![abcdz2000 has added a photo to the pool:"Before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me" Luke 22:34Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray him and the calamity awaited the traitor (Luk 22:22). Jesus then told Peter that he would deny that he knew Jesus. Later, however, Peter would repent and receive a commission to feed Jesus' lambs (Joh 21:15). Betraying and denying - one is just about as bad as the other. But Judas and Peter had entirely different fates because one repented. [LASB]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2781/4443413327_6cf2005434_s.jpg "abcdz2000 has added a photo to the pool:\"Before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me\" Luke 22:34Jesus told the disciples that one of them would betray him and the calamity awaited the traitor (Luk 22:22). Jesus then told Peter that he would deny that he knew Jesus. Later, however, Peter would repent and receive a commission to feed Jesus' lambs (Joh 21:15). Betraying and denying - one is just about as bad as the other. But Judas and Peter had entirely different fates because one repented. [LASB]")
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The Mind Diet
The experience was humiliating – to say the least. I sunk down in the chair – deflated; discouraged; depressed. It was my annual performance review with my supervisor and his feedback was far from flattering. In my position at the firm, I was frequently in the public eye. I represented the company at numerous business and social functions, events and meetings and maintaining a ‘professional’ image was essential. Due to the pressures in my personal and work-life, I had let myself go and in the process had gained a lot of weight on top of the additional weight I was already carrying. It had become obvious and so I wasn’t surprised when my supervisor alluded to it in my review, respectfully saying that I needed to improve my ‘professional’ image. The truth is, in my weight gain I had become sloppy in how I presented myself, a reflection of how I was truly feeling on the inside.
I had tried so many times in the past to successfully lose weight. I tried numerous diets and exercise regimens and while I achieved success, it was always short-lived. Now 100+ pounds overweight, I had become disillusioned. I was at an impasse but I wanted to change – I needed to change. As a woman with strong faith, I unburdened myself to the Lord, something I had not done in the past regarding this matter.
It was in prayer that the Lord revealed to me, that my undisciplined mindset regarding my health had led me to this juncture. I made a decision to let go and let God fully control my life, asking Him to renew and reprogram my mindset toward food, fitness and my general wellbeing.
Romans 12:2: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
I prayed for a Godly perspective regarding my health and I received it! I changed my “live to eat” to an “eat to live” mentality, integrated discipline in my eating habits and became physically active. It wasn’t just a diet; it had become a lifestyle due to a changed mindset that bore permanent results. I found myself enjoying a new lifestyle and reaping the benefits of new attitudes that were sown in my transformed mind.
Two and a half years later and 56 pounds lighter, I have gained a whole new lease on life thanks to the mind diet that resulted in positive physical and emotional changes for me. To coin a phrase from Joyce Meyer (www.joycemeyer.org) “I’m not where I need to be, but thank God I’m not where I used to be”
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Author: Kaleb I am a divorced, single working mother with a love for music and writing. To browse my writings is to peek through the window to my soul and to the heart of what really matters in my life. I am candid, honest and open especially for the edification and encouragement of others, follow me on Twitter.11 Responses
I admire the fact that you were fully aware of where you were and that you sought the guidance of the Lord. It’s all about the mindset and how willing we are to make a change. Thank God he’s always here to guide.
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Awesome and very transparent reflection. It is great that you depended on the ultimate resource to bring you through your battle with weight, I think sometimes people tend to see and react to the outside appearance and say things that really hurt, and really do not know what is going on mentally or spiritually with the person. It is very interesting that you turned to God for a such a common physical need. what would you say was your biggest obstacle in loosing the pounds?
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Kaleb Reply:
December 3rd, 2009 at 11:11 am
i like being active so being active was not a challenge – finding the time to dedicate to being active – as a working mom – that was the biggest challenge. One of the biggest obstacles was food – I love carbs – having to minimize my carb and sugar intake which is really critical in losing weight, was difficult for me. I had to pray for God to renew my mind on how I viewed eating healthy – eating more vegetables, more fruits and limiting foods that were not good for me.
I really had to change my mindset on how I viewed healthy eating – I was just one that always opted for the foods that were not the best for me but just tasted really good – and to make it worse I also tended to overeat them. Eating out was also a challenge and learning to be disciplined by choosing to order healthy – I still have major challenges there because I still tend to view eating out as a treat and so I want to eat what i want to eat – I’m making progress there though 
I learned to be disciplined in my daily diet – eating in moderation, eating healthier, even taking vitamins – it was a total health overhaul
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loswl Reply:
December 3rd, 2009 at 2:55 pm
So, I see you took the Bible literally when it said…
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.Romans 12:2
I think it is so cool that you used Biblical spiritual principles and applied them to your Physical need, congrats and keep up the good fight.
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This was well written, i am so proud of you and everything that you have achieved. Reading this brings back memories cause i know what you went through and what you had to deal with…i am glad you got through it with God’s help. You are the wind beneath my wings, Love you 
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Jesus said, Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed – Matthew 8:13
A simple fact that i’ve learned: Positive minds produce positive lives, but negative minds produce negative lives.
You never give up in your goal and you kept your mind, attitude and spirit in the right positive direction. You are and will always be an inspiration to me, i look up to you and i know what you went through during that time and to see that you came out of this even more stronger, puts a huge smile on my face. I am glad that you felt the need to share this with people, they can learn from this and know that anything is possible with the help from God. Love you
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Thanks for the post. I get tired of this particular life-long battle, and appreciate the encouragement.
And fitting in the time to exercise can challenge one. I missed my window to swim while trying for the umpteenth time to find a way to answer a bit of a flaming post on my site. Maybe I’ll finally figure a way to cram everything into a day :/
Peace,
Pat Kashtock
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Kaleb Reply:
December 7th, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Pat, I hear you – as a single working Mom, I really do have a hard time scheduling exercise…but it’s one of those activities we also need to give priority to and not let anything interfere with it. Hang in there!
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Wow, what a great post. This is an area that many believers struggle in. When we do not take care of our “temples” we are putting undue stress on our physical bodies and the spirit man often struggles in the tug of war with “living to eat”. Someone once told me that a believer with an unhealthy lifestyle is at risk of nullifying their testimony. That believer might be an ineffective witness simply because their audience might think that the God they say can do anything can’t seem to help them lose weight. I never thought about this area quite the same after that. Although, I’m not considered overweight, I was definitely out of shape. Remembering that faith without works is dead, I decided to no longer make excuses for my sedentary lifestyle. I started working out and I now have more energy that I can use for kingdom building. Be blessed!
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Kaleb Reply:
January 17th, 2010 at 7:35 pm
Thanks so much for sharing Latoia – I agree, it’s about attaining a healthy lifestyle so that you can do God’s work – Since I’ve been working out I have grown in my stength and endurance. AMEN
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Kaleb Reply:
December 3rd, 2009 at 10:58 am
Thanks – It’s very common for us to seek God on the big things and
think we can handle the little day to day things like our weight etc.
Giving God full control of everything was a big step for me – but one
that I am glad I made.
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