Waiting on the growl has been such an Amazing Blessing in my life! When you wait on GOD and the growl comes its God's sweet permission to eat! The BEST part in waiting is you get to go to GOD to help you through, you get to actually enjoy your food because you know you waited, you know you have permission, and when you are politely full you stop and there is no guilt because you have obeyed! Not feeling guilty is better than the food! This is a blessing not a burden! It's FREEDOM!! Thank you Weigh Down and THANK YOU GOD!!!!!!

• 
  
  

  Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord
  will renew their strength.
  They will soar on wings like eagles;
  they will run and not grow weary,
  they will walk and not be faint.

Living In The Promise Land

In Sept I reached the point where all the excess weight was gone and my weight is now staying the same. Praise the Lord! He took off more than I was expecting for a total weight loss of 162 lbs. I started out weighing 277 lbs and now I weigh 115 lbs.. Thank you Lord! I just followed Him by being obedient and He decided what my weight should be.  I feel so FREE!!! No dieting, No worrying about what to eat, how much, or when to eat, just following God's lead and always focusing on HIM!!! Food doesn't tempt me anymore, it has no control over me! I love it!!! I praise GOD for bringing me through the desert of testing and allowing me to reach the Promise Land!! The Promise Land is a life without slavery to addictions and a life focused on GOD! Through this God is revealing more and more things I need to let go of, I praise HIM for cleansing me and peeling back the layers of flesh to bring me closer to HIM! Thank You Lord for showing me the way!

Psalm 54:6
I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good.

Sometimes I Cry and God Wipes Away the Tears

I remember the day I started Weigh Down...I started watching the videos on youtube of the "Weigh Down Home Series" and God immediately started dealing with my heart. Before I could even get through them all I was laying on the floor sobbing and begging God to forgive me. You see God took the blinders off my eyes that day! He showed me what the root of my SIN of overeating was! It was GREED! Oh how it hurt when I realized how Greedy I had been for all those years! I realized how it was all my fault that I was overweight and how it was all my fault I was suffering with severe acid reflux, I had to confess to God I had done this to myself, it was not him doing it to me! It was hard but I was so broken and I had to face the truth! I was the only one responsible for my sin! I blamed my mother, my family, God, but it was me. No one ever force fed me and no matter how much I said "I dont know why I am overweight I dont eat much at all" deep down I knew it was a lie. A lie to myself and to others. Once the truth came out of my mouth, the confession to God, "Oh God Forgive Me! Please Lord! I did this to myself, I have so much Greed in my heart, I want to be Free and Obey You"  that's when IT happened!!! God wiped away my tears! He told me He forgave me!!! He told me to stop overeating, to stay within his boundries and He would give me the Freedom! That was it, I never overate again and that was December 19, 2010! Now 155 lbs of Greed is gone from my body and my acid reflux has been healed since day 1! Praise GOD!!

God has been working on me so much since that day! He has also set me free from dieting, unforgiveness, anger, and alot more. He is constantly peeling back the layers helping me overcome sin...even sin I didn't realize I had. Yes, I still mess up and sin not on purpose but I am by no means perfect, or even close, but God is working on me and teaching me how to let go. See the difference now is I dont want to sin, I want to obey! I want to please God and I know when he brings sin to our attention (and this is the best part) He gives us the ability to overcome. You see its not me doing anything but saying "YES GOD" the rest is ALL HIM!! He is taking away the desire! He is setting me Free! Not Me! But He that is within me! I can't take any credit because it's all Him! I know he wants surrender and submission from me, that's all it takes and he will give me the rest of what I need. I have found freedom from sin is so much better than sin. Sin is heavy, guilty, its like the weight of the world on our shoulders. Freedom is easy, guilt free, and light!

Sometimes I get my feelings hurt because people can't see it for what it is. I get alot of ridicule for not running with the crowd. For example when people are all eating around me and I am not hungry I get "Why don't you eat something, it wont hurt to eat a little" or "Oh she wouldn't dare eat that because she is worried about gaining weight" or "You are too skinny you need to eat" or just looks from people who assume I am judging them for the way they are eating. Those are all Lies from satan! I am not judging anyone. I am simply Obeying what God has told me to do. I can't eat unless I am truly hungry because God told me not to. I won't sin against him on purpose for anyone. It's not a vanity thing, its an obedience thing. It's not about an outward appearance its about a heart change. For me God said "Only eat within my boundries" so to eat outside of that is sin or direct disobedience. I know people dont see it that way, but GOD showed me he sees it that way and he told me to stop. 

I know I can't worry about what anyone thinks, I have to answer to God for my life so I have to obey no matter what or who comes against me. Everytime I hurt, I run to God and there is no better place. I can feel his love, his concern, and he wipes away the tears!

Psalm 116:8
For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling.

Shout out from the You Can Overcome Show!

This was back in April and I have lost alot more weight since then but I forgot to post it! I was so so so excited when I saw this!
http://youtu.be/PvhYoW_Eix0

Birthday Present From God

Yesterday was my birthday and I had an Amazing Day! When I started Weigh Down I set a personal goal for my weight loss including weight and clothes size. I have learned since its not about the weight, clothes, or outward appearance but about the heart! God did however bless me with allowing me to reach that goal yesterday! I got on the scale and I have lost 152 lbs. I am at the weight and clothes size I wanted to be. What an Awesome gift from God! I know he may not be done taking off the weight and its all up to him as to where I should be, but he allowed me to have this blessing on my birthday! It's ALL about Him and Nothing about me! Thank You Lord for showing me the way, teaching me obedience is the way to complete freedom, and submission and surrender is what you want from me! I love you Lord with All my heart, soul, and mind and I want to be a vessel for only you!

1 Peter 1:13-15

King James Version (KJV)

¹³ Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
¹⁴ As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
¹⁵ But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Isaiah 1:18-19

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁸ Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
¹⁹ If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

Let FREEDOM Ring!

All I could think about yesterday July 4, 2012 was  the Freedom Christ has given me. I have lost 148 lbs! I am just in Ahhh of God's Power and Glory! I was a food addict, a slave, bond and tied, and Jesus broke the chains of my sin away and delivered me! Weigh Down was the answer to my prayers! The Key to My Freedom!!! A tool God used to show me the way! Thank You Jesus for loving me so much and caring about every tiny detail of my life! I love you Lord!!

Galatians 5:1
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

Wait & Weight

Down 144 lbs! God is so Good! Giving God My Wait & My Weight!  So many blessings so many jewels! Thanking the Lord for showing me the Way! Thank God for Weigh Down!

Lamentations 3:25
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

DOWN 137 LBS! Almost there but I know he's not done with me yet! Still losing!
1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Waiting On The Lord

The weight is still steadily coming off, down another 2 lbs. Thats 12 lbs since starting the basics class and a total weight loss of 134 lbs. God is so good! I am so glad I am giving him my Wait & my Weight!! Waiting on the Lord is what its all about!! I saw this on a FB Post this morning and thought I would share.
"A person committed to doing things God's way...
* is done with dieting
* will wait for the growl
* gets right back up when they stumble
* removes situations or foods from their life that has historically made them stumble
... * will not count calories
* will not let the scale dictate their behavior
* will not control their day
* admits to greed and anti-authority"
-Gwen Shamblin/Breakthrough Audio 3

I will always Wait on the Lord, for my body is not my own, it belongs to God!

Another 5 lbs

Down another 5 lbs as of the last week for a total of 132 lbs. Still losing and still praising the Lord! Thank You Jesus for taking off the weight!

Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Another Before & Now Photo

God's not done with me yet, I am still losing and have a way to go, but this is what he has done so far. I started taking the Weigh Down Basics on FB last week and God took off 5 more pounds already! So down 127 lbs total! I will being doing a weigh in once a week until the basics are over, then its back to once a month.

Conviction

Saw this on FB this morning and it really touched my heart and convicted me. Thank you Kelly for allowing me to post. Also to Gwen Shamblin and to God for giving Kelly this message and putting it on her heart to share!

Kelly Martin

something that really convicted me this morning ::
Numbers 11:: v33 But while the meat was still between their teeth and before it could be consumed, the anger of the LORD burned against the people, and he struck them with a severe plague. v.34 Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah,[d] because there they buried the people who had craved other food.
Here we have a people that have been saved from their oppression and God is feeding them supernaturally (manna), but yet they still wanted more, they wanted meat -- and what did God do? He gave them meat, AND THEY STILL CRAVED OTHER FOOD?!?!? Oh God have mercy on us when we grumble or complain or grieve over the food that you feed us. Deliver us from this focus on self and food, that we would give thanks FOR ALL things and IN ALL things, that food is nothing, and you are EVERYTHING! Let it be today that YOUR will is our food, and this physical food would just be what it was meant to be fuel. Oh God forgive us, that we might be a people born-again for your Kingdom!

You Can Overcome!

THE TRUTH about SIN!

In the last week or so God has really, really, really been pressing on me to share Weigh Down with others. I have been sharing off and on and posting and doing this blog but he wants me to help get the truth out there about SIN.  The bible teaches us that sin is sin and all sins are the same. In God's eyes, to hate is to commit murder and to lust is the same as adultry.
Matthew 5:28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

God shows us by this example that sin is sin and all sin is rebellion against God. So that brings me to my next question, if all sin is sin, then why have we allowed some sin to be present in the house of God and in our own bodies and think its perfectly ok? For instance why do we not allow drinking alcohol or smoking in a church but we allow gluttony? Gluttony is a sin.
 Deuteronomy 21:20
And they shall say unto the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. 
 Proverbs 23:21
For the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty: and drowsiness shall clothe a man with rags.

Overeating is a Sin, God's word says it is so therefore it is. Overeating and Obesity causes heart disease, diabetes, high cholestrol, heart attack, poor circulation, fatigue, back promblems,  the list goes on and on. But I still hear all the time from others that its perfectly acceptable and not a sin to overeat, its allowed.  Where does it say in the bible that its ok?? 

Eve was tempted with food in the garden of Eden by satan she could eat anything in the whole garden but a desire for what she wanted overpowered her desire for God.
Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Esau sold his birthright for food. 

Genesis 25:29-31
²⁹And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

³⁰And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.
³¹And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

Genesis 25:34
Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

God has shown me that Food Addiction is Satan's biggest LIE! Satan says go ahead it's ok, churches allow it and dont speak out about it, nobody talks about it because they are afraid they will offend somebody or hurt someones feelings, every commerical on TV is about indulgence in food, there are tons and tons of tv shows about food. Why is some sin acceptable? The TRUTH is all sin is bad in God's eyes and he doesnt want it in his churches and he doesnt want it in his children.
 Proverbs 10:29
The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

God tells us he wants us to turn from sin, we have been set free, we do not have to continue to purposely sin against God. I know this is a harsh message but God has really layed in on my heart to share. He wants his children free, he wants SIN recognized and not pardoned by man, men may disagree and say gluttony is not bad but we are not living by mans rules, we are children of GOD and we must live for him and what his word says! We cannot keep allowing Satan to control, munipulate, and decieve us, we have to stand up for what God wants.

God clearly tells us our bodies are his
1 Corinthians 6:19

What? 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?

We need to really open our eyes to what is going on, admit that this is sin, and stop trying to cover it up. If a drunk staggered into the church with a beer and asked us how could he get his life back on track would we not tell him about Jesus and also about giving up his sin? If a person got saved and they were a drug addict would we not tell them how Jesus can set them free from this addiction? So why are we not allowed to tell people about Food Addiction?

God instructs us on what to do if we see one of our brothers or sisters in sin 

 Galatians 6:1
¹Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

 One other issue is we not only accept it as ok but we actually entertain it in Churches. We have food at every function and people actually sit and brag about how they stuffed themselves, people laugh and smile about it, and make fun of the ones that don't do it, and all the while satan is loving it and God is watching. If someone came in with a beer someone would instruct them there is no drinking inside the church, if someone came in with a lit cigarette someone would instruct them there is no smoking in the church, but yet we entertain Gluttony. God does not want SIN allowed or entertained in his house.

Mark 11:15-16

¹⁵And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;
¹⁶And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

I know no one is perfect and we all sin, but we don't have to live in sin. Grace is not a license to sin, its freedom to overcome sin. If the bible says Gluttony is sin, then why do Christians willfully and purposely continually keep saying its ok and keep sinning against God?   To mess up and sin is one thing, but to say I know this is wrong and still do it is another, it's purposely being disobedient to God. 

Hebrews 10:26

²⁶For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

  Most people say they are not convicted and they think its ok, but if God's word clearly tells us it is sin then how can you argue with that. God doesnt change his mind or his word.

We say we want to be different and bring more people to Jesus, this would be a good place to start, what better way than to not be conformed to the world's way and to stop entertaining sin, and not be afraid to speak up about getting in out of our lives. We have to open our eyes and our mouths, we cannot keep letting satan dwell in the house of God or in our own bodies!
Romans 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

When I am asked what keeps me focused and what helps me to remain in control my answer is always the same "No one will know if I cheat, but I will know and most importantly God will know! He is always there every second of everyday watching every move we make, I will not purposely, knowingly, willingly sin against him! It's his will not mine! It's his desire for me, I have to put an end to my sinful desire."

I can do this because Christ within me is greater than self!!

1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

The good news is there is help there is freedom, there is a way to overcome! Jesus can and will set you free if you will allow him to work in your life and seek help from him! Go to www.weighdown.com  and watch the free videos called the Weigh Down at Home Series, it will explain everything you need to know about getting free and staying free!
1 Peter 4

¹Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; ²That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. ³For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: ⁴Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: ⁵Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. ⁶For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit. ⁷But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.

Scars

I have been thinking alot lately about the scars I have from being overweight. It's hard sometimes to look at certain places of my body because there is a  stretch mark or maybe loose skin. I have seen much worse than what I have but sometimes I have gotten discouraged over them. I have been thinking about it lately and it came to me that I abused my body, those scars are a result of the damage I did to myself when I was living in the sin of overeating, God didnt put them there, I did. Then I thought about Jesus, he wears the scars of our sin on his hands and feet, not his own sin because he never sinned, but mine and your sin. If he can carry my scars and the scars of sin of the entire world as a reminder of his sacrafice for our sins, I should not complain about having to carry my own scars of my own sin as a reminder that I am free and I never ever want to go back.  Thank you Jesus for showing me that I dont have to be perfect to be loved by you, and that I should not worry about the scars because they are a testimony and a reminder of how you set me Free.

Total Surrender

The past few weeks I have been feeling God pulling on my heartstrings, letting me know I need to give it all to him. I have been holding on to some dieting mentality that has creap back up and rationalizing it and telling myself it would be ok to keep doing it. That is not Total Surrender! I have been giving God about 90% and still trying to hold onto that last 10%. God wants it ALL!!! I had to lay it at the feet of Jesus this morning and admit I have been wrong and let God have total control. The minute I admitted it God gave me a peace and comfort and lifted that burden off of me! I don't want to think about food anymore, I just want to only think of eating when my stomach growls and not try to control when it does. I had completely gave up overeating from the very start but the dieting mentality just kept finding its way back in. No longer will I eat lighter so I can eat more times a day, no longer will I think I have to have something sweet after every meal, no longer will I try to plan out what I am going to eat. GOD I SURRENDER TO YOUR WILL!!! You are 1st!! My heart desires YOUR WILL!!! I will put an end to my selfishness!!! Thank you Lord for CONVICTION!!! And bringing me TOTAL COMPLETE FREEDOM once and for all!! Thank you JESUS!!!

I have a shine today!! A brighter light a bigger smile because its all in God's Hands!!! I AM FREE!!!

1 Peter 1:13-15

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹³Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
 ¹⁴As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
 ¹⁵But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Before & Now Photo

Found a better pic of my before so I decided to post, this was in May 2009 and me now. I actually was bigger than that when I started weigh down but I dont have any pics because I didnt let anyone take pics of me at that time because I felt so bad about myself.

Sweet Freedom!

Weighed today, down 122 lbs!! Praise Jesus!! The weight is still coming off!! Don't know where God wants me to be but so far I am still losing! I wish I could convince everyone to do this, but I have learned you can't force anything on anyone and all you can do is tell them and leave it up to the Holy Spirit to do the rest. I heard this song today and it so fit my feelings, it was "Finally Free" by Nichole Nordeman and here are the words "If the Son has set us Free, then we must be Free indeed, let the chains fall away starting today, everything has changed, I'm finally Free!!!  Here is a current pic of what God has taken off so far. If you want to be FREE too, Jesus is the way and I would love to share more with you on how this can happen in your life too!! Be Blessed!!

Still Going!

Weighed this morning and I am down 115 lbs since I started. Thank you Lord for setting me FREE. Lost 5 lbs during the holidays, even with all the treats laying around. I dont have to answer to food calling my name anymore, I can just simply say NO, I am not hungry, and when I get hungry then I will eat you. lol Thank you Lord for the Amazing Delieverance and Freedom I have in you!!!!
2 Corinthians 4:11
For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.

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.

Still Amazed!

Got on the scale this morning and discovered God has taken 13 lbs off of me already!!  I am still amazed at how easy this has been, and it definately confirms thru him we can do anything!!

He wants us to love him more than anything else, put him 1st in our lives above all others and other things. That is the thing, I didn't even realize I wasn't doing that, but I realized I was in bondage and loving and adoring something else, and running to it for comfort, and it was Food.  I have always wanted to let go but self control failed me everytime! That is how we learn we can do nothing on our own, we have to give it all to him, EVERYTHING!! I am so thankful he showed me the way and took it from me, so now I don't have to be a slave anymore, I have been set FREE!!!

Mark 10:27 
 ²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

The Beginning

My whole life I have suffered with a weight problem.  It started as a child, I was beginning to become overweight when I was in 1st grade. I come from a huge family and we all love to eat. My mother is the only one of us who has always been thin. I can remember as a child thinking sweets were treats and the more I got the more I loved them.


In high school I weighed around 165-170 lbs. I had went on and off of a few diets thru high school but never really commited to anything, then when I was 19 I started Weight Watchers, I lost about 80 lbs and got down to a size 5, I weighed about 125 lbs for about a month then got pregnant with my 1st child. After I had her I got down to about 175 lbs again which was still overweight for my height and build. From that point my weight went up and down alot but still stayed around 180 lbs.


Next came the Phen-Phen, I started it and lost 77 lbs in 3 months, WOW!  Yeah, I also had severe chest pains and thought I may of had a heart attack a few times, so that was that and of course I gained the weight back and then some.

By the time I gave birth to my second child  my weight had soared to 245!  I was tired of being fat, so I made up my mind I would starve if that is what it took and that is what I did!! I lost down to 105 lbs and looked anorexic, finally I was skinny, loving those size 0 skinny jeans, yet I was fatigued all the time for mere starvation! I kept it going for about 5 years and yea, you guessed it I gave up again.


About 4 years ago Jesus came into my life! This was a very hard time in my life but it was also great because God picked me up out of the ashes and saved me! I had been set free from worry and stress, which were about to kill me, but I still struggled with my weight. I knew in my heart that Jesus could deliver me from this but I did not know how to give it to him. I knew I did not want to ever let dieting run my life as it had before. I want to be obsessed with God and God alone not diets! So what was I to do? I have been praying for 3 years for God to show me how to do this his way, and how to keep him in focus and not let dieting control my life.


Well on December 17, 2010 God gave me the answer. My friend Stacy and I were out  finishing up our Christmas Shopping and I was telling her I wanted to start dieting again on Jan 1, but I wanted to do it God's way. She told me about a plan she had heard of called the "Weigh Down Workshop".  She said alot of churches were doing it but she didn't know all the details. The next day I looked it up and found the videos free on youtube. It was a 12 weeks series with 4-5 videos in each week. I watched them all that day, I felt God dealing with my heart, he was delivering me! I started on Dec. 19, 2010 and have lost a total of 12 lbs so far and it is only Dec. 29, 2010.  This program is not a diet, it is listening and asking God to show you what he wants for you. ! It has nothing to do with dicipline of self control, but rather letting God have complete control!!!!! It is wonderful and the chains of bondage to food are gone!!!! Thank you Lord for loving me and showing me the way and setting me Free!!!! Yes, there are people who will not believe and be sceptical and that is ok because I know the TRUTH!! The Truth is Jesus!! He is the WAY, the TRUTH!!!! This is a journey I just started and will be doing regular posts to document what is happening along the way. If anyone would like more info on this program you can find it at www.weighdown.com

John 8:32 

³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”