Amazing!

Hello Friends,

It has been two weeks since I last posted. Two weeks that have been filled with good and amazing things.

Here is the first good thing: I lost 2.5 pounds in the last two weeks!! Okay - that's an AMAZING thing!! :) I was at Weight Watchers with my friend, Patricia, and when I was told how much I had lost, she immediately responded with delight, excitement, and wonderful encouragement. I just looked at the woman who weighed me in, and I said, "Really?" I was dumbfounded and shocked. I said out loud, "How did THAT happen?"

For the entire week before this particular weigh-in, I was at a conference that had buffet-style meals for every meal. This set-up was a nightmare for me. Don't get me wrong, there were wonderful "healthy" food selections, but there were also many "comfort food" selections like a-mazing mashed potatoes, potatoes au gratin, fried chicken, French fries, ice cream, some pretty yummy desserts, etc. Believe me when I say that I was NOT thinking, "Oh, goody, an opportunity to really apply those WW points! What a wonderful learning opportunity!" Not hardly!

Apparently, I survived the food buffet, but I am still scratching my head about the amount of weight lost. I mean, I was mindful of what and how much I ate, but I did not count points. I think I did more walking during the conference than I normally do, but I did not measure my steps either.

This has caused me to ask myself, "What was different?"

The most significant difference of the week was the conference itself. The conference was a training conference for The Journey through Open Hearts Ministry. It was filled with teaching, small-group time, some group activities, and some free time. I met some remarkable people, and I drew near to a small group of six AMAZING individuals. I think the most significant aspect of the week was that we were in community, deeply connected community. We prayed together, worshiped together, shared deeply, and celebrated mightily. Through the experience, I felt deeply loved, seen, cared for, accepted, embraced, supported, protected, and covered.

How does this relate to me and my weight loss journey today?

I think, no, I feel this experience demonstrated to me something I was aware of, something I intuitively knew, something I have already shared: "success" in my journey will only happen if I choose to invite others into the journey with me. "Success" will only occur if I allow others to truly see me, hear me, know me. Last week I invited six new people into my journey with me, and they invited me into theirs. Last week, I made six new friends: Janet, Kyle, Mike, Rebecca,Tiffany, and Tim. And oh! How I thank our God for each! And I thank Him, also, for each person who has read this blog, prayed with me, for me, encouraged me, hugged me, wrote to me, laughed with me, cried with me, loved me, and supported me.Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

2.5 more pounds gone, and my heart is dancing with delight! Will you dance with me?

With Much Love and Blessings,
Erin

PS  In response to my experience at the training conference, I am choosing to add Open Hearts Ministry to the organizations I will support through my weight loss.