(Photo credit goes to my sweet friend, Katie Gullett who caught me laughing in our fun photo shoot.)
I’ve had many of my Trim Healthy Mama buddies, family and friends ask me about my health and how I’m doing on the plan. Good news: I’m doing well on THM and stick to the plan. No, I’m not perfect, but I rarely cheat or eat any type of sugar, junk, etc. I feel better eating this way and plan to stick with it, because I know it’s good for me.
In 2013 I had many successes including:
~Losing 70 pounds
~Going off my BP medication
~Going from a size 24/26 to a size 18
~No more heartburn
~No more swollen feet and hands
~Normal BP cuff instead of the XL size
~I can fit in the tub with room to spare!
~I hit my wedding weight from 15 years ago and fit into my dress!
~My wedding ring now can come on and off.
~I can keep up with my family much better!
2014 hit and I had goals set! I was pushing to hit my goal weight by my birthday in March of 2015. I had 80 pounds or so to go and a year and three months to do it! I wanted to be at goal by the time I turned the BIG 4-0. God had other plans. The lessons I’ve learned this year, far outweigh the pounds I ever could have lost.
Shocking to some? YES, the lessons I learned this year, far outweigh the pounds I ever could have lost. God has taught me so much about myself through these things that I’ve faced head on. Stalling was what God used to show me something deeper was wrong in my health. My health issues have truly been no fun, but God is using those to teach me about His faithfulness, my deep need for Him, that He is Sovereign and that He love me more than I can imagine. I have so much to be grateful for! I am relying on Him for daily strength. He is keeping me going in the face of being tired, down, infertile and in the face of the unknown.
A little timeline from my Year:
In November of 2013, I had some rough patches emotionally with some things I went through and my adrenals paid the price. Those who have studied adrenal fatigue will know what I’m talking about here. I did lose a few more pounds to hit my 70 pounds goal in mid December, by the skin of my teeth. (two pounds) Months came and went and I hit my 75 pound goal in April. I think I saw 229 for about one day and it was gone. I steadily gained and hit 232 and sat there for a long time. Now, I’m up a few pounds from there.
In January, I started my first set of blood work for the year. First set, yep. I’ve had a few now! I knew something wasn’t right and most likely hadn’t been for some time. I had known some of my hormones were off as I struggled with infertility for years. As I feared, my progesterone and testosterone were very low and my thyroid was low as well. I went to my doctor and tried some different things on and off for 6 months with no improvement. I changed doctors a month or so ago and have been going through testing to figure out what all is going on. I’m still doing some testing, so I can’t give anyone a concrete answer at this time. I went gluten and dairy free this past month to see if it was a food allergy sensitivity that was causing inflammation as well. When I have slipped up I did notice that I broke out when eating gluten. So maybe that is one piece of the puzzle. I am praying that God will give my husband and I wisdom is how to proceed.
James 1:5
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
This journey I’m on is MY journey. Each of our paths are very different and set out by the Lord Himself. I trust Him with my life, even with my THM leg of the marathon. I LOVE Trim Healthy Mama and cannot be more thankful for the Lord bringing it into my life. I love Serene and Pearl and appreciate all their hard work and research. The plan works! Just because you face a stall of any kind, doesn’t reflect how the plan works. My stall is truly because of medical issues. I see many girls stall out and find that their thyroid is low. I know that is just one of the things that I’m dealing with.
I did order my own blood work online at Health One Labs. You can find other labs online to do your testing for a fraction of the price that I’d have paid going through a doctor. I got my tests ordered, they emailed me my order to print off and I took it to a lab they did business with after fasting for 12 hours. 24 hours later, I got my results and took it to my D.O. Being proactive with your own health is key. I have several super, smart friends in this area of health that have been a huge asset!
I was getting ready the other morning the Lord filled my heart with Thanksgiving and Joy. I cried as I dried my hair, so thankful for how far I’ve come. In the past, if I’d gone through this type of year, full of emotional battles, stalls and health issues…I’d had eaten junk and gone back to my old life style. It is ONLY through God’s grace and mercy that I have remained faithful at all! Praise Him for that!
One other thing that has been very helpful are my encouragers. God’s word is my biggest encouragement. God has encouraged my heart time and time again through His sweet Word. Secondly, those who encourage my heart, pray for me and hold me accountable.
Proverbs 16:24
“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”
So, this is just an update. My journey is far from over. It may take me a year or five years to get where I should be, but I WILL get there. This is not a diet, but a lifestyle. This is not a 50 yard dash, but a life-long marathon. I have not been open in sharing this year of struggles with many because the last thing I’d want is for someone to think that Trim Healthy Mama doesn’t work. It does. There are often underlying issues that surface as you walk the path of getting healthy and trim. Face those obstacles, jump those hurdles and keep your eyes on the prize. After all, becoming a Trim Healthy Mama is about a lot more than being fit and trim. The “Healthy” part is the most important and I want my spiritual health and my physical health to be in order.
Sola Deo Gloria!
Jennifer- also known as the Admin of Fun
Come join me on Facebook where I share THM recipes, encouragement and glimpses into my daily life on the farm! A Home With Purpose- Jen Griffin
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34 Responses to “Finding Joy in a Stall”
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Hiccup in the Journey | A Home with Purpose!
[…] Purpose. You’ve seen posts about: Saying Goodbye to the Scale, Lessons From a Cheat and Finding Joy in a Stalling. With much effort and determination, I hope one day I will able to share those huge victories in […]
About Jennifer
Hello there! I’m Jennifer and Welcome to my website – A Home with Purpose. My passion is sharing Christ’s Love and recipes with my Trim Healthy Mama friends. Learn more about me.
Spot on! Right with you, mama, and praying this time of learning gets ever more joy-filled. 🙂
Thank you Conney!! 🙂
Hugs from Kentucky! I have enjoyed reading your blog this year and your meat roma pie recipe is a staple in our house. The thm lifestyle has changed my life too, the weight loss has only been a part of it. Thank you for sharing your story 🙂
Well, I love hugs, Laura!! Thank you!
Thank you for being so candid and honest in your posts!! So many of us want there to be a quick fix and it is just not realistic for some of us!!! I am in a 5 month stall (some, part of my making!!), but I refuse to give up on THM! I have lost 30 pounds and for now, that is enough!! It is more than I have EVER lost before!!!! I have 80 more to go…. I remind myself that it took me more than 14 years to get this way, it will take time to get the weight off!! God’s grace is truly sufficient. As I get back to the basics in my own THM journey, you have brought up some valid points for me to ponder and possibly some medical checking I need to do!!! Thank you for that!! AND….thanks for being the “fun” Admin!!!! 😉
Bretta,
Sweet words! You can do it!! You know you can. 🙂
Thank you for sharing your heart so authentically. I’m also in a stall and your words were exactly what I needed to hear today. Blessings!
Thank you, Diane! I’m so thankful for that!!
Beautiful testimony. In all of your bloodwork did you test for the mthfr mutation?
No, but I did ask for it to be tested. My mom and brother both have it. I’m assuming I do as well with my symptoms.
Jennifer,
My, what a sweet spirit you have. I’ve always enjoyed reading your posts on FB, and yes, I could always tell you’re a fun Admin, and I’ve borrowed recipes from you before. But I’ve never actually followed your blog, because I lack time. But I’m going to make a better effort. I’m losing slowly, and have stalls for several weeks at a time, and then lose one pound. But, like you, I don’t care! I love THM and what it’s done for me. Praise God! I plan to eat like this until Jesus comes back! Hugs from Illinois!
Thanks Bonnie. 🙂 Hugs back!
I believe God’s word says it best, “I can do all things though Christ who strengthens me”. Phil. 4:13 Blessings for you.
This was such an encouraging post, Jen. While I hope you can soon find the answer to your stall and keep on moving, I’m so happy for you that you have found contentment right now. Blessings<3
PS-I'm sharing this post. 🙂
Thank you, Briana! I appreciate your encouragement!
Great things to think on….
Thanks Kimi!
Thank you for sharing! I too have been doing THM and will be coming up to my 2 yr anniversary in Jan. The first year I lost 80 pounds pretty easy. It started coming off really quick and then after about 6 months slowed down. January of 2014 rolled around and I was so excited to get below 200. I was 210 at the time. I did NOT lose any weight pretty much the whole year BUT I did maintain. Yes, others look at it as a stall but I’m thrilled that I did not gain the weight back. This last year because of a heavy travel schedule I did not stay on plan as much as I did the first year. But I made the best choices I could under the circumstances.
However, in October I had two cortisone shots in my foot and OH MY!!! that messed me up. I’m still recovering from it. But your post on doing testing and being proactive about our health is timely and reminding me that I can take action. I put on about 10 lbs after the shot and have lost about 4 but I think I’m entering menopause and am noticing other things happening and since I know I can lose weight I know something else is at work since I’m not losing it as easily as I did.
Through it all I can say I love to eat the THM way and even if I don’t lose another pound will continue to eat this way because how much better I feel overall. Yes, I’d like to lose another 50 – 60 pounds but what I’m learning on this journey is much more and far better than losing the weight super quick. Although if that were to happen again I wouldn’t mind. 🙂
It’s encouraging to know others are in similar situations. Praying you will find answers. I’m glad to know I am not alone.
My two years is on January 7th! Getting close! I hope you find some answers as well and can lose the rest you are wanting to lose. I agree, I love THM food too!
Thanks for the update, I had been worried. Your words have struck my heart and your Scripture choices sang to me. Thank you. The wisdom of struggling is far more key to me now than the wisdom of success.
Awe..thanks Dana!
Thank you for this post. I think it is important for us to be able to read the unvarnished truth and not just the “I’ve lost 60 lbs. in 3 months” post, which, honestly, I find depressing because I lise SO slowly and have to fight for every pound.
May God bless you on your journey. I’m actually terrified to go to the doctor because I’m pretty sure they would diagnose me as Type 2 diabetic. I’m hopeful following the plan and losing some weight will help that.
Thank you for all you do.
Bonnie,
I hope through doing THM you won’t have to face the Type 2 diagnoses. It does really work! Slow and steady! Glad to be on this journey with you.
Thank you so much for your story. Spiritual health comes first. Physical health is next. There is so much healing needed in this old body. Not sure if the trim will ever happen. HUGS
Terry, take heart! Just work on it one day at a time!
Thank you so much for posting this. Today is the day before Thanksgiving but I am feeling so down and exhausted – mentally and spiritually. For the past few months, I’ve been under severe stress due to some family issues and family health issues. Too much to go into…but God knows all the details. Well, now my health is under attack it seems. And I’ve been on a weight loss stall for the past few months too, probably because of the stress. I know in my heart that God holds my future and is in control…but my human emotions are just raw and exhausted. Isn’t God just like that to give us encouragement right when we need it most? He is sooooo awesome. Even though I’ve been feeling low, I have that song stuck in my head and heart called 10,000 Reasons. (Bless the Lord oh my soul, oh my soul, worship His holy name…) So, I am drawing close to Him as well. Let’s fight the good fight together, Sister!
Tracy, you just quoted one of my favorite songs! 🙂 I know exactly what you mean with stress and family. My adrenal issues are a result partly to some major extended family things. It was the hardest time I’ve faced in quite a while. Stress CAN totally stall us out. Hugs from Ohio!
Have you developed a goiter as a result of low thyroid condition?
Not that I know of.
Just wanted to let you know that at 64 I still need encouragement and your page is so sweet and your post is so encouraging. Don’t ever forget sweet warrior princess that God is Good all the time, and your true enemy is the devil, the liar and the father of lies who only comes to kill steal and destroy. God does not ever take anything good from His children, only the devil does that. It is our job to resist the devil and find the promises in His Word to hook our faith on and speak His Word to our body, our mind, our spirit and our world. continue to praise God and continually be rejoicing and thanking Him that is the best weapon we have against old, weak nothing , no power devil. May you be ever Blessed “with every Good and Perfect Blessing for life and Godliness.” May you “always abound to every Good Work.” and your Path “grow(s) brighter and brighter until the Noonday.”
God “Bless You richly in that everything you put your hand to that it may prosper!” and “No weapon formed against you prosper!” NEVER GIVE UP!! YOU WIN AS LONG AS YOU DON’T QUIT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Keaven, thank you so much for blessing me with your beautiful words. Very encouraging.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I began THM in May of ’13. I lost 30 lbs. in the first four-six months. Over the following year, I began to be discouraged because my weight loss completely stalled (I was hoping to lose 15 more). As I “cheated” a little more often, 10 lbs. have crept back on very slowly over the last few months of the year. Now with diligent eating and regular exercise, NOTHING is happening and I have been so discouraged! Well, nothing other than a few stressful episodes with my children’s health and a recent diagnosis of a bad gall bladder, now with surgery scheduled. Your testimony makes me wonder if my recently diagnosed health issues (I haven’t felt well for about 9 months now) just might be the reason that my body has failed to lose. I have spent the week looking for an alternative diet plan, but now I think I’ll work on healing and sticking to THM. Thank you!
Good to hear this! 🙂 You may want to find a doc that will work with you in finding food sensitivities and hormone testing. I did my own Thyroid panel ordered online for a tiny fraction of what the doc would charge at http://www.healthyonelabs.com…and took it in. Did you read my Hiccup in the Journey post? That may help too.