I have spent our life deciding I was going to do something about our weight and about how I feel about our appearance. I have succeeded in only one of the two categories, and If I had to choose only one in our life, that would be the one I'd choose to do. But now it is time we join forces and do something about this body that needs some TLC. You are me, yet you wait so patiently for me to choose to do something. Now I have chosen....You are the one with the strength to make it happen. I cannot do it without your determination. Are you Ready? I am!
Sincerely,
Jen, Natural Woman
So as you can see---the Determined Duchess is my inner strength, my spirit, my soul. I have been unable to do things on my own in regards to weight loss and improved health, but I have learned that I cannot do this without her---I know I will fail so my goal is to learn from my inner strength, from the Spirit, and from my Heavenly Father. I know he did not say it would be easy, but he did say it would be worth it. So here goes.
Day 1:
I feel beautiful, loved, and worthy of the wonderful blessings in my life. I know I am a daughter of my Heavenly Father who loves and cares for me. I have a wonderful husband who tells me often that I am beautiful, that I am gorgeous, and that he loves me. I think that positive reinforcement of beauty has been the crowning event in my feeling good about my appearance. I dress modestly, I have beautiful hair, and I get ready every day for me, not for anyone else.
I realize now that knowing I am attractive and beautiful, feeling loved and happy are essentials for positive change. So now that I know I am beautiful (and yes it took many many years to get here...) I feel strongly urged that the other part of my "doing something" needs to come to fruition. For the moment I will not be sharing this blog with friends or family in the hopes that I do this and do it well. Someday in the not so far future I hope to have made enough progress that I can say come one, come all---This has been an amazing journey, see my story.
Learning to love yourself is the greatest feat of all....after that great feat Loving myself enough to make positive changes should be easy.
I often read about a principle with a promise in Doctrine and Covenants 89. The word of wisdom given there states that it is "given for a principle with promise, ADAPTED TO THE CAPACITY OF THE WEAK AND THE WEAKEST of all saints, who are or can be called saints." I know I am weak when it comes to diet and exercise.....I love the promise that is given at the end which says, "All the saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments SHALL RECEIVE health in their navel and marrow to their bones; and shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures; and shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint. And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen."
Oh how wonderful those promises are....the covenants I have made in the temple promise many of these things, if I will but heed the promises and obey the commandments. I want to live the gospel and make and keep my covenants with God, and I know I need to overcome the natural woman and become more like God. I know that, "it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so....righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness." (2 Nephi 2:11)
This journey I am on through mortality is laced with opposition, and right now my desire to eat, sleep, and be lethargic is in opposition to my keeping the covenants I have made with my Father in Heaven. As a consequence the natural woman in me is controlling my physical body and my spirit is weak. We would love to have children, but I lack the commitment and determination to achieve a healthier weight.
So it is now time to overcome the natural woman for she is, "an enemy to God" (Mosiah 3:19). I have been commanded to put off the natural woman and Christ has directed me saying, "I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your father who is in heaven is perfect." In order for me to continue to progress and live the gospel I have been urged for years to make these changes yet have always lacked the inner strength to make them happen.
My many visits to the temple in the past year have often been coupled with impressions and visions of living a healthier lifestyle. I desire it, yet have never made it happen. I pray often for the courage and the strength, and I am now actively doing something in my life. The following days and weeks are dedicated to strengthening my mental, physical, and spiritual reserves and preparing for the future I dream of....The blessings will come, Chris and I have been promised. Now I must have the faith to take the steps and put off the natural woman that dominates me in so many ways.
Today is the day...I just know it.
Jen, Natural Woman and Determined Duchess Unite!
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