Email from a friend: Prayer WORKS! Even for weight loss!

So after returning from vacation, I received an email from a dear friend of mine, Cassy!

This encouraged and blessed my heart so much that I wanted to share it here for the blog world!

I hope it challenges and encourages you as it did me.

READ BELOW:

From: Cassy *******
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2012 9:57 AM
To: Demesha R. Wright
Subject: prayer...and weight-loss

So yesterday I was so tired of the crappy music on the radio so I turned way down the dial and got some Christian talk radio station.  They were talking about addictions and how God can save us from them…and ourselves.  At first I was like “I am not addicted to drugs or sex or alcohol” and I was about to turn it, and they said “it can also help women who are addicted to food”. 

Ears perked up, I was listening.

I usually pray to bless my food…but not all of it.  I mean, I don’t ask for my snickers bar to be blessed.  But meals, real meals…I always say, “Our Dearest Heavenly Father, I am thankful for the food that is before me.  I pray that you will bless it to strengthen my body.  In the name of Jesus Christ, AMEN!”

This radio show says that I should pray before any food.  Before the candy bar, before a piece of gum, before fried chicken.  Why would we ask God to bless something that is not good for our bodies?  My body is a temple right?  When I think about a temple, I think about something that is clean, and glorious, and shining, and full of beautiful, yet simple, things, surrounded by blooming flowers and green grass, where I feel peace.  I treat my temple like a slum.  I don’t want that crud in my temple anymore.  So now, starting last night, before I eat ANYTHING I pray and darn it, it works.  I listen for the spirit to speak to me…why should I expect that God is going to bless a Deluxe Big Breakfast from McDonald's to strengthen my body?  That’s what I wanted for breakfast…but I drove past 4 McDonald's on my commute, drawing from faith to fight that craving and rationality…and came to the county café here and got an omelet, simply cooked, with veggies.  and I said my prayer and added that He would give my belly and mind the ability to know it was enough.

I ate my 2 egg omelet with veggies and that was 2.5 hours ago and I still feel…full. 

I have to answer to God NOW about my food.  I don’t’ want to stand at the beginning of eternity and have him ask me why I didn't come to Him for help in the area where I needed it the most. 

Last night, I stayed up too late…searching the scriptures for inspiration and quotes to get me through the days ahead, however many I have left here…and I found some great ones.  I wrote them down on a post-it and stuck in my bible so that I could know right away exactly where I need to go when I need the most help.

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THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR REFLECTIONS, CASSY! :)

Affirmations...I HAVE changed!

When you look into the mirror, what do you see?

I'll be honest, for me it's been hard to not see "FAILURE" for quite some time. I see a double chill reappearing that had disappeared for quite some time. I try to button pants that don't fit anymore and put shirts on that fit much more snug that I'm comfortable going out in public in. I see me without clothes on. I see the stretch marks, cellulite and everything that disgusts me. I strategically plan what to wear that will best "disguise" my physical shame. Beyond the image that reflects back at me, I full FEEL every emotion that floods my thoughts when I see "me." Worse than the outward appearance that I'm struggling with is the inner FEELING of utter disappointment. It quickly overshadows any success I may have had in the past and distorts my perception of my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual strength!

But yesterday, yesterday I was met with an affirmation that helped rearrange my thoughts once again.

"BTW...u look fantastic"

That quote above is part of a post I received on my facebook wall. Seems simple enough, right? What's a generic compliment from an old friend anyway? To better understand you must see the angle from which this friends point of view comes. She found and added me on facebook and we haven't talked and/or seen each other since 2009, the same year in which I took my first steps towards losing weight and getting healthier. This friend knew me at my heaviest, but never was around to see me at my smallest. To this friend, she saw "Mesha," but smaller than the one she once knew. To this friend, I DO look fantastic compared to the one she saw regularly years before.

I NEEDED THAT!

That little comment meant so much to me! Even though at this point in time I do not always FEEL fantastic, I HAVE changed! No, I'm not where I once was when I'd reached my lowest weight that I've known in my adult life, BUT, I am not where I started either! I HAVE changed. I CAN continue to change.

As much as it 'feels' like all is lost at times and my hard work was in vain, I'm still not back up to the weight that I began at, I'm actually still 50 pounds less than my beginning weight AND (some people may need to hear this), but even if I had regressed all the way back to my starting weight or beyond, the fact that I did it once shows that I AM strong and can do it again if I am determined to make it happen. The fact that I am even writing this today is something to be considered. The fact that I even still care is a testament of something. THERE IS HOPE!

I WILL change!

**For an old post I wrote on relativity, SEE HERE! Sometimes we all need to be reminded of the "relative" concept.

REFLECTION:

James 1:2-4; 12

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

--

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trials, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

I got me one of THESE...

Not this one...

OR this one...

...and boy do I wish it was this next one...

But, the point is, I loosened up on the pocket and invested in ME, by getting a personal trainer!!!

 For now, I've only paid for 2 months (8 sessions), but here's to ACCOUNTABILITY and STRUCTURE!!!!

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." - Mark Twain

REFLECTION:

James 2:14-17

FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD

"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also, faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

We're in this together...

Smiling faces BEFORE Sunday morning workout

@ Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, MO

Sweaty, yet still smiling AFTER morning workout!

(How could you not working out at a place with a view like THAT!)

If you are anything like me, exercising with a group pushes you harder and makes it FUN too!

For an article on why group exercise is effective, CLICK HERE.

REFLECTION:

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"

Looking ahead...

Philippians 3:13-14

13...But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal forthe prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Stepping up to the plate!

BATTER UP!!!

We can love the game, watch the game and critique the game all day long, but there comes a time when the talking must stop and YOU must step up to the plate for yourself!

What kind of life is lived on the sidelines?

It's time to gear up, leave the dug out, approach the plate, get in your ready position: ALERT, ACTIVE, CONFIDENT, EXPECTING.

Take the greatest swing EVER at YOUR life and knock it out of the park!!!

**In this game though, we don't believe in "strike-outs," just because what you took a shot out didn't get the results you wanted doesn't mean it's over and all is lost...In this game it's not you against the opposing team, it's you against yourself!

#WIN!!!

...dusting things off!

I'm BACK (I hope!)

There are a few things that have fallen by the wayside the past two years:

• Eating SMART
• Staying ACTIVE
• Taking care of me, FIRST!
• BLOGGING!!!

Today I'm so excited and I FEEL a sense of refreshment and renewed vigor to do what once gave me such JOY, peace and love for ME!!!

Ya know, a few years back it felt like my entire life fell apart all at once! A relationship. Church. Faith. Family. Work. Living situation. Finances. Health. Friendships.

Nothing was left unshaken.

As if all at once, the pot of my life tipped over and everything went pouring out leaving me feeling empty, lost, alone and hurting. Deeply, deeply hurting!

At that same time, I happened to be at the BEST physical shape of my life. I had successfully lost 163 lbs and led a very active lifestyle. When my slap of reality hit and the earth around me seemed to shake, damaging nearly everything that meant anything to me, my attention and care for physical health and wellness was the first thing to go to the wayside. Quickly following was my self esteem, positive attitude towards healthy living and encouraging others and confidence that I could continue on with this...

...this state has continued on with a gradual, yet steady decline for 22 months now and TODAY I set it in my mind to stop it dead in its tracks, just shy of 2 years from the darkest point in my life to date!

Here it is, out in the open, I've managed (without much difficulty) to pack #96 pounds# back onto this body that I at one time "almost" felt comfortable living in and I can't do it anymore! I cannot avoid friends who have continued on with great success anymore. I cannot erase that portion of my life (one of the best), in attempts to act as though it never existed. I cannot deny that "me" that I grew to once love and respect any longer!

I WANT HER BACK!!!

To those of you who have met me AFTER these significant life events, I love you for loving this "me" that you've met who has had trouble even loving herself, but I'm excited and hopeful to introduce you to the "me" I was beginning to find just a short while ago. To those who have been FAITHFUL friends and stuck by me before, during and after - THANK YOU! And to those who have left, chances are life wasn't meant to continue on at this point with you in it, I thank you for the season God gave us!

It's time to get my life back in order, ALL of me!

Emotionally.

Mentally.

Physically.

Spiritually.

I invite you, whoever you are, yes YOU, the one reading this at your computer, on your laptop, smart phone or random tablet device, to strap on your seat belt and go with me on a journey.

I ASK YOU, to help me. I acknowledge, for me it's harder to walk this road alone. Yes, at the end of the day it's just me facing the mirror and I fully recognize that I have to be the one to do this, but I'm not to proud too admit that I need your help too!

Let's get together for workouts. Healthy meal preparations. Random Challenges. Fitness Events.

Feel free to go all Jillian Michael's on me and KICK MY BUTT (Jillian, I know you TOTALLY follow my blog and facebook, so a personal butt kickin' from you is most certainly invited.....What! One can dream)! :-p

Life truly wasn't meant to walk alone, and I'm thankful for those of you walking in stride WITH me!

So there you have it...I'm dusting things off and pulling out the running shoes, fitness bands and RE-utilizing this PUBLIC blog. No more crying in secret!

I'll end this by quoting MYSELF, (I know, right...I'm choosing to remind myself of what I once held so firmly to)

"Love and support has made a world's worth of difference in my weight loss, but  at the end of the day YOU are the only one who can make it happen."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

2 Corinthians 7:1

7 Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.