Pray the Fat Away???

OK…this is Day #4 of my mind, body and spirit makeover journey…

I was watching television the other day and saw a woman being interviewed about a book she wrote telling readers to use prayer to get rid of fat. I couldn’t believe my ears! Here was this woman actually saying you can pray away fat. Now don’t get me wrong. I know, firsthand, the power of prayer but I never put it in that particular context. But then I thought, “Oh, what the heck! I’ve tried everything else. Let me give this a shot.”

So before I closed my eyes to go to sleep, I prayed to the Lord:

"Dear God, You know I’m overweight. You also know I’m unemployed and can’t afford a new wardrobe. So Lord, would you do me a favor and melt the pounds away during the night. Twenty pounds will do. This I pray in Jesus name, Amen.”

Well, when I woke up yesterday morning, it actually looked as if I had GAINED a few more pounds. My stomach was bloated and my behind had spread even more.

OK…I do believe God heard my prayer but then it hit me. According to scripture, (James 2:26) “faith without works is dead”. So if I put work more work into my exercise routine, then God will bless my effort. I hit the cross country trail at Duke University for a third day. As I said before, I love and hate that course! It's an absolutely fantastic workout, complete with nearly three miles of tough terrain and hills. But, on the other hand, it is a very strenuous workout, and when you combine it with the heat, humidity and "heartbreak hill" you leave the trail thinking it might be OK to let your middle-aged body hang on to a few extra pounds!

But I’m still determined so after going to noon Bible study I got a little rest and then went to the gym for my very first kick-boxing class. All I have to say is I used muscles I didn’t even know I had! I guess that’s a good thing though.

Before I went to bed last night, I prayed again to the Lord.

“Dear God, Thank you for giving me the energy and strength to keep pressing toward my weight loss goals. I do ask that you continue to deliver me from the evils of too much food and sugar and, Lord, please help me to stay motivated so You will bless my efforts. In Jesus name I pray, Amen."

This morning I woke up with new hope!

I need a makeover of mind, body and spirit

I had a restless night. I kept waking up every couple of hours, looking at the clock, trying to prepare myself mentally for the day ahead. I decided over the weekend that I was going to re-commit myself to exercising and eating healthy. I also decided I needed to replenish my mind and spirit by getting deeper into God's Word.

After sending out an email, announcing my new and improved website, I hit the cross country trail at Duke University. I love and hate that course! It's an absolutely fantastic workout, complete with nearly three miles of tough terrain and hills. But, on the other hand, it is a very strenuous workout, and when you combine it with the heat, humidity and "heartbreak hill" you leave the trail thinking it might be OK to let your middle-aged body hang on to a few extra pounds!

I've actually been walking on that particular cross country trail on and off for several years. I used to take my daughter when we were BOTH younger and we would have mini-sprint races along the way. Since she stopped going, I stopped doing the mini-sprints because it's just no fun to run alone. Besides, this baby boomer babe is trying to look halfway cute when she's out there and it's kind of hard to look your best when you're sweating like a pig and constantly gasping for air!

I really don't know how some of those women do it. I mean, I see them jogging along with their ponytails swinging from side to side and they don't even break a sweat and they actually look cute doing it!

WHATEVER!

No, I don't have the ponytail bounce (my hair isn't long enough) but I do have a little jiggle going on. My belly and behind can shake pretty good! On a day like today, I just want to call up Ty Pennington and ask him if he and his crew could come to my home and give ME a makeover.

Anyway, on this particular day, I decided to do a two-for-one. Get a good workout in and have some good gospel music minister to my spirit. These days I'm listening to Jennifer Evans' CD, "Delayed but not Denied." She has a song called "First Aid Building" which says:

"I'm going to the first aid building where God can see you through
I'm going to the the first aid building where you can be made brand new."

I needed to be in the first aid building getting my spirit rejuevenated this morning. I needed to be reminded of God's promise that He will never leave nor forsake me---even when I screw up. I needed to cling on to His promise that He will deliver me from evil, because honey let me tell you, evil is on a rampage and I don't want to be in the way. I also needed to learn how to just STAND STILL sometimes and allow God to handle my situations.

This morning's workout gave me just what I needed!

Peace & Blessings,
Beverly Mahone
"babyboomerbev"
Author, Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age