Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 25

25 weeks...that is unbelievable.

I have never stuck with a diet and exercise program for that long and feel like I should hold a celebration.  It's my silver diet-versary, y'all!  :)

I couldn't have done it without your support.  Thank you.

However, I have two kiddos with colds and am coordinating a science fair to be held Friday while preparing the boys for another big event on Saturday.  In other words, I have to keep this short.

So...let's get to it, shall we?

I lost 1.6 pounds,

bringing my weight-loss total to 27.8 pounds!

Woo Hoo! 

The ball is rolling in the right direction again.  My Fitness Pal has a lot to do with that.  It just works for me.

I think I found another critical element this week, too.  I had started exercising during the day because it is hard to find the energy for it in the evening as I had been doing for the first few months.  I switched back to exercise before bed and have found that a) I sleep better and b) the pounds shed more easily.  Perhaps it gives my metabolism a boost so that I lose while I sleep.

Not sure.  I'm not a health professional so I can't begin to say that with any confidence.

It would make a neat science fair experiment, though.

Oh yeah...science fair.  That reminds me of 3,593 other things I need to do.

I will see y'all later!

Please pray for the following:

1. Continued weight loss and energy to exercise at night.
2. The Science Fair and my sanity (there seems to be a correlation between the two)
3. My loved ones facing legal situations- One has been resolved in his favor, praise the Lord!
4. Friends and missionaries in Japan- all are safe but facing difficult situations.
5. Decisions M and I are making about next school year.  We need wisdom.

Happy Healthy Living!

Dawn

Disclosure:  I have not been compensated for linking to My Fitness Pal.  I just find it helpful and wanted to share my unbiased opinion.

Disclaimer:  I am not a health science expert.  Truth be known, I'm quite the opposite.  However, I am hosting the Wednesday Weigh-in challenge to encourage Christian dieters to pray for each other.  Please do not expect your results to be exactly like mine or any other participant's.

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 24

Well, I'm back.

I continued my diet as best as I could while my computers were in the shop. 

It's amazing how much of my life is inside my computer.  I couldn't grade several of the boys' school assignments because the teacher's editions are on CD.  I couldn't check my email on a regular basis and had to sort through almost 200 of them when I was finally back online.  I didn't know what was going on in the world, and we were dressed in the wrong sort of clothes almost every day because I couldn't check the weather report. 

After a week of freezing in shorts and tees or burning up in jeans and long-sleeves, we I finally realized that one of the boys could step outside in his PJ's BEFORE we dressed for a temperature check.

Wow, technologically-impaired brain cells, y'all- I've got them!  :) 

And, most tragic of all (tongue in cheek), I could not calculate calories on My Fitness Pal. 

MFP really does make things easier.  After two days of living in the dark ages and flipping through a print calorie counter to find out how many calories are in a banana (because for some reason I cannot remember this info from day-to-day), I gave up.  It was too much.

I continued to eat "right" and exercise but I could not keep an accurate count and am not sure if I kept to my calorie goal or not.  I did weigh daily and it went up, up, up and then down, down, down.  Then back up.  Then back down....

Finally last Thursday, I was able to track calories again and after six consistent days, I am happy to report

I lost 0.6 of a pound,

bringing my total weight loss to 26.4 pounds!

And I would like to point out that after three very stressful weeks (not having a computer was just a hiccup; much more was going on which I cannot share at this time), I decided to sleep in this morning.  If I had weighed at 6:30 a.m. like I normally do, I may have seen a full pound difference (like I did yesterday morning)!  I was exhausted and stressed when I went to bed last night, so I will trade 0.4 of a pound for a little extra and much-needed shut eye.

Thank you to those who have continued to pray while I have been unavailable.  I have been praying for you, too.  Please pray this week as follows:

• For wisdom- Michael and I are praying about several issues in which we need to make wise decisions for next year.  Ask the Lord to show us His will.
• For protection- Two people I love dearly are in the middle of difficult legal situations.  Neither are in the wrong and we are praying for the Lord to hear our prayers and bring them relief. 
• For extra energy, perseverance and extra measures of grace:  I have a lot of "things" to take care of in the next two weeks.  I want to serve my family and community graciously while not neglecting my health.  Now that I can use MFP again, I want to keep the ball rolling in the right direction.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement!  Let me know how you are doing.

Blessings,

Dawn

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 21

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at the top of my home page
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I lost 0.7 of a pound,

bringing my weight-loss total (back) to 25.6 pounds!

That means I lost about half of what I gained last week which is really good considering I did not exercise this week at all.  I have been fighting a really bad cold for a week now.  Persistent coughing has kept me from sleeping well.  I averaged 3 hours sleep per night and I could barely talk without coughing.  I just didn't have the energy for the Gazelle and felt like deep breathing would cause me to cough so hard a lung might truly come up.

So it's slow going right now and will probably take me a full month to get back to where I was.  But no one said this was going to be easy or that in order to keep my commitment things have to go well and be rosy.

But that's where I'll stop today because

1. I'm still coughing profusely.
2. My computer is running at a snail's pace.
3. The boys need to practice their speeches for tomorrow's 4-H Project Achievement, and I need to listen and give feedback.
4. I have been verging on a bad mood all week and am really not in a place to be a motivational writer.   

Because it is taking me about 5 minutes to type every few lines, I won't type a list of prayer requests either.  Please pray for my typical requests.

Let me know how you're doing!

Happy Healthy Living!

Dawn

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 20

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For those of you wanting to join the weigh-in, please leave a link to your post in comments.  I have not had time to find a solution for Linky this week. 

Today is a day when I would like to put my hand up toward the computer screen, shake my head and say, "I don't want to talk about it."

*sigh*

However, I made a commitment to do this.  To be real.  To tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.  So here goes...

I gained 1.5 pounds this week

which lowers my weight-loss total to 25 pounds.

:(

This is the first week I have gained in 20 weeks, and there is a simple reason why.

I did not follow my own advice.  I only made it to MFP once this week and did not carry my food journal with me. 

I was way too busy this week, too.  In the mere seven days since I last reported, I have done the following:

• Lead a monthly mom's meeting
• Take Orville to the orthopedist
• Attend the circus
• Coordinate a Valentine's Day skating party for over 100 people
• Attend a second Vday party
• Lead a science fair committee meeting and finalize registration
• Add a new flute student to my schedule
• Assist the boys in setting up their science fair projects
• Start a new blog and post 3 articles
• Have an article published at MMCW
• Prepare an extra-special Valentine's Day meal for my family
• Tutor or teach flute every week day due to make-up lessons and rearranged schedules for all those meetings and parties!

Oh yeah...

... and there was this thing called homeschool, too.  And somewhere in the midst of all that, I cleaned the house, put together curricular plans for next year, and began registration for classes my husband and I will teach next fall.

And did I mention that THERE WAS CHOCOLATE EVERYWHERE I WENT?!

Valentine's Day was much more difficult to navigate than Thanksgiving and Christmas were.  All of my students gave me boxes of chocolates and they served me chocolate cake while I tutored them.  When a precious child hands you a big red heart filled with chocolate goodness and tells you they love you while smiling from ear-to-ear, you just have to eat some chocolate. 

I gained that weight for the cause of love.

That makes it sound much more noble, doesn't it?

*sigh*

Well anyway, today begins a new weight-loss week for me, and I am thankful for a fresh start.  It is a reminder of God's grace and how totally dependent upon and indebted to Him I am. If I had to earn favor with Him, I would be doomed.  However...

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,

of whom I am the foremost. 

But I received mercy for this reason,

that in me, as the foremost,

Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience

as an example to those

who were to believe in him for eternal life. 

To the King of ages, immortal, invisible,

the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. 

Amen.

1Tim 1:15-17

How thankful I am for His perfect patience toward me, that He loves me and I have favor with Him as imperfect as I am.  I can't even stick to a diet perfectly when losing weight is what I most desire for myself.  My weakness causes me to stand in awe of the greatness and perfection of Christ.  Only He is worthy of our praise. 

So this week I will seek the grace to start anew.  The house has been purged of chocolate (I let the boys eat the rest!), and I have my journal close at hand.  I will be seeking extra measures of grace daily, more likely moment-by-moment, to get back on track and do what I know needs to be done. 

Please pray for me this week as follows:

1. For perseverance.  I don't want discouragement to creep in and defeat me.  Pray for God's protection on my thought-life, that I won't "beat myself up" but will just get back to doing what works.
2. For rest.  This week really was too much, and most of it was my doing, meaning there were things on my schedule that did not have to be there.  We have a nice weekend planned to enjoy the Great Backyard Bird Count as a family.  M has Monday off from work, and it looks like the weather is going to be lovely.  I think a few slow days of bird watching will do me some real good.  Pray that I will be refreshed.
3. For wisdom.  Most weeks are not as busy as this past week; however, there are a few things on my schedule that have to go.  The tutoring business is growing for both M and me, and this is something that we have a family vision for doing.  We are praying about what existing commitments have to be removed to make that possible.
4. For a replacement.  I have asked someone to serve as the support group president next year.  I have served for almost 2 years and have thoroughly enjoyed it, but it seems this is one of the things that has to go for the sake of the family business.  I am asking the Lord to send someone to replace me.
5. For good health.  Strep and stomach viruses are moving through our community.  Orville is in bed today sick.  Pray that this will pass through our house quickly and won't keep anyone from enjoying our bird watching weekend.  Pray also that fevers will break and Orville will be able to keep down some food and liquid.
6. For my friends.  I look forward to reading their reports; however, a couple of them are going through rough patches with issues facing their families far more serious than my busy schedule and our viruses.  Pray for them to receive extra measures of grace and that their faith would be increased through these circumstances. 
7. For this blog.  Though my blog may just seem like a weight-loss blog as of late, it is really about me learning to enjoy God while glorifying Him, even in the mundane, even when things don't go my way, like this week's weigh-in.  I pray that all who read and participate in this meme will taste and see that the Lord is good.

Happy Healthy Living!

Dawn

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 19

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I lost 1.4 pounds this week,

bringing my weight-loss total to 26.4 pounds!

I went to the doctor for an annual check-up yesterday and I weighed two pounds less than I had been registering at home.

ON A DOCTOR'S SCALE!

Seeing how losing two pounds between breakfast and lunchtime is almost impossible and my scale was registering a little bit of a gain, I realized something had to be amiss at home.  It took some pondering but I finally realized that my digital scale probably needed a battery change.

I put in new batteries and VOILA!

Down went the pounds. 

So my tip this week...

Make sure your scale has fresh batteries!!!

Other good news is that all my health report "numbers" were way down, if down is good, or way up, if up is good.

It was the best physical I've had in a LONG time which felt really good.  I can't believe the difference 26 pounds has made, and getting a good report was a great motivator to keep losing.  Good health really is my goal with this diet, and it was good to get two thumbs up from the doctor.

I really look forward to next year's report and encourage you to have a physical, too!  It's another way to gauge progress, the most important progress at that. 
Here are my prayer requests for the week:

1. Continued improvements in my health.  Cholesterol, glucose, etc. are good.  My vitamin D levels are much improved, too.  However, I had a terrible pain flare up this week.  I had difficulty walking it was so bad.  I am more and more convinced that the source of my pain is not related to vitamin levels or weight. 
2. I have an article due to be published on Mentoring Moments for Christian Women about my weight loss strategies.  Pray for God's blessing.
3. That God would continue to shape my character through this process and help me to be an encourager and good example.
4. For my friends who are dieting with me.  Pray specifically that they would be able to reap the rewards of consistency in their exercising.  Pray that they would not be discouraged and would see small losses as victories.

Happy Healthy Living!
Dawn

I forgot to add Linky again this morning.  I am not awake enough to be a good hostess at 6:30 a.m.!  I just went to add a linky and learned my service now requires a paid subscription.  I won't be able to provide a linky this week but am looking into alternatives and will hopefully have it up and running by next week.

Until then, please leave a link to your article in comments.  Thanks!  :) Dawn

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 18

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Click here for details on how to participate.

This post has been edited to include Linky at the end.   

My apologies to anyone
who wanted to link in and couldn't. 
I must not have been fully awake
when I published this morning!! 

Link away!

This week I lost 0.6 of a pound,

bringing my weight-loss total to 25 pounds exactly!

Oh yeah!

Happy Dance!

Whoop!  Whoop!

Does lightly bouncing (as not to agitate sciatica) while seated in your office chair and gently waiving your arms (as not to throw out your back) count as daily exercise???

I  F--I--N--A--L--L--Y  made it to 25 pounds!

I am more than a third of the way to my goal weight!  Can you tell I'm happy?

In fact, I am going to reward myself with a $5 present.  To date, I have let the weight loss itself be the reward, but it's getting harder and I want to keep myself motivated.  A bloggy friend of mine (whom I would happily credit and link to except she is remaining anonymous about her diet and I respect that) asked me how I plan to reward myself for reaching the 25 pound mark.  I had not given it much thought, but after reading her suggestions, I decided a little extrinsic motivation couldn't hurt!  :)

The important goals for me are 30, 40, 50 and 60 pounds, so that is when I will give myself the better rewards.  Each of those amounts are significant not just because they are nice round numbers but are also milestones.  When I reach each one, I will be able to say I haven't weighed this since.... 

So here is the reward plan....

• 30 pounds: a new outfit (I will probably need some new clothes by then anyway.  My jeans are getting pretty baggy.  After 5 more pounds, I will either have to go with the ever-popular sagging look, buy suspenders, or purchase some new pants.  I think the last is the best of the three options.)
• 35 pounds:  $5 to spend as I wish
• 40 pounds:  $20 to spend on soap making tools
• 45 pounds:  $5 to spend as I wish
• 50 pounds: something new for my kitchen (I know this is vague but I have a couple things in mind and want to take some time to decide.)
• 55 pounds:  $5 to spend as I wish
• 60 pounds:  a new camera

My husband told me to be careful with that last one. 

We all know that the camera adds ten pounds.

Hardy, har, har....

*sigh*
How about you?  How are things going?  Do you have any goals you want to share or ways you plan to reward yourself?

You are in my prayers daily.  Please pray for me in the following ways:

1. Increased and consistent motivation.
2. I split my workout into two sessions daily and am liking it better that way.  I still need extra measures of grace in this area though.  I would much rather sit and make a plan than enact it.
3. For the furthering of my sanctification, particularly concerning the all-or-nothing syndrome.  I am learning to serve the Lord while doing things I don't enjoy with as much gladness as when I am doing things I do enjoy.
4. Continued relief from migraines- Both Michael and Wilbur have experienced significantly fewer headaches in the past two weeks.  Praise the Lord!
5. For my friends who are dieting with me.
6. That I would glorify God and enjoy Him while dieting, exercising and publishing the results.

Happy Healthy Living!
Dawn

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 17

This week I lost 0.2 of a pound,

bringing my weight-loss total to 24.4 pounds!

Ahh! 

I'm creeping toward the 25 pound mark and really thought I would make it this week.  But alas, it seems I must wait one more week.  I did the best I could do and trust that God ordained this small loss.  What pleases Him should not discourage me.  I am thankful that two more tenths of an unneeded pound are gone.

That was a little pep talk just for me, so now here's a little tip for you....

It was a busier-than-normal-week at the Olive Plants house and finding time to exercise was a challenge.  I almost gave up several times. 

Rather than give it up though, I divided it up. 

Usually my day starts to wind down around 7:30 p.m., meaning school work is done and graded, we have eaten and the kitchen is clean, we've finished our family worship and reading time, and things are in order for the next day.  That gives me a half hour to exercise before it is time to get the boys to bed (i.e. inspect their teeth brushing job and make them rebrush four times and then clean the globs of toothpaste from the sink and walls then crack the whip oversee the cleaning of  the disaster area  their bedroom then answer a dozen philosophical questions, say prayers, get them fifty glasses of water a small glass of water and remind them fifty times that if they drink too much before bed they might float away in the middle of the night and then lock them in their room with floaties nearby tuck them in their beds and give hugs and kisses).

However, several once-per-month or once-in-a-blue-moon responsibilities collided into this week, and my days were not winding down until 8:30- 9 each evening.  That's late for me, and I am WAY too tired to exercise then. 

So, I broke my daily thirty minute session into three ten minute sessions.  Finding ten minutes here and there throughout the day was doable...maybe not as effective, but better than not exercising at all.  I look forward to a slower pace next week and will probably return to the old exercise routine. However, when a hectic schedule is unavoidable, I will stick to the strategy of exercising in smaller chunks.

What difficulties are you facing?  Have you found any good solutions?  If so, please share in comments or link in a Wednesday Weigh-in of your own.  I would love to have you join me!  Here's how to participate.

Please pray for me this week.  Here are my requests/updates:

1. Michael and Wilbur have experienced less headaches this week.  The one migraine Wilbur had gave me a lot of insight into what I think is causing them.  I am still keeping a food journal and making some dietary changes; however, I think his main trigger is light/computer screens.  Continue to pray for them.
2. That I will continue to make an earnest effort with a teachable spirit. 
3. That I will continue to make baby steps and not give way to discouragement.
4. For my friends who are dieting with me.

Happy Healthy Living!
Dawn

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 16

I lost 0.8 pound,

bringing my weight-loss total to 24.2 pounds!

I am waiting with bated breath to hear your reports.  I have been asking the Lord to bless your efforts all week and so hope you have good results too.  Linky will follow this post if you want to join in.  Instructions are here.

For this week's tip, I wanted to share a little more about how I track calories.

I start with a menu plan which includes breakfast, lunch and dinner and takes into consideration what's on each day's schedule.  I don't want to plan to cook a from-scratch meal on a night that we really do need to eat at Wendy's. :) 

I have been on this diet for four months now, and planning has been the hardest part.  At first, I felt really unsure about how to make a dieter's menu and shopping list, something I have to do to keep grocery expenses on budget, because how would I know ahead of time if I would be able to eat enough of what I was planning to be satisfied each day?  How many calories are in tater tot casserole anyway??

So I decided to do three things.

First, because I am all about baby steps, I kept our typical fare on the menu.  I have found that many dishes were okay as they were but have decided to eliminate some things from our diet or serve them very infrequently.  Others just needed some modifications, like adding less cheese or using fat-free chicken broth instead of regular.  Little changes really do add up and have kept tofu and sprouts off the table. 

No offense intended to those of you who enjoy tofu and sprouts, but I would have some really unhappy menfolk if that's what I served for dinner. 

Second, I have paid careful attention to portion size.  That's where My Fitness Pal has really helped.  On my food page, I can type in what's on the menu (or all the ingredients if it is tater tot casserole) and it gives me a standard serving size. I have to be honest and say that measuring out portions was a pain at first; however, over time, I have learned to eyeball it.

I have to do a little guesstimating when eating a multi-ingredient dish, like tater tot casserole.  (There is a way to add a dish to their database and be precise about it, but estimation has worked well for me and been less time consuming.)  So I count out the number of tater tots in a serving and that gives me about a serving-size each of ground beef, soup and cheese, too. 

Thirdly, each morning (if I'm doing what I'm supposed to do), I look at the menu plan for the day and plug in the main dishes for each meal first on My Fitness Pal page.  Then I add in the fruits and veggies for the day.  If there are enough calories remaining, I add in extras like bread with dinner or a snack or two. Which extras and snacks I select depends on how much of my calorie budget is remaining. 

I don't plug my foods in throughout the day as I eat but do this all at once in the morning so I can see how my plan is going to work.  If things don't add up, I can easily make changes to the plan.  If I log each food after I've eaten it, then I can't take anything back.  What's done is done, and I may not balance my calories well and be left hungry in the evening.

Once everything adds up, I complete my report for the day and jot down my food plan in a notebook.  I could refer back to the computer but think it is easier to have it in a notebook which I can carry with me and mark off items as I eat them.

Oh!  And my favorite MFP feature?  After I complete my daily report, it tells me what I would weigh in five weeks if every day were like today.  That is SO motivating!  I love to see that number!!

So, what's working for you?  Feel free to share your tips, too.  And don't forget to pray!

Here are my requests:

1. I have experienced moderate pain this week coupled with poor sleep.  The silver lining: I am seeing a correlation between poor sleep and aching.  This gives me more info to share with the doctor.  However, please pray for better sleep and reduced pain.
2. For wisdom and help as I take more baby steps in the direction of ridding our home of overly-processed, MSG-containing foods.  Grocery shopping has taken twice as long for two weeks; however, no one has had a headache for a week!  That's a praise which leads to...
3. For continued relief from migraines for Wilbur and Michael. 
4. For more self-control and perseverance. 
5. For my friends who are dieting with me.  Please click over to their blog(s) and read their requests and pray for those who are remaining anonymous, too.

Happy Healthy Living!
Dawn

Disclosure:  I have not been compensated for writing this post and linked to My Fitness Pal just because I have found it helpful and wanted to pass along the tip.

Disclaimer:   I am not a health science expert.  Truth be known, I'm quite the opposite.  However, I am hosting this meme to encourage Christian dieters to pray for each other.  Please do not expect your results to be exactly like mine or any other participant's.

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 15

Drum roll please....

I lost 2 pounds this week,

bringing my weight-loss total to 23.4 pounds!

It was a pretty normal week.  I counted calories using My Fitness Pal.  I exercised twice on The Gazelle.

She exercised on what, you ask???

THE

TONY

LITTLE

GAZELLE!

I stand on the ski-like foot-thingies and hold on to the handles and then move as fast as I can without making myself dizzy as to avoid falling off. 

Because that has never happened.

Never.

I'm far too graceful to fall from an exercise machine.  ;)

Really and truly, this machine has been such a blessing.  I can exercise with zero impact which prevents the BIG pain episodes.  (For those of you just joining in, one of my reasons for wanting to lose weight is that I suffer from chronic pain and most exercises trigger that pain.)

Which leads me to my tip for the week...find a form of exercise that you can accomplish.  Be reasonable.  Know your limitations.

However, don't be an excuse-maker. 

If you're like me, that may take some work.  You may have to try several different activities before you find a good fit. 

Avoid mimicking others, too.  For years I have failed at this, in large part, because I have thought I had to make myself suffer to do the dieting thing right.

No pain, no gain, right?

Well, yes and no. 

I have tried getting up at 5 a.m. to start my day with a walk many, many times.  There's nothing inherently wrong with that.  I admire people with that kind of self-discipline.

However, my pain is worse in the mornings.  It takes a regimen of stretching and easing into the day to get me going.  Early morning exercise is a shock to my system that I just can't do.

So I exercise at night.

And walking...agitates my sciatica pain, sometimes so greatly that after two laps around a track, I can't perform my regular duties well. 

That's no help, so I ditched the early-morning walks.  In fact, I refuse to walk around the track.  Period.

I also won't go near a gym because exercising in front of others causes me terrible anxiety.  As a child, I had orthopedic problems, and gym class was a form of torture that created lasting emotional damage.

With these things working against me what I have done many times, which is just plain wrong, is allow these things to be the excuses for why I don't exercise at all.

It causes me too much pain.

I'll look like a dope, and people will laugh at me.

I just can't do it.

Oh well, too bad.

But look where that has gotten me...to a very unhealthy place.

A few months ago, God convicted me about these things, and I am not just exercising because I want to lose weight or look a certain way, but because I want to please God with every aspect of my life.

He has kindly provided the Tony Little Gazelle but more importantly, He has provided His grace abundantly.  Apart from Him I can do nothing.

For me, exercising is an exercise in faith in which I must humble [my]self under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt [me], casting all [my] anxieties (including exercise anxiety) on him, because he cares for [me].  (1 Pet 5:6-7, changes mine)

And I'm learning that I don't have to be an athlete or walk around the track or start my day with exercise or join in on the latest-and-greatest work-out-routine. 

Rather, in faith, I put one foot in front of the other and do the best that I can.

And by God's grace, it is working!

What is the Lord teaching you as you work toward a healthier lifestyle?  Please link in and share.  You can find the Wednesday Weigh-in Rules here.  Linky will follow my prayer requests.

Here are my prayer requests for this week:

1. For the Lord to continue to give me a teachable spirit.
2. For my continued sanctification as He works on this particular area of my life.
3. For continued success in counting calories and exercising on the Gazelle.
4. For those who link in to this post and who are dieting with me anonymously.
5. For God to be exalted in my life and through this blog meme.

Happy Healthy Living!

Dawn 

Disclosure:  I was not compensated for adding in the link to Amazon.com or for blogging about the Tony Little Gazelle.  I just wanted you to see what I was talking about!  However, if you do click that link and buy anything from Amazon, I will receive a commission.

Disclaimer:  I am not a health science expert and am only blogging about what has worked for me.

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 14

Well, I'm a little short on brain cells today.  I caught the flu four days before Christmas and have been sick ever since.  Yesterday I went to the doctor for the second time since it all started and tested negative for any strain of the flu...that's gone.  Phew!  However, I have developed upper respiratory infection and bronchitis. 

I have many medicines flowing through me and am having a little trouble remembering English at the moment, so please forgive any typos, misspellings, ramblings....

However, for those of you with more brain cells than I me I me I...

Oh... if you have had your cup of coffee this morning, you may have noticed that my weigh-in skipped from Week 12 to Week 14.

No, I'm not superstitious, like the hotel people who refuse to have a thirteenth floor and then the buttons in the elevator count from 12 to 14.

That really annoys me.

Just thought you needed to know that.

Ahem, anyway... I missed checking in last week because I was in Tennessee celebrating a second Christmas with my husband's family and wasn't near a computer.  This is my 14th week on the diet, and I wanted my entry to reflect that even though it is only my 13th entry.

Got that?

Good!

I knew you had more brain cells than me I me I...

Oh, whatever.

Here's what you really want to know....

I lost 0.8 pound

bringing my total weight loss to 21.4 pounds!

Woo Hoo!

Now, let me tell you, with that having been over a period that included travel and two Christmas celebrations, my weight went up and down, up and down, UP and DOWN.  But, I got back on track on Saturday.

Which just goes to show that getting off track for a few days doesn't mean the diet has gone up in flames.

That's an all-or-nothing mentality that I wrestle with constantly.  So, if you're doing this with me and the holidays got you a little off track, don't despair.  I've slowed the wagon down a bit and am reaching out my hand for you.  Grab hold and jump back on!

You can link up today, too.  I know one of my co-dieters wants to link in, so Linky is back and you can find it after my prayer requests. 

HERE ARE THE RULES:

1. Please add the url for your specific weigh-in post.  Do not link to your blog in general.  Please email me if you need help with this.
2. Include my Wednesday Weigh-in graphic in your post.  Grab it from the top of this post.
3. Link back to Olive Plants.  You can either link with the graphic or within the body of your post...completely up to you. 
4. Share with your readers how much you have lost this week.  Whether you share any goals or totals or more specific info is completely up to you.
5. Share at least one prayer request in your post, too. 

Here are my requests this week:

1. That I will recover from bronchitis soon. 
2. For the Lord to continue to grant me more of the fruit of self-control and to be my constant help as I diet and exercise.
3. Praise- my pain levels have been low for about a month.  Please pray for continued relief.
4. For my friends who are dieting with me.  Please feel free to visit the blogs of those who link in and get their specific requests, but also know that there are some who want to remain anonymous and need our prayer support, too. 
5. For God to be glorified through this blog meme.

Here's Linky.  I look forward to reading your posts!

Happy Healthy Living!
Dawn

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 12

Well, no loss...no gain this week.

And I'm happy about that.  Every day this week, except for one, we were either at the ER or a doctor's office which doesn't sound like a diet obstacle, but it was.  Lots of driving to get one or both boys to a babysitter, then lots of time at the doctor's, then back to pick up the boys, then off to get prescriptions, late nights watching fevers and nursing migraines....  Completely blew our schedule and kept me from logging my food faithfully.

Sunday, we had a small Christmas celebration with the Kingdom Arrows (more about that in another post), and I enjoyed (and you must sing this to the tune of Jingle Bell Rock to fully enjoy it) Tater Tot, Tater Tot, Casserole and a piece of pie!  Yummo!

So this week gives me hope that when I have reached my goal weight, I will be able to maintain it without having to count calories for the rest of my life.

I will not post next week because we will be visiting my in-laws and I will have limited internet access.  My goal is to maintain a loss of 20-21 pounds until the New Year.

I will check back in on January 5, 2011 and let you know how I did!

Keep praying!

Dawn

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 11

Bad week, y'all...

I gained 0.4 of a pound

lowering my weight-loss total to 20.8 pounds.

Isn't it nice that My Fitness Pal rounds up so my little badge in the sidebar still says 21 pounds lost?!!!

Ah, well...it was a strange and difficult week, so I won't be too hard on myself.  There was a Christmas party and a broken bone.  I have not logged into My Fitness Pal since the injury because life has been a little "off" since then. 

I took Orville to orthopedist on Monday.  He did not need a cast; the break is really high on the humerus, making a cast difficult/unnecessary.  The break is a greenstick fracture which will grow back on its own.  Still, we have to keep the arm in a sling and immobilized.  And he is disappointed that he has a broken bone but no cast for his friends to sign.  I'm trying to think of something we can make, like a paper mache cast or a memory book, that his friends can sign. 

And keeping his arm still is REALLY HARD TO DO

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 10

So here's some good news...

I'm wearing shoes again!  I was able to wear my loosest-fitting tennis shoes yesterday.  It was uncomfortable, but not excruciating.

I was able to do some light exercise on the Gazelle yesterday, too!  Thank you for your prayers.  The Lord is healing my toe, much faster than I anticipated.  He has blessed my dieting efforts this week as well.  This week...

I lost 1.6 lbs.

bringing my weight-loss total to 21.2 lbs!

Okay, since I have lost consistently for ten weeks (there was one week with no loss, but no gain either), I want to share a little tip.

This is the first time I have dieted that I have not tried to eat particular foods in particular amounts.  For example, dieting in the past has always meant eating at least one salad every day.  For some reason, in my world, diet = salad.

Well, after a week of salads, I get tired of them and my stomach begins to cramp.  Not pleasant...and after a few weeks, I start "cheating" and eating things like potato chips. 

That restrictive feeling of having to eat a certain number of fruits and veggies each day while keeping the fat to a minimum and watching carbs... aaaahhhhh!  It always backfires.  It makes everything except for salad seem like the forbidden fruit, and I want the "bad stuff" all the more.

Before I began this diet, I evaluated my eating habits and found they weren't really that bad.  Most nights I cook dinner at home and include lean meat and a couple veggies.  Breakfast usually consists of something good, too.  Lunch was my most problematic meal where I often opted for something fast, like PBJ's.  I have made the biggest change there, substituting lean meat sandwiches or lower-calorie soup.

Simply put, I am counting calories but I don't get too worked up about how those calories stack up.  I'm eating fruits and veggies every day, yes, but not a salad.  And I'm not eating according to any set diet plan.  No counting carbs or eating cabbage or counting sevings of each food group or points.  I eat as best as I can each day and keep track of it, stopping at 1500-1600 calories.

I make room for some things I enjoy, too.  For instance, I like to start my day with a soda, not diet, the real thing, so I have that one soda each day.  It's my cup of coffee, y'all.

And there is plenty of room in my food budget for snacks.  Sometimes even potato chips...not the whole bag.  I have to keep to the serving sizes but I remind myself that getting to have 14 chips occasionally is better than no chips at all. 

I am trying to learn to live with self-control which I know is a fruit of the Spirit and so I pray about these things.  I know when I am lacking in one of the fruits that I am sinning and must repent.  When I am struggling with patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control, etc., I must pray for extra measures of grace.  Those fruits are not my work but the work of the Holy Spirit. 

I covet your prayers and appreciate them so.  Please pray for me this week as follows:

1. Complete recovery of my toe.  Praise the Lord and give Him thanks for the healing thus far and that I can wear shoes again.  Ask Him to help me as I get in small exercise routines each day and work back up to my norm.
2. For continued self-control, particularly through the holidays.  There's a lot of blogging going on about how we are to celebrate and about the bah-humbug syndrome.  Not trying to fall into that category...there's no inner-grinch residing within me.  However, this is, for me, not the time for grand and long-lasting celebrations.  I plan to enjoy particular days with family, but cannot use the holiday season as an excuse to indulge day-after-day.  Though there are many who are in a position to let the wine and cookies flow and can celebrate His goodness and abundance this month, for me, that would not be worshipping God but self serving.
3. For my friends who are dieting with me.
4. For God to be glorified.

Happy Healthy Living!
Dawn

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 9

I was really worried about this week's weigh-in.

Really, really worried.

But...

I lost 4 lbs

bringing my total weight loss to 19.6 lbs!

Since the toe incident, however, I have not felt well and have not eaten well.  When I went to the doctor, I received 3 shots...tetanus, antibiotics and steroids.  The combo knocked me for a loop with some major side-effects.  So some of my weight loss can probably be attributed to a lack of appetite.  Plus I was pretty sick last week and did not eat much then either.  I think that weight loss just kicked in.  So don't try to lose 4 lbs in a week like me.  I have not gone about it in the healthiest of ways.  :)

For those of you keeping up with my toe saga... currently I can't wear a shoe on the injured foot.  I can barely stand for the bandage to touch my wound, meaning my regular exercise routine is out for a while.  The pool is out too since I have to keep the wound dry and clean for a few weeks.  I am giving myself a few days to recover from all the meds (I was given 3 prescriptions in addition to the shots) then I will plan a new exercise strategy...sit ups or pilates maybe.  Not the cardio I need, and it's going to be tough to work around this toe, but I am determined to do something....

20 lbs. lost is a BIG milestone for me, and I don't want my injury to interfere with my progress.  I am at a weight I have not seen since we have lived in Georgia.  I have officially lost what I call the Tennessee-stress weight (very stressful events prompted our move from TN to GA).  After I lose 10 more lbs, I will weigh what I did when I found out I was pregnant with Wilbur.  Having lost 20 lbs, 10 seems not as hard as it used to.

For those keeping up with the chronic pain saga, the doctor recanted her statements concerning fybromyalgia.  She forgot that she had mentioned anything to me about it the previous week and told me to go back to previous doctor...that he could better advise me.  For now, I plan to get through the foot thing, continue to lose weight, and pray about returning to see previous doctor or see a rheumatologist or some other plan that has not yet been made known to us.

Disappointing, yet I know God has a purpose and a grand plan that I cannot comprehend.  I am resting in Him, trusting His sovereignty, thankful that His mercies are new each morning.   

Here are my prayer requests this week:

1. For the pain in my foot to subside, at least enough that I can find some way to exercise.  Also for the quick healing of the area where the toe nail should be and the small puncture wound, created when the nail dislodged.  It is doubtful I will get a new toenail; there was extensive damage to the cuticle which leads us to believe the nail bed is severely damaged.  If the nail returns, it will be a deformed, ugly looking toenail...so I've been told.  All of that really means very little to me.  My main concern is for the wound to heal over and the new skin to callous so that I can wear shoes and regain full mobility.
2. That I will continue to lose weight, or at least maintain what I have lost, even though my physical activity will be limited for a few weeks.
3. For wisdom concerning which doctor to see about my chronic pain problems and what testing, if any, to undergo.
4. For my two friends who are dieting with me.
5. For God to be glorified.

Happy Healthy Living!
Dawn

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 8

Okay, so I have a confession to make.

I did not log into My Fitness Pal three days this week.  I did not go to the pool at all.  I only worked out on the Gazelle once.

I know you don't want to hear excuses but I gotta tell ya anyway.

Stomach virus for me, followed by a BIG pain flare up (had to do the soap sale in agony), followed by more stomach virus for me, followed by stomach virus for Wilbur. 

It was a difficult week, y'all, but still there's good news.

I lost 0.2 lb.!

That takes my weight-loss total to 15.6 lbs!

And MFP has graciously rounded that upward so my little badgie thing in the sidebar now says 16 pounds lost!  After such a tough week, I'll take it!!

In related news, I went to the doctor yesterday because I needed refills on a prescription I take for Restless Leg Syndrome. 

Yes, it's real.  I know you've seen the RLS commercials and snickered.  The name alone makes me snort every time I have to say or type it.

However, it really is no laughing matter.  It is torture.  I have managed RLS for about 10 years, the first seven of which I tried natural, homeopathic treatments.  I have rubbed on creams, taken vitamins, eliminated caffeine from my diet, hooked my legs up to a crazy squeezy contraption, done yoga (at 2 a.m.), pilates (at 3 a.m.) and an assortment of other stretchy-cises (at 4, 5, and 6 a.m. each morning, cause I couldn't sleep)...

All to no avail.

Torture, people.  TORTURE!

So about three years ago, I gave in and went the prescription drug route.  I have slept well ever since.

The real point in sharing this is that I went in for a routine check-up so I could get the refills, and the doctor noticed that I had not come in to have my vitamin D levels re-evaluated.

After the last BIG pain flare up in January, it was determined that my D levels were dangerously low.  I was put on a 50,000 unit mega dose to be taken weekly for two months and then every other week for THE REST OF MY LIFE.

I didn't go back for a re-evaluation because life got really busy and I had spent all of our med money for the year on MRI's and EMG's and myriad other exams...all to hear your vitamin D is low.

I didn't take it too well at the time and have to admit that even if time and money had not been issues, I still wouldn't have gone back.  I needed a break from doctors, tests and less-than-favorable diagnoses.

Well, yesterday, Doctor was not too happy with me and insisted I have the level evaluated immediately (wouldn't give refills for RLS meds unless I did).  Okay, fine, whatever....I was thinking at that point.

Then she began to talk about Fibromyalgia...as if I had been diagnosed.

Which I haven't. 

No doctor has ever used that word with me.

Exept to tell me no, it's probably not fibro...you're overweight and you are probably depressed.

She was not the doctor who has been managing my pain or had ordered all the testing initially.  She just saw the red flag on my file regarding the vitamin D thing and needed to take care of business. 

But...while telling me all the reasons why skipping the re-evaluation was wrong and dangerous, she said the little magical words that made my heart leap with joy... this looks like fibromyalgia.

That all the symptoms are there.

For 20 years, I have been seeking a diagnosis, and no doctor anywhere from Memphis to Atlanta would call my pain problems anything other than a weight problem, a vitamin D problem, or a mental issue.

I have been praying about seeing a rheumatologist thinking it could be fibro or something in the arthritis family.  I haven't gone yet because I have feared more expensive tests with no real outcome.  Plus, I wanted to lose as much weight as possible before I saw another doctor so that the red herring could be eliminated.

Yes, being overweight doesn't help.  That's why I'm working as hard as I can to lose.  However, this all started when I was 19 and was at the best weight and fitness level of my life so I don't think it is just a weight problem. 

And I definitely don't think it is a mental issue.  Depressed women do not manage a household, homeschool, help their husbands, tutor ESL students, make a zillion bars of soap in a month, and serve as the president of the homeschool association.

Just sayin'....

So the fact that someone called this something makes me feel things that I don't quite know how to put into words...good things. 

For starters... hopeful and thankful. 

It's not that fibro or anything else arthritis related is good news, but knowing what is wrong with me, being able to explain to people why I hurt all the time and have them understand, to give it a name...it would just be too good for words.

So my prayer requests this week are short and sweet:

1. I go back to the doc on Tuesday to get the vitamin D report.  I intend to have a serious discussion with her about fibro/arthritis and next steps to take. 
2. Please pray that we'll recover from the viruses that are still making their rounds through the family in time for a great Thanksgiving celebration tomorrow. 
3. For my two friends who are dieting with me.  I am not the best weight-loss team leader, but we are lifting each other in prayer which is most important.
4. For God to be glorified.

Thank you and have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Healthy Living!
Dawn



Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 7

I am a woman of few words today.  Mostly because my weigh-in results have me tongue-tied.  It was a tough week with lots to do in preparation for the soap sale along with homeschool, home life, tutoring, homeschool association, church and doctor appointments.

Go! Go! Go! was the theme this week and eating right and exercising were challenging.

And every day that I had planned to go swimming it was rainy- cool and rainy.  It's just hard to get into a swimming mindset when faced with dreary, chilly weather.

Okay, it was still 50-60 something degrees, and the pool is indoors.  But I'm a Southern Gal and those kind of  temps coupled with rain make me feel icy all over. 

I was wrapped up in my Snuggie drinking hot tea and reading Narnia.

Plus the pool closes if there's lightning or strong winds.  I always imagine getting there, just getting in and wet and then being told we must leave immediately.  That would be immensely frustrating.  And COLD!

There would not be enough hot tea and Snuggies to help me recover from that.

So to settle my southern heart, we just skipped going to the pool this week.

We also had later-than-normal meals which always equals needing to feed the crew something quick and easy.

That used to mean let's eat out or grab a frozen pizza or something else dreadful like that, if I didn't have meals in the freezer.  Which I don't right now because I have not had time this month to cook ahead.

We did eat out twice, but at Wendy's and Arby's where I could meet my calorie goals and still be nourished and full.  We also only bought our main dish, a grilled chicken sandwich or roast beef sandwich, from the restaurants and I steamed veggies to go with it at home.  Add in some yogurt for me, cheese cubes, fruit cups and toast for the boys and we had ourselves a very filling, mostly nutritious meal.

I also visited the Wal Mart deli twice.  Their rotisserie chickens are FABULOUS, inexpensive (I couldn't make it myself for the same price), very low calorie and with carrots, celery sticks and fruit makes a great, filling dinner.  Again the fellers also had mashed potatoes (from the freezer), cheese, okra (from the deli) and bread.  (I can tell Orville has hit early adolescence.  His plate is piled high EVERY SINGLE MEAL with about six snacks in between!!!)

I replaced swimming with five, 30-minute workouts on the Gazelle, too.  I have been so cold that it felt great to sweat!

So with all the eating out and changes in exercise, I expected to step on the scale this morning and see no change or maybe even a little upward movement.  But instead...

I lost 2.2 lbs!!!

That brings my total weight loss to 15.4 lbs.!!!!

Yea!!!  Praise the Lord!!!

So, let me know...how did you do this week?  Make sure you check in with me via comments, email or My Fitness Pal.  I am encouraged by all of you and love to hear your results!

Here are my prayer requests for the week:

1. 15 pounds is ALWAYS where my diets take a turn for the worse.  I guess I feel a sense of accomplishment and start to grow tired of the work it takes to lose weight.  It has always been the point at which I decide I don't need a weight loss service any more and drop out to do it on my own.  Not doing that this time.  Pray that in the midst of feeling good about the lost weight, I will be mindful of how far I still have to go...that God will grant me perseverance.
2. I am starting to prepare for the holidays.  I am making a plan for each holiday so that it will be ONE  day of celebrating.  I will be eliminating lots of tempting little treats hanging around the house for days before and after.  Pray that food will have a proper place in my life and that I will flee the temptation of holiday excuses.
3. The Gazelle continues to be a good alternate exercise.  Pray for my stamina and pain levels as well as my commitment to workout each week day.
4. There are two friends who are dieting with me.  Please pray for their continued success.  What a blessing they are to me!
5. That God will be glorified.

Happy Healthy Living!
Dawn 

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 6

I don't have much time this morning so I'm going to get right to it...

I lost 1.4 pounds this week

bringing my total weight loss to 13.4 pounds!



Before I joined My Fitness Pal, I took notes for a few days in a spiral bound notebook.  I was headed for disaster that way and am really glad I found the free, on-line journal (much easier).  However, I had recorded a loss of 0.4 lbs. in that notebook and I did not initially record it on MFP.  I entered my start weight as what I weighed on the day I created my MFP account and not on my true start date.

How was that for confusing???

I hope you've had some coffee before you read that one because I haven't and I'm not sure if that made any sense.  lol

Anyway, I corrected my start weight yesterday, and my weight loss from last week's post to today's seems like1.8 lbs when my true weight loss is 1.4 lbs.

Not that anyone is probably following that closely, but just staying honest.

Plus, I lost that initial 0.4 pounds, I intend to claim it!  lol

On a more serious note... my studies have been in 1 Cor 15 this week, and I wanted to share this verse with you. 

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.  1 Cor 15:10

This weight loss thing is hard work, yet it is not my work but the work of grace in me that enables me to stay the course.  Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit, and I am continually praying for more of it.  Losing weight may not seem like a "spiritual" thing to do, but as a Christian, I want to serve the Lord in whatever I do, and His grace is sufficient in all things.

Thank you for your prayers, and I am continuing to pray for you.  Feel free to share your progress in comments or email me.

Here are my requests for this week:

1. For clarity of thought and purpose when writing these posts.
2. For continued success with diet and exercise.
3. For two of my friends who are dieting with me.
4. For holiday preparation...I don't want to "blow my diet" but want to reasonably enjoy the holidays and be able to celebrate with family and friends.
5. For God to be glorified.

Happy Healthy Living!

Dawn

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 5

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This week sure had its challenges!

On Sunday we celebrated Reformation Day which brought two temptations my way.  First, we enjoyed a celebration meal.  I felt unsure how to approach it at first.  Part of me wanted to be the strict dieter who calls all enjoyable food bad and completely abstains.  Part of me wanted to be the excuse maker who, with a "we-only-live-once" attitude, dives right in to the smorgasbord and over-indulges.

That, I'm learning, is one of my problems which makes weight maintenance so difficult.  Here's where I could insert an entire series on 1 Cor 8, where eating meat sacrificed to idols is addressed. Instead, I will encourage you to read this, Matthew Henry's commentary on the chapter. 

In short, the application for me is to pray for the grace to approach food with a proper sense of Christian liberty.  Calling what God has declared good to be bad is wrong.  Sinning by abusing Christian liberty through over-indulgence or partaking in those things which I know cause my weaker brother (in this case me and anyone who is watching my diet) to stumble is nothing short of sin, either.

So I approached the party prayerfully and with a plan.  I knew the menu in advance and logged in my meal plan before I went.  By God's grace, I placed on my plate what was on the plan, ate a good, filling and enjoyable meal and felt fully satisfied afterward.

The other temptations were candy from the party and Wilbur's birthday.  The boy wanted Oreos for his treat and I did not want him to feel punished because of my weakness, so I bought some Oreos.  I allowed myself one mini Milky Way and imagined all the other candy in their bags had a sour middle to help me deny myself.  I also allowed myself two Oreos and prayed and gave myself the talk about abusing liberty and sinning each time I wanted to reach into the bag for more. 

That probably reads like I am so strong.  So spiritual.  So full of will-power. 

I'm not.

I am so weak and so dependent on God. 

I feel like this diet could crash and burn at any moment because I know who I am.  A sinful woman.  There is a constant wrestle and I find myself at the Throne of Grace over and over again. 

This weight loss is not my work, but a  work of grace in me, and I praise God for this week's results!

I lost 2.4 lbs.

bringing my weight-loss total to 11.6 lbs!

Praise the Lord for sustaining and blessing my efforts this week!

Since no one linked in last week, I will leave the Linky off this week.  If you want to link in, email me and I will add it.  Otherwise, continue to pray and email me.  Look me up on My Fitness Pal, too.  I am user homeschooldawn.

Please pray this week for the following:

• That I would continue to mature in my attitude toward food and my commitment to exercise (I did get in all my swimming and Gazelle work outs- for those keeping me accountable).
• That the weight will continue to "fall off".  It's not really "falling off", but you know what I mean.
• Swimming not only does not cause my pain to flare up, but relieves it when there is a flare up.  This is a praise, and I am praying that it will continue to be a help.
• For the extra measures of grace that I need to develop a Biblical mindset regarding food and exercise and to resist true temptation.
• For two of my sisters in Christ who are dieting with me.
• That God will be glorified.

Happy Dieting!
Dawn

Wednesday Weigh-in: Week 4

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Well, I knew it would happen eventually. 

When one loses almost six pounds one week, then a pound and half the next, and almost three and a half the week after that, things have to stabilize eventually.

This week, my weight was exactly the same as last week.

No loss.

No gain.

Which keeps my total weight loss at 9.2 lbs!

And I'm still celebrating because a little over nine pounds in one month is something to celebrate!

I didn't really do anything different this week.  I kept to the same caloric intake and went swimming twice and even exercised on the gazelle once. 

And, at one point, I found myself on a horse riding it for what seemed like a thousand miles.  It was probably more like two or three, but it seemed like a thousand.  And riding a horse is something I would never do intentionally.  PAIN FLARE UP afterwards!!

Oh, and how exactly does one ride a horse unintentionally, you wonder?  You'll have to wait for my weekly wrap-up to find out.

For now, back to the point...

I have probably hit a plateau and just need to stay the course.  I expect my numbers will be more realistic from here on out and I am so glad I'm not in this alone!!

In fact a few of you have commented and emailed this week about wanting to join me.  Weight loss is a a really hard thing to accomplish.  Which means that we really do need each other for help, encouragement, accountability, and prayer.  These are all my reasons for blogging about my progress.

But it is a really sensitive topic, and going public may not be the best option for everyone who wants to join me.  So I am going to provide several options for joining in, and you choose what would work best for you.  To do a Wednesday Weigh-in of your own, do one or more of the following:

• Continue to read and pray for me. 
• Leave your prayer requests and updates as comments or email me privately if you would prefer.
• Join My Fitness Pal and request to be my friend.  I'm user homeschooldawn.  It's kind of like facebook.  Certain info is private while some is public.  I have my account set so that only the amount I lose is visible to others.  My actual weight is private. If you join, the whole world does not have to see your private data; however, we can write encouraging notes on each other's wall and provide each other support.
• Write a Wednesday Weigh-in post each week and link back in to Olive Plants.  Starting today, I will add a Linky to my posts so we can organize our efforts!  To participate, write about your progress and post to your blog.  You don't have to share your actual weight or how much you intend to lose, just how much you lost (or didn't) that week.  Grab my icon from the top of this post and display it on your post.  I would love it if everyone would include prayer requests each week, too. 

Speaking of which, I will keep mine short this week and then get to the Linky!  Please pray for me in the following ways:

• That I won't be discouraged by this plateau and will stay the course.  My chief goal in this is to glorify God and find my contentment in Him.  Discouragement is just a symptom of discontent and a product of pride.  May God keep me from it.
• For extra measures of grace to exercise through pain.  I had two flare ups this week, one horse-induced and the other for no apparent  reason. I praise the Lord for His grace and help. 
• That God would be pleased to help others through this blog series and that he would raise up a Christian support group.  That we would encourage one another in the Lord, with Scripture and prayer and that our goals would be pleasing to Him.

Thank you for your prayers, and I look forward to working together to serve and glorify God as He helps us to live healthier and more fully for Him.

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence ... I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.  Eph 3:12, 16-19

Happy Healthy Living!
Dawn