BelovedHeather
Cathlete
Happy New Year, Violets!!! I love new beginnings and fresh starts. Last year definitely did not go according to my plan, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn from history and face 2007 victoriously with a new game plan. I started last year on New Year’s Day in size 18 jeans at 200 pounds and ended the year on New Year’s Eve in women’s size 22 jeans at 230 pounds. That does not tell the whole story because I actually melted down to size 14 jeans at 180 pounds after Easter.
I have been reviewing my journals, praying, and pondering this week. What happened? The answer is quite simple. I had passion but not perseverance, and passion without perseverance is powerless. In true Heather fashion, I started out like a horse that had just been released from the pen. Being 100 pounds from goal, this race is a marathon for me. I was trying to run it like a sprint. No wonder I kept growing weary and dropping out of the race after a few miles! I believed the lie that someone my size should be able to shed 5 pounds a week. That was my definition of success. When I fell short of my goal, I felt like a failure. I got discouraged, I grew weary, and I gave up again and again. I am not a quitter, so I kept starting over. I am good at starting over. Historically, I have not been good at finishing the race. That is true in every area of my life. I have countless unfinished projects in front of me like organizing my home and completing all the Bible studies and books I started. But that is all about to change starting today.
I am surrendering all my plans for 2007 to the Lord. I am developing a marathon mentality and learning to pace myself. Running the race in record time is not my goal. Running in a way that glorifies God and finishing strong are my only desires. By eating in a way that blesses my body and running the race set before me with perseverance, I can shed 2 pounds a week without losing ground spiritually or emotionally. I can reach my goal by New Year’s Eve! I am surrendering my desire to reach the finish line by the 4th of July because attempting to lose 100 pounds in 6 months has never worked for me. It is possible, but I am no longer willing to push myself to the point of fatigue and depression for the sake of temporary progress.
I prayed and asked God to give me a word from His Word for 2007, and this is my theme: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV).
I need to run with conviction, determination, and perseverance. This race is a marathon that will require endurance. This is not a sprint. There are no quick fixes. I need to learn to pace myself instead of starting with amazing enthusiasm only to grow weary and faint after a few miles. It is important for me to keep my eyes on the finish line and not be distracted by my personal appearance, the number on the scale, my friends, or anything else in my path. Victory will require me to free myself from unnecessary weights and other hindrances and distractions like too much time online and friends who are negative influences or otherwise unsupportive of my goals. The excess fat on my body is an obvious weight that needs to be released, but I still have some emotional baggage to unpack as well.
It is my determined purpose to finish the course. This will require me to keep running with endurance even when I encounter obstacles. I am more than a conqueror, and I will be victorious by putting one foot in front of the other when it is a challenge to do so and never surrendering to feelings of discouragement. I am focusing on Jesus, keeping my eyes on the finish line, and not looking to the left or to the right or comparing myself with others or concerning myself with what anyone on this earth thinks about me or my appearance. Above all else, it is my desire to glorify God and run the race in a way that blesses my body and honors Him. On a physical level, it is my desire to start running this year. I may even run a race before the year is over! My current weight will require me to run in the pool until I am free from the burden of this excess weight. I am dreaming of the day when I can run on land. That future hope represents true freedom to me.
I determined in my heart before the dawn of 2007 that quitting is not an option. I dedicated myself to fighting the good fight and finishing the course. My vision is clear. I am looking beyond the seen to the unseen and walking by faith, not by sight. My present reality is not pretty, but I see beyond the moment to something far greater. As of yesterday morning, I was stuffing myself into a tight pair of women’s size 22 jeans at 230 pounds. I started this journey to living fit and free on July 4, 2003, in women’s size 28 shorts at 260 pounds. I am not where I want to be, but I will get there by the grace of God. I packed my scale in a box yesterday morning and sealed the box. I made a commitment to fast the scale for 90 days. New Year’s Eve “before” photos are stored in my personal photo album, and my measurements are recorded in my journal. I am ready to start running the race.
Love and hugs to all my check-in friends. I am looking forward to seeing all of you at the finish line. By the grace of God, you will see less of me! Yes, 2007 is my year to shine. Glory! Enough talk. It is time to get some restful sleep and double knot my laces in the morning. Cathe is waiting for me. Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us!
Blessings,
Heather B.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).
I have been reviewing my journals, praying, and pondering this week. What happened? The answer is quite simple. I had passion but not perseverance, and passion without perseverance is powerless. In true Heather fashion, I started out like a horse that had just been released from the pen. Being 100 pounds from goal, this race is a marathon for me. I was trying to run it like a sprint. No wonder I kept growing weary and dropping out of the race after a few miles! I believed the lie that someone my size should be able to shed 5 pounds a week. That was my definition of success. When I fell short of my goal, I felt like a failure. I got discouraged, I grew weary, and I gave up again and again. I am not a quitter, so I kept starting over. I am good at starting over. Historically, I have not been good at finishing the race. That is true in every area of my life. I have countless unfinished projects in front of me like organizing my home and completing all the Bible studies and books I started. But that is all about to change starting today.
I am surrendering all my plans for 2007 to the Lord. I am developing a marathon mentality and learning to pace myself. Running the race in record time is not my goal. Running in a way that glorifies God and finishing strong are my only desires. By eating in a way that blesses my body and running the race set before me with perseverance, I can shed 2 pounds a week without losing ground spiritually or emotionally. I can reach my goal by New Year’s Eve! I am surrendering my desire to reach the finish line by the 4th of July because attempting to lose 100 pounds in 6 months has never worked for me. It is possible, but I am no longer willing to push myself to the point of fatigue and depression for the sake of temporary progress.
I prayed and asked God to give me a word from His Word for 2007, and this is my theme: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV).
I need to run with conviction, determination, and perseverance. This race is a marathon that will require endurance. This is not a sprint. There are no quick fixes. I need to learn to pace myself instead of starting with amazing enthusiasm only to grow weary and faint after a few miles. It is important for me to keep my eyes on the finish line and not be distracted by my personal appearance, the number on the scale, my friends, or anything else in my path. Victory will require me to free myself from unnecessary weights and other hindrances and distractions like too much time online and friends who are negative influences or otherwise unsupportive of my goals. The excess fat on my body is an obvious weight that needs to be released, but I still have some emotional baggage to unpack as well.
It is my determined purpose to finish the course. This will require me to keep running with endurance even when I encounter obstacles. I am more than a conqueror, and I will be victorious by putting one foot in front of the other when it is a challenge to do so and never surrendering to feelings of discouragement. I am focusing on Jesus, keeping my eyes on the finish line, and not looking to the left or to the right or comparing myself with others or concerning myself with what anyone on this earth thinks about me or my appearance. Above all else, it is my desire to glorify God and run the race in a way that blesses my body and honors Him. On a physical level, it is my desire to start running this year. I may even run a race before the year is over! My current weight will require me to run in the pool until I am free from the burden of this excess weight. I am dreaming of the day when I can run on land. That future hope represents true freedom to me.
I determined in my heart before the dawn of 2007 that quitting is not an option. I dedicated myself to fighting the good fight and finishing the course. My vision is clear. I am looking beyond the seen to the unseen and walking by faith, not by sight. My present reality is not pretty, but I see beyond the moment to something far greater. As of yesterday morning, I was stuffing myself into a tight pair of women’s size 22 jeans at 230 pounds. I started this journey to living fit and free on July 4, 2003, in women’s size 28 shorts at 260 pounds. I am not where I want to be, but I will get there by the grace of God. I packed my scale in a box yesterday morning and sealed the box. I made a commitment to fast the scale for 90 days. New Year’s Eve “before” photos are stored in my personal photo album, and my measurements are recorded in my journal. I am ready to start running the race.
Love and hugs to all my check-in friends. I am looking forward to seeing all of you at the finish line. By the grace of God, you will see less of me! Yes, 2007 is my year to shine. Glory! Enough talk. It is time to get some restful sleep and double knot my laces in the morning. Cathe is waiting for me. Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us!
Blessings,
Heather B.
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV).
