A Triple-Braided Cord
Many of you have made your way here via the devotion I have running on Proverbs 31 and Crosswalk.com. If you haven’t read it yet, you might be lost so click here to get caught up with the rest of us. :-) Don’t forget to come back!
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Have you ever had a sister or two who joined you in the midst of a battle? Or perhaps you have been such a person for one of your dear friends. God’s directions to us are clear; living a life of faith means connecting with others. We weren’t meant to march alone.
If you have been looking for a support network when it comes to dealing with the addictive tendency to over-eat and under-exercise, you are not alone. Here on this blog you will find a group of cyber sisters who too are in the thick of the battle. We’d LOVE to have you join us.
You can click on the Weight Loss Wednesday link in the sidebar and leave a comment on the last post listed there (and read the others if you desire more encouragement and ideas). Or, just simply begin joining us each Wednesday. You don’t need to tell us what you weigh. You can tell us if the scale went up or down or how you are doing emotionally. You can vent, encourage, pray, joke. Just be our friend in our collective journey to health.
And, as a special incentive, today I am offering a “jump-start weight loss giveaway” compliments not only of me, but of my other two strands, Lysa TerKeurst and Shari Braendel. We are banding together to offer the following “basket-in-a-box” to one of you who leaves a comment on this post. It includes:
- From Lysa for your inner beauty: Lysa’s mission is to lead women in the adventure of faith. So, she is giving away a signed copy of her latest book Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl. Learning to live out your faith in a tangible and real way will assist you in your journey to health. This book will show you how.
- From me for your kitchen connection: A sunny set of citrus-y recipe cards to record some new healthy kitchen concoctions. Six bags of my favorite herb teas including two each of Passion Fruit, White Tea-Raspberry and Chocolate Hazelnut. And some “one-size-fits-all” Bath and Body Works White Citrus body lotion. One of my favorite scents!
- From Shari for Your Outer Beauty: Shari is Proverbs 31’s resident fashionista. She is giving an awesome accessory that will flatter anyone trying to lose weight: a beautiful turquoise jewelry piece!
Okay gals….hop on and leave a comment. If you are a regular Weight Loss Wednesday gal, check in as normal letting us know how your week went. If you are new, just tell us what your goal is for weight loss or exercise or health. Or, if time is tight, just say “I’m in!”
And….if you also visit Lysa or Shari’s blog, your name will be entered each time you comment there. Shari has a related post up about what to wear while you are losing weight that you won’t want to miss!
The winner will be announced Monday.
Glad to have you be a strand in our ever-thickening cord. Leave your comments!
Braided Blessings,
I have visited your blog before and even on a WLW. I am in the position of needing motivation. I need that 3 strand cord. I am praying that you all will become one of my cords.
I’ve been battling the bulge for 10 years. Before that I was never more than 125 lbs and that looked a little chunky on my small 5’1″ frame. So now I have to get to the point that I hate what I look like enough to do something serious about it. I did Slim Fast for 1 week and lost 3 lbs. You would think that it would motivate me to keep going but then Easter came along with all the chocolate and candy. I have gained 2 back.
I’m tired of the excuses. I’m ready to loose and prove to myself that I can do it. With God’s help I can become the woman that He created me to be. Not this overweight thing that has no energy to play with the kids.
Thanks for you inspiration, support, and guidance!
Wow! All I can say is “I’m in!” I have needed to do this for such a long time. I, like you Karen, have some health problems that have been brought on by my weight and if I don’t lose it something very bad is going to happen! My husband and I have also been trying to have a baby for the past 2 years and have not been able to get pregnant. I know part of the issue is my weight. I am really at the end of my rope. I have been depressed for the past year and I too have a “great” friend in food. I need help please….
Thanks!
This is just what I need! So many of us struggle with these very issues & to have a place to share them is wonderful! Thanks for your great Godly insight!
I just joined Weight Watcher’s AGAIN and see it as a healthy choice, but lacking in the acknowlegement of God , His power and His help. So I was DELIGHTED to see this website , Karen. Count me in. I have 60 lbs. to lose. I have no goal date, just one good choice at a time. Our medical insurance just changed in that to get a health club reimbursement I need to go 12x per month. That has been a good incentive since me and my hubs both get a $20.00 reimbursement for the 12x each of us go per month. It use to be 8x which was quite workable, but 12x is alot more work and does need to be scheduled, but I am feeling much better. Weight loss has been down 2, up 3, down 4 up .6,…… so I was encouraged reading others comments and look forward to what God is going to do in my life through you!
I’m in! I had one of those “reality” checks when a friend gave me a snapshot she took of my daughter and me. I didn’t even realize how much weight I had gained until that picture glaringly showed me the truth.
I have prayed for about 5 years that God would lead me to a healthy lifestyle. Well, He’s been leading all along, but sadly I’ve ignored it. It’s time to let Him lead. Thanks for your blog.
I’m in. I thank you for your openness to share. I’ve been up and down with my weight for years. I’m up right now and I want to take off 42 pounds and keep it off the rest of my life. The Lord spoke so clearly to me through your devotion and I thank you. I’ll be checking in on Wednesday’s. I need the accountability. Thanks.
Blessings-
Shonda
I am not necessarily trying to lose weight, but I am committing to regular exercise every morning to get in better physical shape. I have been doing good for about 5 weeks now. I get up every morning early to get in a mile walk in my living room with a DVD I found at Target for $10 – and I LOVE IT!!!!!! I feel so much more energetic. I stand taller, I have a bounce in my step – It is great!!!! Hope everyone can find that one thing the works for them and do it!
Staci
I have struggled with my weight since I was little. Being the only fluffy (my term ) person in the family has always been hard. I have recently gotten serious about my weight loss & God has been showing me some wonderful things. I know it will be a slow process, I have to lose half of myself, but God will see me through. I am so happy to find your site.
This is one of those devotions that made me feel like God wanted it written just for me. I am 40 years old and need to loose 30 lbs. My biggest obstacle is not exercising! I intend to change that, thank you for the reminder that I don’t have to do it alone! God is good! I look forward to checking in!
Thanks for the inspiration Karen. I will be checking in here on my weight loss journey. I have tried to get a few gals on board for some accountability, but its been hard with crazy schedules. I will keep trying, and look forward to the connection here. You are one of my faves at Hearts-at-Home!!
Hi,
I am so excited to find this blog for info and encouragement! I had 4 kids via c-sections in 8 years and nursed all if them for a year. Over that time I gained at least 30 extra pounds. My youngest is now almost 2 and I was fed up with still looking pregnant! God also really convicted me about using food for comfort and to make me happy. I was eating entirely too much and loved food entirely too much! Last fall, I began to pray about it and started to run. I decided to train for a half marathon so that I had a goal to keep me accountable and I also had some friends to run with and pray with. I have now lost 20 pounds and sucessfully accomplished my half marathon with great joy and excitement. I honestly couldn’t believe I had run that far. I still have another 10+ to loose and it is a struggle! I also still have a “pregnant” look that I am working on. I look forward to using this blog for support and encouragement. Thanks!
I have been an email member of Proverbs 31 for over a year now and have loved it. Today, I found your blog. After a few tears, I decided that I need (NEED!) to participate.
I gained most of my weight 23 years ago with my first baby and never lost it. Now, she and her husband are expecting our first grandchild. I lost a little over 20 pounds about a year ago, have maintained it, but haven’t lost anymore. I still need to lose about 50lbs. Looking back, I can see how God has been working on me. I’ve been looking for someone to be an accountability partner with me, but so far, no luck. My hubby is very supportive but doesn’t get it :)
After all these years, it finally dawned on me that I am an emotional eater. Anytime something goes wrong- I eat. I’m bored- I eat. Stressed- I eat. You name it, I can eat through it. Well, no more! I know I can’t do it without God’s help and I am ready to go forward! With God’s grace, I’m going to be around a long time for my kids and my grandbabies!
Down 2 lbs this week but having a “bad” day today and yesterday wasn’t great either. Back on track tomorrow :) Could use some nice weather to get back outside walking. Snow and sleet tonight, ugh!
I found your blog yesterday, but didn’t have time to check the whole thing out until tonight. I am THRILLED to have found this. I recently lost about 60 pounds on Weight Watchers until I had to quit (too expensive). In one week I gained 7 pounds! Gee whiz! why is it so hard to take off and so easy to put back on? I just don’t get it. I still have about 50 pounds to go. I want to do this with the Lord. I know He is telling me that I need to rely on His Spirit to give me the strength. I can choose to be a victim of my food choices or a victor. I so want victory, but my flesh is SO VERY WEAK!! I will be praying for all the ladies here, please pray for me. I look forward to next Wednesday!
Wow! Huge praise to have found you all. This is a total answer to prayer for the accountability issues I battle. Aside from a good friend of mine, I love the idea of being accountable here. I’m just beginning my weight loss adventure. I have two kids 3.5 and 8 months. I’ve gained almost 50 pounds since grad school and having my kiddos and am really looking forward to returning to a healthier me. A lot of battles talked about in this blog have really hit home for me and how I struggle with food. Here’s to an awesome first week!
A couple of weeks ago a friend forward a Proverbs devotional to me. I then read a triple braided cord. I believe God wanted me to read that one, I want to be free of the bondage of over eating. I am delighted to have found this blog and looking forward to next Wed. to check in to my new support friends. I’m in. Looking to loss 25 lbs. Blessings on you all.
Oh Wow! God is amazing!!!
Thank you so much for your prayers. My daughter had a swollen lymph node due to some overscratching dry scalp and allergies. She prescribed Zyrtec and head and shoulders shampoo.
The last time I weighed myself I was 5 lbs. away from first goal. So far I’ve lost 18 lbs. since I got started.
Karen, thank you soooooo much for all you do. I received the gift I won and I felt soooooo special to receive mail!!!! You touched my heart. Looking forward to enjoying it.
Lysa T., thank you for your blog entry on “What only Jesus can do for women”. Yesterday, i took my other daughter for a haircut. The hairdresser asked about the twilight movie and the conversation led to Christ!
I am looking forward to visiting Shari’s blog!
Thank you all three of you for your prayers and encouragement.
I’m going to join the Weight Loss Wednesdays. I just had my 8th baby on December 31st so I have lots of weight to lose (never really lost weight after any of my babies). My goal is 75 pounds in the long run and 25 pounds by the end of April (I’ve lost 4 lbs for the past 2 weeks each).
You are absolutely right and you are not alone i have been struggling with my weight since the age of 13 years old i had my thyroid removed due to a goiter. So dealing with the weight certainly has not been easy for me . i look at myself and dont recognize myself sometimes, but like you i too found a support group with an awesome God loving woman group. i thank my heavenly father everyday for I know that he gives me everything i need to be able to conquer all distractions that may be put in my path. Thank you for sharing this with us. it has been very meaningful to me, and im sure to everyone else.
God bless
Wow – this kind of hit me between the eyes – you know – the ones God wants you to look through when He is trying to show you something. Thanks for reminding me that help and accountability really equates to maturity. So I’m off to find some friends … because I really want to win this battle!
The devotional & your blog have really hit home with me. Thank you for sharing.
This is great, I have gained so much from everyone at Proverbs 31 Ministry from Wendy Pope and the On-Line Bible study, to the Daily Devotional I receive Monday thru Friday and then THIS – I too am in the back and forth of eating good and bad, and then no exercise. I am in my 50’s and at least 30 lbs overweght. I recently tried to stop beating myself up and getting on the scale every morning and night and tell myself that I need God in this area of my life also. Thank you for this connection to get in touch with others fighting the same things we all face. I will pray for all the people that are fighting this battle and please keep me in your prayers also…..
This website is an awesome blessing to me and my sisters in Christ! Thanks so much for the chance to share on here our thoughts,concerns,and encouragement to one another.
Thank you for your candidness in writing this article. So many times I think others have “it together” and I’m the only one who can’t “get it together.” [Even though I have no idea what “it” really is! LOL] I’ve found that my weight is indicative to so many areas in my life that are out of control… emotions, thoughts, spending, self-discipline in general is lacking. The hardest part for me is getting the motivation to try again…and again…and again to end up disappointed with myself again. Thank you for this website and your article which brought me here.
I am making the decision to stand strong with my three stranded braided cord.
I have recently stumbled across your website and am very blessed by it.
I dont have much time, but I am 5 days into my decision to lose weight due to health and so many more reasons.
Thank you for believing and being avaiable for support.