Summer/Fall 2006

Over the next few months I was preparing to move again-- my husband is making a major career change and we are moving to Florida. We'll probably be there for two years as my he studies to be an airline pilot, and then we'll go to wherever the jobs lead us.

I stayed in First Place until about May, and then I was consumed with preparing our beautiful home for sale, packing our things and getting things set up in Florida. I continued to keep my First Place food/exercise/spiritual journal (called a Commitment Record), and I also kept up with my video workouts. I had a nice rec room in which to do them, which would be going away with our move-- I wanted to enjoy the space while I had it!

It was incredibly stressful and emotionally draining time. In any other normal circumstance, I would be stuffing my face with carbohydrates to feel better. But my mindset was different this time. I was determined to pray to the Lord for strength when I felt weak instead of running to the fridge! I was constantly reminding myself to just "Do the next thing" and not be overwhelmed with our move and life change. My favorite verse was Matthew 6:34, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

I began to see our move and the changes accompanying it as an opportunity to tie in a renaissance of sorts. Our new life in Florida would coincide with my new life of thoroughly following my First Place commitments.

Over the next several months, the Lord gave me strength to have much success. Here are my progress photos, both in North Carolina and later in Florida:

June 2006, 195 pounds

Late July 2006, 185 pounds

September 2006, 174 pounds

November 2006, 165 pounds

December 2006, 156 pounds