Week 2

So this week has been a little bit more rocky. I haven't lost any weight this week and I was getting discouraged, but then I remembered that it isn't only about weight. I have lost a couple of inches, and just because I can't always see it on the scale doesn't mean that I won't feel it.

I already feel better and my clothes feel different. I don't care if it is just in my head, because the mental aspect is a huge thing in weight loss.

On another note, this week I'm starting the Power 90 workout. It's the same guy that does p90x, but this is more for beginners. I'm not in good enough shape to jump into p90x just yet. I'm hoping this will be a good workout system for me. I'm pretty pumped.

-Lauren

Week 1

So, its been a week since I started. This week has actually been really awesome! I haven't been perfect every day, but I have done really well. I know its only been a week, but I can feel the difference already. I'm going to try not to bore you all so let's cut to the chase.

I've lost a total of........

4 lbs!

This makes my current weight 209. I'm pretty pumped. I definitely don't expect to lose this much every week, but it is definitely a good start.

If you have any questions or advice, don't hesitate to ask/tell.

Thanks, y'all!!

Lauren. :)

To Begin.....

I'm sorry it has taken so long to just get the starting weight/pics/goals. Let's just dive right in.

Current weight: 213 lbs.

I've added the picture.

Goals:
*to be healthy
*to be happy in my body
*to be able to do things I can't now
I don't have a particular weight I want to get down to, bc it isn't all about the number to me. It's mainly how I feel that matters to me.

Once again, I'm sorry for the lateness.

Lauren
        

Not a diet - a lifestyle change.

So this is a really hard thing for me to do - basically letting you all in on some of my personal information. It's embarrassing. I'm not proud of what I've allowed myself to do to my body over the years, but its all about to change. I want to be healthy for many reasons and over the next several posts, I'm going to be sharing these things with you all. This blog isn't meant for negativity or for me to be made fun of. If you want to do that, please keep it to yourself. This is meant for encouragement, motivation, and just to share things I figure out along the way. I'm definitely open for suggestions. I know there are people that are a lot healthier than me, so don't hesitate to help for sure! Today is just the first blog and I'm having to do it on my phone because the website isn't working. I will try to post pictures and other information later! Thanks y'all!

Worry isn't even for the birds.

Hey there. It's been such a long time since I've done this, but I just felt the need to share my thoughts again. As I was reading my bible the other night, I came across these next few verses. I really love the book of Matthew if you can't tell. I tend to refer back to it a lot.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you -- you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -Matthew 6:25-34

There are a few places that I have italicized and underlined. These are the places that really hit me. I am such a worry wart. I constantly worry about things. I know it's not physically healthy for me, but it's also not spiritually healthy. God has taken our cares. He worries for us. We are first supposed to seek Him and He will give us everything we need.
In our society, we think we need cell phones and televisions and all these ridiculous things. God knows what we need and He will provide for us. We of little faith. We think because God doesn't give us the brand new iPad that He just has it out for us - this is untrue. He loves us and wants us to build up our treasures in Heaven - where we will be for eternity instead of building our treasures on the Earth that will soon be gone. He knows whats best for us. He will lead us and give us everything we need. He will also give us our wants. I'm not saying that we can't have the new iPad, I'm simply saying that we need God much more. That is a completely different subject to go off on so I will end there. Just some food for thought.

Thanks for reading.

xoxo,
Lauren

The Greatest Thing...

It's been a while since I last wrote a post on my blog. Like I said--WORST BLOGGER EVER, but hey! I try. Haha. I guess the main thing that has been going on in my life lately has been my job. 


I'm so glad that I got this job. It has truly been a blessing to work with people that are kind and GREAT that they are Christians. I prayed before I got this job. I had two interviews in the same day and I was so incredibly worried about which job to choose. 


Long story short, I was blown away by the attitudes in the first interview. I got offered both jobs, but I made sure that I went with my gut and what I felt God had for me. Let me tell you, I couldn't be happier. A new job is stressful, there's no doubt about that...but I'm glad that I got the job I did.


Now on to the next reason for this particular blog....men. Yeah, the whole "can't live with 'em, can't live without 'em" thing comes to mind...but seriously. On my heart lately has been the men in my life. I read this blog(which I have already shared on FB, but I will share in a moment.) & It just hit me about how I could be praying for the men in my life.


I don't pray for the men in my life enough, nor do I pray for the women enough. So when I read this blog, it got me to thinking about the things I need to pray for.


Guess what? There's power in prayer. That is such joyous news!! I'm so thankful that God hears my when I speak to Him.


Anyways, I'll stop babbling. Here's the link! It's the post by his fiancee. Sorry, I dunno how to make the accent mark thing! Oh well! Enjoy!!


The Greatest Thing a Woman Can Do for a Man. http://jeffbethke.com/blog/


xoxo,

Lauren

Faith Without Works is Dead

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead" James 2:14-17


With this passage, I want to ask why do we constantly just say "I'll pray for you?" Prayer is absolutely very powerful, I'm not trying to discredit it at all, but why do we hide behind that. For one thing, I know I am guilty of saying I'll pray about something and sometimes, I forget to pray for that. 


Faith without works is dead. D-E-A-D. We can't always just pray for people. Sometimes it takes more than that. God didn't call us to just pray for people. Jesus didn't just pray for people, He was out performing good works. So why do we rest for just praying? If we see people in need, why do we just pray for them, why don't we get out there and help them?


In Matthew 25:35&36, Jesus says, "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."


That was for God's people, the ones that get to enter Heaven. The people on the left get told this: "Depart form me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me." Matthew 25:41-43


Jesus wants us to help others. You never know when an opportunity is going to present itself, but when it does, don't disregard it. I'm not saying we have to go and do huge things, but even small things as talking with someone who looks alone, or treating a homeless man to lunch. God gives us opportunities, it just depends on whether we are willing to take them. I wanna challenge you all and myself. 


Show God's love, don't just pray about it.
Also, read the book "Under the Overpass." It's great and inspired this blog post. (:


xoxo,
Lauren