Today is Inspire!  DAY 1!!!  What began as something to do before my 33^rd birthday became something that has challenged me and has spoken into the lives of so many people.  I know that this blog is about my weight loss but this has become so much more than that!  I have heard stories and have talked to people about issues that pertain to weight in a way that I have never done before.  Inspire! has really been pivotal in introducing me to people and hearing their stories.  I am grateful God uses this blog in the lives and journeys of many I have met and many more I only hope to meet. 

Today I would like to give you a bit of an update on me!  I have not talked much about my weight for fear of failure.  You know, this journey has been TOUGH.  I have done well at some points and in others I wanted to crawl in a hole and yell.  Honestly, those yelling moments were around the time I was doing weekly weigh-ins.  I have no idea why I thought that would be a good idea.  All those weigh-ins did was leave me so stressed and fixated on a number or lack thereof that I lost track of why this journey is important to me.  When I didn’t see the number I wanted or expected I would beat myself up mentally and so I decided to stop the weigh-ins and the craziness.  I became VERY discouraged and at the end of this past December I found myself back at the weight I was when I started WSWE; that left me very self-conscious and I always thought people were looking at me questioning why I wasn’t thinner especially since this is so public.

At the end of December I did some research, went to a Doctor and was approved to begin a high protein, no carbs or sugar diet.  I took time out to make this new lifestyle of eating exactly that, a lifestyle!  I did groceries, studied, read, looked for recipes, and prayed that God would help me start fresh in 2014.  And Praise the LORD HE has sustained me….Since January 1^st of this year I have lost 23 lbs but since my heaviest before beginning WSWE I have lost 32 lbs and I feel AMAZING!  I finally feel like I am gaining strength not just physically but emotionally as well.  I am thinking clearer and feel like I am in control of what I consume as well as opposed to allowing food and thoughts to consume me.  My thoughts aren’t driven by how fat I am (although I do have some tough days, I’m not out in the clear) but I am in such a better place than I was.  My clothes fit better and GUESS WHAT???  I have to go to my tailor to get some clothes taken in (I’ll see you soon Judy!).  I have also accomplished a goal from my first blog post where I mentioned wanting my engagement ring and wedding band to fit together my ring finger again.  For some time I was wearing only my engagement ring and then I was wearing a substitute ring because both rings weren’t fitting.  TODAY I HAVE THEM BOTH ON!  Small things make a HUGE difference. 

As I said earlier, I am not out in the clear.  I still have a long way to go but by golly for the first time in a looong time I see a light at the end of the tunnel and I can also breathe, almost without an inhaler (killin myself over here!).  I am very grateful to God for helping me and opening my eyes to what needed to be done as opposed to wishing something could be done. 

My next BIG goal is to get across the finish line at the Mudderella here in Chicago.  Let me know if you are interested in being on the WSWE team.  It’s insane, I’m scared as all get out but it looks like we are about to have the time of our lives! 

Lastly, with this being the last day of Inspire! I would like to thank all of you who took time out of your busy schedules to write and share your journey to a healthier you.   We had some seriously amazing stories and people join us on What Size Was Eve in the last month.  The stories you have shared have inspired me to continue my journey, when I am discouraged I just open this blog and go back to the beginning and read my way through.  Your courage to share what you have is not easy…I KNOW!  But thank you for choosing What Size Was Eve as a platform.  I am humbled by your testimonies and faith in being who God has called you to be! 

And thank YOU for coming back and reading!  This has been a great year so far.  I can’t wait to see what I look like throughout my 33^rd year of life… I know one thing is for sure…It’ll be healthy!  I hope you will join me for the ride.  I would love to hear from you…leave a comment! See you soon. 

Be encouraged today…We can do this…The best is yet to come!

Madelynn

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32