Weight Loss Update

I ended 2010 and the Hot 100 weight loss challenge not having accomplished much physically but much more mentally. I wanted to continue holding myself accountable by sharing what I have been doing. I didn't end 2010 and just say, "Okay, I'm done!" Nope. I'm just getting started.

My weight loss Bible study began again a few weeks ago. I started this session a few pounds heavier than I originally started back this fall. However, today I was happy to see a one pound loss over the last week. Not great but not horrid.

In my class we've been using the First Place 4 Health materials. We completed our first Bible study book before Christmas and just began our second one. This one is a short six week study that focuses on holiday eating. The holidays may be over but the concepts taught are lasting ones that will help all year.

One thing I really like about this new book is that it is all open-ended journaling. There is a short devotion and then a journaling prompt given. Here are two things that jumped out at me this week:

When you begin to focus on your health, you become 
mindful of the food you eat, and weight loss becomes a reality. 
But true accomplishment comes when you have a change
in your heart about your body as the temple

the Lord gave you. Just as there has to be a change in 
your heart for you to decide to follow Christ, there has to 
be a change in your heart to begin taking care 
of your body and allow the Lord to be victorious in this area. 

My battle lies in food. I have come to realize that my 
choices dictate what I eat. No thing (food) has a hold on 
me that Christ has not given me the power to overcome. 
No longer does food hold me captive. It is my choice to 
eat specific, delicious holiday foods [or any food]. 

It is my choice as to how much of them to have.

All emphasis is mine.

Today I did some research on a new weight loss book I first saw over at Eclipsed: Escaping the Shadow of Obesity. It's a new book called Made to Crave by Lysa TurKeurst of Proverbs 31 Ministries. Here's a short video that shares some information behind the book:

I'm pretty excited at the principals behind this book. I think this will be the next one my Bible study tackles. The concepts seem excellent.

If you'd like even more info, I would suggest taking some time and going to this link and watching the video. It's an interview with Lysa. On the bottom right under "related content" there are two links of another interview that Lysa did at Focus on Family.

In the middle of the webcast there is a video from I Am Second featuring Michelle Aguilar from Biggest Loser (she won Season 5). It's excellent and I highly recommend watching it.

And to top off the changes, I joined a twice weekly Zumba class that is being taught in my own town!!! Why is that so amazing? I live in rural Maine. My town has nothing in it - just houses. The only business is a sawmill. We don't even have a post office. It's in the next town over. The elementary school here was closed this year due to budget cuts. And it's been turned in to a Rec Center which makes me really happy. And Zumba is super fun!

I'm not sure I will post weekly updates, but I will definitely be sharing information as it comes up. Here's to a great year!