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Wife - Mother - Christian - Miracle - Dreamer - Make Up Lover - Blessed

8/30/14

New Milestone- 50 Pounds Down!

OK, so today I have officially lost 50 POUNDS since June 24th of this year!!!! I'm so excited to reach this milestone in my life. I still have quite a ways to go but I'm celebrating this accomplishment!

Now for inches lost:
Waist: -5 inches
Hips: -8 inches
Thigh: -5.5 inches
Calf: -3 inches
Upper Arm: -1.5 inches

My Doctor has kept me on the same diet initially prescribed to treat the PCOS and Low Cortisol. The only thing she has changed is adding in some moderate exercise.  I can walk up to 45 minutes twice daily while carrying weights up to 3 pounds. She still doesn't want me to overdo it with strenuous exercise since my calorie intake is so low.

The only thing I've had trouble with is time. It takes extra time to prepare my meals plus my families since they have to eat more than I do. Also, exercising and shopping for fresh fruits and veggies (which is more often than I would normally go to the store) are time consuming.  I have an extremely busy schedule and many things are simply nonnegotiable in my life.  So I'm learning to make eating right and exercising a part of it.

I put God first so my time with Him is a must! Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. Family comes second and my ministry third.  I work to do all things as unto the Lord so even my daily life I consider ministry. Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.   I think the biggest revelation I've had is that in order to do any of the things I consider necessary- I must try to be healthy by taking care of myself better.

I did find out through a friend that the diet  prescribed to me is actually called the HCG diet. The only difference is I am not taking any hormones- I'm only following the food part.  Knowing this has helped me a lot because there are many recipes on Pinterest.  So I've been mixing up the flavor of the foods that I'm able to eat.

I have found some items that have helped get me through the last few months without feeling hungry or blowing my diet. I'm really trying to keep things as clean- with as few processed foods and additives as possible.

Drops of flavoring to put in your water are nice to mix things up without the added calories.


Anything Walden Farms is a diet-saver since I cant have sauces or dressings with ANY calories.
I've found their dressings at Win-Dixie but the other items I may only be able to order online.
Are you living the low-carb lifestyle and/or dieting and ABSOLUTELY DYING for a guilt-free indulgence? Get on the Walden Farms bandwagon -- right now.    With zero calories and zero sugar in every product, Walden Farms offers dieters a guilt-free alternative for salad dressing, pancake syrup, chocolate syrup, marshmallow dip, barbecue sauce, mayo, peanut butter, and more.

Skinny Dippers help to take the place of deserts.
Skinny Dippers Zero Calorie Desserts

Fruit chips are a great alternative to potato chips. Crispy Greens are freeze dried so they're super crispy. I've found these at The Fresh Market.


0 Calorie noodles and rice are my favorite find so far! They're a wonderful filler and just sort of soak up the flavor of whatever you eat them with.
 

Gods Blessings your way,


7/24/14

27 POUNDS DOWN!

As of today I have been on the diet and medications that my Doctor prescribed for 4 weeks and have lost a total of 27 POUNDS! She has me eating less than 500 calories daily. When I first realized how few calories I was eating I was concerned that I would be hungry and tired. I have to say, I have felt good and I've not been starving at all. I'm praying that this continues. My diet requires me to eat fresh, highly nutritious foods, with protein, and without preservatives. I believe this makes the difference.

Below I've posted some more photo of the meals I've been eating. I've found some unique way s to prepare the food I can eat to mix it up some. Tonight I'm baking home made  strawberry candy and apple chips using a sugar substitute. I'm sure they'll taste great! On Pinterest I'v found tons of recipes for my diet. Feel free to follow me or check out my boards. http://www.pinterest.com/shellylpm

I have to share this amazing dressing I've found at Winn-Dixie. Its calorie, carb, sugar and everything else free! It's called Walden Farms and has helped to make eating just plain spring mix salad (with no other veggies) doable. It comes in many different flavors and has been a diet saver. My next venture is to try something called Miracle noodles and Miracle rice. It has no calories or carbs! I'm a huge pasta lover (Italian blood runs through my veins) so I'm really excited to try these. I'll let you know the verdict next blog. If you have any awesome diet/heath foods you'd like to share please leave a comment! I can use all the help I can get.

I have been giving myself one cheat meal per week. This has helped the diet not to become too mundane and has given me something to look forward to each week.  It's been motivation to do my diet correctly the entire week to earn my cheat. The first week I cheated with Chill. I chose a low fat flavor. It was a fun Friday night for my family and I. (see pics below) Usually I try to be smart about what I splurge on each week. Plus, my appetite and how much food I can eat has drastically changed. That has helped me not to overdo it on my cheats.

As I've watched how quickly the weight was coming off I was concerned that it was mostly water weight and that I wasn't actually loosing any body mass. Well, I took my measurement yesterday to compare to the ones I'd taken June 24th and here are the results...
Waist: -2 1/2 inches
Hips: -4
Thigh: -5
Upper Arm: -1 1/2 inches
Yay, I just did a little happy dance.   =}
I'm still not showing the weight loss like I want to be though. I'm ready for my clothes to fall off! I'm looking forward to a new wardrobe and shopping for it actually being a fun activity.

I went back to my doctor this past Monday and she was very pleased with my progress. She asked me to stay on the same diet for another month & told me to begin taking a B complex vitamin daily. She also gave me a B-12 shot before I left. Ouch. ='[

Over this next month I'm not sure what to expect. I have no idea if the weight will continue dropping this quickly and if I'll continue to feel this good. We shall see because I'm not giving up!
Until next time,
Blessings your way,
























6/26/14

PCOS & Low Cortisol

Hey y'all,

I know it's been a bit since I've posted anything so I want to take this opportunity to catch up.  On Monday I received some results from my Doctor testing positive for PCOS and Cortisol levels that are dropping off in the afternoon and night.  So basically, it sounds like my body has been in a vicious cycle for the past 10 or so years.

PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome which is a hormonal imbalance said to be cause by genetics. There are many symptoms of this and a few of the effects are:
  • Acne
  • Excessive hair growth
  • Weight gain
  • Problems with ovulation
  • Increased risk of many other heath problems                                          
Cortisol is a hormone for the immune system, regulating blood pressure, the cardiovascular system, metabolism, and more.  The symptoms of low Cortisol include:
  • Mental and psychological ailments such as depression
  • Faintness and dizziness
  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Heart palpitations
  • Emotional hypersensitivity
  • Inability to cope with stress
  • Social anxiety
  • Muscle weakness
  • Headache, scalp ache, or general body ache
  • Severe or dull lower back pain
  • Extremely sensitive skin
  • Nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting
  • Abdominal pain and hunger pain despite an empty stomach
  • Extreme craving for salty foods
  • Anxiety and jitters
  • Clumsiness and confusion
  • Motion sickness
  • Insomnia and dark circles under the eyes
  • Low bladder capacity and symptoms of IBS
  • Irregular or non-existent menstrual period                                                                                                                                                                                                                       I know all of these symptoms/effects are quite lengthy but I have to say they just make me feel extremely blessed.  I don't struggle with depression, stress and many of these other symptoms either.  I believe it is purely because of the Lord Jesus Christ!  I love that he protects me from so much and truly produces The Fruit Of The Spirit in my life.  Galatians 5:22 Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control.  I am a beautiful work in progress!  I am praying for complete healing and restoration and I'm asking that you pray for me in agreement.  My next steps are to work at regulating the Low Cortisol and managing the PCOS.  I have been prescribed some medications to help manage hormones and help my body to digest food properly.  
I have also started an extremely low calorie diet as per my Doctors instructions.  I began this diet the 24th (on my lovely sisters Birthday).  I have already lost 5lbs because it's a cleanse and I have a log ways to go.  I have a very strict list of foods that I am allowed to eat which have been logging under 500 calories a day.  So far I feel good but I definitely wouldn't recommend this for anyone unless prescribed under a Doctors supervision.  My diet has unsweetened coffee or tea for breakfast.  At lunch and dinner I can choose from a list of 7 lean meats of which I can have 4oz, only 1 vegetable from a list of 13- totaling 2 handfuls raw, 1 Grissini bread stick or Melba toast and 1 fruit from a list of 4.  Everything must be prepared carefully without any extra fats or sugars.  

Below I'm posting pictures of my meals and of the way my body looks now (pardon the no makeup and hair pulled back crazy look- just wanted to get a clear picture of the acne issues.)  I plan to continue to do this but for more regular and detailed postings friend request me on Facebook- Shelly Perrone Morris. Now that I know what has helped to cause the obesity, acne and all of the other uncomfortable side effects I am looking for complete healing from the Lord.  I also plan to properly manage everything by changing my life accordingly and preventing any further ailments!  I am ready for a big change of lifestyle and appearance and am excited for the results to come.  I return to the Doctor in a month so I will keep you all posted.  I know this journey will take a lot of hard work so I am very thankful for any support and encouragement I receive

Go and be a blessing,
















7/31/13

Identity Theft

1 Samuel 9 - 15
By looking at the story of King Saul we can see a perfect example of how your identity can be stolen.

~~ Saul was Israel’s first king and he started off great. He was humble, forgiving and he knew that having peace was better than taking revenge.  He led the Israelites in victory threw many battles. Then one day the Philistines came to fight Israel again.  But this time the Israelites were greatly outnumbered. Many of the Israelites hid in caves nearby but a few of the soldiers did come to fight. 
Now the great prophet Samuel had promised to meet Saul to offer a sacrifice before they attacked. But they waited seven days and Samuel still did not come. Saul began to get worried and He didn't want to fight without asking for God’s help, but he was not allowed to offer a sacrifice. 
When his men began to get restless and leave, Saul decided to go on and offer the sacrifice anyway. As soon as he had finished with the burnt offering, Samuel came. 


He was horrified and demanded, “What have you done?” Saul tried to explain what had happened but Samuel just said “You have done foolishly! You have not kept the commandment of the Lord. Now the Lord will take the kingdom from you.” But For the time being, God allowed Saul to go on being king over Israel. ~~

Sometimes, even after we disobey Gods commands things can seem to go good for a while.  The Bible says that sin has pleasure for a season.  But the Bible also has the principal of sowing and reaping. 
Galatians 6:7-8 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

~~ In 1 Samuel 15 we see that the Lord gave Saul clear instruction to attack the Amalekites and totally destroy everything that belonged to them. So Saul and his army attacked but spared the king and the best of the animals. When Saul met Samuel He said I've completed the Lords instruction.  But Samuel called him out on it and said, “Then why do I hear sheep and cattle?” Saul tried to make an excuse and say they were saving the best animals to sacrifice to the Lord.  But the Lord didn't want the sacrifice he wanted his obedience. And Because Saul rejected the word of the Lord, he was rejected as king.” ~~
Saul allowed his God given identity as king to be stolen from him by his disobedience.
In my past I disobeyed Gods Word and in return I had to endure some really awful things and lost a lot that I can never get back.  It started with what seemed like little things that I knew were wrong but I explained away as not being that bad, anyways I knew God would forgive me.  Yes, He did forgive me but what I was choosing to do led me down a slippery slope that led to a lot of pain and even greater compromises that almost led to my destruction.
I had forgotten my identity in Christ and lost hope….

Saul's God given identity as king was eventually stolen from him by his disobedience.

We need to remember we are heirs to the kingdom.
Romans 8:17 says if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 

If you are not yet a child of God I want you to pray, repent, confess Jesus as your Lord and receive salvation today!

If we walk around all day with crowns on maybe we will remember- I’m an heir to the kingdom, I was born to worship Him, I was born to give Him pleasure. Then maybe we’ll be more careful about what we subject ourselves to.  We’ll be more careful when we sit down to watch TV or get on the internet or about other things we choose to do.

I want to encourage you not to let what may seem like small compromises- make you live like anything else than the royalty that you are.  As kings and queens you should be letting your light so shine among men!  Your light wasn't meant to be hidden by darkness your light was meant to draw others to what has been given to you!  Salvation! Don't let your God given identity be stolen by the things of this world.

·        I know a lot of us deal with condemnation- let me tell you something- that is not from God.  If you are a child of God- the devil- the accuser of the brother, is accusing you day and night to God saying look, look at what he or she has done.  And God looks and says where- all I see is a big blood spot!  

See the enemy knows he can’t pin anything on you. He can see your crown in the Spirit realm but if he can keep you from seeing it he can keep you in bondage.

·        I've heard the stories about when Abraham Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation that some slave owners didn't want their slaves to find out about it because it would grant their freedom.  So these evil slave owners hid it from them to keep these people in bondage. The devil knows as long as he can keep us Christians deceived about who we are in Christ he can keep us in bondage!

If we walk around with our crowns on, in the rightful authority through Christ that we have we won’t be so quick to get under the devils condemnation.  We can walk with our heads lifted high and say back silly devil don’t you know who I am?  I’m His beloved, my prayers are powerful and I have Heavens attention because I come in righteousness in the name of Jesus!

1 John 1:9 says If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 
 Pray tonight and ask God to help you get rid of any darkness in your life that is trying to steal your identity.  I don't need to know what it is but you and God do.   

Now symbolically throw away whatever is making you live like less than royalty.  

When you’re done throwing out the trash I want you to praise God for this fresh start!  


Anything that’s hiding your light- hiding your true identity- making you live like anything less than the queens and kings you are must be thrown out tonight!  


6/1/13

Ester's Story

A long time ago in a land far away..... Ester was a little orphan girl. Her older cousin Mordecai stepped forward and took her into his home to raise her as his own child. He was Jewish and he taught her to fear God, and God blessed her with charm and beauty that surpassed all of the other women.

One day the king was looking for a bride and when he saw Esther he loved her more than all the other women so he chose her to become the next Queen. (Esther 2:17). So Ester went from nobody to Queen just like that!

Now Haman was second in command right under the king. And all that power went straight to his head. The king commanded that all the people of the land bow before Haman just as they would bow to him, but Mordecai- Esters cousin, refused. Haman's anger toward Mordecai and all the other Jews grew. So Haman devised a plan that would get rid of all of them. With the king's approval, a decree was written and his plan was set into motion.

When Mordecai learned of Haman's wicked plot he became so sad. He sent Ester a copy of the king's decree and told her what she must do. He instructed her to go before the king and ask him to write a new decree that would spare their people's lives.

This presented Ester with a very difficult task. She lived the good life in the royal palace. As queen, she had servants, the finest clothing, and anything else she wanted.  She knew that if she went before the king without being called, she could very well lose her life!
Perhaps she allowed her fears to get the best of her at this point. Just as trials are not easy for us, this was not a "walk in the park" for Esther. She was scared she would lose what she had and terrified that she would be killed because she had been keeping that she was a Jew a secret. The "what ifs" were affecting her just as they do us.

She finally decided to go to the king, which was against the law; and she said if I die, I die! (Esther 4:16). She pushed down her fears and put her life on the line to help others. For Esther there was only one way out, and that was to submit to God's will! When we face trials, it is very hard for us to see past what is affecting us. God's perspective is always the whole picture so we must trust in His will for us.

Ester invited the King and Haman to a banquet and she said to him, “If I have found favor with you and if it pleases you, grant me my life and spare my people because we have been sold by Haman to be killed.” The king was furious with Haman and immediately grated her request writing a new decree and had Haman killed.
Just as Ester was bold in her obedience causing the king to write a new decree that would change her life, we can be bold in our obedience to God causing a change in our lives as well.

Our lives are like an unopened present.  We have received a gift but we don’t know exactly what is inside until we open it.  As each of us walk with God by faith day by day, obeying His Word He begins to prepare us for what is inside and unwrap that gift for us.

Whether we know what gift God has given us or not, we are to live a faithful and obedient life that pleases God. Just as Ester did.




3/25/13

Radical Jesus


I want to tell you about the most radical person that has ever lived!  Jesus, He did things that were completely unheard of in His day!

·         He questioned the rulers of the Jewish faith when no one dared to question what they said or did!
·         Jesus rebuked the scribes and Pharisees. These men were legal experts.
Scribes wrote up documents- like contracts for marriage, loans, the sale of land, or the buying of houses.  Pharisees tried to keep their traditions in place. 
·         Jesus performed miracles on the Sabbath. 

John 5: 1-11 The Healing at the Pool

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”
11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”
12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.


·         His disciples (the men who followed Him) did not fast and even ate without washing their hands.  While the Pharisees did not eat until they had poured water over their cupped hands because it was required by their traditional law. So what Jesus did was considered offensive & wrong. Jesus wasn't worried about washing their hands because He was their cleanser & could heal them from any sickness or disease.
·         He threw people out of the temple for selling things in Gods house. 

Matthew 21: 12 &13 Jesus at the Temple

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[a] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’


Jesus wasn't just being radical for the sake of being different or drawing attention to Him. He wanted people to stop following traditions & instead be led by their love for God. Traditions are good but can distract us from what God wants us to do.
We are to be radicals like Jesus but that does not mean we are to be ridiculous, rebellious or uncontrolled.

Jesus also gave several examples of how we are to do this by submitting to those in authority, and keeping the peace whenever possible.
  • ·         Jesus was a radical; but he was also fully committed to doing God’s will.  He was a servant to his followers, as well as a leader. 
  • ·         We are taught by Jesus to submit to those in authority, namely our parents, church leaders, and the government.  We are to obey man’s law except when it conflicts with God’s law.

I want to encourage you to reevaluate what your life is being led by & make whatever changes are necessary to be led by your love for God even more.  That’s the path to being a true radical follower of Christ.   

Let me give you some ideas of ways to increase your radical following of Jesus:
1.      Spend time in prayer daily & ask Jesus to help make you more like Him.
2.      Read the Bible so that you know how Jesus was & don’t do anything that doesn't agree with what it says.
3.      Share Jesus with others in a bold and radical way. 




10/26/12

Confidence in Christ


Confidence means to have faith or trust in someone or something. We can have confidence in ourselves, others, or even worldly possessions- like money, cars or houses. Our true confidence should be in God. Jeremiah 17:7 says, But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
When we have complete confidence in God we can trust in His purpose & plan for us. That trust turns religion & rules into relationship. Enabling us to walk in Gods will for our lives instead of what satans will for us is. 
John 12:31 calls Satin the ruler of the world.
Satans will for your life is destruction. Just look to the ways of World to see satans plan.  Just a few examples are the clothes in magazines, sex scenes in movies, drama from soap operas, models on runways. Mimicking & accepting these things always lead to despair, depression and destruction. 
Gods will for your life is exactly the opposite of satans.  He loves you and wants good things for you.
Romans 12: 2 says 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. 
And 1 Corinthians 15:33 says Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."
Remember, if it is consider good by the world’s standards you can pretty much do just the opposite & be safe. Here are some common false beliefs in the world. The more money you have the better your life is, sex before marriage is ok because I love him/her, when your the most popular your better than everyone else, the sexier I look the prettier I am.  Don't place your confidence in things like this- instead have confidence in Christ!
As believers we are the bride of Christ. We need to prepare ourselves for him because he is coming back soon.  He wants a Bride that is beautiful inside & out, spotless without sin, & shining with His glory. 
Heb. 12 directs us to throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
I want to encourage you to be built up by Christ & find your strength & approval in Him. Spend quality time with God in prayer and studying His Word to build a relationship with Him. You can try to use many things to make your life seem fulfilled.  Like family & friend’s, being popular, drugs, drinking & smoking, sex & love from a boyfriend or girlfriend. But in the end Jesus Christ is the only thing that satisfies  And there is plenty of Him to go around, so don't wait let him fill you with life more abundant now!