Almost a Year!

I have been free from overeating and dieting for almost a year now and have lost 110 lbs so far! It will be a year Dec. 19. I am excited to say I lost 9 lbs just in the last month! Jesus is AMAZING!! How he can just set a person totally FREE is all the miracle I will ever need!! He gave me eternal life, salvation, saved my children , and set me free from addiction to food, if he never did another thing it would be more than enough already! I am blessed beyond measure and pray for others to get that freedom too!! 

Psalm 22:8
“He trusts in the LORD,” they say, “let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.”

Freedom

I am down 101 lbs as of today and free from food addiction! Amen! Freedom is so sweet, better than food or any other outside thing. I want to shout it to the world!! I wish more people could hear me or would listen to me. Its so hard when you see people with this struggle and you have the answer but they dont want it. I want it for them so bad because it is the most awesome feeling in the world. Jesus is the key! The answer to all problems, all addictions, all things!! He can help you just as he did me! He loves us and does not want us to be in bondage! I pray and pray for people to see! I dont want it for them because I want them to agree with me, I want it for them because with this kind of freedom you cannot help but feel like the weight of the world is off your shoulders and you will not have to hurt over this problem anymore. I pray for you and I love you!

Before & Now

God's definately not done with me yet and I have a way to go but someone requested I post a before and now pic, so here it goes. I looked horrible but if this will help someone see what Jesus can do here it goes!

Sept 1 Weigh In

Time for my monthly weigh in and I have lost 90 lbs! I am so excited about what Jesus has done and is still doing in me! Since I have been set FREE he has moved so much more in my life! It's because he always wants to be 1st! I never knew how locked up I was until I found FREEDOM!! This is not about dieting at all, has absolutely nothing to do with food, it's all about letting God have control because you realize nothing you do yourself will ever compare to what he can to. It's not self control its GOD control. Our bodies are not our own they belong to God and are to be used for his purpose. 1 Corinthians 6:19 ¹⁹What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
It's about God's Will not my will!

If you are tired of trying to do it yourself, give in and give it to GOD! Just watch the At Home Series at www.weighdown.com and make sure you watch all the videos not just some of them and get free. Freedom is not about giving up something and still wanting to do it, Freedom is letting it go and having no desire to do it anymore! That is where God has brought me! I don't even desire to overeat anymore and I am not a slave to food anymore!! John 8:36
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
I want this for everyone because I know how hard it is to lose weight and how helpless it makes you feel. I have been there, I was there for 30 years.  It's time to let go and let Jesus take the wheel!! Love you Guys!!

http://www.weighdown.com/

Focus Up!

These little videos are only 1 minute long, but are great tips to keeping us on our path!!!!

Goodbye Scales!!!

Goodbye Scales, I will not answer to you any longer!!! For awhile now God has been dealing with me about my obsession with weighing myself. I was running to the scales to confirm that this was working for me. That is not freedom, freedom does not consist of worry. So after much stubborn resistance I finally gave in and gave it to God. I laid them on the altar at church!! Jesus says bring me your burdens and place them at my feet, well that is what I did. I had to let go and LET GOD!!! That is the only way to be free!! I will no longer worry about weight, food, or scales! I will obey God and stand on his promises. Through obedience I am free, God will put me where he wants me to be, he will decide what weight is best for me and I will continue to be obedient and trust him and him alone!! I have been praying to be clean in his eyes, free from bondage in any form and this is where he has brought me!! Thank you Jesus for showing me the way!!! I wont know my weight or amount lost but Jesus will take the rest off and I will be right where he wants me to be!!!

June 1 Weigh In

As of June 1 God has taken off 64 lbs and still going.  I am so thankful.  It gets easier everyday and the desire to overeat is completely gone.
I have seen several shows on TV lately about overeating and weird eating habits. My heart breaks for anyone suffering from any kind of addiction. Jesus is the answer. He can set you totally free. Yes, diets, counseling, can help you lose weight but if you were anything like me you will gain it back and then some extra. That was me, I could lose it and I could gain it but the desire not to want food was impossible until God showed me the way. God took the desire to want to overeat away, how awesome is that?! God wants us all to be free from slavery and bondage to addictions. Christians live in bondage too, not just lost people, but God wants freedom for his Children!! If you truly want this cycle to be over of dieting then binging take the step! Watch the videos for free at www.weighdown.com and let God set you free!!! I truly believe the videos are anointed because everyone I try to explain this too doesn't really get the conviction from God until they see the videos, but once they do they get it!! I am so happy to say several people have joined me in this and they too are losing weight and being set free!!! We serve an awesome God who wants the best for us, in obedience we receive blessings and freedom!! Don't wait start today!!!!

Galatians 5

¹ It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

May 1, 2011

One month since weighing and down a total of 58 lbs!! The Lord is working this miracle in me! Freedom from food addiction! Thank you Jesus for showing me the way. Give it all to him today, this is not just for me but for anyone with any kind of addiction, there is freedom in the Lord. Lay down your life and give him all of you, that is what he wants, not just certain parts but your whole life. That is for sure one thing I have learned in all of this.

I am not sure when I will post again but it will most likely be before a month this time. I want to track my progress and I want for others to find the answer in all of this too. I want to see others be set free just as I have been. One of my friends started a week ago and praise the Lord he took 10 lbs off of her the 1st week. Thank you Lord for showing us the way, holding us accountable, convicting us, and setting us free!!!

Here is a link to the Weigh Down Workshop http://www.weighdown.com/ and also you can find the videos free on youtube just search Weigh Down at Home. Don't wait! You can do this, with Jesus we can do all things!!!

Acts 13:39
Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses.

Letting Go!

I didn't post on Tuesday because I have been dealing with a few things and God has shown me, I haven't been letting go. I have been losing weight and started off truly putting it in God's hands but lately I have been taking it back and trying to do it my way. What I mean by that is I find myself trying to keep up with what I am eating, counting calories or trying to figure out how many calories I am having, and also longing to get on that scale!! This is still bondage, not freedom! I realized I have to totally give up and give it all to Jesus!! Yes, I have been losing weight but God wants more than that from me, he wants my heart to fully trust him, FULLY!!! I keep trying to take control and it's not about self control, it's about God control!! Yes, I can still count calories and lose weight but that is not Freedom. Complete freedom from this addiction is turning it all over to God and trusting him 100% to take care.  This is my dessert of testing and I have to keep my eye on the promise land, which is total freedom. No more counting calories, no more thinking about calories, no more weighing once a week and depending on the scales to let me know if I am doing right.  God has been dealing with my heart and preparing me to totally let go and has shown me that this week. I will give it to you Lord!!

I have decided for now to only weigh once a month, this is gonna be hard for me, so please pray for me! I will try to do it on the 1st of the month and post my progress unless God shows me that is still too much.  I am excited because I know God will be in control of this from now on and I don't have to worry anymore I just have to be obedient. The truth shall set you Free, and I am Free indeed!! Free in the Lord and there is nothing better than that.  Please friends pray for me that I can stay strong in the Lord and stand on his promises. Thank you!!

Galatians 5:1
 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Less of Me and More of You, Lord!!

Weighed this morning and I am down 4 lbs from last week for a grand total of 43 lbs so far!!!! Thank you Lord!!! His way is the best way, it not only helps us to shed the extra weight, it also brings us closer to him! I feel like he is cleaning me both physically and spiritually, LESS OF ME and MORE OF HIM!!! That is my desire, to please him! To have him drain me of all my sin and short comings and to fill me up with what he wants me to be!  Lord, take away my sinful desires and open my heart to what you would have me to do! Let me fulfill your purpose in me!! Amen!!!

Ephesians 3:7-9 

 ⁷ I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. ⁸ Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

Excited

I am down 39lbs as of yesterday but didn't get around to blogging yesterday! Down another pound and I will take it!! It's coming off and I am excited about it, but most of all I am excited about what God is doing in my life. Dealing with my addiction to food and realizing accountability and being set FREE has opened up my heart to let the Lord's Will take precedence over my own! It's not about my wants, my needs, my desires, it is about letting him transform me into a new creation and wanting to please Him much more than I want to please myself. Thank you Lord for loving me, disciplining me, and changing me into who you want me to be!! Lord,I live for you and your purpose alone!!!

Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

March 1

Well here it is March 1 and amazingly I am down 38 lbs total! Not a whole lot to chat about this week just been busy with pics and trying to get all the normal things back to normal.

Sometimes I feel closer to God than ever, then somedays I feel he is so far away. I guess we all feel like that at times. I do especially when I get caught up in everyday life. We have to remember to wake up and devote each and everyday to him.  I know how hard that is because we have so much going on all the time, but I am even more determined to do that now.  This commitment to lose the weight takes more than I have, it takes Jesus. I know without him I would fail, but with him I know I can succeed!

Hope everyone has a Great week!!!!!

Psalm 20^[a]

 ¹ May the LORD answer you when you are in distress;
   may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.
² May he send you help from the sanctuary
   and grant you support from Zion.
³ May he remember all your sacrifices
   and accept your burnt offerings.^[b]
4 May he give you the desire of your heart
   and make all your plans succeed.
⁵ May we shout for joy over your victory
   and lift up our banners in the name of our God.

   May the LORD grant all your requests.
 ⁶ Now this I know:
   The LORD gives victory to his anointed.
He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary
   with the victorious power of his right hand.
⁷ Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
   but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
⁸ They are brought to their knees and fall,
   but we rise up and stand firm.
⁹ LORD, give victory to the king!
   Answer us when we call!

Down a Pound

Well I only lost a pound this week, but I cannot complain because last week I lost 6.  This is the absolute worse time of the month to be weighing and I still lost a pound! God is good all the time and desires us to crave him not food, somedays are not as easy as others, but when the hard times come I have been running to God and not to food. Thank you Lord for showing me the way!!! Down 36 lbs as of today!

James 1:4
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything

Busy Week

This weather has been great!! I am ready to get back into my photography alittle more now! Kinda been taking a break because I hate cold weather and even though I have a studio I still hate to even leave the house when it is cold. I know that is bad and I am thankful for each and every day God gives me, but I get chilled to the bone in the winter and want to hibernate. This week is kind of my come back week, lol, not that I have really been anywhere just taking some time off. I have sessions booked all week and a wedding this weekend, busy, busy, busy, but still I will make time for the Lord. Sometimes I tend to put my focus on the things that I am doing at the time, but God has to come first. I will let him lead me where ever he wants me to go, and that place does change from time to time, but enough about work, let's discuss the weight.

I am so happy to say God has taken off  35 lbs as of today!!! All I can say is Thank You Jesus!!! It's coming off!!!!! I am really looking forward to the summer now, I feel so much better and I am ready to get out of the house and get some excerise. I love just enjoying nature and I am so looking forward to that! 

Psalm 23:1-3 

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.
 ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
 ³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name’s sake.

Weigh Down Book

For those interested in doing what I am doing here is the link to buy the book on Amazon.com http://www.amazon.com/Weigh-Down-Diet-Gwen-Shamblin/dp/038549324X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1297295009&sr=1-1

Weigh Day

Waiting to weigh on a certain day if hard. I have weighed a few times in between but I am trying to keep it to a minimum. It's not that I weigh to make sure it is working because I trust God and know that it is, it's that I am so excited about losing.  Got on the scale this morning and I am happy to say God has taken off 29lbs!! I am overjoyed!! Some days I find myself wishing it would just hurry up and be gone but most days I just go with the flow knowing it takes time to get it off. I think 29lbs from Dec. 19 until now is pretty fast anyway.

I am feeling better by the day and it is Alot easier now than at 1st. God can and will answer our prayers in his timing not ours, we just have to be patient, and stand firm in faith!

Ecclesiastes 3:1-14

A Time for Everything

 ¹ There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:  ² a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace.
 ⁹ What do workers gain from their toil? ¹⁰ I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. ¹¹ He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet^[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. ¹² I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. ¹³ That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. ¹⁴ I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

Evil Cake Monster

Well I have decided to change my official weigh day to Tuesday because Monday's are CRAZY, and I never seem to have time to weigh or blog.

I weighed this morning and God has removed 26 lbs so far. I love seeing those numbers going down. I am feeling alot better and can move and breathe easier too. 

With each passing day it seems to get easier and easier, I am thinking alot less about food and thinking more about God and what he wants for my life. I need to be a reflection of him, both inside and out. He desires that my heart be set and focused on him and him alone.  I love that he cares enough to work on me.

Both of my daughters are having birthdays this month, Madison's is this Saturday, and Sarah's was last Thursday. One of my biggest weakness is Birthday Cake, it is one of my favorite foods. The day I picked up the cake for Sarah I brought it home and had to smell it all day long. I swear the Devil was all over me that day, saying "You know you cannot resist this cake" "Just go ahead and eat it you can make up for it later" but I also heard God say "No, do not follow your own desires, do not give in to your will, stay focused on me and my will". Through much prayer I resisted!! I waited for the right time to eat it, which was between hunger and fullness, and I ate only a couple of bites. I know that it was by the Grace of God only that I could wait, and only eat a small amount, and resist and overcome the temptation to devour it all. Thank you Lord for giving me strength to overcome the "Evil Cake Monster"!!  Don't get me wrong the cake was really great and I know it was allowed within the rules, but over indulgence is not ok, and God got me thru the temptation!!

1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Only A Day Late

Yes, it is Tuesday and yes I weighed this morning, God has taken off 24lbs as of today. Still going with an even stronger desire to please God than when I started, with each passing day I am losing weight, feeling better, all while growing closer to the Lord.

Decided this week to start reading the New Testament from beginning to end. I am learning so much. I know when you read the word God opens it up to you for understanding. I love learning more about the Lord and what he wants for my life.  It has also keeps me straight on this narrow path of obedience.  I feel the closeness growing everyday.  I feel I have been a toddler in Christ for awhile and it is time for me to mature. I thank the Weigh Down Workshop and the Lord for opening my eyes to this!!

I really wish more people would try this!  We need to know Food is not bad, Food is not the problem, God created Food for us to enjoy as long as we are hungry and do not overeat. Other diets focus on changing the food and deprivation but the desire to overeat is still there and the diet food leaves us wanting. We have to change our hearts desires, God made all food clean but we need to clean up our hearts, not the food. What better way to lose weight than to be able to eat what you want without thinking about diet food, all while growing closer to the Lord, and being set free from the bondage of overeating!!

1 Timothy 4 ¹ The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ² Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. ³ They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. ⁴ For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, ⁵ because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

Trust Man or Trust God?

Just thought of a few things I have realized  that are man made rules, not God's rules. Thought I would share.

1. You must eat breakfast to lose weight? Man's Answer: Yes  God's Answer: No. Are we going to trust what man says or what God says?  God gave us internal mechanisms to let us know when we are hungry. When we are truly physically hungry our stomach's will Growl, this lets us know we are out to fuel and it is time to eat. If our stomach's are not growling we still have fuel in our system that needs to be burned before eating again. Think of it this way, does a baby eat just to be eating? Or do they eat when their bodies are telling them they are hungry? It is time to trust God! We trust him with our babies because he lets them know when its time to eat, so why do we have problems trusting him with our own bodies?  Have you ever known anyone to never ever have a stomach growl and literally die because they never realized they were hungry? NO! Some people may chose to ignore it and die because they refused to eat, or some people starve because they have no food but ALL people get the feeling of true hunger.  Truth of the matter is if you consume less food you will lose weight no matter what time of day you are eating. We have to forget what we have been taught by man made rules and learn to trust God!!

2.  I have to clean my plate because it's wrong to leave food because there are starving people all over the world.  Man's Answer: Yes  God's Answer: No  1st of all you don't have to leave food you can always take your left over's home and eat them later.  2nd  How are you helping anyone by eating too much and gaining weight? 3rd I realized for me to overeat is Greedy, yes there are starving children all over the world but how is eating more than my share helping them?  Is taking more than God has for me helping those children? No! In fact I feel ashamed for doing that for so long.  I just thank the Lord for opening my eyes!

3. God doesn't care how much I eat!  Man's Answer: God has bigger things to do than worry about your eating habits. God's Answer: Do not put anything before me!  Why do we eat if we are not physically hungry?
 There are lots of reasons, here are just a few:
(A) Because it tastes Good! Yes, but that comes from the Desires of Our Hearts and our hearts should belong to God not other things like Food!
(B) I had a bad day and I need comfort! That comes from the want and need of feeling good, we should be running to God for that feeling not Food.  God can give us love and comfort in return, all overeating does is makes us Fat and feel guilty and makes us want to eat more. Think about it what has overeating ever gave you that was good for you? Weight problems, heartburn, feeling sleepy, guilt, depression, those things are not something anyone would want are they?
(C) Because I love to eat! We have to stop loving false idols and start giving our whole heart to the Lord. We have to stop bowing down to the refrigerater and bow down to God alone!  We have to stop our love affair and obsession with food, and give our love to Christ!

4. We have to only eat diet foods to lose weight and cut out all the things people say are bad for us? Man's Answer: Yes   God's Answer: NO  The bible tells us that all food is now clean in the eyes of the Lord, God does not want us to stop eating, or only eat certain foods, he allows us to eat all foods he just wants us to trust him with our bodies, and stop taking more than our share. He wants us to know he will provide our next meal so we don't have to worry that we won't get more.

Just touching on a few revelations I've had thru reading the Bible and The Weigh Down workshop, my goal in this is to help as many people as I can. God is setting me free from bondage to food, even after years of being enslaved, and thru him you can be set free too!!!!!

Gwen Shamblin on The Insider - August 17, 2009

Better Late Than Never!

Well I am alittle behind on my posts but I have been extremely busy this week.  I've had several sessions, lots of editing, medical billing, and got to take a trip to the mountains with our friends.  As of last Monday, weigh day, God had taken off 22 lbs. The best part is having a few of my clients (who haven't seen me in awhile) tell me as soon as they saw me that they noticed I have lost weight. I am already feeling like a new person because God is freeing me from worrying about weight and food. I cannot thank him enough for showing me his way and what he desires from me. 

I have been reading the bible alot this week and have learned alot of new things. I read thru the book of James, Revelations, Acts, and started on Romans last night.  I feel like God has opened my eyes in alot of ways and even though I have read those books before he is always opening my eyes to new things. It is so wonderful how he shows us things as individuals.

With each passing day I am learning to put my trust more in the Lord, not only with my body and my food, but with other things too.  He has to be the #1 focus in our lives, what we live for! I pray for more and more closeness with him and also that he will mold me into the person I need to be for him.

I will be weighing again Monday and hopefully I will be posting and updating on that day!

Proverbs 16:20
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD

The Weigh Down Workshop and Gwen Shamblin on the Today Show

Ups & Downs

God has taken 19lbs off of me as of today! I am still determined and still going strong, although I have felt a little bit of testing over the last week. I know you have to go thru the desert of testing to get to the promised land and I am not turning back!  Most days have been great, a couple of days I ate very little and only got to eat once a day. That was kind of hard for me but I prayed and got in the word and made it through. I know I have alot of stored up food on my body so I won't get to eat as often as most people but that will continue to get better over time. I can do this, with Jesus I can do anything. What makes me happy about it all is doing what is pleasing to the Lord and not what is pleasing to me.  I know God is working on me and we have to be tested to get to be who he wants us to be. I just thank him for showing me the way!!

James 1:2-4  ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Monday, Monday

Well today is Monday and it has been 15 days since I started and God has taken 16 lbs off already.
It is such an awesome feeling to get on the scales and see the results, but I have to let go of being a slave to the scales too. For years I have gotten on the scales faithfully every single day. I am addicted to that too and I must not be in any form of bondage anymore. So I weighed this morning and will not get on the scales again until next Monday. Monday will be my day for now and if God shows me that is even too much I will obey. I must sumbit to his will and get my will out of the way. It is all about him!!!

^{Romans 9:5} Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.