Are you the best you that you can be?
I'm going to start with a little background to how I got to this new journey in my life. If you look at the left picture, that was the Marci that was headed down a road a road of destruction. Some may think that "destruction" might be a strong word to use, but if you think of it as "loss of life", then to me...that is destruction! I'll explain more in detail as I start processing through all of these elements in my head and pray that they make sense on paper.
Element 1: Appearance
I do not think of myself as a vain person ["having or showing an excessively high opinion of one's appearance, abilities or worth"], but I am a lady who would like to look in the mirror and feel good about what I see. The Marci on the left didn't even want to look in the mirror anymore and when I did, I didn't even recognize the person reflected before me. I looked at pictures of myself with shame. I dreaded having to get dressed each day because I couldn't fit into any clothes in my closet and I refused to go out and buy one more size larger, which I had done many times already. This trickled into every area of my life.
*It made me grumpy, especially with my kids who always seemed to find me when I was trying on 5 different things to find something that fit.
*It made me feel much more bashful with my husband as I never wanted him to see me in the light (If you know what I mean.) ;)
*It robbed me of my joy every Sunday before I went to worship the Lord with my church family.
*My confidence level was diminished!
I could go on and on, but I think it's easy to say that my love of eating was controlling my life. So let's go on for now to Element 2.
Element 2: Health
Back in February I went to the doctor and told her something HAD to be wrong with me. I felt terrible, I had no energy and I just kept gaining weight. I told her that something had to be wrong with my thyroid or that I was per-menopausal or something! She did a whole slew of blood tests and neither of those were true. She found nothing wrong with me. It was my extra 30 pounds that was beginning to literally weigh me down, steal my energy and if I continued, would probably head towards being diabetic. All because I couldn't say "NO!" to french fries!
It was because of these 2 elements that I finally decided it was time to make a change. I new that no one else could do that for me but me. I had seen an old friend's before and after picture on Facebook. She had lost 30 pounds in 12 weeks. She looked amazing and she has kept it off for about 2 years now. I had not talked to her in probably 15 years but I decided to swallow my pride, contact her and find out what her secret was...I thank God so much every day that I did! On April 15th, 2016, I started the program that had helped my friend so much and she became my health coach. When I started this, I was doing it to lose weight and regain my energy only. I am just now truly processing out all of the amazing benefits that this new path is leading me down. What I thought was just a "weight loss program" has now become life changing, which leads me to the following elements that I'm processing through.
Element 3: Weight Loss
In 14 weeks I hit my goal of being 30 pounds lighter. I have lost 15 1/2" as well. Seriously friends!
15 1/2"! I have regained my energy and can fit into some of the clothes in my closet. I say some because a lot of the clothes that I had outgrown are now to big for me. My confidence is back and I can't tell you how many of my friends have told me that I'm just glowing. Just like the gift of Salvation that I've been given through Jesus that I must always share about, I feel like I have been given the gift of health that I must share as well which leads me to Element 4.
Element 4: Becoming an Optimal Wellness Coach
I can't imagine NOT sharing this wonderful program! This program not only works, but it is done without taking pills, without having to count calories and on top of that...it is NOT a diet program! A diet has a start and a stop. This program is an optimal wellness program that teaches you how to eat healthy for life! It teaches you how to have better sleep patterns. It teaches you how to change your thought process so that food does not have to control you. It is a program that comes with a huge community that becomes a second family to you. I have been astounded at the testimonies that I have heard this past weekend at the convention! Amazing! The hearts of the leaders as they talk about their faith in God and their love for people. I feel so honored to have the privilege to be a part of this! The optimal wellness way of this program is as follow:
*Healthy Body- I have lost 30 pounds and 15 1/2' and my energy is back.
*Healthy Mind- Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind!" I can truly say my mind has been transformed in this area of my life! The temporary pleasure and addiction of eating all of my comfort foods no longer has a hold on me! I have taken this area of my life and placed it back under the Lordship of Christ! The freedom is surreal! I can now sit around all the pizza, chips and fried foods and it doesn't phase me! I can go into a restaurant now and choose the delicious grilled food and veggies and be perfectly happy! I feel like a new person!
*Healthy Finances- Derrick and I made a decision when we first got married that I would stay home with our children, once the Lord blessed us with some, and the day that my 15 year old son was born, I quit my job. I have not worked for 15 years. I don't know if you know it or not, but having an 8 member family ain't cheep! My husband has carried the financial burden on his own for 15 years now (on a minister's salary) and I can't tell you how excited I am that I may now be able to share in that load! AND I get to do it right out of my home!!! I don't have to go clock in anywhere and I get to stay with all of my precious gifts that God has given me!
That is my testimony...why would I not want to share that and help someone else find the freedom that I have found?
Element 5: Spiritual
This is the most exciting and the most important element to me! I have always prayed for God to use me in a mighty way. I pray every day for the Lord to use me for His glory. As I know that our walk with the Lord is always a journey and a process, I look back over the last couple of years and realize that I have been daily offering myself to the Lord in all my brokenness. DO NOT get me wrong! God works through brokenness! But I was choosing to stay in my brokenness!
Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship!"
I Corinthians 6:19-20 says, "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 at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies!"
WOW! I have been in the ministry all of my life as a worship pastor's daughter and a pastor's wife. I have heard these scriptures all of my life, but chose to ignore them?!?!?
God has given me one life. ONE LIFE!!!!! My passion is truly to be used by God in a mighty way- but now I am going to be the best me I can be, through God's strength and for His glory! I will offer myself to him..healthy, full of energy and ready to help anyone that He entrusts to me!
So my question to you is...ARE YOU THE BEST YOU THAT YOU CAN BE?
One of my favorite t.v. shows is "Undercover Boss". I cry every time I watch it and just dream of being able to help someone out like the undercover boss helps out his employees. Although I don't have money to offer you, I have something so much more! First and foremost, if you haven't ever trusted Jesus with your life, I would LOVE to talk to you about how much He loves you and desires a relationship with you. But the other gift I can offer you is to walk beside you to help you be the best you that you can be! To find your confidence again. To get you off of all those medications that you are on because of imbalanced blood sugars or high blood pressure. To help you have more energy and less aches and pains. To help you be able to do all of the activities that you have loved or maybe new dreams that you would love to attain. To help you be able to play with your children or grandchildren. To help you extend the quality of your life or maybe even the length of your life so that you will be around to see your children's children and more. To help you make the most of this life that God has given you!
John 10:10 says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it full."
Don't let the enemy waste your life away in bondage and defeat! We are over comers through Christ and I would find it an honor and a privilege to help you find optimal health!