Let me share a few of my thoughts.......Hope this will be an encouragement to some one who is really struggling right now.

I have been doing oxycise for about 3 months.....and have had good success with the program. What a Godsend. You can see my results below. I continue to do my O ! faithfully...as well as cutting down on my eating. I eat a low carb diet with lots of healthy veggies...!!! However, I want to share something that has given me the best success....even before starting O ! It has been my relationship with God.

Let me explain.....

I have been through this overeating / overweight...FOOD struggle.... and STILL struggle from time to time...it never ends because overeating is a "weakness", a "flaw" in our armor and one where Satan knows he can attack us...and win most often. I am sure you can relate to this....Satan's plan is to make us feel like a failure...!!! If he can cause us to be over weight...he can cause us to feel defeated...in all areas of our life and that leads to overall depression...etc. etc. etc....NEED I SAY MORE...???

In my life....I have experienced this again and again...it is a cycle...!!! However, this past year through a series of "God incidences" I have come to realize what is really going on.....

To be honest....We rely on our own means to try to get victory over the FOOD...instead of looking to our Lord Jesus Christ for strength.

I beleive that our struggles with food are only part of God loving plan.....allowing us to "do our own thing"....because that is what we have chosen. God wants us to come to him becuase we choose him....he will not make anyone come to Him.

Now...The food itself is not bad...although we try to make it the enemy. No, it is Satan's tool. It is us and our choices that are wrong ...it is the choice of putting the food into our mouth all the time that is wrong. God provided food for us to enjoy...to sustain us physically, but like anything ...if we abuse it is can kill us and destroy of relationship with Him...!!! If we put the "food god" before Him.

We choose to eat for comfort...instead of to sustain life. Actually, we use the FOOD to fill our stomach instead of seeking God and His Word (the Bible) and filling ourselves with HIM.

We all have a void within ourselves....all of us try to fill that up with something, anything....!!! That is where the problem is...we are looking in ALL the wrong places.

Food is not the answer...work is not the answer, diet drugs are not the anser....all of those things and more leave us temporarly filled, but soon we are empty again and need to be filled. At that point we can choose God or Food....

I have found that the only answer is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ...filling that void with Him...seeking his feeding through God's Word daily.

The key is Jesus and a personal walk with him.....after that daily dependence on Him...

Food can never replace Jesus.

Now I don't mean to act like things will be easy...the struggle never ends, but with the Lord...all things are possible...!!! Our relationship is what God wants. We have turned our backs on Him and he wants us back. God sent his only son, Jesus to die for our sins, so that we might restore our relationship with Him.

Sometimes....God has to bring us to the end oof ourselves...before we will look to Him. In my life, he used the food (being overweight) to do this. I tried everything to lose weight, but until I gave things over to Him...and became totally dependent on Him....nothing would work for me.

You see....I beleive that many of us have made the FOOD our God. We worship the food...it calls to us and we run to it....!!!! Once we have realized that this is what we are doing...then finally turn to Jesus...He helps us put things into perspective. We NEED to run to God...not the food.

Since that time....God has done a work in my heart and life...not just with the food, but in all areas...!!! Our heart must change...first....then our body. Not the other way around.

Hope these words will help someone here. Seek Jesus first.....cry out to Him and He will answer...!!!

After that.....Keep doing you o ! Eat only what you need....when you are truely hungry.

Have a great day....let go and let God...!!! Praying for you all.

"The Lord Is my light and my salvation...Whom shall I fear..???" Psalm 27:1

START: 9/4/03 WT: 175/166/150

Hi Oxygal,
I enjoyed reading your post. It reminds me of that scripture in Philipians 3:19 "...their god is their belly..." Food can be a god. And it's always been interesting to me how many Christians overlook the fact that gluttony is a sin, when it's very plainly stated in the Bible. It's not easy, but it's definitely something to keep in mind!

Rejoice in the hope. Endure under tribulation. Persevere in prayer...Romans 12:12

Hi! I've been doing Oxycise for a year now and Weight Watchers for 14 months. I have lost 75 lbs. so far and gone from a size 24-26 to a 14-16. Don't have to buy plus-sizes anymore. Patience is a key and knowing this is a life-time committment. But I started this journey after a Christian friend told me that Satan was keeping this extra weight around. She knew that extra weight was going to shorten my life, my health, and my vitality. I still have more weight to lose. But I have increased my health and my energy and I am functioning with joy and vitality. What a witness for God! Good luck to all of you in this journey of health and wholeness.

What wonderful results!!! Thanks for sharing with us.... it's given me food for thought!

Comgratulations! Your doing GREAT! Keep up the good work.

Ellen

I enjoyed your message. I too believe that we have to let go and let God, but first I have to do my part then God will help me.

I have a prayer journal and this is one that is in my journal for me to loose the weight I need to loose. It's always a blessing to see the answers in my prayer journal. Sometimes it's "yes,no or wait" the last one is the hardest.

I haven't had much problem with wanting to overeat it's just that I need more energy and need to loose the weight. I am beginning to see the results bit by bit. Yes, I can do ALL Things through Christ which strengths me. This is my favorite text.

God bless,

Joyce

Joyce,
I was just yesterday looking back through my prayer journals to an entry I made several years ago. I had already discovered Oxycise! and had some success. However, as usual I had sabotaged my results with my "out of control" eating habits. I still needed His help in adopting a healthy diet. He was always there for me. I finally did my part and I've had wonderful results!

Ah....how I enjoyed reading your post......I have done O! for several years......I have been leading a class....It is ThinWithin....and what you posted OxyGal is exactly what ThinWithin is all about....thank you for sharing what the Lord has laid on your heart.

Janie

I love all of your comments.

Gives new meaning to Christ as the "Bread of Life". (Are we trying to feed spiritual hunger with the wrong kind of food?)

:-) Julie

Hi.

I like all these comments, too. Very encouraging.

We often wish we could see what lies around the corner in life. Then we could prepare for it, control it, or avoid it. Though we can't see around corners, God can. That's reassuring. We can live by faith one day at a time (Matthew 6:33-34).... and also know that in His purpose, he puts us at certain places in certain times....but after we have been through tough times... so that we can help others. To me it's like a been there done that type of deal - if you don't experience the pain (in this case yo-yo dieting and falling off the wagon a couple of times in life, then what can you compare it with?

Whew!

Hi, I am a brand new member and it was really encouraging to me to read this post. I think I have found the program that other Christians are using and encouraged by it. As I learn to Breathe for my physical health I also need to remember to breathe for my spiritual health.

God bless, Claire

I feel the same way! It's great to have support with those of like faith. God is good--all the time!

Janie, Yes, I belong to Thin Within in central PA. Their website lists different areas where classes are held if anyone is interested. In fact, if there is no group in your area, you can start your own.