Dieting with Obstacles - Christian with RA looking for diet buddy for prayer and support

Hello. I am a Christian woman, mother and grandmother, 48 years old. Just begining a walking program and new food plan to lose weight and get fit. Looking for a Christian buddy to provide each other with encouragement and support.

I'm 36, a Christian mother of 3, and am 210 pounds on a 5'4" frame. I have several medical conditions I'm battling with, including hypothyroid, high cholesterold and super high triglycerides. I also had a total hysterectomy 7 years ago and take estrogen replacement therapy. All in all, I"m depressed and frustrated about my difficulty in losing weight. I research all the "facts" about healthy eating, and find few who agree on anything.

If you'd like to email, let me know. I"m at bateman@cox.net

Hi ladies,

I'm an evangelist. I am also 40, 5'5", 250 lbs. I need to lose at least 100 pounds. I had a complete hysterecomy 10 years ago. I started gaining weight in 1990 during the "Persian Gulf War" -I was active duty & my husband left me the same year. After I had the surgery and got out of the military in 1994, it was all downhill from here. God has brought me a long way, but this has been the struggle of my life. I need support as well. I know that this is something that I can not just pray away. I've got to "change". God Bless, and keep in touch.

Hi-I am also a Christian-and am at goal. Read Dr Phil's weight loss book-it says it all. Also, a group would be helpful. I was a member of Weight Watchers and then TOPS-both have message boards. Then I also read the Purpose Driven Life which has nothing to do with weight loss-just a great book to put things in perspective. You are right about needing to change the way you do things. Dr Phil talks about changing how you think of yourself, getting the unhealthy food out of the house, intentional exercise, and healthy eating. It feels great to be at goal but its always an effort to stay there. God bless you.Mima

Hi-I am also a Christian-and am at goal. Read Dr Phil's weight loss book-it says it all. Also, a group would be helpful. I was a member of Weight Watchers and then TOPS-both have message boards. Then I also read the Purpose Driven Life which has nothing to do with weight loss-just a great book to put things in perspective. You are right about needing to change the way you do things. Dr Phil talks about changing how you think of yourself, getting the unhealthy food out of the house, intentional exercise, and healthy eating. It feels great to be at goal but its always an effort to stay there. God bless you.Mima

Let's here your testimony. Where God has brought you from and how? I'm sure it would encourage the readers, especially me. :)

Hey guys-thanks-I am going away for the weekend but I will post on Tues and l will let you know who I am. Iam 65-married-4 kids -one is his--got married to a wonderful Christian man 2 years ago-2 grandchildren. Mima ps-I just wrote out my testimony after reading th e Purpose Driven Life

HI! everyone just wanted to post and tell everyone HI! I am a 56 christain woman and like you need to loose some weight and need to get motivated hopefully by you friends so with your help hopefully I will have a great weekend and Happy mother day Rita

Hello ... I also am a Christian and am really glad to see this board started! I have lost 22 pounds since Thanksgiving by just cutting back on the amount of food that I eat. I don't do diets very well. I still weigh 30 pounds more than I did when I got married but I'm 39 years older, have had 2 children and I was extremely thin then! ;) I'm 5' 9" tall and weigh 166 pounds. If I lose more, fine but if I stay here I'm OK with that, too. I wear a size 14 now which, for my height, is not bad. I wouldn't mind wearing a 12, though. If I lose down to a size smaller than that, I'll start getting wrinkles (which I currently DON'T have ... and DON'T want!!! :p ) As I said, I have 2 children, a boy and a girl, ages 33 and 37, 4 grandchildren, ages 5 to 9, a husband and a golden retriever named Sami. I live in the country about half way between Nashville and Knoxville, TN. I teach piano and I'll be 57 in 2 weeks. I have rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia and am severly anemic. I'll be checking back in to find out more about everybody else.

hey Meme and Rita-you already know too much about me.Ha!!!!Happy Mother's Day everyone. Off to the Big City.Mima

I'm 40. Divorced so long, I'm single. One 18 year old son. I need to lose 100 lbs. I'm an ordained minister. I work full-time in Baltimore City. I attend a Master's Degree program at Johns Hopkins University. I was in the Army for 12 years. I starting gaining weight when the first war broke out (Persian Gulf). My husband left me right in the middle of the war. I started eating then and gaining weight and I hit my high point around 1999-2000.

I am so busy. I've always used that as an excuse for not exercising. But through the power of God, I am gaining the desire to do something about my weight, eating habits, and lack of exercise.

I've decided to place just as much importance on "me" as I place on everything else. Pray for me, and keep in touch.

God Bless,

Ro

:)

Good morning! We had a great time in NY, Here is the condensed version of my testimony. I was brought up Catholic when everything was so strict and I had a very strict, abusive father, This tainted my relationship with God and it was not personal. I stayed in my religion but I was very scrupulous and felt guilty all the time. I ended up being married to an alcoholic which eventually got me to Al-anon. That was the beginning of trust in God and dependence on Him. I did get divorced and married again but my husband died suddenly after 4 and a half years. Sometime after this, we had a Life in the Spirit seminar at church and I was "born again " in the spirit. Before this, I began going to a Christian fellowship group for singles and I met this Baptist. We went out a few times but I thought his thinking was weird. Ha!! Five years later we connected agin and he wasn't so weird after all. We got married 2 years ago and I have a dual citizenship: I attend and am involved somewhat in my own church, and I atten with him also. Last night we went to prayer group with people from his church. We don't agree on everything but I have certainly learned a lot-lots about my own church doctrine and his. He also comes with me sometimes. We have both grown a lot. Read the Purpose Driven Life together and we are recommending it to a lot of people, It sures puts things in perspective. Like it's not about me: I was formed to worship, fellowship, minister, and evangelize. Yes, we all need to take care of orselves, we are human beings, not human doings. We can't minister if we aren't feeling good. Read DR. Phil's book-it's not spiritual but it has the best perspective on weight and weight loss and self-image. Mima

Good morning! We had a great time in NY, Here is the condensed version of my testimony. I was brought up Catholic when everything was so strict and I had a very strict, abusive father, This tainted my relationship with God and it was not personal. I stayed in my religion but I was very scrupulous and felt guilty all the time. I ended up being married to an alcoholic which eventually got me to Al-anon. That was the beginning of trust in God and dependence on Him. I did get divorced and married again but my husband died suddenly after 4 and a half years. Sometime after this, we had a Life in the Spirit seminar at church and I was "born again " in the spirit. Before this, I began going to a Christian fellowship group for singles and I met this Baptist. We went out a few times but I thought his thinking was weird. Ha!! Five years later we connected agin and he wasn't so weird after all. We got married 2 years ago and I have a dual citizenship: I attend and am involved somewhat in my own church, and I atten with him also. Last night we went to prayer group with people from his church. We don't agree on everything but I have certainly learned a lot-lots about my own church doctrine and his. He also comes with me sometimes. We have both grown a lot. Read the Purpose Driven Life together and we are recommending it to a lot of people, It sures puts things in perspective. Like it's not about me: I was formed to worship, fellowship, minister, and evangelize. Yes, we all need to take care of orselves, we are human beings, not human doings. We can't minister if we aren't feeling good. Read DR. Phil's book-it's not spiritual but it has the best perspective on weight and weight loss and self-image. Mima


God has brought you through a lot. You hang in there and thanks for being an encouragement to others. I've had two failed marriages (one at 17 & another during the persain gulf war: we were both active duty, stationed in separate places). The last divorce started my trip down the road from a size 9-10 to a size 22-24. I've been praying that this time God would select the man that is right for me. I believe He will and I'm encouraged.

HI! everyone this is the first I have been on my comuter for over a week and I am so excited lighting had struck it and it cost me a few dollars to get it fixed hubby suprised me and got it fixed so right now I am in cloud nine HI! meme and mima small world isnt it LOL mimaread your testoimney two religions in a family can work like you brought up Catholicstill practice some of my beliefsbut like you go to church with hubbywho is non demonital so it is different and I have learned a lot been to alnon hubby is in aa with 26 years sobtiety so been there where you were hope that you find happiness with new hubby!!!!and keep learning about hubby beliefs and put them all together to help you become a better Christian as tht is what I am trying to do everyone else have a great weekend and HI! Rita

I have definitely learned a lot since I have been with Brad-some things I agree with and some things I don't. Some of the basic beliefs are the same-My spirituality blossomed in the 12 step program. My alcoholic husband was extremey abusive to us and wouldn't hear of recovery til the day he died at the age of 61-very sad, I am so happy for you that your husband found sobriety, Mima

thank you Mima hasnt always been easy but I am grateful that things are the way they are today!!!!!!!!I dont always agree to the beliefs of hubby religion also but I am learning to try and see both sides before I pass my judgement in other words keep my big mouth shut until I know what I am talking aboutLOL have a great Sundat everyone!!!!!!!!! Rita

Brad and I have agreed to disagree. Yesterday , his pastor preached on sanctification after being justified, last night we watched another Christian program and he preached on service after being saved, my meditation book-Catholic-said the same thing this morning. When Brad gets up , I will read it to him. I think we are suppossed to understand that lesson. Mima

Mima I think there will be many things that you will learn to agree with it just takes time to learnthat to me they are all saying the same thingbut in different ways!!!!!!!! at least you and hubby have something to talk about LOL hubby has finally learnedto let me do my praying my way and even chuckles now when I pray to ST Anthony when I loose something and I in returngive a big smile in return when I find something he looseswhen I prayed that I would find it so have a great monday!!!! Rita

I pray when I lose things also-actually to God, although I have prayed to St Anthony--only thing I didn't find was my diamond cross-probably was too showy anyways but it was my engagement gift. I have another one that is modest. Going to work for 3 days. Be good everyone Mima

HI! everyone hope you all are having a great day and Mima too bad you didnt find that necklace hope full that it will turn up some time when you least expect well done with my coffee to get me motivated also to go to work so have a great day Rita

My dad was a weekend drinker and abusive ... took it out on me. Guess I was the only one around who couldn't defend myself. He drove a truck so wasn't home during the week. Would come home on Fri. night and start drinking ... wound up using the wrong end of the belt on me most weekends - before Sunday rolled around - up until I turned 16. He beat me under the bed with his belt one night ... I crawled out the foot and caught him off guard. He was still bent over looking for me. I slapped him really hard across the face and then told him to give me some money because I was going to the restaurant around the corner and get something to eat (hadn't eaten all day). He actually sobered up enough to give me some money and I left. He came after me in about an hour and I figured I was in for it because I had really let him have it before I left. I told him if he ever touched me again I'd kill him and then call the police later. He didn't say a word all the way back home and we never spoke about the beatings in our family again ... he never touched me again after that either. My whole family was in denial that I had been abused for all those years. I can't remember when it started but it ended that night. My parents later on in life got saved and everything but their abusive behavior toward me was never ever mentioned until the day both my parents died. I tried to bring it up once to my mother but she just told me I was crazy ... I knew she was in denial so I just dropped it. How could a mother let something like that go on ... I'm a mother and I can't imagine letting ANYONE do that to one of my children! But then, my mother abused me in her own way ... her abuse was more mental! She used to ridicule me and put me down every chance she got. She loved to tell me I wasn't good enough & couldn't succeed. But ... alas ... it backfired on her. She only made me an overachiever!!! Every time she would say 'you can't', I would determine in my heart that 'I would or die trying'!!! :lol: (That's probably why I'm so sick today!) I must say that I owe my great faith in God to both of my parents, though. I didn't really have them to turn to when I was growing up so I HAD to turn to God ... I had only HIM to depend on. So some good did come of being abused as a child! :p

My dad died 11 years before my mother so I moved her in right next door to me and took care of her just like I had good sense. Even though she continued to try and manipulate me, control my life, make me miserable, ridicule me, put me down and the list goes on, I did everything in my power to make her comfortable and see that she was taken care of through two strokes and her last days on earth.

Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

God will never put on us more than we can bear and He always gives us exactly what we need at the time! I don't understand that sometimes but I know it is true! ;)

http://www.memeart.com/Family.html

Good morning everyone Meme just read your post you have really been thru a lotI really am thankful that all the time that you went thru this God was watching over you especially with you taking care of your mom during her final days it sounds like you are a special person !!!!!! and now realize that it was a wrong situationand thank God you are not like that !!!!!!! well my dad was a alocholic also and he was mental abuseI think that is why I never drank because I didnt want to be like him but I married a alochoiic who today is a recovering one but thru it all I couldnt have done it with out Gods helpand today I am one grateful person!!!!!!!! hope you have a great day and thanks for sharing your story Rita

Oh Meme-you have been through the same thing that I have, My father's beatings didn't stop til I had to come home from high school because I couldn't stop crying-I should have done that a lot sooner-my mother mentally abused me more when I was an adult. My fathjer died when I was 21. My mother drank when my brother went into the service, After Al-anon I went to adult children of alcoholics-what an eye-opener that was. I think we have to be aware of the fact that we continue to abuse ourselves after our parents stop abusing us. I know I was taken care of through all that-I had wonderful grandparents and now I still have a wonderful aunt-my father's sister-who is so sweet. Actually, everyone on that side of the family married someone who had alcoholism in their family although no one drank. Except my father but he would just get mellow. It was when he wasn't drinking that he would beat me and abuse my brother. I guess God will reveal it all in Heaven. My mother was saved before she died. My father was a practicing Catholic and he mellowed before he died. I was resentful to my mother because she didn't protect me but she was also abused. I am so grateful that part of my life is over-it's a setup for marrying abusive men. Meme-you are fortunate. And I hope you are having a wonderful time at the Gaither's. Mima

Good morning everyone hope that you all have a great saturday well hopefully ohio will not have any more storms today and it dries up some read your post mimasounds like you and meme have the exact story my father was abusive also more verbal but very strivt I think that is why I married so young just to get away the sad thing was he didnt believe in God so he died not believeing and a drunk!!!!!!! but I forgave him a long time ago and learned thru AA that he had a disease isnt it wonderful to know that we are not the only ones going thru this when we we were growing up and we areble to share this with someone else letting them know that we were there also well girls have a blessed weekend as I have to work ugh!!!!!! Rita

Thursday was my BD ... went to a concert ... Gold City quartet and they SANG HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME. My friend's 11 yr. old daughter sneaked off and found one of the guys that sing with them and asked them to sing me a song but they waited until they sang their last song and then said it was my BD and actually sang Happy Birthday to me ... in perfect 4 part harmony!!!

Thank's Mima but the Gaither's weekend isn't until next week - from Fri. to Sun. and Zig Zigler is speaking on Sunday. Friends took me to a fancy restaurant for dinner last night for my BD ... I had a conference this morning from 9:30 to 12 ... they served lunch, then ran home and did some house work and laundry, and then a spaghetti dinner tonight at church ... I'm really tired! Gonna go take something to help me sleep and go to bed! Hope everyone has a good Sunday! My grandson is being baptized tomorrow so I KNOW I will!!! ;)

Well, have a great weekend next week-Meme-grandson baptized-great!!! I just read that one of the reasons for IBS may be that you were abused as a child and have panic disorder-that's me and I sure do have IBS . Anyhow-have joy in working Rita-where is everyoner else on this site-did we scare them off? Mima

HI! everyone just wanted to pop in and say HI! where is everyone? well have a blessed week!!!!!!meme,and mimaboth of you also Rita

Well, I went to the Rheumatologist Monday and he gave me a prescription for a new gold shot that is out. I'm going to have to do a lot of research on it before I get it filled. It's $65 a shot and you take one shot a month. I took solgonal for about 8 years and they discontinued it. I don't want to go through the withdrawal again if they do that with this!!!

He put a cortisone shot in my ankle and gave me a medrol dose-pak as a quick-fix for the 'rest of me'! So maybe I'll be feeling fairly decent by my Gatlinburg weekend Friday. Hope everyone has a good Memorial weekend.

Same to you-Mima witnessing is getting easier

HI! everyone hopeing that you all are having a blessed day!!!!!!Meme hopeing that whatever you decide that it helps you I dont blame you for getting information on it as that is expensive !!!!!!!! Rita

Thanks, Rita. I've put it all on hold until after the weekend. I need a break! The singing was awesome tonight. They were all really good but I think Jeff and Sheri Easter were probably the best - and Jeff's dad and uncle sang a couple, too, anyone old enough to remember the Easter Brothers from way back? (bluegrass) The Booth Brothers, The Florida Boys, Joy Gardner, The Hoppers, Isaacs, Amy Lambert, Signature Sound, Ben Speer, Lynda Randle, David Phelps Jessy Dixon, and of course the Gaithers just to name a few (there were more). And there were a couple of comedians as well. Zig Ziglar is speaking tomorrow morning at 10. Have to go get some beauty sleep ... I'll need it tomorrow. (gonna shop) :D Have a good long weekend!

All I can say is Wow!!!!!!Mima

HI! just waned to pop in and say HI! hope everyone had a great weekend and enjoyed what ever they did Meme sound like you sure did!!!!!!!!! just glad that you got out and enjoyed it my weekend was work and nasty weather didnt see much sun hopeing everyone else had a good one Rita

HI! everyone just wanted to say HI! and hopeing that everyone is having a great week and a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rita

Hi Rita-are we alone here? Everyone have a great Lord;s Day. Mima

HI! Everyone and Mima hopeing that everyone will come back you have a blessed day!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rita

HI! everyone well I see that everyone has left so anyone who reads this have a blessed day as we are having rain ,rain, in ohio the past 2 days just hope it doesnt continue so hopeing that the weather is better for everyone else !!!! Rita

I think everyone has forsaken this thread!

HI! everyone HI! Meme everyone is busy doing there thing so hopefully they will come backso have a great sunday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rita

Good morning!!!Heard a message last night-everything we own belongs to God!Mima

Good morning everyone and Mima what a message makes you think !!!!!!!!and how true that is have a great Monday Rita

Hi Rita-more answered prayers-stepson broke up with his girlfriend who has 3 kids. How are you doing-come back to the other post!!!Please. Mima

I will be gone this weekend. Leaving Sat. morning for NC and won't be back 'till Monday. It's decoration where my brother is buried - I'd appreciate your prayers for a safe trip. I think we may as well close this thread down and just use the Fibro thread. Looks like there isn't anyone here but the three of us. Too bad ... This could have been a good thing. :?:

HI! Mima and Meme hope you both are having a blessed day Mima glad your prayers have been answered the way you wanted them to be and Meme praying you will have a safe trip will see you two in the other posts so take care and God Bless maybe in the fall Meme you can try again as it really could of been a wonderful thing!!!! Rita