April 13, 2025

Lessons from the Batter’s Box 

What a 6-Year-Old Taught Me About Perseverance, Progress, and Faith

Today, Tim and I watched our 6 year old grandson, Lake, play in his baseball championship game. But this story isn’t just about a win on the field—it’s about something even greater: progress, perseverance, and the quiet victories that happen before the scoreboard lights up.

For weeks, we’ve watched him step up to the plate and strike out. Game after game. Pitch after pitch. He practiced, showed up, he tried, and still—strikeouts. But this weekend, something shifted. He didn’t knock it out of the park, and he didn’t always make it on base. But every single time he stepped up to bat… he made contact. Woo hoo! We were elated! The first time he made it to second base I screamed so much, you would’ve thought he hit a grand slam homerun! 

When he left the field he came straight to his mama, our daughter, and gave her the biggest hug! This Lolli heart was so full! To see that sweet face beaming with a big ole smile~the best!

He was proud. We were proud. But most of all, you could see his confidence growing. He believed in himself a little more with every swing. 

His team winning the championship wasn’t just about the score—but about the journey it took to get there.

Now you may be asking, “What does this have to do with our health journeys?”

Too often, we treat our wellness goals like they’re championship trophies. We think success only counts when we lose the weight, hit the goal, or make it on base. But what if success looks more like making contact?

Maybe you didn’t hit all your goals this week.
Maybe you slipped up, missed a workout, or made a choice you wish you hadn’t.
But—did you show up?
Did you keep swinging?
Did you keep trying, even when it felt like you weren’t getting anywhere?

That’s progress. That’s growth. That’s success.

Every time you choose a nourishing meal…
Every time you drink the water instead of grabbing the soda…
Every time you say, “I’m not giving up on me”…

You are making contact. You are building confidence. And your breakthrough is closer than you think.

In our spiritual lives, the same truth applies. We often want the big moments—the mountain-top experiences. But faith grows in the everyday moments of showing up.

Jesus never asked us to be perfect. He asked us to be faithful.
To stay in the game.
To keep coming back to Him.
To keep stepping up to the plate, even after a strikeout.

And like any good coach, He cheers us on—not only when we "get it right," but when we’re willing to try again.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9

Today, while watching Lake, I was reminded that a breakthrough doesn’t come from perfection—it comes from perseverance. From trusting the process. From knowing that each little victory matters.

So wherever you are today—on your health journey, in your spiritual walk, or just in life in general—I hope you’ll hear this:

Keep swinging. Keep showing up. Keep making contact.
Your championship moment is coming.

And just like I cheered so loud for Lake, I am cheering just as loud for you!

Love ya! 

Lori

April 6, 2025

Bouncing Back

We’ve all heard the saying: “It doesn’t matter how many times you fall, but how many times you get back up.” It’s a phrase that speaks to resilience, grit, and grace. But when we look at it through the lens of faith, it becomes something even deeper—a testimony of God’s mercy and our growth through failure.

We all experience failure. Even people that we see as HUGE successes have had their fair share of defeats or losses. Michael Jordan lost over 300 games. Elvis had a 2 week engagement in Las Vegas in 1956, but was cancelled after one week due to poor ticket sales. Steve Jobs was fired from Apple. Colonel Sanders of KFC fame was rejected over 1,000 times before finding a franchise partner. Failing is part of being human. Whether it’s falling short of our goals, stumbling in our faith, or making choices we regret—none of us are exempt. But what matters isn’t that we’ve fallen. What matters is that we rise again, strengthened, humbled, and more aware of our need for God.

“Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again.” — Proverbs 24:16a

Notice, it says the righteous fall. Not the rebellious, not the foolish—the righteous. That means even those striving to do what’s right will still stumble. But God’s Word promises: they rise again.

One of the most beautiful examples of this is the apostle Peter. Passionate, impulsive, and deeply devoted to Jesus—Peter was all heart. Yet in one of the most critical moments, he failed spectacularly. Peter didn’t just fall—he denied Jesus three times.

He said he wouldn’t. He believed he wouldn’t. But under pressure, fear won, and he turned his back on the One he loved most. But the story didn’t end there.

After the resurrection, Jesus gently restores Peter—not with shame, but with love. He asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15-17) And with each answer, Jesus commissions him again: “Feed my sheep.” Jesus didn’t disqualify Peter. He redeemed him. Peter’s greatest failure became the foundation of his ministry.

Failing doesn’t mean we’re finished. In fact, it may be part of our refining. God uses our lowest points to teach us, to shape us, and to draw us closer to Him, if we let Him.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

God doesn’t expect us to be  perfect. He desires perseverance. Each time you get back up—wiser, more humble, more dependent on Him—you are becoming more of who He created you to be.

Maybe you’re like me and you have fallen off your health journey more times than you care to admit. I’ve lost and regained the same pounds so many times before. Or maybe you’ve let your spiritual practices slide. Maybe you’re weary and feeling like you’ll never get it right. If so, here’s your reminder today: You’re not disqualified. You’re not done.

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” — Philippians 1:6

You’re still in the race. And God is cheering you on with love, not judgment. He wants you to live a life of fulfillment, purpose. So pick yourself up. Dust yourself off. Lean into grace. You are not the sum of your stumbles—you are the story of your comebacks.

Where in your life do you need to get back up? What is one small step you can take today toward rising again?

You won’t ever regret trying again, but you  will regret giving up. Let’s don’t give up, friends. Let’s keep striving for our goals, for the life we want, and the life God wants us to live.

We were made for more!

March 30, 2025

True Wellness

For most of my adult life I viewed wellness as simply eating right or exercising, but true wellness goes way beyond just the physical. I’ve learned it’s about aligning my body, mind, and soul so that I can live with energy, clarity, and peace. When one of these areas gets out of balance, it can affect every other part of my life. Holistic wellness means caring for all three—feeling whole, strong, and connected to my purpose.

When I began to really discover this, and not just focus on losing the weight, this journey became more of a lifestyle and one that has transformed me in so many ways. When my focus was just on the scale or my clothing size it was easy to give up. The scale didn’t budge~QUIT! The Weight Watchers plan changed and I didn’t like it~QUIT! I fell back into old habits~QUIT! My thoughts turned negative~QUIT! You get the picture. If the least little thing didn’t go my way or seemed difficult my response was to simply give up, throw in the towel. 

Since the summer of 2021, I have been on a quest, if you will, to live intentionally, on purpose, with focus and passion. I didn’t want to simply exist any longer. I had done that for far too long. So slowly, but surely, I have evolved into the person I am today. And honestly, I hope that I continue to evolve. Really growth should never stop should it? 

Today I thought I would share just a few things I’ve learned along the way. 

Our body is a gift, and taking care of it is an act of gratitude and good stewardship. Movement doesn’t have to be intense—it can be joyful walks, stretching, or dancing. Fueling my body with nutrient-rich foods and staying hydrated gives me energy to thrive. And just as important, rest, which allows my body to recover, heal, and restore itself.

So now I choose movement that feels good and honors my body. I mostly eat whole, nourishing foods, stay hydrated, and I make sure I get plenty of rest.

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." – 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

 

I have been guilty of not giving priority to the next 2 areas of wellness. Not anymore! They are of the utmost importance to me now. The renewing of the mind and my relationship with Christ is vital to my overall wellness.  

Our thoughts shape our daily experience. A cluttered mind—full of worry, negative self-talk, or anxiousness—can drain us. Decluttering the mind means letting go of limiting beliefs, practicing gratitude, and setting boundaries with distractions that don’t serve us. When we renew our minds daily, we find clarity and peace. 

When I hear myself having negative thoughts I replace them with truth. Each morning I journal about things I am grateful for and I am learning to set boundaries with social media and tv. I am adding a goal this week of having some time of quiet and solitude each day. 

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." – Romans 12:2

Last, but certainly not least, is the importance of having a nourished soul. It keeps me grounded. It reminds me that I am made to have a relationship with God. My purpose on this earth is to honor and worship Him. I can’t possibly know how to do that without spending time with Him. When I spend time in His Word, prayer, stillness, and reflection, my connection with God is stronger and more personal. My soul finds peace when I live with purpose and align my daily actions with my values and beliefs.

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." – 3 John 1:2

When I make sure to align my body, mind, and soul, I experience true wellness—one that is sustainable, fulfilling, and life-giving. My goal isn’t perfection, but intentional balance. None of which will simply happen. I must purposefully take steps each day to care for each part of myself. I cannot be “willy nilly” about my life or health journey. 

If we truly want to make a change, to live a fulfilling life and enjoy our time here on earth we must live with intentionality. 

Which area—body, mind, or soul—needs more attention in your life right now? What is one small step you can take today to nurture it?

You are worthy of feeling whole, strong, and at peace. Let’s walk this journey together!

Remember, we were made for more!

March 23, 2025

Un-Becoming

 

I saw a quote recently and it was one of those quotes that hits you. I had to re-read it several times, but I also knew I wanted to ponder it for a bit.  

 

The quote said,

 

“Maybe the journey isn’t so much about becoming anything. Maybe it’s about “un-becoming” everything that isn’t really you so you can become who you were meant to be in the first place.”

 

So I want to sit and think about this quote a little bit with you, if that’s ok? 

 

In the summer of 2021 I weighed 248 pounds, had just retired from a 28 year career as an elementary teacher and was about to embark on my retirement job as an in-home daycare provider to babies and toddlers. I had joined Weight Watchers, AGAIN! I told myself this time would be different. I would lose the weight, reach my goal weight, and become a lifetime member. 

 

When school started in August, I was excited to be retired, but this new season was challenging and scary. I had a house full of babies. The oldest child I kept wasn’t quite 2. Everyone else was only a few months old. I had no idea what I was doing. In so many ways, I was trying to “become” something new. Something I had never been before. I was self-employed and had to learn how to manage all the financial components that go along with that. I had to learn how to handle 4 babies on 4 different feeding and napping schedules. Oh, and I was trying to “diet.” During this season of my life I was embarking on unchartered territory. Each day was a new learning experience. I was learning to “become” self-employed, a financial manager, a consistent tracker of food all while trying not to cry everyday. 

 

So many times, in the past, when I approached my health/diet journey I went in with the mindset of “becoming” something new-thinner, fitter, healthier-when in reality the journey is about shedding the habits, beliefs, and identities that don’t serve me or my health journey. 

 

It was not easy. In fact some days were down right HARD! The weight came off slowly. The habits and mindsets I had were deeply imprinted in my brain. 

We want fast results, don’t we? We want to lose 20 or 30 pounds in a month. We want to overcome all of our insecurities after reading one self-help book. We expect instantaneous change. 

 

We also want easy results. We don’t want to do the hard work. The deep soul searching as to why we overeat~why we turn to food when we are stressed, afraid, sad, tired, and on and on. We throw in the towel at the least little bit of friction. 

 

Starting on a “weight loss” program is so much more than calories in-calories out or how many points you get in a day. It’s about some deep soul searching. Looking within and discovering who you really are and who you need to “un-become” in order to become who you were truly meant to be. Our life awaits just on the other side. 

 

Are you willing to be the agent of change in your life? What do you think is stopping you? What if, just this time, you kept going? Did the work. Persevered through the hard days, looked within, chose to give it your all. Chose to “un-become.”

 

March 16, 2025

Reflecting on Spring Break

 

Last weekend as I got ready to start spring break I wasn’t sure what the week would be like. I was sort of looking forward to it, but there was a part of me that wondered what in the world I would do to fill up my time. My daughter was off work too, so I wouldn’t have my grand boys every day. What in the world would I do? I wondered if I would get bored or get the blues. (I mean a girl can only clean so long before she needs something else to do. LOL) 

 

Tonight, as I write this blog, spring break is basically over. However, the week I kind of dreaded was one of fun, friends, some self-care, and a lot of stillness. Not stillness in the literal sense, but in a spiritual and mental sense. Recently, Tim and I made the decision to take a break from our paid streaming service, mainly because the cost was going up and the choice of programming was going down. Now let me backup a bit and say, I LOVE tv. I watch it all day. Well, most of the day is spent watching kid’s shows, but it’s on. I love the noise, I guess. However, with the main streaming app gone, I was given an opportunity to, well, do something different. And this week I did just that. I listened to Air1, my favorite worship station, most of the day or chose not to turn the tv on at all. This one small change propelled me into some sweet times. Sweet stillness, clearer thinking and hearing. 

 

The lack of noise and distraction was exactly what I needed and I didn’t even know it. When your brain is not always occupied it gives you time to reflect and to hear from God in a fresh new way. I spent uninterrupted, quality time with Him. I wasn’t in a hurry to move on to the next thing.

 

Distractions are, well, distracting. They can keep us focused on the wrong things. They can cause us to miss out. Miss out on friends, family, and God, just to name a few. 

 

Distractions can be disguised as so many things. Our thoughts, food, phones, an easier way. You name it we can be distracted by it. I don’t want to “wake up” one day and realize I was so distracted I missed life. Missed out on what God had for me. 

 

Tomorrow life goes back to its regularly scheduled programming. Littles will be here. There will be diapers that need changing and snacks that need to be served. Then after school my grand boys will come after school and we’ll have homework to do. The day will be busy and I know that I can and probably will be distracted. But, dang it, I don’t want to be. I want to be intentional. Intentional in my time with God. Intentional in my health and wellness journey. Intentional in my relationships. 

 

Maybe the opposite of being distracted is being intentional. 

 

I’m committing to intentionality! Who’s with me?

 

Let’s live intentionally, not distracted.   

March 9, 2025

Days of Our Lives

 

Anybody a “Days of Our Lives” fan? YEARS ago Tim and I watched the daily soap opera. Hope & Bo, Marlena & Roman, and Abe Carver just to name a few. Anyway, our pastor used a large hourglass this morning as a visual aid to illustrate our time on earth from beginning to end and he talked about how we don’t know when our time will run out. So, knowing that, it’s imperative that we live with intention. We should be busy about God’s work. He stressed the importance of living life “sober-minded.” ( I have my own “sermon” on being sober-minded, but I’ll save that for another time.) 

 

One thing he pointed out was that we can’t live a life of clear thinking if we are so enamored by the world that we have no space for God. We must stop letting the world squeeze us into its mold, but allow God to transform our thinking by renewing the mind. How you ask? One main way is to spend time in His Word on a daily basis. He shared an easy to follow practical plan and I thought I would share it with you. 

 

First, set a place and time: 

I know for me, one of the biggest reasons I struggled with consistency in the past was because I didn’t have a set time or place. A few months ago I took a little area in our home and added a comfy chair, a soft blanket, my grandmother’s table and a lamp to create “my spot.” I sit there every morning. If we leave it to chance or convenience, we will likely push it aside.

• Choose a Time – Whether it’s early in the morning, during lunch, or before bed, pick a time when you can be fully present without distractions.
• Choose a Place – Find a quiet, comfortable space where you can focus. This could be:
  ✔️ A cozy chair in your bedroom
  ✔️ A quiet corner in your home
  ✔️ A park bench or outdoor space

 

Next, get your stuff:

Just like you wouldn’t go to the gym without the right gear, you don’t want to start your quiet time without the tools you need.

✔️ Your Bible – Choose a translation that helps you understand Scripture deeply.
✔️ A Journal & Pen – Writing down what God speaks to you helps with retention.
✔️ A Devotional or Study Guide (optional) – If you like structured studies.
✔️ Highlighters or Sticky Notes – To mark verses that stand out to you.

When everything is prepared and ready to go, it eliminates excuses and distractions, making your time with God more intentional and effective.

Third, say a prayer to get started:

Before you open your Bible, start with prayer. This is crucial because it prepares your heart and mind to receive from God. It doesn’t have to be fancy. Just a simple prayer asking God to speak to you through His Word, to open your heart, remove distractions, and to help you understand what He wants you to learn today.

Fourth, begin to read (slowly & intentionally)

Now, it’s time to open the Word of God. But instead of treating it like a task to check off, approach it like a slow, meaningful conversation with a close friend.

✔️ Read Slowly & Thoughtfully – It’s not about how much you read, but how much you absorb.
✔️ Pause & Reflect – If a verse stands out, stop and meditate on it.
✔️ Ask Yourself: What is God saying to me in this passage? How can I apply this to my life?

Fifth, journal what God says to you:

After reading, take a few minutes to write down your thoughts.

✍️ Here are a few journaling prompts if you need some help getting started:
✔️ What verse stood out to me today?
✔️ What is God teaching me?
✔️ How can I apply this to my life?

Just like consistency is important in our health/weight loss journey, it is also important in our spiritual lives.

Building a daily habit of meeting with God daily is one of the most life-changing things I have done since I retired. The more consistent I am, the stronger my relationship with Him has become.

Lamentations 3:22-23 says,
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning."

Every time I come to Him, He gives  fresh grace, wisdom, and encouragement.

Just like our weight loss/maintenance journeys MUST fit our own unique lives, so must our quiet times. We don’t HAVE to follow each step, but take it and tweak it to make it your own special time with God. 

Weeds

March 2, 2025

 

It’s almost spring and with spring comes yard work. Mississippi has a warmer climate most of the year and therefore weeds are most always present in the flower beds around my house. Over the past few weeks I have watched them get bigger and more spread throughout and I knew that it was only a matter of time before I had to get on my hands and knees and pull those suckers out by the roots. I don’t mind working in the yard, but it’s not my favorite thing to do, so I tend to put it off. Well, yesterday was the day. It was sunny and warm and I didn’t have any plans, so weeding it was. 

 

Now before I continue I must tell you that God speaks to me in little spurts. A little tidbit here and another tidbit there and this situation was no different. This past week I was doing a devotional and one morning I read about the difference in “admission and confession.” We can admit that there is a problem aka weeds or we can confess the issue/weed/sin. God used that one statement to begin a discussion with me that has lasted over the past several days and in all honesty will probably continue for a few more. You see, over the past few weeks I have been admitting there were weeds in the flower beds, but my admission did nothing to rid the area of them. Sadly, I’m thinking the same has been true in my spiritual life as well. 

 

I know that as a believer I will never get rid of ALL of the weeds in my life (much like the flowerbed), but I can’t just ignore them either. I have to allow God to show me when there are weeds in me and then I have to confess them, and allow Him to pull them up by the roots. 

 

Some weeds are easier to remove than others. You can just grab them at the top and out pops the whole weed, root and all. Others you have to drag back the pinestraw to expose the whole weed and then pull. Same is true with us. Some seem tiny, easy to remove. Others have been there for years and are tough to get rid of. Some sins I struggled with years ago no longer plague me. But then there are some that haunt me regularly just like a pesky weed. My struggles with food, impatience, selfishness, just to name a few. Sometimes I feel confident that these weeds are gone and then, bam, they spring up again! It bugs me at how difficult they can be to remove. Then things like shame, fear of failure, worry over never being able to rid my life of these sins can haunt me.  That’s when I have to stop and spend some time with God. He knows me, loves me, and He will help me. 

Over the past 8 months I have been asking God to “do a work" in my life. To change me. To use me. To lead me. And as part of the process I think He needs/has to show me where there are areas in my life that need to be de-weeded. I think it's hard, if not impossible to move into a new season of life while dragging old baggage with us. In fact, just yesterday He revealed to me some of that old baggage. There was an issue that for years I blamed others for, but it wasn’t them. It was me. I was the problem. My heart issues were the problem. And until I allow Him to clean that area up I believe the steps forward may come to a halt. 

Do you have some weeds that need to go? Are you just admitting there’s a problem without confessing it and giving it to Him? What if today was the day that you let Him pull back the pinestraw and pull up that weed by the root? Do you dare?

I don’t blame you if you are hesitant. I know I am. It won’t be easy, but I do believe it will be worth it!

I’m cheering you on!     

February 23, 2025

To Forgive

 

The word forgive can spark angst in me. It makes me always wonder if I’ve truly forgiven someone who hurt me through verbal and emotional abuse for most of my life. It’s been a long, learning, leaning into God experience. Part of what makes this even trickier is the fact that this person is a family member and many well meaning people have told me that I should “forgive and forget.” Now what they mean is “let this person back in your life. You should have a relationship with her. She’s family.” And for a long time I let those words make me feel as if I hadn’t forgiven. I would question myself, my discussions with God over the offenses. I would worry “what if I hadn’t truly forgiven her, then God would not forgive me.” 

 

Now I’ll be the first to admit that for a long time I was hurt, mad, angry, bitter. You name it, I felt it. There would be times when I would think “ I was over it” only to see the anger and bitterness rear its ugly head. Then I would go back to God and hash it all out all over again. Long story short, it’s been a process. 

 

However, when I hear a sermon or read a devotion or book and forgiveness is mentioned my mind immediately goes to this relationship. Well, today was no exception. Each year during the month of February my church focuses on prayer. Today our pastor taught on forgiveness. So after reading all of the above info you know where my mind went. I took notes, listened closely to the preacher and the Holy Spirit. I wanted to hear what He had for me today. Close to the end of the sermon I heard in my spirit, “Do I need to “forgive” God?” Now before you gasp for air, let me explain. (Yes, I know you are gasping because I did when I heard it. I even wrote the question down so I could ponder it later.) 

 

I know that we can only offer and give forgiveness for a wrong that has been committed against us and God does no wrong. Why then would I hear this question? God is perfect, His ways are perfect. His thoughts are higher than mine. Honestly, I felt as if I was disrespecting God by even entertaining the thought. But God already knew I had the thought. He knew I would have the thought BEFORE I actually had it. Still I couldn’t even bring myself to voice it. I knew if I said it aloud to anyone, he/she would look at me like I was crazy or an unbeliever. So I did what any normal person does in 2025, I googled it. And you know what? Others have had this thought too. 

I found an article published by “The Baptist Record” in 2023 that spoke directly to this. The author shares that “when we feel anger, pain, or disappointment due to perceived unfairness in life, the process of ‘forgiving’ God can help us release negative emotions and realign our hearts with Him.” Many times things happen in our lives that seem unjust, unfair, or unexplainable and we get angry with God. Things from my own personal life that have seemed this way include the death of a child, coming from a dysfunctional home, and my husband losing his job, to name just a few. I can even remember a time when I quit praying. I didn’t think my prayers mattered. I mean God is God. He is in control and will do as He pleases and no amount of praying can “make” Him do anything. *side note~hallelujah! Because I do NOT need to be in control* 

 

For me, talking about forgiving God is about acknowledging my feelings of anger or hurt or betrayal, processing these emotions, and then releasing them to Him. I must come to a place where I fully trust God, His goodness, His sovereignty, and His plans. 

 

I’ve heard people say that God is a big boy. He can handle my honest emotions. He can handle my anger. He can handle my questions. My disappointments or questions do not disqualify me from God’s love. In fact the opposite might be true. It may just draw me closer to His heart. 

 

So today I talked with Him about all of this. My “forgiving” God isn’t about Him, but about me. It’s not about finding fault in Him, but in realigning my heart with His. 

 

Today I am releasing my hurt over past experiences. And in doing so I feel stronger, more faith-filled, more trusting of the One who can be trusted. God is good, kind, merciful, and so much more.

 

Is there something you need to “forgive” God for? 

This health and wellness journey is so much more than weight loss. It’s about losing that which keeps us in bondage. Do you need to release something so you can be free? My prayer is that you will. The freedom found in forgiveness is, well, freeing! 

 

February 16, 2025

Inevitable 

 

In December of 2023, I achieved a major health journey goal when I made Lifetime with Weight Watchers. This was a long term goal I set when I restarted my wellness journey one last time in June of 2021. When I hit Lifetime I was at the goal weight Weight Watchers had set for me, but it was not my personal goal weight. So for the next year I stayed in weight loss mode even though I wasn’t losing any weight to speak of. I would go up a few pounds and down a few. Back and forth, back and forth. Finally at the end of 2024, I hit my personal goal weight. Since then I have really had to work on how I saw my health journey. Only once before can I remember hitting this weight and I don’t remember how long I stayed there before I began to gain the weight back. To be honest, it has been a big adjustment to my mindset to think in “maintenance” and not “weight loss” mode. It's exciting and scary all at the same time. And it can be kind of boring. I still track my food, move my body, drink the water and the scale basically sits within the same pound or two. Now I know that’s what maintenance is, but it's a weird feeling. 

 

So I have spent a lot of time lately thinking about how to keep myself at this weight. I’ve pondered how I will handle vacations, holidays, and day-to-day eating. I have also wondered about possible setbacks that may occur (who am I kidding, they WILL occur). In the past setbacks happened and while I hated them, I had no plan as to how I would handle it. I want this time to be different. I want a plan. At least as much of a plan as I can make. Planning has been key for me this go-round, so that tells me that I will need to plan in order to stay successful in maintenance. 

 

Last week I asked my Weight Watcher and social media community what they thought caused setbacks and then I went one step further and asked how they handled or prevented it. The answers ranged from “resenting the need to track food” to “not having support from friends and family.” Some people had no real plan for how to overcome a setback, but others did. The quote, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail” came to mind. So I’m in the process of creating a plan. 

 

My first line of defense will always be to reach out to my accountability partner. Over the past couple of days I have gotten sloppy in my tracking. It took a couple of days before I realized that this could quickly turn into a “setback.” As soon as that reality hit me, I sent a message to my partner and let her know that I would be sending her a screenshot of my tracker everynight for a while. 

My next plan of action is to write down things that might happen that could cause me to go down a slippery slope. I can be a worrier. I can get anxious about finances, getting sick, something happening to my family, stressors over work. Really almost anything can make me feel anxious which usually leads to me choosing foods to calm myself. Knowing this I want to have a list of things to do when the anxious feelings hit that do not include food. Here are a few of the ideas I have come up with so far. I will sit with my emotions and try to find out why I am feeling a certain way. I will name my emotion and tell myself that it won’t hurt me. I will take deep breaths, say a prayer, read a book, or text a friend. If I am still wanting to mow through a box of Oreos, I will have a Dr. Pepper Zero over crushed ice and sip it with a straw. I know that’s a lot of detail, but remember I’m a planner. I love details. Last idea, so far, is that I must track anything I want to eat BEFORE I eat it. I know for me many times I impulsively grab food before letting myself think. (side note: a few years ago I made up this chant for my oldest grandson to help him not be so impulsive and it went like this~”Stop and think *clap,clap* Stop and think *clap, clap.) So that’s what I need to do. Stop and think! Impulsivity is not my friend. 

 

Setbacks may be an inevitable part of life. We can have them in any area I suppose, health and wellness, spiritual, relational. But what we do about them is where the real power comes in. So instead of beating myself up or worrying about having one, I will choose to have a plan and live the plan. As I face other life events that seem to drive me toward food I will add to the plan. 

 

I don’t know if this will work for everyone, but I do know we will all need to think about our course of action. No one wants to “lose” the progress they’ve made.      

February 9, 2025

A Hunka-Hunka Awesome Weekend

 

Last weekend I was given probably one of the best gifts ever! For my 60th birthday my daughter and son-in-law gave me a trip to Graceland and last weekend we went. I was absolutely blown away by this extremely generous gift, but one thing that made it even better was that it was a trip for my daughter and I to take together. This mama couldn’t have been any happier if she’d tried.  We left around lunch on Saturday, stopped and shopped, talked, and just enjoyed the trip. While shopping I made my first designer purchases (Tory Burch shoes and wallet, Kate Spade purse) a huge splurge for me. 

 

Once we arrived in Memphis we checked into The Guest House at Graceland. The hotel was beautiful and full of nods to the king which I absolutely loved.  We had dinner at the EP’s Bar & Grill where we ate all things fried. I had a fabulous fried grilled cheese sandwich and a fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich with ice cream for dessert (no points were left behind LOL) After dinner we walked around the hotel and took in a few minutes of an Elvis concert in the theater. That night I was serenaded by Elvis from his infamous “Aloha from Hawaii” concert. This is my favorite concert of all time and you can watch it 24 hours a day during your stay. Hallelujah!

 

Sunday we spent the entire day touring Graceland and Elvis Presley’s Memphis Entertainment Complex. Amazing! The complex is a wonderful tribute to Elvis and his life. I was in heaven! If you are an Elvis fan and have never been, you must go. You will not be disappointed. 

 

Now if you know me, you know I am all things Weight Watchers, health, wellness, mindset, and spirituality. So you know I came away from this amazing weekend with some thoughts. Could I have enjoyed this trip 4 years ago at 248 pounds, sure. But did I enjoy it more, 100 pounds lighter, absolutely! I never once wondered if others were judging me because of my size. I didn’t get tired walking around, I wasn’t out of breath, and my feet didn’t hurt. On Sunday morning, after getting dressed in my jeans and Elvis t-shirt, I was looking in the mirror and I was so proud of the woman I saw. She has worked hard. She has persevered. She slipped up many times, but did not quit. I NEVER want to forget how I felt looking at her. How my clothes felt on my body. 

 

I’m also proud of myself for eating and not worrying about the points. I ordered what I wanted, enjoyed every bite and quit when I was full. Early on in this journey I worried about indulging. I worried that I would eat like the “old Lori” and not be able to “get back on track.” I had done that many times before. But this time, I ate and on Monday it was business as usual. 

 

This special weekend just reiterated to me how life is made to be cherished and enjoyed. God does not want us to sit on the sidelines. There were many years when I might have been “in the game” but inside I was miserable, self-conscious, and wanted to be invisible. I worried my family and friends were embarrassed by me and my size. I wanted to hide. Not anymore. I want to grab life by the horns and do everything God has planned for me to do. I don’t want to miss out on one thing. I was made for more and so were you! 

February 3, 2025

The Present

 

Worrying about the future is not new to me. I don’t know if I have always been a worrier, but for most of my adult life I would say I have. You name it, I can worry about it. The future, money, death, sickness, failure, and on and on. I’m sure you’ve heard the quote, “Worrying is like rocking in a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but gets you nowhere.” Knowing that, why do we worry? 

 

Worry, for me, mainly stems from feeling a lack of control, which, in turn, causes anxiety. Many times worrying can be a natural response to stress or when we care deeply about something or someone. 

 

The sad reality is that most of us worry and worrying can negatively affect us in so many ways, both mentally and physically. On the mental side, constant worry can lead to anxiety, stress, and even depression. It can cause us to become overwhelmed, making it harder to think clearly or make decisions. The mental strain can create a cycle where worry makes problems seem bigger than they are, leading to even more stress and anxiety. 

 

Physically, chronic worry can trigger our body’s stress response, which increases heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension. Over time, this can contribute to health problems like headaches, digestive issues, or even cardiovascular issues. Worrying can also interfere with sleep, leaving us feeling tired and less able to cope with daily challenges.

 

And on top of all of this, I feel like a failure for worrying. I feel like my faith is weak, that I say I “trust” God, but I don’t live like it. “If I really trusted Him with our future, why would I be afraid and full of worry?”

 

Over the past few weeks, my heart and mind have been burdened for family and issues that are out of my control. There would be days when my mind was consumed with the problem and overcome with worry. My stomach would hurt, I couldn’t focus, I had trouble sleeping. Finally, earlier this week I spent the morning in prayer and simply opened my hands to God and said, God, I give this situation and my family to You. I can’t handle it, change it, fix it. I have to let it go.”  

Now that’s all easier said than done, right? But each time I tried to “take it back” I opened my hands again releasing my “control.” 

 

Then today, God gently reminded me that His grace is sufficient (2 Corin. 12:9) and that He greets me each morning with mercies for that day(Lam. 3:23). His love for my family is greater than my love for them. He is not shocked by the situation. He is not tossing and turning over how to work it all out. Hallelujah! 

 

Now, if you know me at all, then you know I have to have a plan for how to deal with worry when it rears its ugly head again, because I know it will! So, I thought I would share it with you for my own accountability and just in case you like a plan to.

 

First, I will pray and trust God. Philippians says, “Do not be anxious about anything but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” 

 

Next, I will focus on God’s promises. I know that God is able. He cares for me and my family. His ways are perfect. I will listen to or recite Psalm 23 when I feel anxious as a way to remind myself of how He cares for me. This Scripture reminds me of His presence and His nearness. 

 

I will focus on the present. Jesus teaches in Matthew, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Focusing on the present moment and trusting God for one day at a time will help keep worrying at bay.

 

Do I think that these steps will keep me from worrying? No, but I do think, no I believe, that God’s Word is true and that by focusing on Him and His Word I will be better able to keep a handle on my worries. 

 

January 26, 2025

Lessons from a “No Snow” Snow Week

 

This past week was not a “normal”  week. Schools were closed on Monday for Martin Luther King, Jr. day. Then, they also closed for a “no snow” snow day on Tuesday. The majority of our country experienced some super cold temperatures and our southern beaches saw snow. How crazy is that? The temperature was some of the coldest of this season for our area, but no white flakes were seen and believe me I looked. Plus my Weight Watchers meetings were closed on Monday and Tuesday for the holiday and the “snow.”

 

Now having a snow day with no snow is not new for our area. There have been many days over the years when schools would close and we would just get a cold rain or a flake or two. I’m no stranger to this. So why is it that a change in routine and freezing cold weather can mess with a girl’s mind and make her want to eat? I don’t know either, but it does. 

 

To add to the weekly changes, I didn’t have one day, all week that I had all of my Littles. Some were sick and out on Wednesday and then by Friday others were sick and stayed home. 

 

Now I am sure some of you are thinking, “Wow, Lori, what an easy week you had.” And yes, that’s true, but…all of this made me feel out of sync. I was cold, bored, home A LOT, and all I wanted to do was, yep you guessed it, EAT! What we now call “food noise” was blaring in my head! It was almost maddening at times. It took everything within me to not raid the pantry all day everyday. Some days I was able to stay the course and other’s I was not. 

 

I’ll be honest, I panic when I have days that are hard and noisy and when I give in to the chatter in my mind. I worry that I’ll fall off the wagon and not be able to get back on. I worry that I’ll gain all of my weight back. I’m embarrassed when it happens and feel like an imposter. If I’m not careful I let my “slip” turn into a bash Lori session. 

 

I knew what the problem was. I knew my schedule was off, my routine disrupted, but that didn’t make it any easier to deal with. 

 

By Friday, I began to feel more like myself and the food chatter had calmed down. So I began to think about what I could learn from this week and how I could be better prepared for it the next time. 

 

So here’s my plan. 

 

In the future, if there is a day (any day) that I feel as if I cannot not eat, I will immediately message my accountability partner and tell her. I will tell her I’m struggling and that I will be sending her my tracker at the end of the day. Knowing that she will see my tracker will help me to make better choices. Also, when the noise hits I will get up and walk for 10 minutes around the house. Set a timer and walk. Another option I will use is to have a drink; water, flavored water, Dr. Pepper Zero, coffee, whatever, just a drink. The whole drink. I will remind myself that these thoughts and feelings will pass. They won’t stay forever. And when the new day arrives I will be so thankful I didn’t give into them.

I love a good “win.” An NSV. I truly believe they are one of the most important things we can keep track of on our journey. This blog will go down as one of my NSVs. In years past, when on the dieting train, I would’ve allowed a week like this past one to be the perfect excuse to quit. 

“I can’t do this. I’ll never lose weight. I’m a food addict and that’s just who I am. I will never change.”

And on and on it would’ve gone. 

 

Now, instead of quitting, I’m choosing to learn and then make a plan of action for the next time, because there will be a next time. 

 

So can I offer you some encouragement and advice? This health and wellness journey is not for the faint at heart. It’s stinkin’ hard! You never arrive. Well, I haven’t. Just when you think you have it together, life throws you a curveball. (This doesn’t sound much like encouragement. Let me try again.) 

It’s tough, but so are you! You have lived through your hardest day. Even though you may not have been successful yet, you are still trying. Yes, you may have eaten an entire carton of Oreos (oh wait that was me), but it’s not the end of the world. It was a pothole, a bump in the road, but brush your pants off and get right back at it. 

 

We have all “messed up.” Everyone of us! No one is perfect. Learn, apply what you’ve learned and keep going. Let’s quit looking at our “mess ups” as a reason to throw in the towel and use them as a learning experience that will make us stronger. 

January 19, 2025

Dreams vs. Realities

 

Do you have dreams or goals for your life? Have you had dreams, but then failed at making them a reality? I know I have. Some dreams are just that, a hope, an aspiration and nothing more. Some are dreams we had as children. There have been many hopes and dreams I have had over the years that were nothing more than a wish or a fantasy. I heard this quote recently, “ A goal (dream) without a plan is just a wish.” So true, isn’t it? 

 

Dreams are important! They ignite our passions. They provide direction, offer hope, and fuel our aspirations. But as much as we may cherish our dreams, the real challenge lies not in having them, but in making them a reality. The gap between dreaming and doing is often wider than we expect, and it requires more than just wishful thinking. It demands action, resilience, and sometimes, a complete shift in perspective. 

 

In 2024, I had a dream, a passion, to help others reach their wellness goals. I had no idea how or what I needed to do to make that dream a reality, or even if I could. My heart wanted it, but my head kept saying “Who are you? What makes you an authority? You’re no one special. You don’t even know where to begin.” 

So many times in my life those thoughts would have stopped me from going any further. End of dream. I wanted this time to be different. I at least wanted to give it a shot. 

 

For me the number one reason I didn’t make many of my dreams a reality in the past was because of fear. I was simply afraid. What if I failed? What if people made fun of me? What if people told me I couldn’t do it? What if the lies in my head were true? So I didn’t even try. I had failed or quit a million times. I have started many things only to give up when it got hard. I let the “hard” make me afraid and well, that was it. 

 

So in 2024 when I began to dream about becoming a wellness coach I immediately reminded myself of all the times I had quit. However, something was different this time. You see over the past few years while on my weight loss journey, I have also been working on my mindset. I was finding wins, speaking kindly to myself, encouraging myself like I would a friend.  I was growing in my relationship with God. I was beginning to believe who He said I was. 

 

This past week I saw a big part of my dream become a beautiful reality with the first ever “Made for More” event for ladies. It surpassed my expectations. I took the dream and passion within my heart, faced challenges, overcame doubt, and never gave up. Now please don’t think it was all me or that I didn’t have doubts, because neither is true. I had friends praying for me, a husband who never stopped encouraging me and telling me how proud he was of me, and so much help from my daughter and best friend. 

 

Do you have dreams or wishes that you’ve given up on? 

Can I just take a moment to encourage you to revisit them? Write them down, make a plan, face your fears and believe in yourself. If I can do it, you can too! Let’s see our dreams become a reality in 2025.

 

Remember, I’m cheering for you! You were made for more!

January 12, 2025

A Ball of Yarn

There are so many things on my mind today. Community, friendship, event sessions, as well as hurt, anger, anxiousness over recent events. One time I heard someone say that a woman’s brain is like a ball of yarn. One thought touching another thought and then another and on and on, just like one continuous strand of yarn. That’s what I ‘m experiencing today. Even as I was thinking about what I wanted to write about my mind kept jumping from one idea to the next. 

 

Are your thoughts ever like that? Do you feel as if you are bouncing from one thing to the next? 

 

So, in all the craziness of my brain it’s nice to just sit a minute. To be still. To be quiet. And to be reminded that God’s mind is not like our mind. In fact, scripture says, “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isa. 55:8) He is not wondering what will happen, how things will turn out. I don’t know about you, but that is amazing comfort for me. His stomach doesn’t hurt from anxiousness. He does not have sleepless nights. He is God. All knowing, all powerful, and fully in control. 

 

In years past, anxiousness ( whether good or bad) would drive me to food. I would eat as if the food itself provided some kind of magic potion that would calm me. It didn’t. 

In the past, I would see anxiousness as weakness. What’s wrong with me? Why am I nervous or upset? Now I see it as a catalyst to move me closer to God, to be more intentional about seeking Him. To step toward Him. Why? Because He knows. He cares. He is not disappointed in my thoughts and feelings. He gets me. He loves me. 

 

I’ve prayed a lot over the past few days. Many times out loud. Real loud!  

I’ve asked Him for protection, for wisdom, for comfort.

I’ve praised Him for the blessings He has given me. For the doors He’s opened and the community He has so graciously blessed me with. 

 

I’m not the same woman I used to be. I haven’t eaten an entire pack of Oreos or a bag of Lay’s chips over the past few days. I haven’t thrown in the towel. I haven’t turned my back on God (sadly I have chosen that before). 

 

And this may seem crazy to you, but the person I am now is a by-product of the weight loss journey I started in 2021 and the promise I made to myself to never quit. I had no idea that losing physical weight would also mean losing so much more. And by losing, I gained.  

 

So let me leave you with 2 things. If you are struggling on a weight loss journey, don’t quit! 

Put in the work. Keep trying. You may only see it as a way to “get skinny.” However, as the layers are peeled away a whole new you will begin to shine forth. Secondly, and just as important, work to change your mindset and to grow spiritually. (If you don’t know where to start send me a message. I’ll be glad to help.) I am not sure the weight loss will last if we don’t change our mindset. And I believe we must allow God to be our fortress. Not food, social media, tv, friends, material possessions. HIM! He is our constant. He is our stronghold. 

All of the other things are temporary and provide no real relief or comfort. 

 

Take your jumbled mess to the only One who can help you sort it out. 

January 5, 2025

Word of the Year

Have you ever chosen a word for the year and then forgotten what it was a few weeks later? Me too! Like so many other things I declare in January, they seem great at the time, but then I barely give them a second thought. However, over the past few years I have learned to set goals and then form habits to make sure I hit those goals. I have also learned that I have to keep the goals/words put in a prominent place so I see it on a daily basis and am reminded of things I really want to make happen. 

 

Last year I chose the word “celebrate” and wrote it on an index card and put it in a drawer. Finally in March I stumbled upon the card and was reminded that I would have to make celebrating a priority if I truly wanted it to happen. I would have to notice times of celebration, create celebrations, and be on the “look out” for daily celebrations. 

 

I loved having a word of the year for 2024. I loved how there were intentional times of celebration and spontaneous ones. I loved turning a MONUMENTAL birthday year into a birthday I would look forward to and always remember. 

 

In October, before I was even thinking about a new year, let alone a word for 2025, there it was; right in the middle of a devotion. It was one of those things that as soon as I saw it I knew. I knew it had to be my word of the year and I knew that this word had the power to transform 2025 into a life changing year (let me also say it’s not your normal word of the year and I wondered how I would even explain/share why I chose the word, but here goes).

 

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Matt. 26:23

You are probably like me and have read or heard this verse many times. All the other times of hearing this verse I thought about the pain and agony that Jesus would soon have to endure on my behalf. But this time the writer of the devotion pointed out how Jesus was “yielding” to the Father’s will. And there it was~yielded, yielding, yield. Those words that Jesus said showed how He chose to die to self and yield to the Father. I have always struggled with the “deny thyself” or “die to self” for whatever reason(s). Pride, independence, selfishness? Whatever it was, I had trouble doing it. However, on that day when I read the word “yield” I knew that’s what I needed to/had to do. Just as a yield sign indicates you should let someone else go ahead of you, yielding to God means to surrender our lives to Jesus and commit to follow Him and let Him lead. 

 

This year, whatever comes my way, coaching opportunities or no coaching opportunities, open doors or closed, a growing business or no business, I must choose to YIELD to His will, His way. By dying to my self-centered way I can then discover the beauty and power within myself that God intended. I will choose to yield to His higher purpose.

 

This year feels different, especially as it relates to my health and wellness journey. I am at my goal weight, so weight loss is not a daily thought. In many respects, I have reached most of my health goals. So I am not spending all of my time thinking about “losing” weight and all that goes with that. And honestly, I can’t remember the last time (if ever) that I’ve been in this space. 

 

I’m launching a new business that is a huge part of my life, my daily thoughts, my plans. 

 

I have a retirement job I love and I get to coach Weight Watchers workshops and have gained many friends through that opportunity. 

 

I firmly believe that God has me in all of these places and I am walking out my purpose. 

 

But can I fully walk in His purpose for me and not daily yield to Him? I don’t think so. 

 

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.’” Matt. 16:24

 

This year I will choose to deny myself and to yield to Him. 

His will, His way.

His purpose, His plans.

December 29, 2024

Reflections

As I prepare to close out 2024 and begin a new year I can’t help but reflect on all that has happened over the past few years. From retiring to opening a daycare, from starting Weight Watchers for the 1 millionth time, to becoming a lifetime member, then becoming a WW coach, not to mention completing my certification as a holistic wellness coach. It has been a steady progression toward a new and better life. 

 

What began as another attempt to lose the weight turned into the greatest physical, mental, and spiritual transformation of my life! Who would’ve thought at this age I would be so excited to see the future and what it holds. But here I am, anxiously hopeful, excited, and simply in awe of this life I am living. Now don’t think for one second that I am not a little scared, wondering who I am, that I could be this person daring to dream new dreams at 60, “finding” myself if you will. Which seems so strange to say at this ripe old age. I think we think that people should have it all figured out by 60 and just coasting into retirement. So am I crazy to try this? Crazy to try something new? I’m an old lady for goodness sake.

 

However, it did not happen overnight. Just today I sat and talked with my daughter and son-in-law about life. My upbringing, challenges faced, how we grow and change and I wondered how I got here. How did a “diet” get me here? How did losing the weight bring about such a life change? Honesty, I don’t know and if I did I don’t know if I could put it into words, but I want to try. 

 

Losing the fat was like peeling away the layers of an onion. As the weight started to come off I began to think about getting more heart healthy. I started walking. Then, as I became more physically healthy I knew that in order to make this a lasting change I was going to have to change my mindset. I read books, listened to motivational podcasts, and started following inspirational WW members and creators who challenged me and shared how they stayed the course. Soon I wanted to focus on holistic wellness which not only included the physical and mental, but the spiritual side of me. I started setting monthly goals; one for the body, one for the mind, and one for the soul. These helped me stay focused on my ultimate goal which was to become wholly healthy. 

 

And now here I am 3 ½ years later stepping toward this new vision, purpose if you will, that God has given me. Today at church the preacher shared this statement. “I can exist in my past, or my present, or my future.” I don’t know about you, but I want to live in my present while looking to the future. I don’t want to let anything hold me back from what God has planned for me. 

 

So today, I will live intentionally. I will forever be thankful for the lessons learned and this life I get to live and I will excitedly prepare and look forward to the future. 

 

Will you join me? 

Let’s reach our goals, go after our dreams and step into our God given purpose.

Here’s to 2025!  

December 22, 2024

Gifts

I don’t know about you, but a lot of my thoughts, time, and money lately have gone toward gift purchasing and giving. 

What do my boys want? 

What will I give my Littles, my neighbors and friends, my Weight Watchers members? 

And on and on it goes. 

 

Well, the gifts are bought, wrapped, and under the tree. I’ve gotten together with friends and now it’s time to have the family celebrations. (I can hardly wait to see the delight in my grandboys faces as they open up their gifts!) 

 

Even though a great deal of time has been spent on the gift purchasing, that is not what this holiday means to me. It’s about Jesus and because He has given me the greatest gift, I want to give to others. There is a place and time in our lives to give material gifts and a time and a place to give non-tangible gifts.  

 

So that being said, I don’t believe we can separate our “everyday” lives from our “spiritual lives.” If I hear or read or watch something I may pick up on a word or phrase that makes me stop and think. I may hear something in a podcast and then hear something similar at church or during my devotion time. When I begin to notice this, I pay attention. I believe God may be trying to tell me something or show me something. 

 

Today at church our pastor preached about the gifts the wise men brought to Jesus and the gifts we should bring. During his sermon he told about gifts we, as a church body, have been good at giving and how those gifts were used to spread His Word in 2024. Then, he challenged us with areas in which we might grow, improve. 

 

After coming home and thinking about what he shared I remembered a quote I heard yesterday on the radio. It spoke to me so much that as soon as I could stop I wrote it in the notes on my phone so I wouldn’t forget it. Little did I know then, how the quote and today’s sermon would tie in together and really impact me. 

 

The quote I heard was “Don’t be afraid to give away the thing you are great at.”

I have spent the better part of the past 24 hours pondering that quote. 

How many times in my life have I felt that I was being prideful if I said I was great at something? 

How many times have I hidden or downplayed something I was great at?

Sadly, I think I thought that was the way good Christians acted. You don’t brag. You don’t want to appear too confident. You should downplay your gifts. If someone paid you a compliment you blew it off.

 

However, today I’m being challenged to look at my “gifts” or “things I'm great at” as a way to give back to God. A gift, if you will, for Jesus. 

 

We all have them and we aren’t given them as a way to lift ourselves up, but to lift Him up. We are given gifts to give away. 

 

The gift of teaching. Teach.

The gift of empathy. Love and care.

The gift of organization. Organize.

The gift of encouragement. Encourage.

 

So over the next few days, I want to challenge myself, and you, to think about our strengths or gifts God has blessed us with. How can we use them to honor Him, to tell others of His love. This is our greatest gift to give to the One who gave all for us!

 

Merry Christmas friends! 

December 15, 2024

10 More Days!

 

It’s almost here! It’s almost Christmas Day! There is so much that surrounds getting ready for that day, isn’t there? Shopping, cooking, wrapping, just to name a few. Then if you are like me, you think about what you will eat, what you will wear to parties or church services. I worry about overeating, spending too much money, forgetting to buy a gift, or making sure I spend the same amount on both of my grandboys. 

 

Our minds can become anxious and overwhelmed by it all. We forget about the true meaning of Christmas. Well, maybe we don’t forget, but it takes the back burner to all of the other things that consume our minds.

 

Then today at church I was reminded, once again, that the celebration of this special day is so much more than gifts and food. And it’s so much more than just ONE day. 

 

That day, thousands of years ago, changed the world. Christ, our Savior, was born. He came for me, for you. He brought redemption, salvation, freedom. 

 

Oh come let us adore Him! Psalm 9:6 says for us to “adore and fall down and weep before the Lord that made us.” 

 

The phrase “adore” in the Bible refers to an attitude of worship that is characterized by love and reverence for God. How do we show love and reverence to God? We do that by daily living a life that honors and brings glory to Him, not to us. 

 

I have to admit I have not always done that. Oh there may have been seasons of my life when I did, but then there were just as many when I didn’t. I would blame a lot of people and things for my lack of worship of Him. 

Too busy, too consumed with my own desires, too lazy, too ashamed, too hurt, too consumed by other things. 

 

I know this may sound crazy, but the more weight I’ve lost physically, the more weight I’ve lost mentally, emotionally. Feeling healthy and free from the weight that had me held captive in a negative space, has allowed me to be able to see and know who He created me to be. I can live in that, walk it out, and as a result serve and honor Him with my life. The life He intended for me all along. 

 

Could I have found my true identity and not lost the weight? Probably. 

But for me it was the catalyst to inner change. 

 

So now, what will I do with this revelation about my true identity? 

I will allow it to bring transformation. I will worship Him, not just on Christmas or Sundays, but Monday through Saturday as well. I will be His hands and feet. I will love others. I will use this new freedom to help others find the same freedom. I will offer my life to Him and allow Him to lead. 

 

I will not let the shame of my past or my failures stand in the way. 

 

O come all the faithful

Joyful and triumphant

O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem

Come and behold Him

Born the King of Angels

O come let us adore Him 

Christ, the Lord!

December 8, 2024

Made for More

 

This weekend I celebrated my 1 year anniversary at Lifetime with Weight Watchers. So naturally I have spent some time reflecting over the past year. I have learned more than I could share in one blog post and have grown in so many ways, but I would like to share some of my thoughts with you. 

 

I had no idea when I started this weight loss journey in the summer of 2021 that I would not only lose the weight, but be transformed emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. 

 

Physically, maintenance is a learning experience just like every step of this weight/health journey. I had never really been in the maintenance period before, at least not for very long, certainly not a year. I know that I cannot go back to my old habits and I am working on no longer overeating on the weekends, holidays, or vacations. I must continue to do all of the things that brought me to goal weight to keep me there. 

 

Emotionally, I have learned that my emotions won’t hurt me. I can sit with them, feel them, name them, even express them, but I don’t have to “feed” them with food binges. They are just feelings, not reality. 

 

Mentally, I have learned the importance of having a positive mindset. When negative thoughts invade my mind I take them captive. I reframe them with truth. I speak those truths to myself. I write them down and put them where I can see them. Each day I find small wins on my health journey and things I can be grateful for and write them in my journal so I can look back on them when difficult days arise. 

 

Spiritually, I have learned to be still in the mornings, to sit quietly and listen to what God has to tell me. I spend time in His word and in prayer. I know that God still wants to use me for His glory even in my 60’s. I have seen Him open doors, put dreams in my heart, and begin to bring those dreams into reality. 

 

Recently, God gave me a verse for my coaching business and events. The verse is Eph. 2:10, which says, “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”

Let’s let the first part of that verse sink in.

WE ARE HIS MASTERPIECE!

 

A masterpiece is “a work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.”

OUTSTANDING artistry! Wow!

We are not a mistake. We were not made to sit on the sidelines and watch life pass us by. We were made on purpose and for a purpose. He has a plan for our lives. It is our job to discover it and live it out~to the fullest. 

 

My weight hindered me from living out that purpose. I let it make me feel inferior, ashamed, and unlovable. 

 

We were made to live and live to the fullest! 

We were made for more!

So much more!

 

I will work to keep the weight off for the rest of my life. I will work to keep a positive mindset, to take care of my body, learn from and through my emotions, and grow in my walk with God. I will never quit! I don’t know what the future holds, but I’m excited to find out. 

 

I was made for more and so were you! 

December 1, 2024

Too Old for Dreams

 

When we are little we have dreams. We want to grow up and be super heroes, dancers, police officers, professional ballplayers. For me, I wanted to be a famous singer. I sang into everything. Jump ropes, hairbrushes, door knobs. Anything could be turned into a microphone.

 

Then reality sets in. We grow up. We begin to think about getting real jobs, making money, and starting a family. Our dreams become just that, dreams.

 

I don’t remember ever wanting to be a teacher. In fact, I never liked school. I can remember feeling “homesick” when I was there. However, when I became a mom my whole world changed. My grandmother encouraged me to go back to college and get a degree. So I decided to go into teaching. Not because I felt some longing to be an educator, but because I wanted to have a schedule that would allow me to be home with my daughter for holidays and summers. (*side note This is not the first time that God directed my path when I had no clue what I was doing.) So I went to college, got my degree and spent the next 28 years teaching elementary school. It was rewarding, exhausting, fun, full-filing, stressful, and challenging. All through my time as a teacher I would dream of other careers, other outlets. I think there was a part of me looking for fulfillment somewhere, in something. 

 

There are times in a woman’s life when she feels lost, unknown, wondering who she is. When our children grow up and leave home and when we retire are two of those times. These moments in my life left me searching. Who am I? What’s my purpose? Honestly, when I retired I wasn’t sure what would be next. I’m not a patient person. I want to know. I don’t sit around and wait well, even if my body is not in motion, my mind is. I’m searching, thinking, wondering. The past 3 ½ years have been no different, but I didn’t see this dream coming. 

 

At the ripe old age of 60 I am living right smack in the middle of one of the best times in my life. I am healthy, happy, and thrilled to see where this life takes me. 

 

It started out as just a plan to lose weight. I weighed 248 when I retired. I wasn’t getting any younger and I needed to take some steps to “get myself together.” It was only going to get harder to lose the weight and I worried about the toll the weight would have on my body. 

 

Fast forward to December 2024~I’ve lost over 90 pounds, will soon be celebrating my 1 year anniversary at Lifetime, and I am 1 month away from launching my holistic wellness coaching business. 

 

Today as I was reflecting on this I had a moment of self-doubt. 

“Can I keep the weight off? Do I have anything to offer others? Who am I to be coaching others? I’m too old. My life is way over half over. No one wants an old lady telling them what to do.”

 

But then I hit the “pause” button on those negative thoughts. I took those thoughts captive and reframed them. Not in a haughty way, but in an affirming way. “I can and will keep the weight off with the help of Weight Watchers, friends, accountability partners, and you. I have learned a lot along the way and if I can use some of what I’ve learned to help others then I am going to. I may be old, but I’m not dead. I have been given a mission and a purpose and I want to be faithful in living it out.”

 

I am living my dream! 

It’s not too late, friends. 

You too can live the life you have always dreamed of.  Don’t let another second pass you by. 

 

We were made for more!

I’m rooting you on! 

November 24, 2024

Gratitude Is How You Feel~Thanksgiving Is What You Do

It’s Thanksgiving week! It’s that time of year when we focus on our blessings, spend time with family, and eat tons of yummy food. 

The older I get the more I focus on the good times, the moments I want to remember, those I love and how important they are to me. So this Thanksgiving feels more special since I’ve hit the big 6-0 and even though it sounds morbid, who knows how many I have left. I want to soak up every moment and have it burned into my memory. I want to cherish the times my grandboys give me hugs, the times I sit beside my husband and watch tv or the Sunday lunch talks with my daughter and son-in-law. I want to embrace life! 

 

I’m sad to say I haven’t always done that. The truth is, when I was young and raising a family I was busy just trying to make it from one day to the next. I was young and did not have a clue how quickly time would pass. Sometimes I wish that I could remember the little details of life. The sound of my daughter’s voice when she was little, silly things she said or did, meals we ate, dance recitals and conventions we went to, or camping trips with my in-laws. 

I would soak it all up! However, I do not want to live with regrets now. I can’t go back, can’t relive the past, but I can soak up all that life has to offer now. 

 

Over the past 3 years while on this health and wellness journey, I’ve been a “loser”! A loser of extra weight and extra baggage. But I’ve also gained. I’ve gained the love of life, this life, today, exactly where I am. One thing I started doing a couple of years ago was journaling. I had always wanted to be a journal-er, but would never stick with it. However, I kept wanting to make daily writing a part of my life. Little did I know how much this one habit would change my life for the better. Over the past two years I have journaled about my day, my quiet time, things I sense God telling me, my weight loss, non-scale victories (NSV) and things I’m grateful for. These simple writings in a plain, ole composition book provide for me a wonderful way to look back and remember. 

 

What does all of this have to do with gratitude? Everything! I’m so thankful for these notebooks full of life, its ups and downs, victories, fears, worries and joys! The pages help me remember the simple days of life, how God has answered prayer, and hardships I’ve lived through and overcome.

 

One of the most special parts of my daily writings are the things I’m grateful for. Some days they’re easy to think of, other days it’s more difficult. Either way, it’s just become a natural part of my day. And it has spilled over into my entire day. When something catches my eye, sparks some joy, makes me smile, I say “Thank You!”   

 

Today at church the pastor read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 which says, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (emphasis mine). 

He shared this about gratitude: 

1. It takes practice. Make it a habit.
2. Realize it is accessible and available in all seasons.
3. Gratitude is our calling. 

 

So in this season of thanksgiving I hope you will take some time to recognize the blessings you have been given. Write them down, say them out loud, or tell a friend. Think of them when you wake up and when you go to sleep. 

 

Life is better with a grateful heart.  

Much love,

Lori

November 18, 2024

Which Came First?

 

Lately I have been doing several devotions by Roxanne Parks. She has so many that have spoken to my heart, what I’m focusing on, areas I want to grow in, etc. The one I just finished was about loving yourself. This is something I have struggled with for as long as I can remember. However, over the past year I have grown in this area. I love who I am, who I’m becoming. Which made me wonder, am I only able to love myself better now because I have lost the weight, or did I love myself enough to lose the weight? Which came first?

 

I have to admit, it bothered me to think that I only love myself because of my accomplishments and the weight loss. 

Then in today’s reading she shared:

“Your marriage cannot grow without the investment of time, work, and effort. You cannot love others well from an angry, empty, broken heart. You cannot love others well when your life is full of fears and self-doubt. When we love ourselves well and invest in our hearts, then our family, our marriage, and our neighbors will reap the benefits.”

 

That’s when it hit me! Neither came first. They almost happened simultaneously! As I began to practice self-care and started getting healthy and stronger all while becoming the best version of myself, I began to work on allowing hurt places to heal, self-love to replace self-doubt, and to set boundaries that promoted the life I wanted to live all while protecting my peace. 

 

I know this may sound crazy, but with all the talk about “body positivity” I started to be self-critical because I didn’t have that “positivity” when I was 248 pounds. 

After my quiet time this morning, I realized that I had places that needed to heal within me, not just on the outside. 

 

So, as I continue to

enjoy life to the fullest, 

learn and grow and 

allow the Holy Spirit to repair what’s broken 

I will love myself completely and 

love others well.

Remember, life is a gift and we were made for more!

November 10, 2024

When Your Why Is A Reality

 

Early on in our health journeys we are encouraged to find our whys. We need “whys” for focus, motivation, and strength to keep going when the road of weight loss gets hard. I’ve written and rewritten my whys over the past 3 ½ years, but one (well 2) people always make the list~my grand boys. I don’t want to miss out on one thing when it comes to them. I never want my physical weight to be a hurdle for me. I want to make every ballgame, party, school program, and life event. 

 

I have to admit, though, I’ve been guilty of writing out my ‘whys”, but then rarely reminding myself of them. I have them scribbled on a piece of paper and tucked away in a drawer. However, this weeknd I have not only been reminded of my whys, but actually living them. 

 

Our grandboys have been with us this weekend while their parents went on a much needed mini-vacation. Two boys full time means breakfast needs to be cooked before school, pancakes on the weekend, favorite meals prepared and bathtime times 2. The weekend has been full of birthday parties to attend, church, and playtime at the park. All while wrapping up a school project that is due Monday. Our days have been choked full of non-stop activity. 

 

It was at some point Saturday that I was struck with the realization that I was living out part of my why. I’m able to be very present in their lives. I have been able to keep up with 2 full of life boys. I’ve not missed one second of this weekend with them.

 

I’ve thought about how this weekend might have been different 85 pounds ago. Would I have been able to do all the things? Would I have wanted to? Would I have allowed the physical baggage to become a mental roadblock that would have kept me sidelined? 

 

Tomorrow this weekend with the boys will be over. I will never get this time back again. I’m so grateful to the Lori that stuck out her health journey, that had important whys and is now able to see them come to fruition. 

God has great plans for us. I don’t know about you, but I want to be able to do them. I don’t want to be sitting in my recliner watching others live life. I want to live it and live it to the fullest!

 

So, if you are on the struggle bus, can I just take a moment to encourage you? Go dig around in that drawer and find that piece of paper you scribbled your whys on and discover a new commitment to them. I promise you won’t regret it!

 

I love you and am rooting for you!

November 3, 2024

Speaking Life-Giving Words

 

Hearing the term “life-giving words” is not really new to any of us. However, I wonder if we ever think about ourselves when we hear this term? I know I don’t. I think about the words I say to others, what I hear others say, even how others talk about themselves. But I rarely think about the words I say to myself. It’s something I’m working on. 

 

Yesterday, the birthday I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about happened. I turned 60! 60!!!!!! 

I had thought about this day so many times this year. 

What would I feel like?

What would I do to mark the day?

What would I eat to celebrate?  

Would I eat everything in sight?

Would I track or not? 

 

I reminisced over my life. The good times, the hard times. The times of grief, loss, sadness. The times of joy, happiness,  and blessings. 

 

Tim and I took our camper to one of our favorite local spots. I had bought a new dress, boots, and cute beaded earrings (the number 6 & 0). I had planned the meals I wanted, the cake I planned to eat, and how I wanted to spend the day. Yet when I got up yesterday morning, my mind went to negative thoughts. I almost felt alone, sad. I was thinking about all the time that had passed that I would never get back. All the moments that were gone. I was even sad about the times in my life that I couldn’t remember. Crazy, I know. 

 

Then I felt the Holy Spirit speak into my heart. 

“Change your thinking. Why don’t you count your blessings instead of focusing on the negative?”

The next thing I did change the trajectory of my thoughts and my day. I sat down with my journal and wrote out 60 things I’m thankful for. Some were “big” like family, friends, health and some were “small” like a warm shower, early morning coffee, Elvis videos. But all of them made me smile. They made me grateful. 

This morning in my devotion I read

“Our thoughts and our words determine the direction of our lives.”

Pastor Craig Groeschel says, “Our life is always moving in the direction of our strongest thoughts.” 

 

Thoughts lead to beliefs.

Beliefs lead to actions.

Actions lead to habits.

Habits lead to character.

Character leads to destiny.

Destiny leads to legacy.

It all starts in our minds. Then it shows up in our words and actions. If we can change our thinking we can change our lives.

 

So as I head into this new decade of life, I’m challenging myself to speak positive, life-giving words not only to others, but to me. 

Where my thoughts go, my actions and habits will follow. 

 

Will you join me? Will you make a commitment to speak words of life to yourself? 

 

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT

October 27, 2024

Comparison

Over the past few weeks I have felt off somehow. Not everyday or all the time, but each week there would be days when I just floundered, struggling to stay the course. I would over eat, wouldn’t walk, or meet my goals. Then I started to doubt a dream that God had put in my heart. I wanted to give up. 

 

Over the summer I felt the Holy Spirit impress upon me a “call”, if you will, to use my passion for holistic wellness to help others on their health journeys. I really didn’t know anymore than that at the time. However, over the next few weeks and months, the dream was slowly becoming a reality. I began to take online coaching classes and offer coaching online in order to have some field practice. Each day brought new learning and excitement. I was having ideas invade my thoughts almost everyday. They seemed to be coming so fast, I could barely keep up. I was making notes left and right, talking details out with my husband and best friend. 

 

Then, all of a sudden, all of that seemed to stop. 

No fresh, new ideas.

No real excitement. 

Then I began to doubt. Doubt if I had truly heard from God. Doubt if I was capable. 

 

I couldn’t, for the life of me, figure out what was going on. Even during my quiet time, I felt far away from God. I wasn’t hearing from Him like I had grown accustomed to. 

I was reading His Word, praying. But all of that just felt flat.  

 

Then during a recent quiet time, I realized I was comparing myself, my journey to others. I looked at their accounts, their number of followers, their reels and felt inferior. 2 Timothy 1:7 says God does not give us a spirit of fear, of timidity, but power and self discipline. Slowly, things began to click in my mind. I was allowing the spirit of fear, comparison, and negative thoughts slowly infiltrate my mind and all of this was taking me off course. Once I realized what was happening I was able to get back on course in every area of my life~body, mind, and soul. 

 

If you are struggling can I beg of you to not throw in the towel. Not on your health journey, not on your dreams. Keep praying, keep seeking.
Examine your thoughts, check your routines, listen to what your mind is saying to you. 

Prayer: 

God, You did not give me a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but You gave me a spirit of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline. These abilities result in a calm, well balanced mind and self-control.  

October 20, 2024

The Fight Within Me

 

Life is full of ups and downs. Highs. Lows. Times of elation and times of deep valleys. 

The health and wellness journey is not so different. Days and weeks may pass with little to no problems. Tracking, movement, hydrating, staying within your points budget. And then BOOM! You lose focus. Make an impulsive decision. Binge. Stop walking. Binge again. It can feel like a fight within yourself. The desire can seem overwhelming, too strong. “Can I overcome overeating? Will I always fall prey to my thoughts and desires?” 

 

My weight loss journey has been public for a couple of years now. I share on social media the good, bad, and the transformations I have undergone. It has not only been a physical transformation, but a mental one for me. I have lost the weight and been in maintenance for almost a year. This is no small feat for me. *wink, wink*

 

I want to help others achieve their goals. I have a dream to become a holistic wellness coach. Then I “fall off the wagon.” And honestly, when that happens it can wreck my confidence. I begin to doubt myself. And truthfully, I feel like a poser, a fake, a phony. 

 

Who am I ? My failure and weakness seem enormous. 

 

Last week this describes where I was perfectly. 

Then I heard this song~”God Is Not Against Me,” by Brandon Lake

A few of the lyrics say

“You call me strong and courageous

When I don’t feel like I am

You could have turned me away

But You chose me instead

You say that I’m gonna make it

When I don’t feel like I can

You see the battle I’m facing

And You’re stepping in

You’re in it with me

You’re working through me

Fighting for me

God is not against me”

The words of this song reminded me that I may not be able to overcome overeating or giving into temptation on my own, but through Him I can. 

 

“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

 

Power in weakness~crazy sounding isn’t it? I have to admit, I’m not really sure how to give Him my weaknesses. I was taught to be a strong, independent woman by a strong, independent woman. So now when a wave of food noise hits me, I ask Him to show me how to give Him my frailty and let Him be my power. 

 

He wants me to be healthy, to take care of this body He gave me and to honor Him with my life. So I can trust Him to show me how to handle the struggles I face.   

October 13, 2024

What We Are

 

The year was 1935 in small town Mississippi. It was a cold winter day when twin boys were born in a tiny shotgun house. One baby didn’t survive. The other child grew up in poverty, but his family was very close knit. They struggled financially and moved frequently. They relied on government food aid and help from their neighbors. The family’s situation was common during this time, but what wasn’t common was this boy’s voice. This poor young child would grow up to be “The King of Rock and Roll.” 

 

I have been an Elvis fan since I was a child. I saw him in concert when I was 10 and will never forget it. I still have a scarf from his concert (no I didn’t get it from him, it was a souvenir, but I love it). I still love his music and watching old concerts when they come on tv. 

 

Recently I watched the Oprah special with Elvis’ granddaughter, Riley Keough. It was a great show. They gave a small tour of Graceland, showed the last place Elvis and Lisa Marie saw each other before his death, and Elvis’ black box containing things he didn’t leave home without.  

 

One thing that really stood out to me was when Riley said her mom was very insecure. It seems strange doesn’t it, that someone that is wealthy, well known, has all that the world has to offer, feels insecure? It’s so sad to me that someone who seemed to have it all lacked self-confidence.  

 

I have dealt with insecurity throughout my life too. Outwardly I looked like a strong, independent woman, but inwardly I felt as if I was never good enough, could never quite measure up. 

 

I felt insecure because I was fat, not super smart, or pretty. I never felt good enough. 

 

Over the past 3 years I have worked hard to overcome those feelings of inferiority. I’ve read books, worked on my mindset, and dug into scripture. 

 

As a child of God my significance is found in Him. He tells me I am loved, protected, redeemed, forgiven, an heir, accepted, chosen, His handiwork. 

 

If you are a child of God, you are all of these too! 

 

Is believing these truths a simple flip of the switch? No, absolutely not. It’s been weeks and months of work. Hours poured into journaling, making peace with my past, and learning that all of the scars, hardships, and storms made me the woman I am today. Learning that I don’t have to be the prettiest, smartest, skinniest. I just have to be me. There is only one me and I owe it to myself to be her.   

 

You owe it to yourself to be you. 

Fully you! 

 

You are a masterpiece of the Creator. 

You are perfectly loved by Him. 

October 7, 2024

Living & Losing

 

I started Weight Watchers for the last time in the summer of 2021 shortly after retiring from my teaching job of 28 years. The number of times I had joined and quit in the past were innumerable. It was nothing for me to join and do absolutely nothing with the membership; no tracking, no water drinking, nothing. However, I vowed to make this time different. This time I was in it for life.

 

In the beginning, it was all about tracking and losing weight. I didn’t include intentional movement, water, didn’t worry about sleep, and did not have a clue about working on mindset. Track and lose, track and lose. The weight loss was slow, but I was not giving up. At the time I weighed 240+ pounds, was beginning my retirement job of keeping littles, and was quickly approaching my 60s and needed to get healthy. Within the next year I lost 50 pounds and was feeling great. While I was rocking and rolling on the food plan, I was beginning to struggle with my mindset. I still had about 30 pounds to lose and it felt like it was taking forever. Plus, who wants to be on a diet forever?!?!?! And that’s what it felt like I was facing. 

 

I started journaling and finding a “win” or non-scale victory each day. Some days it was really hard, but I was committed to finding one. I also found Weight Watchers members and creators on Instagram. They were my community. I watched them share recipes, tips, and tricks, as well as share how they stayed on track, stayed motivated and kept their heads in the game. In October 2022, I decided to create my own Instagram page for accountability. At the time I was not attending workshops and this was a way for me to continue to connect with other members. I selected my Instagram name, “livingandlosingwithlori”, yes I like alliteration (wink, wink). At the time, the name was about living my normal life while losing weight. I had no idea what this “handle” would grow to mean to me.

 

Losing weight is so much more than the number getting smaller on the scale. In order to lose, really lose, I had to be willing to shed past hurts, failures, negative mindsets. I had to change habits that were deeply ingrained in me. I had to be willing to openly share with others and allow true, authentic accountability. I had to be ready to change. 

 

It hasn’t been easy. It’s hard to face some truths about ourselves. However, I’m not sure that true authentic change can happen any other way. I don’t want to go back to the 2021 Lori, not her size or her mindset. 

 

I am allowing myself to feel my feelings and not to cover them up by binging on food. I let my mind ponder what I’d like to eat instead of what is the best “diet” choice. I allow my stomach to dictate the amount of food I need instead of my eyes. I share the struggles I have with food with others and seek their guidance. 

 

Who knew that by shedding those extra pounds I would lose so much more and by losing I am now living my best life.

 

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have  been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11

September 29, 2024

The Mind!

Our brains are an amazing, crazy organ. It is a complex structure made up of nervous tissue that controls various bodily functions including thought, memory, emotion, movement, and sensation. The brain and how it works is way beyond anything I could ever hope to understand, but I do know that we can change our brains, especially pertaining to our thoughts. 

 

When I was a little girl a lady kept me and I called her Nanny. She lived in a small house at the front of some family land. On the same piece of property there was a house behind her that her sister and other family members lived in. We called her sister Nunny. Nunny had a granddaughter that was the same age as me. Between the two houses was a dirt path. You know the kind. Just a dusty pathway that had been traveled on more times than one could count. Susie, Nunny’s granddaughter, and I played on the grassy area between the two houses. Some days we would play at Nunny’s house, some days at Nanny’s, but everyday we walked that pathway.  Back and forth, back and forth. I wonder if I went there today if that pathway would still be there.

There are a few things that could change or take away the path. One thing that could make that path disappear is lack of use. If no one walked on it the grass would eventually grow, the sunk in portion would fill in with new dirt or weeds. You might never know the path had ever been there. 

 

Our pathways in our brains are similar. We think the same thoughts over and over and over again. 

 

“I’m a failure.” 

“I’m not smart.”

“I’ll always be fat.” 

“I’ll never lose the weight.” 

 

Those negative thoughts become a beaten down path. It’s our go-to. We try to think differently, but we’ve been thinking this way so long we believe it to be true. 

 

For me, my negative thoughts can cause me to feel ashamed, embarrassed, make me insecure, and feel judged by others. There have been many times I have chosen to not do something because I was worried about what others would think. 

 

Over the past 3 years I have done a lot of work on myself, personal growth if you will. If you’ve been around for a while you know it all began with weight loss. Slowly, however, over time it began to be more about mindset and spiritual growth. None of these areas are truly separate from the other. I am a whole person, body, mind, and soul.

 

A few weeks ago at church I had a hard time finding a particular book of the Bible that the sermon was being preached from. It was one of those tiny books hidden in the Old Testament and I couldn’t find it for neither love nor money. So I decided I would order some of those cute little tabs to go in my Bible. 

(I’m sure you are wondering what this has to do with anything. Hold on, I’m getting to it.) 

 

This may seem insignificant, but it was huge for me! Ordering those tabs showed a change in the beaten down path in my brain, the one that worried about what others would think if they saw them in my Bible. 

 

Years ago I had ordered some, but I was worried about what others would say about me when they saw them. “I thought she was a long time follower of Jesus and she can’t even find the books in the Bible?!?!?!” 

So you know what I did? I cut them out! 

That was at least 25 or 30 years ago! 

 

As I have lost weight, done the mental work, read, worked on mindset, it has finally started creating a new pathway in my brain. The old path is getting smaller. Hopefully one day it will be gone completely. 

 

Today I went to church for the first time with the new tabs in my Bible.

And guess what?

I didn’t even think about if someone near me was judging me or making fun of me in their mind. I focused on God’s Word, the sermon, and worshiping the One who made me. After all, it’s all about Him, not me. 

 

Freedom comes from stepping into who you really are. No hiding, no shame, no feeling “less than”, just being you, beautiful, uniquely, wonderful you! 

 

If you are tired and think you can’t do it, you can’t change, I want to encourage you to never quit, never give up! You are worth the effort, worth the hard work!

 

I believe in you!

 

Living & losing with you!

Lori

 

September 23, 2024

BFF Glamping Weekend & Community

 

This past weekend was mine and Vicki’s annual girls’ weekend. I think this is the third year we have done this and I hope we do it for the rest of our lives. Vicki and I have been friends for years, but we used to live in the same town and went to church together, so seeing one another was a weekly event. Then a few years ago, Tim and I moved over an hour away to be near our daughter and her family.

 

It wasn’t easy when Tim and I moved. Maintaining a close relationship was hard. We had a difficult time figuring out how to navigate our friendship long distance. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t know if we, well, if I could do it. I am not good at maintaining long distance relationships. In fact, she is one of a small handful of people from my hometown that I keep in touch with. I used to say I was independent and didn’t need anyone, but the truth is, I think I have trouble making and maintaining friendships. I  struggle with “needing” others.  I guess over the years I've battled with feeling unimportant.  Maybe because of that I self-sabotaged relationships.  I'm afraid of getting too close, being hurt, someone leaving me. 

 

 However, this is an area I've really grown in over the past 3 years.  When I restarted my weight loss journey in 2021, it was just that, a weight loss journey. I wanted to lose weight, get skinny, feel better and be around for my family. I never imagined that my physical body would not be the only transformation for me. Spiritually, I’ve undergone a renewal, a reconstruction, if you will. God has, and continues to, gently and lovingly reshape me. His Word says we are to encourage one another, build each other up, bear with one another, help each other, and on and on. 

 

I believe that ALL of God’s Word is true. It provides direction, correction, and shows us who God really is, but for some reason when I read about the importance of community I thought it was for everyone else and not me. However, if it is Truth, and it is, then the part about having a community and friends is true also. 

 

Was it easy to put myself out there? No. Did I worry that no one would like me or want to be my friend? Yes. But I tried to begin to live each day as a friend by being a friend to others. Provide encouragement, check on them, pray for them, spend time with them. And eventually, my community of friends began to grow. And you know what? As I checked on them, encouraged them, loved them, prayed for them, they began to do that for me. To have a friend, you have to be a friend.

 

This life is better with community. It’s exciting, insightful, inspiring, and so much more. 

 

If you need a friend, give me a holler! I was made, by Him, for community and so were you!

 

Love y’all,

Lori    

September 15, 2024

One Small Step

I’m an “all or nothing” kind of gal. Sometimes I see that as a negative. For example, I am all in with a “diet plan” or I’m all in with eating everything in sight.  I’m super loud and boisterous or I’m sitting quietly with little to say.

 

There are times when this can spur me on or it can bring my actions to a screeching halt! 

 

Through the summer I was neither all in or all out as pertaining to my health journey. I was just treading water. (Which, now that I think about it, could be seen as all out.) 

It's during those times of feeling “all out” instead of “all in”  that I begin to wonder if I’ll ever get back to my chosen lifestyle of focusing on eating healthy, moving my body, focusing on a positive mindset and growing spiritually.

 

This week, however, I’ve been reminded of the importance of small, sustainable steps. In August, I challenged myself to simply track my food and stay within my daily points budget. That goal was met, so in September I decided to set body, mind, and soul goals. I was a little apprehensive. I was worried I wouldn’t be successful and honestly, there was a part of me that liked the simplicity of not having goals. There was no pressure to perform or check anything off my list each day. 

 

Despite my laziness, I decided to go ahead and set the goals. The first few days were so-so. I met them, but it was a struggle and it felt hard. I had to leave myself notes, write them down on my to-do list, share my goals with friends who would help hold me accountable.

 

Slowly, but surely, I have gotten better at meeting my goals each day and am excited when I do them. I feel successful and proud. I feel challenged. I get up each day and want to make sure I meet them. 

 

Lately I’ve heard people talking about being off track, needing to reset, restart. Many times that feels overwhelming. 

 

Toni Sorenson says, “One step at a time. Baby steps are still steps. Crawl if you must, but keep moving forward. You will never be defeated as long as you keep moving.” 

 

Set the goals. 

Set one goal. 

Set a tiny goal, but set one. 

It gives you focus, something to work toward. 

 

Proverbs 21:5a says “ Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity”

 

This week let’s plan out our goals and get to work! We can do this! One small step at a time!

September 8, 2024

Choices Matter!

This past week I was really on the struggle bus with the food portion of my health journey. I’ve been in an “on again, off again” relationship with my points all summer long. (I’m a WW girl.) Then it lingered on into August and now here we are in September. This roller coaster started messing with my mind, or should I say I let it mess with my mind. I began to worry if this would last and I would never be able to get back on track. Would I gain all of my weight back? Why can I not do this? I’m a WW coach, I know the techniques. I teach them or listen to others teach them multiple times a week. 

Then I started a new devotion entitled “Mind Nutrition.” 

Did you know that God created our minds in such a way that we cannot think two thoughts at the same time? We may go back and forth between 2 thoughts, but we can't think about them simultaneously.

I had never really thought of this before, but isn't that great news? 

Our thoughts are a BIG part of our health and wellness journey. They can make us feel invincible or deceive us into believing we will never accomplish our goals. 

Thoughts can convince us that 

we will never be good enough, 

no one will ever love us, 

or we will always be overweight. 

Likewise, they can tell us we are a masterpiece (Eph. 2:10), dearly loved (Col. 3:12), free from condemnation (Rom. 8:1).

Scripture says, "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things."

Now you may be thinking, "Great, but how do I do that?" 

Well, we choose to. (I know, it’s easier said than done.) When we have a negative thought, we must replace it with a positive one. My go-to positive thoughts are either from God’s Word or from facts that I know about myself. 

When I binge eat I can either tell myself I will never get this food issue under control so why even try, or I can look back over the past 3 years and the weight I’ve lost and the goals I’ve met and tell myself I have and I can again.

When my thoughts tell me I’m not enough, I can look to God’s Word and read in Romans that I am a joint-heir with Christ. A joint heir! I’m a child of THE KING! 

Mind nutrition must fit into my daily routine. I can’t skip it. It needs to be an action step I make a part of everyday to help me move toward my health goals. Mindset is just as important as tracking, hydrating, and moving. Maybe more important. If our thoughts stay in a negative space for very long it will greatly affect all other areas of our health journey.

This week I will counteract each negative thought with a positive one. I will not let a negative mindset hold me hostage and steal my joy. 

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:5

September 1, 2024

Fear!

Are you anxious? Worried? Afraid?

Me too!

I am afraid of the future, growing old, being alone, disease, running out of money, no one liking me, having too big of a personality, gaining my weight back. You name it, I am or have been afraid of it at one time or another. 

Some fears may be healthy. These fears may help keep us safe, protect us from doing something crazy.

But for the most part fears can paralyze us. They cause anxiety, worry, insecurity, discouragement, helplessness, confusion.

Fears stop us from pursuing our dreams, fulfilling our purpose and make us fell "less than" when we compare ourselves to others.

Fears tell us we will never accomplish (fill in the blank). 

Recently I have had some new dreams and purposes put in my heart. I am excited and very passionate about them, but that ugly beast of fear can fill my mind and make me want to give up on my dreams. My mind says, "Who do you think you are? You're a nobody. You're too old." And on and on it goes. 

 

Zack Williams has a song entitled Fear Is a Liar.

Here are the lyrics to the song:

When he told you you're not good enough
When he told you you're not right
When he told you you're not strong enough
To put up a good fight
When he told you you're not worthy
When he told you you're not loved
When he told you you're not beautiful
You'll never be enough

Fear, he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear, he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
'Cause fear, he is a liar

When he told you were troubled
You'll forever be alone
When he told you you should run away
You'll never find a home
When he told you you were dirty
And you should be ashamed
When he told you you could be the one
That grace could never change

Oh, fear, he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear, he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
'Cause fear, he is a liar

Let your fire fall and cast out all my fears
Let your fire fall, your love is all I feel
Let your fire fall and cast out all my fears
Let your fire fall, your love is all I feel
Let your fire fall and cast out all my fears
Let your fire fall, your love is all I feel
Oh, let your fire fall and cast out all my fears
Let your fire fall, your love is all I feel

Oh, fear, he is a liar
He will take your breath
Stop you in your steps
Fear, he is a liar
He will rob your rest
Steal your happiness
Cast your fear in the fire
'Cause fear, he is a liar

'Cause fear, he is a liar

 

Repeat after me:

FEAR IS A LIAR!!! 

Remind yourself of that as often as you need to. 

Our Enemy prowls around waiting to kill, steal, and destroy. He may not physically kill us, but he will kill, steal, and destroy our dreams, and in doing so our ability to glorify God. He keeps us quiet. He whispers to us we are a failure. 

 

We must actively work to replace our thoughts and bring them in line with God's Word.  

Deuteronomy 31:8 says, " The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you: he will never leave you nor forsake you. do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." 

In Him we find our worth. In Him we find our purpose. He places dreams and passions in us. By living out these God given dreams and passions we glorify Him. 

I'm ashamed to say there have been many times in my life when I have given up (sometimes before I ever got started). I let fear dictate my life. 

Lately I have had to allow Holy Spirit to transform my thoughts. I believe that He can do that through various ways~God's Word, music, other believers, even quotes, emails.

I am on James Clear's email list (author of Atomic Habits) and it arrives each Thursday. This Thursday there was a quote in the email that brought tears to my eyes. 

"Dreams are fun when they are distant. The imagination loves to play with possibilities when there is no risk of failure.

But when you find yourself on the verge of action, you pause. You can feel the uncertainty of what lies ahead. Thoughts swirl. Maybe this isn't the right time? Failure is possible now.

In that moment—in that short pause that arises when you stand face to face with your dream—is the entirety of life. What you do in that pause is the crucible that forges you. It is the dividing line between being the type of person who thinks about it or the type of person who goes for it.

When I really think about it, I want that moment to be my legacy. Not that I won or lost. Not that I looked good or looked like a fool. But that when I had something I really wanted to do, I went for it."

 

Friends, let's go for it! Whatever IT is. The weight loss, the job we think we don't deserve, the long shot! And if we're scared, well then, lets do it scared!