Day 62

Day 62

Thank You Lord ! I want to thank you for daily blessing my family and friends, for providing and Your protection. I realize your power daily.

Yesterday was real good. I was off work and had an opportunity to rest and reflect. I did workout and do True Image. Wow I hadn’t worked out in a few days and I could feel the difference, for the past two weeks my schedule has only allowed me to workout one day a week, I must get back to 2 days or even 3 days per week. I like being able to do the routine without feeling totally exhausted. Friday True Image will celebrate TG leaving to return to Florida. This will be fun! I am praying regarding True Image and listening to God for how he plans to use me.

I attended Life Group, Fit for the King, and we had a wonderful fellowship, movie, Fork over Knives and a delicious potluck. The movie is such a blessing. I am understanding the effects of meats in my diet and needing direction on whether I will pursue a plant based diet.

I went to Avalon yesterday and did my first exchange, I took in some pieces I could not wear and also some shoes which the heels were extremely high, and now they are too large. I found a new boutique a few doors down from Avalon. The pricing was a bit expensive but they are one of a kind pieces. I was able to get one really nice bell sleeve, with pearl embellishment on the front. I purchased a tank to wear underneath to keep it modest J I will pair it with jeans and wear it during the holidays.

I am feeling so much better about life and I owe this all to God. I am needing God more and allowing Him to use me.

Day 60 - T & T

Praise the Lord ! Praise the Lord ! All praises be to God. He is oh so magnificent. Lord I thank You for everything. You are my master, please use me as your servant. Lord continue to help me walk in Your will.

Holiday weekend was spent with family. My family, love them to pieces J I had family come in from Michigan and we really enjoyed each other’s company. I had asked the Lord to bless our fellowships and give us peace. My cousin Monica and I went out on Black Friday, but to us it was like an ordinary shopping day. We usually hang out and shop anyway. We did go to the Mac counter at Nordstrom. I got my first department store makeup brush J And I am pleased to say it was well worth my investment. It is a eyeliner brush. The thing with proper makeup application is having the right tools and the techinique (T & T). The makeup artist was a Bobbi Brown artist and she took time with us showing us how to apply and the real importance of having the right tool to get the desired look. I told her I had a similar brush and she convinced me it was not the same and that she had done the research. So I trusted her professional recommendation and purchased the brush. Although I did not make her gel liner. I have several gel liners and she also showed me a simple techinique to smoke out my liner using black eyeshadow. Fabulous look. I appreciate her help, she even told us a special hair wrap cream that we picked up from the local hair store. Really nice sales person.

Saturday night we went to Gobble Groove, it was really nice music. Had a really nice time and we would do it again. My cousin has already texted me asking to find some jazz for the Christmas holiday.

Day 55 - First Vanity then Sanity - Absolutely priceless

Praise God ! Praise God ! Praise God !

I am forever grateful for Your love for me and my family. I am happy about having good family and friends in my life. Lord allow me to be a means of support ! I want to be Your vessel to demonstrate love and worship to You. Lord thank You for bending relationships.

Lord bless this holiday weekend as I prepare to be with family and friends. Let us feel Your peace and love amongst us. Lord food is important in fellowships, help me deal with keeping my focus on my plate.

Yesterday was cool, I had a visit from a friend who brought me sugar and flour L
She plans to make lifestyle change tonight and will attend tonight’s meeting. God is able! She is open to the change and wants God’s blessings.

First there was Vanity then Sanity – I love this because for me walking into my lifestyle change I was strictly seeking vanity. I wanted to look amazing. I can’t lie, it is the truth. Gradually working this program I am learning so much about me and God’s love and how he provides for me. I feel good from the inside out, the peace that I now have is priceless. Absolutely priceless ! I like me, I like me, I love me ! God has given me what I need to get along with me and love me. During this holiday season in my vanity and with peace in my heart, I can go to public events without fearing that I am ugly and unworthy. I can be of support to others, without worrying about myself. I don’t have to hide as I have hidden for so long, sooooo long ! Being overweight kept me from a life of total worship to God. I was in bondage to my self image, feeling unworthy and ugly. I now can worship and live a life for God without thinking about me all the time and living in pity for myself. When I say God can do ANYTHING I mean he can do ANYTHING ! I thought I could never make peace with God and myself. He has shown me I can have a life of abundance. I am now more giving of myself, more open to feel life and help others.

Beauty Corner – Well I made my follow up dermatology appt for the week of December when I am on vacation. I am loving the results of the products I was given. I need to now find out how I treat my skin in the long-term. I don’t want to overuse the product. Hopefully there will be more samples J Help me Lord ! Did I mention I am now in a size 10 jeans, I think I did yesterday J This weekend I am sure I will be doing makeup applications for my cousins when we go to the jazz set on Saturday. Looking forward to this, she likes the nude look I applied on her for reception in Michigan.
True Image – Saturday is my day of weigh in. I am looking forward to it. I will most likely exercise before weigh in to get my 2 days in. I worked out last night at True Image for 30 minutes then left to go to the grocery store to pick up items for the holiday. I love working with the large exercise balls. They are good for toning.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving !

Day 54 - Providing my NEEDS - it feels nice

ALL praises be to God ! ALL praises be to God ! You are worthy of ALL my praises. You are within me healing me and making be know that I am worthy of Your LOVE. God You comfort and protect and provide for me. Lord guide me lead me in the way YOU desire me to go. Free me from my bondages. Free me Lord !


Yesterday was awesome. I attended my FA meeting and heard the listened as my friend was the qualifier. She allowed the Lord to use her in a magnificent way. I was so proud of her. We help each other along this journey along with our sponsor. Our sponsor is so caring and really allows God to use her. For this I am grateful.

This Thanksgiving I will be worshiping God through my life, and not through food, I will be loving on my family and friends. This I am looking forward to.

On my way to my FA meeting I stopped at a retail store to exchange a top. I am so grateful they had my correct size. While I was there I tried on about 3 pairs of jeans, Lavisa had trained me how to shop for jeans and how to get the fit for my body. My current 1 pair of jeans which I purchased about 6 weeks ago was sagging. I was in disbelief, because I am in maintaince and I am not weighing everyday, trusting God to do his will. I was thinking well maybe just maybe they are stretched out of shape, and then Lavisa said you need to go down a size or two. So looking in the mirror and taking her advice I took 3 pair of size 10 jeans into the dressing room. To my disbelief they fit perfectly, just as the size 12 had fit approximately 6 weeks prior. I am not into the numbers of weight as I had been previously, so I am not even going to say how many pounds I lost since then. But I got the size 10 jeans on right now. Right now and they fit nicely. Last night at FA one of the women who shared said some words that encouraged me, she talked about vanity and said she appreciate the vanity. She does not dismiss it and how she liked fitting into little jeans and being able to wear regular size clothing, without going into Lane Bryant and the plus size departments. My spirit agreed with her, it does feel nice. It feels nice to look in the mirror and see me and love me for who God designed me to be, my true image. I love accepting invitations to go out in public without first thinking I am overweight, I am ashamed of myself, I hate myself, what will I wear, I can’t fit anything. Then avoiding the invitation and staying home eating the night away, only feeling miserable and increasing my depression.

Lord You know me and provided me with what I NEEDED.

Day 53

Day 53

Dear Lord you are so awesome in all Your power. I am wanting to give You thanks right now for all Your goodness. Thank You for your favor, grace and mercy, Lord ! You are everything.

This weekend was productive. Very very busy. I did most of what I set out to do. Dominique’s party was nice, I got to meet all her roommates. They are really nice and they have good order to their living situation. Lord I am grateful to You for this. Nique seemed really pleased with her party. I made sure I left real early so that I would be ready for worship and praise.

Missions Sunday was awesome. Testimonies regarding service and evangelism was geared toward Kingdom Building. After church I went to dinner with a couple of friends.
We had wonderful fellowship and really good food.

It’s Monday, Let’s work !

Day 50

Thank you Lord, strengthen me and allow me to move in the path that You have set for me. Lord I need Your help ! I trust that You love me.

Lord I need You to help me stay in the moment where there is Peace.

Yesterday was cool, I skipped workout and turned in another direction which throws off my perfectly planned week LOL But it is ok, I did something that I enjoyed. I will most likely workout in the a.m. from 8 til 9 then go to my ministry meeting at NCBF. I had a delcious dinner, with ground lean, salad and fresh string beans. I will be making more beans really soon.

Today and tomorrow are gonna be busy. I need strength to get things done. I am doing the food for Nique’s party. I am keeping it simple; wing dings, ranch, fruit, salad. I plan to have fun. So today, I have to sort of do errands I would normally do tomorrow. YEAH ! I have a busy evening, I took care of some of my weekend errands yesterday.

Beauty Corner – Tips for Vintage shopping, found a delightful vintage dress. Really cute 6 bucks, yes 6 bucks some of the threads were coming loose in the seam so she marked it ½ off. I was happy about that. I will stitch it with my sewing machine. Loose seams can be expected in vintage clothing. I learn more and more as I shop vintage, I am learning to pay careful attention to seams and dry rotting. Loose seams is ok, dry rotten not so good. Also some of the items have been dry cleaned many have not so drying cleaning is necessary and should be factored into the cost of the item. I am finding that shopping for vintage clothing is fairly reasonably in cost and shopping at the right store prices can be negotiated. Also try on try on, vintage items can run smaller than indicated. Sometimes. Another good reason to try on is so that to see if the item is a good choice for you. The 6 dollar dress I tried on, on the rack looked undesirable, but my institnct said try it on. When I did it was lovely, ladylike and charming. Paired with right accessories it will work for me and my taste. The length was right and it had long sleeves. Perfect combination for me. These are things I love in a dress. It also came with the original belt which is a true treasure. These clothes are timeless and with proper care will grow in value. Finding unique outwear is fantastic, I saw a full length 70s leather coat, excellent condition for 50 bucks. Yeah it was real leather good leather, but I felt I had enough. I may do a trade of some larger sizes in my closet to get it. We will see.

Day 49 - Still working the plan

Lord You are magnificent and so worthy of the praise. You are in me and I feel Your presence. Lord give me a pure heart and a pure mind. Remove from me that what blocks me from You. Help me in this process. Lord I am grateful. Bless others and provide for their needs. Thank You !

Yesterday was cool ! I went to see Ms. Juanita and she has relocated. I used the time under the dryer to relax and browse through magazines. I then went home, had some quiet time and ate the dinner I had prepared the day before. I talked to Nique last night and put together a menu for her 25th celebration. She is expecting 50 people. WOW ! I will be doing some shopping and cooking Saturday. YES ! I want to get her a special gift for the BIG 25. I love her sooooo much ! She is my sweet and loving blessing.

Beauty Corner: This morning I remembered to order my black soap. I need to keep black soap in my life LOL It exfoliates lovely and moisturizes well. I ordered 4 bars this should last me through the winter and into the spring. I don’t use it on my face as my face is sensitive and I got breakouts. I wore the jeans my friend gave me they fit really well. She is so sweet, I must do something for her. She has an eye for jeans and good cuts. I have to pick up some items today from the drug store. I may stop in at Avalon and see what’s new. I will pick up a sewing machine to do some alterations. I have to get it today or tomorrow, Saturday will be busy for me.

True Image - I will be working out tonight. I will be working to tone, not so much cardio. Oh yeah, tonight is the night Debbie/Kathy want to take my photo to add to the wall. I have to remember ! Debbie will be there tonight.