While working out this week I began pondering the last two years of my weight loss journey. I thought it might be appropriate to share with you an article that appeared in Family Circle magazine in the summer of 2007 about my journey. I hope you enjoy it!
“My healthy eating plan.. Being of Cuban-Venezuelan-American, background my diet consisted of beans, white rice, and rich chicken, pork, and steak dishes which caught up with me. What did I change? I took out all pastas, rice, breads, fried foods and rich sauces. I replaced them with grilled or bake fish for dinner and paired it with steamed veggies and salad with a light vinaigrette instead of rice or pasta and definitely not bread.
My biggest challenge..I used to drink eight cups of coffee with cream a day and sweet tea. I replaced most of my coffee with water. During that time I also began drinking Indian Hill grapefruit juice twice a day. It is a great way to burn some of the fat from your foods. Remember, the water bottle shouldn’t leave your sight or reach.
How I stay motivated..When I started going to the gym my four daughters went with me. We did a circuit of weight machines that target different body parts and jogged in place for 45 seconds between moves to keep our heart rates up. Remember, that it doesn’t have to be a gym. The key here is definitely being consistent.” {Family Circle, April 2007 Edition}
As of today, I have managed to lose more than 50 pounds – thus, my encouraging you every week to “keep on keeping on!” On those “special” days when you feel like giving up and quitting, just remember that the Lord gives you the strength to keep going!
I really wanted to encourage you amigas to let you know that if this uncoordinated, middle aged (almost 50 year old) woman can loose weight, so can you! I also learned one more seeming minor thing; keep my weight loss goals in front of me even when no one is there to encourage me. I knew that my Savior was my best friend, encourager, helper, and guide throughout this incredible journey of mine. These thoughts were not a part of “Family Circle’s article but was a very real reason for my success and my wanting to share it with you my special amigas.
Looking back, I can say it is all worth it because in Ecclesiastes 9:7 God’s word says, “Go, eat your bread with joy….” If I want to eat bread now, I can eat it with joy and do! God is so cool!
I will keep sharing with you about this on a later day! Until then, remember…
“I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me.” Philippians 4:13
“Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.” Philippians 4:18
Hope you all were encouraged!
Hasta Luego,
Elaine
Very good article! Thanks for sharing and encouraging each week.
Elaine, as a women who had her last baby at 40 now 46 I giving my age away I have struggle with my wieght since menopause came into my life!!it’s the pits,also I respounded to your comment and sent you my email address waiting to hear from you my amiga,
also head on over to my blog I have an award to give you.
marina
Thank you. You are so encouraging to us women in our forties.
What a great and encouraging post! Way to go. Thanks for sharing that eccelesiates verse. WOW! It puts a new perspective on things.
Much love,
Angela