What A Hundred Pounds Looks Like
Prepare yourselves, people. I’m a mushy, teary-eyed, blubbering, joyful mess today, and it’s only getting worse.
^^^ Those pictures up there are me. That girl is forcing a smile, with the little, squinty eyes, through a sad, broken heart.
I was sick and in pain almost constantly. There were the sinus infections and bronchitis two or three times a year, stomach issues that had me running to the bathroom all the time, the extreme pelvic pain from endometriosis that kept me home and in bed often, and my weight. It was out. of. control. (um... obviously, I know)
It seemed I was always at the doctor’s office. None of my problems had an easy answer.
I had tried, for years, to lose the weight that had exploded on me just after I got married, but couldn’t get anything to really work. I joined programs left and right, and would see a few pounds fluctuate occasionally, but mostly the scale just went up.
I had taken pain meds forever and had a couple of surgeries that could only offer a temporary solution.
For many years, my days were dark. In the last couple of years, they grew darker still. I had had enough.
We had had enough. We turned to real food. Whole food. Healing food. And lots of prayer.
As of yesterday, just a little over a year after beginning my real food journey, I have officially lost 100 lbs. ONE. HUNDRED. POUNDS. A year ago that may as well have been a trillion pounds because in my head it was impossible. I wasn't even dreaming it.
And that’s just what’s changed on the outside. My tumors are shrinking and disappearing. My body is healing and my stomach is feeling better. Oh, and my heart - I’ve got a happy heart!
:::: interrupting myself for this special announcement :::: Some things I've learned while writing this post: 1. I’ve explained how I was super sick, but what in the world was up with my hair in all the "before pics”?!? I have NO excuses there. Sorry guys. Holy moly!
2. I have almost zero pics of me, by myself. The ones I do have are mostly goofy and ridiculous selfies that I like to torment my mother and my husband with throughout the business day. And I’m not showing you my duckface. You’d all die and I love you more than that. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
There is still work to be done! I'm hoping for more weight loss and healing, but today my heart rejoices with all that’s been accomplished this year. I’ve lost a hundred pounds. My incurable tumors are shrinking and disappearing. I’m feeling better all the time.
God’s mercy is unending and He's made the impossible possible! His grace has stretched beyond what I could imagine for myself.
This year I've clung to the Psalms, and on the days when it has felt the hardest, when fear and anxiety about what lay ahead and how it might crush me, creep into my head, the words from this book offer peace like no other.
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.
Psalm 121
To those in my life who have loved me, encouraged me, and come along side me on this grueling journey - THANK YOU! Your kind words of praise and encouragement have been a taste of cool water in the dry desert.
To my husband - it’s twue wuv, I tell you! You are a MAN among men, who demonstrates to me daily what it is to love your wife as Christ has loved the church, and gave Himself up for her.
If you’re interested in knowing more about how, exactly, I’ve been healing and losing weight with the help of *real* food on the GAPS protocol (and not weight loss surgery or drugs), I’m planning lots of posts with more details, but for now, here are a few links to some of my Pinterest boards, where I pin my resources, so you don’t have to wait for me to get started.
Hippy Dippy - Lots of my *real* food resources are here. Real Food Recipes
I'd love to hear from you! Don't hesitate to send me a message by email ( saltandtwineblog (at) gmail (dot) com ) or post a comment here!
Linking Up: Real Food Forager, Fat Tuesday
