Kelli's Christ Centered Weight Loss Journey

For some reason, I've really been struggling with writing this testimony.  I don't know why, because what I really want to say is that since I started Grace and Strength,  I have changed a LOT!!!

Video testimony included above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Lost 54 pounds *
• Went from a size 16 to a size 4/6
• Completely replaced my wardrobe (twice)!!!
• Learned how to be proud of the food in my grocery cart instead of hiding in shame at all the bad things I was eating and taking home to my family
• Gained a closer, more consistent relationship with The Lord
• Increased my time spent in The Word
• Improved my ability to recall and use scripture in my daily life (although I'm still TERRIBLE at scripture memorization, but I have a know it's in there and can go find it when I need it)
• Learned a lot from (and about) the ladies in my group
• Changed my relationship with food
• Changed my natural response from "excuses" to "action" in many areas of my life
• Increased my self-confidence which has resulted in realizing more opportunities at work and in church
• Increased my self-discipline (in several areas, not just weight related)
• Increased my energy and endurance, I can now keep up with the kids or my husband when playing or working on the farm.

So now that you know what's changed, here are a lot more words to give you some background J.

How did I get this way?  -  I have basically been battling my weight my entire adult life.  I got married at 18 and our son was born when I was 19.  I have been overweight ever since!  For the majority of the last 25 + years, my diet has consisted of lots of processed foods, sugar, soft drinks and carbs.  I have tried MANY weight loss programs through the years, once even getting to my goal weight and keeping it off for about 3 days (yes, I said days).  My entire life, I've either been losing weight or gaining, I've never been able to maintain.  Looking back, it's because I was either doing something drastic to lose, or going back to my old habits.  Even when dieting in the past, I never completely gave up Coca-Cola and pasta, I just cut back and counted the calories as part of my diet.  I resented any type of discipline or anything that made me feel like I was depriving myself.

What finally kicked my butt into gear? -  In January this year I was traveling for work and saw a co-worker that I hadn't seen in a while.  She was eating an extremely small salad of iceberg lettuce and looked like she was about to cry.  I asked her what was wrong and she told me that she was just completely exhausted of fighting this battle with her weight (she is several years older than me, close to traditional retirement age).  She said that she looks back and nearly every day of her life she has either been depressed and disappointed in herself because she is overweight, or she has been on a diet, trying to take it off.  She explained that she feels like she has wasted so much time and energy and is tired of this struggle.  I didn't have any encouraging words for her and walked out of there feeling pretty depressed myself, thinking that had been much of my life up until this point and how sad it was to think I would still be feeling that way after another 20+ years.  I also thought how sad it was for both of us that this topic has been so consuming in our lives when I know that my real purpose on this earth is doing what God has called me to do, fighting a battle to win other people to Christ, not fighting a battle with the scale!  I immediately began researching and looking for Christian based weight loss programs, because I knew that this is something I couldn't do on my own (boy had I proven that over the years), but that I could do it with God's help.  You see, I have read the end of the book and I know who wins in the end!

How did I find Grace and Strength? - Miraculously God directed me (in a round-about way) to Grace and Strength.  Our church was doing a women's bible study on a book by a particular author.  That author has another book that was listed somewhere on the Grace and Strength website and that is how I found out about this program.  After much reading, researching, talking with G&S staff, praying and discussing with my Wonderful and VERY supportive husband, I decided that I would try Grace and Strength.

Fast forward to today and I'm now 54 pounds lighter, MANY times more satisfied with my size, my food choices, my relationship with God, my discipline, and so on.  I have tackled more than just what to eat, I realized that I was making food (and Coca-Cola) an idol in my life and was letting my will (or the devil's will for me) become more important than what God wanted me to do.

Don't get me wrong, there are days that I still dip my hand in the candy jar at work and nights that I have a slice of pizza with the family.  BUT, that is no longer consuming my life.  I don't make most of my decisions based on what food I want to have, I consider food as fuel, not as my main source of enjoyment in life.

I have a long way to go, but I have been happily maintaining for several weeks now (much longer than my previous 3 day record) and I feel confident that I can have a future where I will be spending my days pursuing God's Will instead of beating myself up because I'm still fighting with the same 50+ pounds.  That sense of peace and looking forward to the future are possible with God's Grace and Strength.

 

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* Individual results may vary.