten weeks I was doing WW.  I was motivated and consistent... and it didn't even seem hard then!  Ever since Thanksgiving - yes, almost three months ago - I have been yo-yo-ing back and forth.  Last week, I lost 0.6 pounds; the week before I lost 1.4 lb... at tonight's weigh-in, I was up 1.6 pounds. 

I only exercised three times this past week and just never counted points... just didn't pay attention to what I was eating and indulged myself a little too much.  Seriously, I don't know where this last week went... it seems like a blur.

I need to stop playing around with this - to stop being childish - to grow up and get REAL.... to discipline my FLESH... to die to mySELF... to say NO to mySELF.   In all honesty, I'm really frustrated with myself... I'm nowhere near where I wanted to be right now... and I have no one to blame but myself.

I commit this week to NO snacking past 8pm... period... and no whining about it either! 

Well.. enough said about this...

Blessings

~LISA

Well... I won't lie and say that I'm not disappointed.  I exercised six times this past week - SIX TIMES - and I was diligent to write everything down and stay within my points, but I was only down 0.6 pounds this week.  I know... at least I'm down.  I was just really hoping for a bigger number after such hard work.  It was a week of fighting against my flesh... of wanting to eat things I shouldn't and continually telling myself no... just would have been nice to see a bigger number for all of that effort! 

So... I need to re-focus now.  It's not just about the number, right?  It's about healthy living and being a temple for the Spirit of my Lord... one that is pleasing and honoring to Him, right?  So, that will be my goal this next week... to continue being disciplined in my eating and exercise but to focus more on Him... on His Love for me... on honoring and pleasing Him in all things.. and not so much the number I see on the scale. 

Lord, I ask for Your help in doing that this week!  Amen.

Blessings,

~LISA

   It's amazing what exercise does for me!  After my almost three pound gain at last week's weigh-in, I was quite upset with myself.  I didn't keep track of points from Friday to Sunday.  However, thanks to the accountability of a great friend (yes, you Sandy!), your encouraging comments here on my blog, and my wonderful mom, I was shaken out of my pity party and decided enough was enough and wrote out some goals.   That was Monday, and I had a great rest of the week.  I stuck to my no-snacking-at-night rule and have not had any tempting food in the house.  I exceeded my exercise goal by exercising five days this week (Sunday through today).  When I stepped on my scale here at home today it didn't look like I had lost any weight.  However, at my meeting tonight, I was down 1.4 pounds! 

I need to be consistent with exercise.  I've learned for me it is a huge key to my success on this journey to be healthy.  Not only does it help with weight loss, but I *feel* better.  When I exercise, I don't crave bad-for-me foods as much.   (Notice I said "as much".... I still crave them from time to time, just not as much!) 

I'm ready for this next week.  Lord willing that all of us stay healthy in my home, I will do my best to be consistent in getting my exercise in.  I will continue writing down everything I eat and be honest about it. 

Thank You, Lord, for blessing me with results from my efforts... may I continue to keep my eyes fixed on You!  Amen.

Blessings,

~LISA

A good friend of mine inspired me to write out my weight loss goals and "rules to follow."  So, I got a small spiral notebook to journal in daily.  I wrote my goals and "rules" on the front inside cover of the notebook to remind myself daily of what I need to do to stay on track.  I figure if I share it here on my blog, it will help me even more to stay accountable.  And who knows... maybe I will inspire someone else. 

So, here it is:  As of last Thursday (01/19/06), I weighed 150.6 pounds.  My starting weight was 160.6.  So, I am at a 10-pound loss thus far.  My WW "Winter Pass" expires the last week of April.  My WW goal is 140 pounds.  My "ideal" goal is to be at 135 pounds.  It's just that I haven't been under 146 pounds in over eight years, and I wasn't sure how realistic it was for me to get down to my "ideal" weight now that I'm "older."  Sigh...

So, anyway... if I lose an average of 1.5 pounds per week, then I will be at 138 lb at my weigh-in on March 16th.  Then, in order to attain Lifetime Membership with WW, I need to maintain that weight (140 lb) for six weeks, which would bring me to the end of my Winter Pass (April 27th).

This is a realistic and healthy goal.  So, here is how I intend to achieve this:

FIRST AND FOREMOST:  Glorify and honor God by taking care of myself!

1 Corinthians 3:16 "Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?" 

2 Corinthians 6:16b "...For you are the temple of the living God..."

I cannot forget this!  The Lord first and foremost has to be my continual focus.  It can't be about what I look like or even what I feel like.  It's about keeping my body - the Lord's temple - healthy... taking care of this body He has given me here on this earth... and if anyone is to comment on how I look, that it would bring honor and glory to His name.  I can only be victorious by keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus.

Next:

• Eat more fruits and veggies - a minimum of four servings a day!
• Stick to my daily POINTS (20)
• Write everything down - be honest!
• Exercise a minimum of four times a week for 30 minutes

RULES:

• No snacking at night!!  This is by far my biggest weakness!  I am up alone at night and I get the munchies!  I need to learn to discipline my body, deny myself, and go to bed earlier!!
• Don't keep tempting foods at home (that means cookie dough!). 

Today, I went over my points (29); however, I am given 35 weekly flex points to eat throughout the week.  The problem this week is that I did not write down what I ate on Friday through Sunday, and I'm sure that I used up most of my weekly points then.  I did, however, exercise yesterday and today.  I need to remain disciplined the rest of this week, and I am praying that I at least maintain when I weigh-in this coming Thursday.  Oh, that the Lord would be merciful and I'd even lose a pound...

Whatever the number on the scale says, as long as I keep my eyes fixed on the Lord and make wise food choices and exercise, then I know I have done all I can and the rest is in the Lord's hands.

Thanks to those of you who have commented and encouraged me!  (And thank you, Mom, for your emails!)  I pray that by sharing my struggles and triumphs, goals and hopes, that I will encourage you as well in return.

Blessings,

~ LISA

I'm so mad at myself.     I gained 2.8 pounds this week!! 

No excuses.  I wasn't focused this week.  Well, I guess I was focused on *something* - feeding my flesh and and selfish desires... certainly not on self-discipline or the Lord as it should have been.  I only exercised once this past week also.  Everday presented itself with a new set of excuses.  I won't even bother listing them here.  That's the thing about "Healthy Accountability:"  I can't just post when I have good weeks - I need to be honest, look myself in the mirror, and get back on track! 

So, tomorrow starts my new week... by the Lord's grace and strength... only by looking to Him to meet my every need will I have a victorious one.  Pray for me. 

~ LISA

Last week at my WW meeting, I wrote down that I was going to commit to no snacking at night during the upcoming week.  That is something I have probably never done before.  It's probably my biggest weakness in this weight loss journey... and most definitely one of the things that caused me to gain weight. 

However, this past week, I stuck to that commitment!  Not once did I eat after 8pm!  It felt so good.  The first few nights were hard, but once I got past them, I had a stronger resolve to stick with it... and it wasn't such a big deal.  I felt GOOD. 

The Lord blessed my efforts this week with another loss this week of 2.4 pounds!  I am now halfway to goal! 

To anyone out there who is on this weight-loss journey to better health, you are not alone!  God is your ever present help!  You *can* do this if you don't give up! 

  ~ Lisa

I lost 2.2 pounds this week!  Basically, in this past week, I lost the weight I had gained the previous two weeks.  Now, if I can keep my eye on the goal and keep moving in the right direction.... :)

Well... after all the cookies I've been eating "here and there," I'm not surprised that I gained again this week.  My ticker is moving the wrong way!  I gained 1.2 pounds at this week's weigh-in! 

I have another big weekend coming up with lots of food being a part of it.  My flesh is telling me to just wait until next week to "start."  But, I know better than that!  That's the enemy whispering in my ear wanting to me become discouraged and give up!  I won't listen!  I won't!  I won't!  I will start tracking points again TOMORROW... not next week - tomorrow!  And, now that I'm blogging this for the whole world to know, I'm more accountable to stick to it!    No place to hide now!  

I also pre-paid tonight for 17 weeks of WW with my husband's nudge!  It was so hard for me to accept paying money for something like losing weight, but I NEED the accountability and support. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.  For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help  him up."

I'm so thankful for my husband's support and his willingness to "pick me up" when I've fallen and feel like throwing in the towel.  I'm forever grateful to my Lord who has shown me much love and patience through His mercy and grace.  He has also taught me that taking care of my health is also a good stewardship of a gift He has given me... the gift of life. 

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?  For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body."

I need to take care of my body because it is the temple of God's Spirit who dwells in me. 

1 Corinthians 10:31  "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God."

Lord, help me this week to get back on track.  Help me to set my mind on the things above.. to focus on You above all... and in that trusting You to help me to be disciplined in my eating and exercise.  In this, may I bring glory to Your Name!  Amen!

Well, God has been merciful to me this past week.  Yes, I have been exercising (though I skipped yesterday and today), but I have not been really paying attention to what I eat.  And I have been snacking here and there with all the goodies around me.  Even so, I weighed in tonight with a 0.6 pound gain.  I was prepared to see the number on the scale go up two pounds... so I'm happy with just a half-pound gain.  My goal is to continue to maintain and then get back to counting points, etc., in the new year.  It's almost here!

I heard that the average weight gain from Thanksgiving to the New Year is eleven pounds!! Well, amazingly I am maintaining where I'm at through this holiday season.  I've got two weeks to go and then hopefully with so much of the temptation removed (sweets around the house), then I can get back on track and move towards that pot of gold.   :)