The Beginning

Dear Friends,

The following is one of the most challenging decisions I have made. I have chosen to open up a part of my life and story to reveal both a struggle I have and a passion for ministry I have. My hope, my prayer is for you to join me on my journey and to see where it takes you as well as me.

Unless you have not seen me in the past twenty five years, the following is stating the obvious: I am ultra obese. These are hard words for me to write. Some of you know that in my youth and young-adult years I was very athletic and quite fit. I now have the desire to regain some of what I have worked so hard to destroy with excessive, compulsive overeating. Through very hard personal work I have begun to make sense of what has driven my addictive behavior with food – the numbing out it provided me over the years. I am (slowly) beginning to realize and to know that I no longer need to “hide” inside my skin, behind the fat in order to feel safe and protected.

Now is my time to return to physical health and fitness.

Here is the cold hard fact: I need to lose 200 pounds.

This is an astonishing number. 200 pounds. Wow. As I have begun to awaken from my slumber of mindless eating and numb, automatic living, I am filled with a wonder of how I let my weight get so out of control. It just dumbfounds me. I feel like I have been living as a sleeping giant. But the giant is now awake!

I have heard, read, discovered that successful, long-term, permanent weight loss occurs in community. It is to this community I invite you because I need you. I need your support. I need your encouragement. I need your love. I need your help.

You are probably wondering about the “10:1” at the top of the page. I would like to make this weight-lose journey about more than just me and my health. 10:1 represents a pledge that I am making and a pledge that I am asking you to make. I am pledging $10 for every 1 pound that I lose to be divided equally between three organizations that are very meaningful to me, Joyful Hearts Foundation, For the Sake of One, and Open Hearts Ministry. I am asking you to pledge to pray for me in this journey at 10-to-1 (12:50) every day (preferably) or as often as you can.

Some of you may want to do more. I welcome your desire and offer you these challenges. Join me in weight loss. Share your journey with us of losing weight. Join me in giving. I have provided the websites of the three organizations below; please share with us if you choose to give. Join me in the 10:1 challenge. Pledge to donate a fixed amount for every pound I lose to give to these three organizations (i.e. a penny a pound, 50₵ a pound, $1.00 a pound, etc.).

Since joining Weight Watchers I have lost nearly 50 pounds! My 10:1 pledge will include this weight lost plus the weight I lose going forward. Over the course of the journey I will keep you posted on how much I have lost.

I will be creating a blog so you can follow me along the way which will allow you to provide comments and feedback. I will also create a pledge page and invite you to fill it out to pledge whatever you can – prayers, pounds, pennies (or dollars!).

In the mean time, thank you for your love, prayers, and support. This is going to be some adventure!

With Much Love and Blessings,

Erin

http://www.forthesakeofone.org/ 

http://joyfulheartfoundation.org/


http://www.ohmin.org/

There is a joy in the journey
There's a light we can love on the way
There is a wonder and wildness to life
And freedom for those who obey

                                        Michael Card