First Place Victory with Laura Woodside Hartness -- Weight Loss with the Lord's Help!

COMING SOON: SITE REVAMP!

2011-05-05T13:45:00.000-05:00

Now that I'm 40, I'm going to start a new venture, the PeakFit Challenge by Michelle Dozois. My First Place 4 Health group is also about to start a new session, The Power of Hope, AND I'm moving to Savannah in the next few months. It's going to be quite the summer, and I'm going to try to get this site back up and running ASAP.

Stay tuned!

June 2004

2004-06-01T08:39:00.000-05:00

As much as I enjoyed my job at the Wake Forest law library, it's hours took their toll on me physically. I wasn't in a First Place group, I'd eat dinner after 9:30pm every night, and my exercise was sporadic. Since re-joining First Place after my pregnancy I'd lost about 80 pounds, getting down to 165. But with my new lifestyle, I found the pounds creeping back on. By May of 2004, I seriously needed to get back on track.

In addition to wanting to get back on track, I was also hoping to get pregnant again. After all that I put myself through during my first pregnancy, I really wanted to do it right this time. I knew that First Place was the best option for me, but my schedule didn't allow for me to attend or lead a group.

The Lord was very gracious to me and brought a wonderful woman into my life. She was also very busy and didn't have time for a group, but she wanted to do the program. Aletta agreed to meet with me once a week, where we would do First Place together. Sometimes I'd go to her house, sometimes she'd come to mine, and a few times we met in a cafe. We had wonderful times of Bible study together, and she was such a blessing to my life.

August 2003

2003-08-25T19:51:00.000-05:00

In summer 2003 I had to leave my First Place group. Again, long story short... we were moving to a new town and I would be getting a job for the first time in a while. My hours would be at night, working at the Wake Forest University law library. Just as I'd felt the Lord calling me away from my old Calvary group, I saw His hand at work in this next chapter of our lives. All the "coincidences" that happened during that period assured me that we were on the right path.

Saying goodbye to this group was particularly hard, but I knew the Lord was taking us into new things. In fact, one of our memory verses had recently been Joshua 3:5, which was from week 8 of the First Place Bible study Seeking God's Best: "Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you."

And indeed, the Lord did some amazing things in those days. He orchestrated our moving into an amazing house near our jobs at Wake Forest University. To this day, I marvel at the fact that we lived there for the years that we did. It was the nicest home I've ever had, and many great family memories were made there. We had large holiday parties with relatives who hardly ever saw each other, birthday celebrations, a graduation party, Christmases and Bible studies. I'm so grateful for my time there.

First Place Favorites

2003-02-01T20:38:00.000-05:00

Another fun contribution! This time I got to submit my recipe for Light Cranberry Mousse in the New First Place Favorites cookbook . I found a recipe that wasn't as healthy and much higher in sugar and made my own modifications:

Light Cranberry Mousse

1 cup reduced-calorie cranberry grape juice

2 ( .3 of an ounce) boxes sugar-free raspberry flavored gelatin

1 (16 oz) can jellied cranberry sauce

4 c. fat-free whipped topping, thawed

Heat the juice to boiling in a small saucepan; remove from heat. Add gelatin, stirring constantly until dissolved; set aside. In medium bowl, beat cranberry sauce using electric mixer on high 1 minutes; add gelatin mixture and refigerate 1 1/2 hours or until thickened but not set. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold in whipped topping; spoon into parfait cups and refrigerate 4 hours or until firm. Keep refrigerated in covered container until ready to serve. Serves 10.

{For some reason I listed this as a bread serving. Not sure why. Maybe it's higher in protein than I remember!}

December 9, 2002

2002-12-15T20:46:00.000-05:00

At the end of 2002, our wonderful group had a Victory Dinner at the end of one of our sessions. We decorated our church's dining hall, gave out awards and prizes, shared testimonies to our pastor and reflected on all that God had done in our lives that year. Here's a photo of that night:

July 2002

2002-07-01T19:57:00.000-05:00

While reading the monthly First Place newsletter, I learned of an opportunity to contribute to a new First Place daily devotional that was going to be published. I submitted two entries, and they were both included in the book, now titled Today Is The First Day. You can find them on the April 3rd and April 8th devotionals in the book. Interestingly enough, April 3rd is my husband's birthday!

January 2002

2002-01-01T20:37:00.000-05:00

I stayed at Calvary Baptist for about 2 years as a participant and leader. My weight loss was slow, but I kept learning and kept striving for my goals.

To make a long story short, I truly felt the Lord calling me away from the comfortable nest of Calvary. It was time to take the program to my home congregation, Grace Community church, which was in a nearby town. It was very hard for me to leave the precious folks at Calvary, but in my relationship with the Lord, I knew what He was asking me to do.

Grace church had some classroom space available, and they were kind to let me set up shop. I advertised and spread the word around, and before I knew it we had a whole new program started. Our group was small, but we really bonded and had some amazing nights together. I think some of the greatest moments of joy in ministry I have ever felt were nights when I rode home in my car, reflecting on all that God was doing in our group and how grateful I was to be a part of that (II Peter 1:4 - participating in the divine nature!). What a blessing.

September 2000

2000-09-01T19:29:00.000-05:00

After my brother's wedding, I was discouraged and really missed being in a First Place group. Fortunately, I was able to find one at Calvary Baptist church, a large church not too far from my home. I stayed there for quite a while, even taking over as a leader eventually. I really enjoyed being in the group-- the accountability and the spiritual aspect of the program is so essential for me. Over and over I re-learn the idea that I cannot do this with my own strength, that I must rely on the Lord for His power and I can also lean on my fellow group members.

Being at Calvary was like Club Med for a First Place leader. The large church had money budgeted for our program, we had adequate facilities, good TVs and video players. We even had access to fitness programs over in their Family Life Center. It was so nice to have the support of the church leadership, knowing they were praying for us and wanting us to succeed.

August 25, 2000

2000-08-25T17:43:00.000-05:00

Due to the fact that I had a C-section from which to recover, I couldn't exercise much for the first six weeks of Matthew's life. Not that I would have done much-- those first 6 weeks are what I refer to as "the fog" of sleeplessness, hormones and fatigue. And of course, being obese doesn't make it any easier. Who wants to move when there's so much to carry?

Fortunately, I had a big motivator to straighten out my act when my six week recovery period was over. My brother Donovan would be getting married in a few months, and I was to be a bridesmaid. I had a lovely (but large) lavender gown that would still be too small if I didn't lose some weight, and fast.

Eight weeks out from the wedding, I weighed about 223 pounds. The first 25 pounds of weight loss had come off pretty quickly-- probably alot of water weight that was easy to shed, even without exercise. My weight had actually gotten as low as 220, but a few pounds had crept back on. I knew then that if I didn't start working on it, the number would continue to rise indefinitely. Thank goodness for the wedding date in August!

I pulled out my First Place materials-- I didn't have a group to join at that time, but I knew how to work the program. I followed the meal plan and exercised on a regular basis. Fortunately, the weight began to come off.

By the time my brother's wedding rolled around, I'd lost 23 pounds. While this is alot of weight gone in a short amount of time (and certainly not recommended for non-obese people), I was still discouraged that I hadn't hit "the 100s". Regardless, I managed to squeeze into the dress, got my hair done and the wedding was lovely.

Here are some pictures from our special day:

May 5, 2000

2000-05-05T17:13:00.000-05:00

It's May of 2000, and I'm coming home from the hospital with my beautiful (and well-fed!) 10-pound baby boy Matthew. We are overjoyed with our first child and with the miracle of birth. Yet as I stepped on the scale the morning after returning from the hospital, it was awful to see the needle reading 248 pounds.

My struggle with weight and food goes back almost as far as I can remember, but it reached it's peak during my first pregnancy. Even though I'd been a part of the First Place program, I allowed the temptation to overeat to be a stronger force in my life. I used the rationale of "eating for two" to justify all that I took in.

So in nine months I went from 158 pounds on my 5'7" frame to 248 post-pregnancy. By the end of that period I was truly miserable, and not just in the way nine-month pregnant women usually are. It was so hard to function with so much extra weight. I prayed that one day I could somehow manage to get back to something close to normal.

July 2004

1971-04-27T08:50:00.000-05:00

As I did First Place with my partner Aletta, I looked for a workout routine that would mesh with my schedule. Before moving to my new home, I had a gym that I would go to while my son Matthew was in preschool. However, my new lifestyle and schedule was such that gyms wouldn't really work for me anymore.

I decided to try exercise videos. I had a couple of my own, but I wanted more variety. So I went to the local public library, and they had quite a few to choose from. While using their videos, I discovered a series of workouts called "The Firm" and was totally hooked. My husband Jonathan was very sweet and later let me buy a set of DVDs and an aerobic step of my own from The Firm's Body Sculpting System 3. I just loved them and actually looked forward to exercise!

Later on I also discovered a website called VideoFitness.com. Through this website I've learned alot about video fitness and the various workouts available. They also have a section on the web page where you can swap videos with other members. This has enabled me to increase the diversity of my collection, which is great for challenging my body. I also recommend the web site CollageVideo.com. There you can also learn alot about video fitness, get videos that are unavailable in regular retail outlets and even preview clips before buying.

I think the neatest thing about video fitness is that my consistency in working out has improved dramatically. In First Place we are to aim to work out 3 to 5 times a week, for at least 20 minutes at our training heart rate. I've always been happy to meet that goal-- at least 3 times a week. Getting in 5 workouts on a regular basis was pretty rare. Since discovering videos, I consistently work out 5 times a week, for 30-60 minutes each time. I rarely dread it, and when I do, within 5 or 10 minutes of starting the video my attitude has changed. I've also seen much better results in my body's composition. I did do weight lifting and cardio at gyms in the past, but I never saw the results I'm getting now. I guess it's all about consistency, motivation and intensity, and I'm getting all 3 factors with these videos.

Here are my favorite video series and/or instructors:

The Firm
Petra Kolber
CIA: Creative Instructors Aerobics
Crunch
Reebok
The Method
WHFN: Women's Health & Fitness Network

April 9, 2005

1971-04-26T12:49:00.000-05:00

By God's grace I was able to get pregnant during the summer of 2004. My First Place regimen was already in place, so by the time my pregnancy started, I'd actually lost some of the "working at night" weight I'd gained since our move in 2003.

I checked with my OB-GYN to determine my calorie level, and I just kept on going. Aletta and I continued to meet weekly, and I continued working out to my exercise videos. Granted, my intensity wasn't the same (especially when I hit 7 months), but I still kept huffing and puffing!

The difference in this pregnancy was amazing. I gained less than half of what I gained the first time, and I just felt so much better! The extreme swelling I'd experienced in 2000 wasn't there, and I felt much more of that "pregnancy glow". I even had the lung capacity to play my French horn during our church's Easter celebration! An OB-GYN friend of mine looked at me that day as I played and said, "How are you doing that?!" It was truly amazing.

At around 7 months I caught some kind of cold/flu bug that put me in bed for a while. By the time I came out of it, the baby was alot larger and my energy for exercise was severely decreased. I ended up gaining a little bit more than I would have liked for this pregnancy, but gaining 40 is alot better than gaining 90!

Colson Hunter Hartness arrived via a successful VBAC delivery on April 9, 2005. He's named after Charles Colson, a noted Christian writer and speaker. He's most infamous for the stint he did in prison due to his actions in the Watergate scandal in the 1970's. We admire his new life in Christ and wanted our son to take his name. The middle name Hunter is a family name on Jonathan's side.

Here we are, tired and worn out-- with our precious bundle. Then a photo of Colson, taken when he was just a few days old in the hospital. And finally, a photo of proud Dad with his second-born...

January 2006

1971-04-25T17:55:00.002-05:00

After Colson was born, I was not able to reduce my calorie level below 2,000 calories because of breastfeeding. Anything less than that would shut down my milk, as I discovered at the beginning of August when I thought it was time to start working on my baby weight. After talking with my doctor, it was clear that I could either lose weight or keep up my 2000 calorie regimen for the baby. Unlike some women who breastfeed, I didn't naturally lose weight with the energy needed to produce the milk. My body just held on to the pounds. I decided that breastfeeding was more important to me than losing the weight, and I put off going below 2000 until it was time to wean Colson. However, I still worked on keeping a consistent exercise program for the cardiovascular and muscular benefits.

I came home from the hospital at 217 pounds, and even though I was exercising I was still at 214 pounds in January 2006. I was glad to be able to breastfeed, but I was really tired of being overweight. I'd even had most of my hair chopped off in an effort to distract myself from my weight with a fashionable hairstyle.

Aletta and I were no longer able to meet together, so I decided to join the First Place group at Calvary Baptist again. I figured that even if I didn't lose a pound while breastfeeding, I still needed to be eating well and consistently exercising. There was little vanity motivating me to join this time-- I simply wanted to feel healthy.

Here's my class photo, taken near the start of our session:

April 2006

1971-04-24T18:52:00.000-05:00

Weaning time! On Colson's 1st birthday I sat down with him for a final feeding, and he bit me for the first time! Ouch! Kind of appropriate, considering. It was a bittersweet day, knowing he was moving out of babyhood and we wouldn't share those intimate moments anymore.

At the same time, I was raring to go, ready to work on my weight again. I felt healthier than I had 5 years before with the first pregnancy, and I'd even managed to shave off a few pounds while in my First Place program. Still, at 205 pounds, I had a way to go.

I've worked on losing weight many times in my life. This time felt different, however. It felt like I was reaching the end of my rope-- just being so sick of being overweight for so long. I'd put off buying attractive clothes for almost 5 years, and I was determined to get back into my old wardrobe. I was constantly avoiding cameras and was ashamed of myself. It was time for this to end. As I told some relatives at a family reunion, "Just you wait-- a year from now I'm going to be 50 pounds lighter. I'm sick of this. I'm done. It's over!" I was at the breaking point, which I now think is a big key in finally committing to living a healthy life.

I decided to start taking "progress photos" at every 10 pound loss. This provided a little reward, and it helped me see progress on those days when I was feeling discouraged. Here's my photo for 205 pounds:

Summer/Fall 2006

1971-04-23T19:05:00.000-05:00

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

November 2006

1971-04-23T10:28:00.000-05:00

Once again I was honored to contribute to another First Place book. The title is Living Well: 365 Daily Devotions for a Balanced Life. Much like Today Is The First Day, it provides daily readings using our many scripture memory verses. I only submitted one entry this time, and I focused on how the Lord had given me strength to be healthy during my second pregnancy. You can read about it on the June 1 entry in the book.

Winter 2007

1971-04-22T21:31:00.000-05:00

We had a wonderful holiday season, and I even managed to keep it pretty healthy! I allowed myself to indulge on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years' Day, and that was it! Restraining all those weeks was difficult, but I enjoyed my days of indulgence so much more. Here I am with my elder son Matthew, who's growing taller as I get smaller!

After the holidays I started attending a Beth Moore Bible study at my church. The study is called Believing God. I learned alot during the weeks I was in the group, but two things really stand out for me from that time. First, I truly felt the Lord telling me "It's time to move on" from unhealthy living. In the Bible this might be paralleled to "not living in your Promised Land".

Second, each day that I live a day of victory is a day to remember, cherish and thank the Lord for. Just as the folks in Alcoholics Anonymous do, remembering the number of days I've lived in victory is a way to keep motivated and stay on track.

I also enjoyed the five statements of belief in the study, which are:

1. God is who He says He is.

2. God can do what He says He can do.

3. I am who God says I am.

4. I can do all things through Christ.

5. God's word is alive and active in me.

Some great words of wisdom-- I think if I can keep these in mind, there will be many more days of victory to come!

Spring 2007

1971-04-21T22:03:00.000-05:00

Well I had a bit of a setback during the month of April... my birthday, my husband's birthday, our anniversary, Colson's birthday and Easter came one right after the other. Lots of celebratory treats were around! So, some pounds are back on. However, one of the things I've learned over the years is to never give up. If you gain a little back, just get back on the horse and keep going! And one of the best ways to do that is with support.

So, after being "solo" for a year, I'm thrilled to report that I now have a First Place group to attend here in Vero! They are meeting at Morningstar Presbyterian , a church where a friend of mine attends. It's a wonderful group of women, and I'm so excited to have accountability partners again! I thank the Lord for His provision once again! Here's a quick photo I took of the group during a recent meeting:

Another big motivator also arrived in my life recently. I'm participating in a weight loss article for a special publication of Better Homes and Gardens magazine. The whole issue is going to be on diet and weight loss. I'm not sure what the official title of the publication is going to be, but look for Better Homes and Gardens and "Diet 2008" somewhere on the cover. It'll be on newsstands in January.

I was interviewed by Anne Fletcher, an author of many weight loss titles. She was wonderful, and I look forward to reading what she has to say about all of the participants in her article. And at some point a professional photographer may be out to take my picture-- I hate to say it, but vanity is motivating me alot these days! In any case, watch for that special magazine in January 2008.

New Session, Old Issues - Summer 2007

1971-04-20T09:09:00.000-05:00

My First Place group is starting a new session this week. We're doing a study I've never read before; it's called A New Creation. I'm really excited about it-- apparently it's going to deal with emotional eating and our struggles surrounding that. Here's a quote from an online description:

Sometimes when we struggle with issues of weight, the underlying cause is actually emotional pain. With A New Creation, you will identify the source of your overeating and find emotional healing in God.

These days alot of any emotional eating that I do (and yes, that's still a struggle) seems to be stemmed from parenting stress. For those of you who know the issues in our household, you know what I'm talking about. And for some reason, lately it's been a big struggle for me to not turn to the "old standby" to manage stress.

But First Place has taught me (and is still teaching me) to turn to the Lord for support. And I'm sure we'll be getting into alot of that with this study. Good timing. I need it these days!

Here's our memory verse for the week. I need to be able to quote it by tonight's meeting, so this is good practice for me!

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. Romans 6:4

Facing the Suit - July 2007

1971-04-19T20:37:00.000-05:00

It's summertime in south Florida... can't avoid swimsuits forever...

I had a bit of a milestone moment today. I didn't run screaming from the camera when it was pointed at me in the pool. Granted, half of me was under water, but still! I took a deep breath and let it happen. Being in the water with my toddler was so enjoyable, and remembering that moment seemed more important than how I looked in the bathing suit.

Looking forward to the day when I can relax and not worry about it anymore... Getting there, slowly but surely...

Photo Shoot

1971-04-18T15:32:00.000-05:00

August 29, 2007

Well today I had the odd, yet exciting experience of being in a photo shoot. Diet 2008 magazine will be coming out this winter, and the publisher sent out a photographer named Julie Dickinson to do the job. She even brought a makeup artist and wardrobe for me!

I'm at a healthy weight these days (156), but I really struggled during the whole shoot with feelings of inadequacy. I'm sure the photos will turn out fine, but my vanity SO wished I could have been about 20 pounds lighter! Strangers would walk past us and I would wonder if they looked at me with judgemental eyes. Lord knows I was judging myself enough!

Regardless, Julie and makeup artist Amanda did their best to put me at ease. We had a great time for three hours, taking over 400 shots! Some were taken in a beautiful halter dress, and some were with me in an exercise outfit. All three of us were drenched in sweat at the end of our time together. Amanda had some work on her hands, retouching frequently!

Here are some photos I took while we were together-- all the makeup used to get the job done, and then Amanda and Julie.

Here are a few of the 400+ shots that Julie took. They may not be reprinted for any other magazine, but she said it would be okay to post them on my personal web pages. For more photos, click here: More Photos

First Place E-Newsletter

1971-04-17T18:10:00.002-05:00

The story is spreading! I'll be featured in the December 2007 issue of First Place's monthly newsletter. Even if you're not an active member of First Place, I recommend you check this one out. It comes to your email box in PDF format every month, free of charge. It features motivational essays, recipes for healthy dishes and success stories of First Place members. To sign up for your own, click here:

Newsletter Sign-Up

To read my story from the December 2007 newsletter, click here:

http://www.firstplace4health.com/wps/wcm/connect/First_Place/success_stories/success_stories/laura_hartness

Anonymous

1971-04-16T14:59:00.000-05:00

November 1, 2007

We got a very sweet anonymous note today in the mail. The card had fruit on the front and was mailed yesterday from Florida. To whomever sent us the card: Thank you.

Diet 2008 is out!

1971-04-15T11:41:00.000-05:00

Diet 2008 magazine is now on newsstands-- I found lots of copies near in the checkout line at Wal-Mart. The success stories article begins on page 62, and my story is on page 64. Aside from the novelty of seeing my article, I really enjoy the magazine as a whole. There are lots of good pieces on eating, recipes and fitness. I also enjoy the show The Biggest Loser and am looking forward to reading the success stories in that article.

Below are some thumbnail shots of each page of the success stories article. Click on each photo for a larger view:

Reasons to Stay on Track

1971-04-13T11:45:00.000-05:00

January 3, 2008

Like many of us, I gained a few pounds over the holidays. But if there's one lesson I've learned in First Place, it's to never give up. Sometimes when I get off track, it's because I've found ways to rationalize my poor eating habits. In an effort to begin again, I've composed several reasons to press on to the prize. It's my intention to read these statements during moments when I'm trying to rationalize again. I've printed them on a 3x5 card and they're written in italics here. Some of these reasons overlap each other, but here they are, with extra commentary:

Reasons to Stay On Track

1. To glorify God with my life and health; to be an effective witness and good steward for Him in an unhealthy, misguided world. Just yesterday I spoke with a young lady in Wal-Mart about First Place. I was nervous, feeling unworthy to even speak of the program. I want to get to the point that I'm not ashamed of myself-- that I'm a physically fit, confident representative for Christ. When people ask about what diet used to lose weight, I want to give the Lord credit and point them to Christ through First Place.

2. To stop wasting years of my life at a unhealthy weight, to have no regrets, no avoiding cameras, cringing at the mirror, wearing large or ill-fitting clothing, waiting for the day that I'm finally at a healthy weight. I've spent too many years wishing to be healthy. Now that I'm in that range, I need to stop the self-loathing and sabotage and STAY here!

3. To feel great, healthy, strong and fit-- not tired, depressed, strung out or nutritionally imbalanced. This will make me a better wife, mother and friend. I can't tell you how nice it feels when I stay on track. I physically just feel better! My workouts are much more enjoyable, I don't feel enslaved to eating poorly. I sleep better and wake refreshed, not hungover. And I'm sure those around me appreciate that more positive existence!

4. To avoid health problems: diabetes, unnecessary spider veins, poor sleep due to sugar-induced night sweats, harder workouts because of excess weight. Type II Diabetes is rampant on my father's side of the family. I don't have to be destined to get it if I take care of myself. I inherited my mother's spider veins, and I know being overweight will only make them worse. I get night sweats sometimes when I've had too much sugary junk foods-- yuck! And my workouts are so much more fun when I'm not lugging around extra pounds on my frame.

5. To have the weight off as I get older and as it gets harder to lose weight. I was born in April of 1971. Now that I'm over 35, it's only going to get harder. Keeping it off now will be easier than working it off later!

6. To do any less would be to trade the truth of God for a lie (Romans 1:25). Staying on track means to live a life of freedom and victory (Galatians 5:1), even amidst the storms of life. When my children are screaming and I hear the voice in my head that says, "Eating will make you feel better," it is completely a lie. My flesh does not want to do the right thing (Romans 7:14-25), and Satan wants me in bondage. If I can look for the exit route (I Corinthians 10:13) that the Lord always provides and TAKE IT, I'll be one step closer to having one more day-- one more week-- one more month-- and one more year spent in victory.

I don't have this mastered-- not by a long shot. But I'm so grateful that the Lord continually reaches out to me, rescuing me from myself, giving strength and bringing me into freedom!

Women's Heart for Health Meeting - Feb 4, 2008

1971-04-12T16:55:00.000-05:00

The women's ministry at my church asked me to come and speak at their Women's Heart for Health Social tonight. They provided some healthy snacks and about 3 dozen people, and I provided my story. For about an hour I spoke on my struggle with weight, how our faith plays into our lifestyle, and then tips on food and exercise. The ladies were very gracious, and I hope it was worth their time. It was pretty exciting for me, as I've never had a speaking engagement before. A woman came up to my husband the following Wednesday night and said, "Your wife certainly ruffled some feathers on Monday!" I sure hope that's a good thing!

In any case, I hope everyone found the time helpful. Part of my presentation included dealing with temptation, and I offered several Bible verses to read during those times of weakness. Maybe these can be helpful for you, too:

I Corinthians 6:19-20 - Do you not know that your body is a temple 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 body.

Titus 2:11-12 - For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

Galatians 4:9 - But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?

I Corinthians 10:13 - No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

I Peter 5:8 – Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Deuteronomy 30:11 – Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.

Philippians 4:12-13 – I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

I Peter 2:11 – Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

Hebrews 4:16 – Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Matthew 4:4 - Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.' "

A New Beginning - March 2008

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Due to the positive response of the Women's Heart for Health social on February 4 and after much prayer and consideration, I'm going to offer First Place at my home congregation, King's Baptist Church. I'm sad to leave my current group, where I've been attending since last summer. The ladies of the Morningstar group are so wonderful, encouraging, Godly and understanding. The Lord has completely used them in my life! I only hope I can do the same for the people at King's.

If you'd like to come join us, our meetings will be on Wednesday nights from 6:15pm to 7:30pm. Our next session will be starting on March 5th, 2008 with Orientation. To get the latest information on our group, visit our online site at:

http://firstplacekings.blogspot.com/

April 12, 2008: First Place 4 Health

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On April 12th I had the privilege to attend a First Place 4 Health kickoff event in New Orleans, Louisiana. While there I got to hear lots of details about the new First Place 4 Health plan. First Place isn't just getting a makeover as in years past; they're getting an entire re-vamp and new name! I'm really excited about the fresh approach to healthy living-- I can't wait to share it with my group and employ these principles in my life. Many are the same as in the past; the bottom line is, we need to give Christ first place in every area of our lives. But the new aspects of this program will be really neat to employ. Although I've lost alot of weight, I've gained some back since last fall and never did make it to my goal weight range of the mid to high 130's. I'm looking forward to getting started!

The new materials are coming out in June. Members will need to buy a brand-new Member's Kit and Bible study. Leaders will only need to buy a Group Starter Kit, which includes the Member materials and the first Bible Study. Items will be on sale through the First Place website through the end of May, when you can get 10% off.

Below are some pictures from this weekend. The first is with me and Carole Lewis, First Place 4 Health national director. Next is Vicki Heath, who handles the fitness/exercise end of the program. You may recognize her from the First Place workout videos. Last, I'm with Erin DuBroc, the registered dietician who worked on our new food plan. It was great to see these ladies and share how the program has affected my life. We had alot of fun!

Summer 2008

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The new First Place 4 Health materials are out! I had my first orientation for the new program, and we had a great turnout! We've grown so much, I've asked someone to co-lead with me. Susan is a former FP leader and a great success story. I'm really looking forward to seeing how things are going to grow.

I've begun following the new USDA-based food plan and using the new Live-It Tracker to keep track of everything. I must say, as a seasoned First Place member, it's taking me a bit to get used to doing it this new way. But I'm confident it'll eventually be natural to me, just as the original plan eventually became second nature.

On Saturday, August 2nd I had the joy of attending an area leader's meeting in Hollywood, FL, just north of Miami. Another FP leader from Sebastian, FL and I carpooled down and joined 6 other ladies for a wonderful morning. We had a great time discussing the new program and being a support to one another. (See photo below). I think I'm going to apply to be an area networking leader, so we can promote more leader functions in south Florida. Hopefully we can put together a leader's meeting for late January, 2009.