***If you want to see more photos, go to my FB Album here.***
Just last year, I didn’t care. I had no restrain. If I wanted to eat, I did. Not even thinking about it, I ate.

I’m not sure when this started exactly. All I know is that:
-one day the scale surprised me with a whopping 214 (lbs) (I’m 5 feet tall)
-one day the heat was unbearable
-one day the stairs, a breath-taking challenge and
-one day I saw a picture, that changed that dead end I was on!

A picture of what people said, was me. I was in shock, thinking no, it’s not!

That day, my eyes completely opened and I cared.

I will never know why it took almost 3 years for my eyes to be opened enough to see that the person in THAT picture, THAT photo, was truly me, but that day I said, "THAT’S NOT ME!" and I began

caring about what I ate and

thinking about what I consumed.

Now a year later, and I’m down 50 pounds!

I still am embarrassed of old ‘fat’ photos of me in people’s albums.

I still have nightmares of food taking over my mind.

But you know just the other day, I came to realize that not only did my physical body change during this transformation, but also my mental state of mind changed too…

While out at a gas station, a couple weeks ago, Jeff and I were walking up and down the aisles looking at what they had. I saw a new bag of Skittles candy. They were chocolate flavoured. I saw a VARIETY of candy: sour keys, licourice, m&m’s, and an assortment of chocolate bars. But you know, I didn’t EVEN feel the urge to take anything off that shelf home with me! I instead had a ‘mind’ moment. I THOUGHT! I thought before I acted instead! And I didn’t think it strange until afterward. I don’t EVER remember having done this before, in my life! (or i guess ever needed to) And that’s why I thought it strange.

thinking of the candy…I thought, I don’t NEED that! What will it do for me, anyway? It’ll hurt my tongue (thinking of when-you-eat-too-many-candies,-especially-sour-ones-and-afterward-your-tongue -feels-stripped). How will I feel after eating all that sugar??? NASTY! and I don’t NEED THAT!!! and I walked away…

I left that gas station with a bottle of water and a new way of looking at those things that once grabbed a hold of me and HELD ME down.

What is HOLDING YOU back today from doing what you KNOW you NEED to do?

Even though I still would like to lose another 50 pounds, I know that I AM energetic, in love with my life, and feel that I AM the best soldier I can be in God’s army, now that I’m more fit! (not trying to boast but only encourage you to take THAT step!) Really think about it. And if you, in your mind, don’t feel you’re ready, then you will not be able to accomplish the goal of losing weight! Your MIND HAS to be IN IT, in order for your body to follow.

Set your MIND on things above and THERE your treasure WILL be also…

what is your prize for accomplishing your goals???
SET YOUR MIND THERE!
and RUN FOR IT, only THINKING of THAT prize!!!

a quote i try to remember when i’m feeling tempted (yes I still am, sometimes) is: "It’s only as good as thin feels"
meaning…being thin feels MUCH better than eating that ’short term’ tasty fattening food!

How will you start shedding the pounds? (I think EVERYONE has a life-story worth telling!)

Do you have a word of encouragement for others reading?
please share a link or a couple points of encouragement in comments!
I’d LOVE to hear them, and I’m sure others reading would too, THANKS!!!