Keeping the Faith
After ballooning to 184 pounds, the author turned to the YMCA and spirituality to help her lose weight and gain emotional strength.
By Carol Batey
When I filed for divorce almost nine years ago, I feared the unknown: Would I be able to raise five children on my own and meet my financial obligations? Under a tremendous amount of stress, I gained twenty pounds and developed fibromyalgia, an autoimmune deficiency, as well as ragweed allergies. By 2004, I weighed 184 pounds, had a body mass index (BMI) of 45, and was feeling very ill.
But the end of my marriage also opened up a new path for me. I renewed my core values and applied the simple principle of faith--to believe without proof--to my daily life.
I joined the YMCA and sought natural and traditional medical treatments for my conditions. Although aerobic exercise is generally not recommended for sufferers of fibromyalgia, kickboxing became my best friend. I added yoga to my schedule to reduce the strains of my hectic life. I found that gaining control over thought patterns is also important to improving health. But this requires a huge act of faith as well: I had to convince myself to get out of bed every morning and eliminate the excess baggage of fat cells--and negative emotions--in my life.
The Bible says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1, KJV). I was willing to put my faith into action. I now have a BMI of 22, weigh 143 pounds and wear a size 4-6. I no longer have muscle pains and stiffness. My ragweed problems are under control with weekly treatments. And after two years I still get out of bed early, and after meditation and prayer, head off to the YMCA for my faith-filled exercise programs!
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But the end of my marriage also opened up a new path for me. I renewed my core values and applied the simple principle of faith--to believe without proof--to my daily life.
I joined the YMCA and sought natural and traditional medical treatments for my conditions. Although aerobic exercise is generally not recommended for sufferers of fibromyalgia, kickboxing became my best friend. I added yoga to my schedule to reduce the strains of my hectic life. I found that gaining control over thought patterns is also important to improving health. But this requires a huge act of faith as well: I had to convince myself to get out of bed every morning and eliminate the excess baggage of fat cells--and negative emotions--in my life.
The Bible says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1, KJV). I was willing to put my faith into action. I now have a BMI of 22, weigh 143 pounds and wear a size 4-6. I no longer have muscle pains and stiffness. My ragweed problems are under control with weekly treatments. And after two years I still get out of bed early, and after meditation and prayer, head off to the YMCA for my faith-filled exercise programs!
Share your stories as well as advice for other readers about how you lost weight.
Read more Health articles.
