So Far....My Nutrition Experiment

What I'm Up To

I am logging what affects certain foods have been having on my body.  At a whopping 390.6lbs on 12/24/16 It was high time.  (I'm down 7.6.bs in 6 days so far.)  So far, I can state with a certainty that fast food is not my friend.  It is so darned convenient and it is set up to make you fail.  Who can resist pulling up to a drive-thru when you've got no time to cook?  I've learned my lesson.  I do, however, appreciate the salads at a particular joint that I still frequent.

What I've Learned So Far

"Bread! I really like you but I'll have to put you on the backburner for how long, I do not know."  I ate dinner rolls this week and then weighed myself the very next day.  I gained 2lbs!  You know what?  It wasn't worth it at this point especially since I'm not working out as much as I used to back in 2012-2013 when I dropped 65lbs on my own by simply counting calories and working out minimum 3x a week.  I'm still focusing on the nutrition part of changing my body first.

I have been drinking water every day.  How much?  I'm not quite sure.  I have not been counting them.  I have been told to drink half your body weight in ounces.  So, for example, it someone weighs 150lbs, they are supposed to drink 75 ounces of water every day.  For me, it looks like I'm supposed to drink 191.5 oz of water daily.  I'll need to tally how many I've been drinking and then kick it up a notch.  I better get to drinking!

My Why

My Why or My reason: I am on the journey to drop my body weight to a manageable level, perhaps my ideal weight for someone 5'8" or as close to that as I can get without my body trying to rebel against it.  So that would mean a significant amount of weight for me, about

My prayer : "Lord, give me the grace to steward this body you've given me.  Let it be a pleasing sacrifice to you.  You have grace for me every day.  Help me to tap into it in its fullness:   the grace needed to be bountiful with kindness, humility and blessing.  I don't want to walk around hangry. 👷 I'm under construction.  That is so unattractive.  Help me to enjoy the process and to produce fruit that will remain.  May I be pleasing to you in every way possible.  And when I fail, please help me to know that you love me at ALL TIMES, through the good times and the bad, when I am on top of the mountain AND when I'm in the valley. B'shem Yeshua Ha Moshiach.  Amein!

Well, that's all folks.  I'll be checking in perhaps once a week to post my progress.  I took some before photos but those are private so I'll need to take some I can post publicly some time this week.  Thanks for reading.  God bless you and keep shining!

One Day at A Time

This morning is Christmas Day 2016 and I weighed in this morning at 387.6 which looks like +1 and I will have to attribute that to the bread I ate yesterday.  One or two slices would  not have had an affect but I think I may have to cut it out altogether.

I've not been going all the way to the end of my fitness videos so I will just have to keep at it until I can.  I really wish I could go swimming at this point.  I miss swimming a lot.  I didn't even like it at first.  I didn't know how to swim and was afraid of the water for a long time.

Two reasons why I was afraid of the water.  I was about twelve or so when our church and family went to a water park.  We were having a blast and then it was time to go to the beach.  I was in the ocean going up and down, trying to wade in the water and be safe at the same time.  I had gone down underwater when I felt some arms and legs wrap themselves around me.  I came up from under the water looking straight at the very hairy, olive-skinned man with black hair who was the human octopus who had latched onto me.  Immediately following, I left the water.

The other reason I'd been afraid of the ocean was family folklore.  I had heard of an uncle, my mother's brother, who had left Haiti to escape to America and was lost at sea.  Some relatives begged him to leave his daughter just in case his journey was not successful.  He never made it to the US.

I'm happy to report that I have overcome my fear of the water and I did learn to at least tread water and how to float.  Last summer I spent lots of quality time alone in the pool where I lived and just enjoyed gazing at the stars and swimming and singing for hours.  

Good Morning Me

This morning, I was 386.6lbs.  I must admit yesterday, I did have a shakeology shake twice and the second one was later in the night  when I couldn't sleep.  I did eat sensibly and did not really feel hunger pangs.  My morning workout was not very well long.  I gave out halfway through.  Having said all that, I managed to drop four pounds.

My prayer is that my day is productive and helpful to someone other than me.  My cat or kitten, I should say is trying to my patience.  She is constantly under foot and I am tempted almost daily to give her up.  It's been two weeks.  I find myself having to lock her in another room at night to avoid her scratching me as she tries to play with me during bedtime.  I'm trying to play with her every day but the time I am spending with her playing doesn't seem to be enough.

As you can see, everything I do is affected by the presence of this kitten.  I am going to continue on and see if I can keep after two more weeks.  I am told she will grow out of this stage.  (I can't come out of my bedroom to weigh myself without her thinking it's time to play and getting underfoot.)

Here's to a great day of balance, peace and tranquility.  It's Saturday and it's time now to start my workout this morning.  I'll have to put the kitten in her cat jail.  (Right now, she's swatting away at my locks.)  Ugh!  The photowas taken last week.  Pray for me, y'all.

Day One of the Rest of My Life

It's Friday morning, December 23, 2016 and I am 390.6lbs.  No lamentations.  No bemoanings.  No self-loathing or excuses.  I've been here before (not this weight) and this is a lifetime journey.  No more taking breaks from being diligent with regard to my nutrition.

When I say "diet" or some such phrase, it creates an atmosphere for potential failure.  There is no wagon to fall of this time.  I'm taking this thing one day at a time and I am committing afresh to my health and wellness.  I include my weight to give a complete picture on how I got here.

I was told by someone I admired and respected back in 2012-2013 when I was weighing myself every day that I need not do that.  I did very well on my own.  I had dropped 65lbs from midJune to March of the following year.  I knew better but I allowed that to affect me.  I stopped weighing myself like she said and here I am .  Back then, I was in the mid or low 300s.

I began going to a boxing gym in 2014 and immediately there was a patron who began "hating" on me and making things uncomfortable for me.  The atmosphere which began in a very positive way turned into a horrible experience that I had to withdraw from for my own sanity.  There will always be obstacles thrown in my way.  I have come to grips with that and I am no longer thrown or surprised or even disappointed by them.  I have come to expect them and I am ready.  This journey for me is not simply about nutrition of my body but my spiritual nutrition and intake and I have been through a lot of hardships and trials this past year or so.  My marriage was in peril.  There were days and days of gossip and slander behind my back and I came out on the other side of it.  With the help of the Holy Spirit, I was kept.

This flesh cloak, this shield I have used to protect myself from sexual abuse or the prying eyes of men full of lust, etc is no longer welcome.  My weight issues are no longer obscured to me and I get it now.  No cute names for it.  Again, no excuses, just a better understanding of myself and how I process hardship.

So here I go.  A new creature.  Empowered.  Strengthened.  Victor.  It's a new season in my life.  I will not, as I did just some years ago seek approval from my father, no matter how tempting it might be.  Regardless of who is with me, I will press on.  There will be difficult days and I know this ahead of time.  It's okay.  I'm not perfect and I don't have to be perfect.  I simply have to keep on the journey and allow myself to be surrounded with a support system.

I know it's about mind first.  Because after this, the body will follow.  So thank you, Lord for keeping me.  Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to turn things around and give you glory in my body.  Thank you for cheering me on.  Thank you for using my past to fuel  my bright future.  I bless the name of God in all things.  Jesus loves me at 400lbs.  Jesus loves me at 190lbs.  Jesus died for me at all stages of my life and He has promised me that He would NEVER LEAVE ME or forsake me and for that I am forever grateful.  I am like the woman at the well who had several failed relationships and diets in my past and has restored me.

Here I go.  I am drinking the living water.  God bless you.

Carrie Taylor Fitness Blog

This blog is to document my fitness journey.  For those that know me, they know that it's been a lifelong struggle and complicated at times.  There have been bumps and detours in my life with regard to my health and I'll be the first to tell you that your mental state, your personal relationships, your family, it is all connected.

I am a born again believer in the Jewish Messiah Yeshua Jesus.  There are some stories and challenges along the way and revelations and it all comes together to make a beautiful tapestry that is my life.

So put on your dancing shoes, folks.  Bring a tissue in your bag and let's get this thing going.  I love you all.  I have a page on facebook by the same name, Carrie Taylor Fitness if you want to connect with me there.  My YouTube page will be announced as well.  God bless.