Beginning today I will post my weekly weigh-ins, exercise, and journal notes, regularly, once a month on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Because of my natural and spiritual obligations I will only commit to posting once a month, although, occasionally, when my obligations permit I will come to the forum to read and post my thoughts and to encourage others.

For now, I will regularly post under “The Bathroom Scale”, “The Gym” and “Maintainers Hall of Fame”. Under “Maintainers Hall of Fame” I will start a new thread called, “Annette’s Maintenance Journal” It will include a journal summary of my activities, thoughts, etc for that given month. I invite and am looking forward to comments, encouragement and prayers and I’ll do my best to respond appropriately, when my obligations allows me to.

As long as the Lord says the same, I will remain an active member of “Grace” and receive the many blessings that this wonderful ministry has to offer. With God’s grace I will continue to apply credible weight management principles, information to my lifestyle, and most importantly, with His loving grace I will apply biblical and godly principles to my spiritual lifestyle.

I would not like anyone to perceive the changes that I am making as a retreat from the fellowship of the believers here at “Grace”, but rather advancement to following the plans and will that I wholeheartedly believe that God has for me.
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Here is a bit of my testimony that I have shared previously:

Thanks to my grandmother’s faithfulness to the Lord, I received Jesus as my personal Lord and Savoir at the age of 5 years old. I have lost and gained weight several times, but it wasn’t until I sincerely went before the Lord in prayer and asked Him to help me with my weight issues that I begin to see changes. God said that He does not show favoritism, so if He could help others lose weight, He could surely help me. I went to the library and read books about dieting, nutrition and health and I came across a book, “Dieting for Dummies” (Of course I know I am not a dummy). This book gave me lots of good information, especially in the areas of counting calories. This book recommended consuming fewer calories than your body needs in order to lose weight. It also mentioned the importance of exercise. Also, it stated that those that were successful journaled their food intake. I bought a notebook from the store and begin logging my daily food intake and exercise. I still continue to do this today, because it seems to work best for me. I have made a commitment to log down my food intake and exercise.

“Dieting for Dummies” also mentioned getting the support of others. I had some support from my family (my husband, my son, and my mother), but they were not very knowledgeable on losing weight and keeping it off. I lost about 43 lbs in about one year (losing about 1 lb a week) but I was not able to keep losing, because I kept fluctuating a pound or two.

Then, the Lord led me to “God’s Grace for Dieters” Forum. Here I was able to get spiritual food as well as information about weight loss and nutrition. I lost the remaining weight and reached my goal weight of 130lbs. My goal is to stay at 130lbs (plus or minus 3 lbs). I currently weigh 127lbs, so I’m within my maintenance range. I have maintained for over a year and a half now with the help of the Lord and the support of the members of “Grace”. I reached my goal weight on April 10, 2003. For exercise, I also have a goal of walking everyday. I have been a member of this Forum for almost two years.

God provided this wonderful forum, with spiritual and diet support, so then with God’s grace I had to do my part. He was always there for me with the strength to overcome, when I faced temptation, and He was always there to comfort me when I fell short. God is faithful.

179/127/130 (start/current/goal weight)
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Weigh-Ins
Week--- Weight (lbs)
10/21/04-- 127
10/14/04-- 127
10/07/04-- 127
09/30/04-- 127
09/23/04-- 127

Exercise

Walking
Week (miles)
10/21/04-- 43
10/14/04-- 56
10/07/04-- 53
09/30/04-- 55
09/23/04-- 41
Month Total = 248
GRAND TOTAL=2,202

Journal


I have usually been eating around over 1500 calories a day. It takes about 1600 calories for me to maintain, depending on how much walking and exercise I get.

I am still working on bringing up my vegetable servings from one to two a day and I continue to journal my food choices along with the calorie value after each meal/snack.

I am focusing on getting daily intimate fellowship with the Lord by reading/studying my bible and in prayer. Fellowship is important to me, because it keeps me going and helps me through the good and hard times and, yes, on my weight management plan. One scripture passage that really made an impression on my heart is Proverbs 8:32-36 (NIV) that says:

I find that this is an encouragement to fellowship with the Lord and when we do we, His children, are blessed. I believe when we have intimate personal fellowship with the Lord that God’s grace and blessing will operate in every area of our life.

Annette, thank you for sharing this. Besides the content of your testimony, I love the way you articulated your history, and your graphics!

You are an inspiration. Thank you for blessing me with your presence on this board.

Chrissy,

I really don't know how to express adequately how your words of encouragement affect my heart in such a deep way. Thank you for blessing me with your words and love. :wub:

Annette, I just saw this. Although I am not the first one to be blessed with your testimony and faithfulness, neither will I be the last one. God is so good! Thank you for sharing.

You're welcome, Dear Editor. And, yes, God is so good. I don't even think we fully understand the depth of His goodness, but I know we will one day. :)

November 2004


Weigh-Ins
Week ending-----Weight (lbs)
11/18/04-- 127
11/11/04-- 127
11/04/04-- 127
10/28/04-- 126 (oops averaged 1400 cal/day)

Exercise

Walking
Week ending (miles)
11/18/04-- 43
11/11/04-- 42
11/04/04-- 41
10/28/04-- 48
Month Total = 174
GRAND TOTAL=2,376


Journal


I got below my 1600 calories a day in the week ending 10/28/04, so I got a pound below my maintenance range of 130lbs. (plus or minus 3 lbs.) but I made a correction and added more calories (above 1600) the following week and got back up to 127lbs. on the week ending 11/04/04. I would like to say I ate a lot more vegetables, but I didn’t, I ate more candy and potato chips the week that I got back up to 127lbs.

I have been praying for my fellow members here at Grace. I also had prayed for the election-that God would place the man He wanted to lead our country. I continue to give God thanks for His goodness in my life. I am thankful for the blessings He has given me-both large and small.

I have been making an effort to be thankful for the things that God has done for me and for human kind. I know I need to do it more often, not just when Thanksgiving is near. God gives us something to be thankful for everyday.

My next planned entry will be December 16, the next 3rd Thursday of the month.

Everyone have a blessed Thanksgiving!!!

You reacted very well and recovered nicely. Your walking remains excellent.
What reason to rejoice! God is good. Have a blessed Thanksgiving, Annette.

December 2004

Dear Editor, if it's okay with you I'll just post my weight and exercise here, only? I won't post my progress under exercise and bathroom scale threads.


Weigh-Ins
Week Ending---Weight (lbs)
12/16/04-- 127
12/09/04-- 127
12/02/04-- 127
11/25/04-- 127

Exercise

Walking
Week Ending (miles)
12/16/04-- 46
12/09/04-- 43
12/02/04-- 46
11/25/04-- 37
Month Total = 172
GRAND TOTAL=2,548

Journal


Everything is pretty much the same with my maintenance plan, except maybe a few changes in eating different types of fruits and being more conscientious about the amount of sodium I’m eating. Last month, during Thanksgiving I used a tip that I read on “Grace”-Seeing the plate between the various food items on your plate will help you keep your food portions under control. This worked well for me.

God continues to be my help. I have been thinking and praying for my fellow members, here at Grace. I thank God for the day that we, in the world celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savoir, Jesus Christ. But, I know for most of us here at Grace, it is something that we remember, just about everyday. We not only celebrate His birth, but also, most of all, His sacrifice for us by dying and then rising from the dead. He now is seated at the right hand of God, and He is with us, in our hearts.

I’m praying that everyone, here, will have a wonderful time during these Holidays. Don’t forget, “Jesus is the Reason for the Season”:-). (Matthew 2, Luke 2)

Hi Annette! I hope you have a blessed Christmas. Thanks for posting. Here will do fine. Your stability in Christ and the task He puts before you is a wonderful testimony! Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever.

For those who are interested, I started a new thread for this year "Annette's Journal 2005" with my weight and exercise progress. :D :grace: