A Little Encouragement!

In the first week of Lysa’s Made to Crave webcast, Dr. Chilton explained that our bodies were made to go into famine mode after three weeks of depriving ourselves of foods that we were used to. At that point our bodies try to hold on to everything! We hit a plateau and stop losing weight. This is the point where we become discouraged and, many times, give up on our new healthy eating plan.

My sweet friends… do not quit! I am here to tell you that you can do this. I have struggled with my weight for my entire life. I can’t tell you how many diets I tried and then failed. Each time I put on a couple extra pounds than what I had lost before I gave up. Basically, I got bigger with each failed attempt. I was so discouraged that I cried myself to sleep many nights. I felt like a total failure. I felt unattractive, undeserving of love or friendship, unsuccessful and unworthy of any good that came to me. But God does not put qualifiers on His love for me… and I shouldn’t either. Nor should YOU!

God’s love for me was no less when I weighed 199 pounds… than it is at 150.

Ya’ll I truly struggled with the decision to show you my “before” photo. But my desire to encourage your heart was stronger than my fear of humiliation. Yup… I luv ya that much!

OK – Brace yourself…

Before

And Now (I’m not saying “after” because this is a journey that I am still on!)

I promise you… if I can do it… YOU can do it. I had many obstacles, including an undiagnosed thyroid condition, but I decided to put value on myself. When I look in the mirror I try to see myself as God sees me. I look past my double chin and puffy eyes and I see His precious daughter, beautifully and wonderfully made. If I can’t see myself as perfect, it’s an insult to my Creator.

OK – Let’s get practical. We all know that this isn’t easy. It’s not simply a matter of looking at ourselves and saying, “I can do this. I deserve better.” If it was this easy no one would be overweight or undertall. We need each other. We need help, hope, and encouragement. So what has helped me?

1. I changed my mindset. I didn’t look at my journey as a weight loss journey… it wasn’t about trying to “look” better. It was about accepting myself the way God created me and wanting to improve my physical health so that I can do more for Him and for my family. It’s about getting healthy. I am a single mom. My husband, Nick’s dad, died of cancer when Nick was only three years old. If I end up with diabetes or heart disease, what kind of uncaring mom does that make me? I need to be healthy for my son.
2. If you don’t already have a copy of Made to Crave you must get it now. Trust me. This book is life-changing. Lysa shares her own struggles and inspires you in ways you cannot imagine. This book will help you find the “want to.”
3. Get support. Tell your friends and family that you want to get healthy and ask them to help you. I work alongside amazingly beautiful (and thin) women. They love me regardless of how I look. But they supported my efforts by removing any temptations that used to find their way into our candy dishes. The entire office stopped eating stuff that I shouldn’t have as a show of support. They encouraged me and shouted for joy with every pound lost.
4. Find an accountability partner. It really helps if you can do this with someone else. If you are tempted, ask them to talk you off the ledge. And… you do the same for them. My accountability partner, Melissa Taylor, just caught me with a tiny slice of a chocolate frosted brownie. It was just a tiny bite! But she saw it in my hand and slapped it out! Yes she did! I may have called her an ugly name. But I took it back. She did exactly what I asked her to do and I love her for it. That tiny bite may have led to another… then another… then another… An intervention was necessary
5. Surround yourself with positive and encouraging words. Lysa has put together an awesome list of “go-to scripts.” You can find them in the back of Made to Crave or you can download a printable PDF HERE. When Nick was trying to learn memory verses for school each week, I printed the week’s verse out and taped it to his bathroom mirror, the cereal cabinet door, on his computer monitor, etc. Wherever he was likely to be, he looked up to see the verse. It worked. He absorbed the verse. You can do the same with the encouragement Lysa has provided. Take her go-to scripts and cut them out and tape them to your refrigerator door, the pantry, the snack cabinet, etc.
6. Find joy in something other than food I find joy in music. I can sing out praises (or show tunes), only when no one is listening, of course, and it makes me feel happy and joyful. How about calling a girlfriend or two and enjoying a girls night out. See a chick flick and laugh out loud together!

These are just a handful ideas to keep you encouraged. And here are some practical ideas:

1. See a doctor! I went to a naturopathic physician for a complete blood workup. She was able to diagnose (and treat) a thyroid condition as well as other areas that were lacking in my overall health. If you are in the Charlotte area, I highly recommend Dr. Michelle Dillon. If you live outside this area, ask for a referral. See someone who you trust!
2. Brush your teeth! Yup… after each meal, brush your teeth. I find that I am not likely to snack in between meals when I have that just brushed feeling!
3. Chew gum. You won’t grab a handful of chips if you are chewing gum.
4. Drink lots of water after you eat. Your stomach will stay full so you won’t snack.
5. Don’t eat after 6:00pm. You may need to choose a different time, based on your schedule. I find that eating after 6:00pm puts on the pounds, even when I eat good stuff!
6. Download Dr. Chilton’s Go Guide for his nutritional recommendations. You can find it HERE. His guide is filled with great nutritional information that you can take with you to the grocery store to help you make smart choices.

Friends, if you are on this journey with me, I pray that you stay encouraged. I know how easy it is to give up and feel defeated. But you are worth so much more. Remember… God loves you, and so do I.

So… what are ways that you stay encouraged?

Sweetest Blessings,
LeAnn