Weight Loss Journey: Claudia lost 120 pounds. She will celebrate the 6 year anniversary of the start of her weight release journey in June. Prayer, fasting, changing her eating habits and learning the importance of exercise has been key to her progress over the years. Check what she shared with us about how she took action.
2010: 280 lbs – Dress size 24
2016: 160 lbs – Dress size 10
Height: 5’3″
I feel compelled to share my weight journey with you all. I want to first start by saying that this was not an overnight success. My journey started in July of 2010. I was weighed in at 280 pounds! I have always been a yo-yo dieter. I had been praying and asking God to help me tackle this problem, which was evident in my family history (obesity).
I started researching and studying scriptures to support my endeavor. I meditated on the following scriptures:
- 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 – Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.
- 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 – Do you not know that your bodies are temples 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 bodies.
- 1 Corinthians 10:31 – So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
I meditated on scriptures and cut back on my eating. However, that wasn’t enough. As I began to seek God even more, it was time to step it up. In order to lose the weight, I had to put more into what I was trying to achieve. The methods I had embraced were not working, even though I was praying, studying, and had cut back on certain foods that I’d been eating. Prayer and meditation brought me to the realization that I wasn’t getting enough exercise.
I began to fast and pray every other week. Don’t miss understand, I wasn’t fasting to lose weight, but to seek God on which direction to go. Every other week, I would fast off of the food that I felt had control over me. The more I fasted, the more my mind set began to change. At this point, I knew that I needed to get into an exercise program. I joined the gym Next Fitness (formerly Sportsplex) in Hoover, Alabama and began to work out 2 to 3 days a week.
Well, that alone wasn’t getting it. I found out about a boot camp in Pelham, AL. I spoke to Brad Pugh of Shaping U Fitness and I participated in his boot camp for six weeks. During this time, I also hired a personal trainer at the gym where I am a member and started going to the gym twice a day, five days a week. I also started participating in Zumba classes twice a week and lifting weights. Lifting weights helps you burn fat. I also decided to do a cleansing of my system by contacting Diane Brown of Aqua Healing Solutions Colon Hydrotherapy (Colonics) Specialists in Hueytown, Alabama.
I changed my water intake to half of my body weight in ounces. I eat no more than 4 ounces of meat, such as chicken, turkey, and fish. I began eating more fresh vegetables, fruit and less pasta. I also eat plenty of salads, but I monitor the contents of the salad. I do not use regular salad dressing. I use the spray-on dressing instead. Also, I do not use regular sugar. I now use raw sugar (brown). I use soy milk instead of whole milk, and I eat more whole grain. I cook everything on the George Foreman grill and steam my vegetables. Protein is a key ingredient in aiding you in meeting your weigh loss goals. I purchased a Whey protein mix and drink it at least twice a day, after exercising and before bedtime. I also talked to my doctor about taking a multivitamin and I also take a B12 supplement.
I have tried numerous of diet programs, diet pills, and shots, but, they didn’t work. The habits I’ve outlined above have proven to work best for me. Anytime you put God first, you are going to be successful. When I decided to let go and let God, that’s when it began to happen for me. July 2016 will mark 6 years of being on this journey. As of today, I am down 120 pounds. I give God all the glory and the praise. As you can see, I did not achieve this weight loss overnight. It takes God, a renewed mind, faith, and determination in order to make a lifestyle change. If there is anything I can do to help you on your journey to living a healthy lifestyle, please contact me through my inbox.
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