Be yourself; Everyone else is already taken.
— Oscar Wilde.
The sample blog post that came with this WordPress template, included the Oscar Wilde quote above. I typically quote only people I esteem, but, sometimes, God speaks out of the mouths of donkeys. 😉 Certainly, that is what I hope for as I resurrect a personal blog. 🙂 Yes, I am a talking donkey.
About the Oscar Wilde quote…it really fits what I hope to do here. I want to be me. Let it all out there…For decades, I have told people that they can release all their extra weight, be at peace with God, food, eating, and their bodies finally just by prayerfully tuning in to their God-given signals of physical hunger and physical “just enough.” Thin Within worked for me in 2006 and 2007 when I lost 100 pounds enjoying all the foods I loved. The weight seemed to pour off of my body. I remained a healthy size until 2014, too! So this strategy definitely works for maintaining a healthy size as well.
…for most people.
…until it doesn’t.
That (amongst other things) is what I want to share here. I choose to step out of the shame I feel from helping to lead the Thin Within ministry while inexplicably growing “larger than life” …not to make excuses, but as I struggle to find answers and solutions.
I hope you will join me for my journey. I have NO idea what will happen or where we will go, but I believe that God is doing a NEW new thing!
Forget the former things;
God, in Isaiah 43:18-19
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland.
God is Doing a New Thing 
I am struggling too! So I want to follow and see where the Lord leads. Thanks for sharing.
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Hi, Tricia. It is so good to see you again. Well, ok, I wish it wasn’t because of a blog on this, but you know what I mean. I hope you are doing well. Next time I am visiting Christina, we will have to link up again! 🙂
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You are not alone… you are well love, well respected, and obviously doing as God has required. I am excited for where we can go
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Thank you, Angie. I appreciate your kindness…AND your optimism!
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Thank you for stepping out in faith and being Heidi! Satan never gives up but thankfully our God is bigger, stronger and more determined. Remember those days before the weight loss success in ‘06-‘07? Some days may have felt like these days. This part of your story will be an inspiration to others too. Hugs!
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Hi, Denise. That is a really good point. I remember that I was highly motivated by health concerns then, too. I hope that God will use all of it and encourage people. 🙂
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The most important component of Thin WithIn is the close relationship with the Lord and asking Him to show us what we should put in our body.This is not all the same for everyone,especially in your case with the medical issues that you have and are experiencing.Maybe the Lord wants something different in food choices for you.At one time in my life I had a lot of inflammation and the Lord directed me to eat differently for a time.Less sugar, preservatives,white flour etct was the answer and my joint pain vanished.I never felt guilty in fact the opposite because I knew this is what God planned for me.I do however still and always will hold to the guideline that I do not need to eat a huge amount of food and that our stomachs are only so big.
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My pain vanished, Marge…almost 100% when I found out I had an intolerance to gluten and dairy and some other things. I thought my pain was due to “neurological weirdness” left over from the 2014 health crisis. I have since discovered that most of it was due to foods that my body couldn’t handle! YAY! 🙂
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Praying for you!
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Thank you, Kimmy. I covet prayer for sure!
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I love the comment that it works until it doesn’t. I seem to be at that same place now. Praying for God’s revelation.
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The trick for me, Dana, is being sure I am not deceiving myself. That seems to be a long process…evaluating, being circumspect, evaluating some more. I haven’t given up! I know dieting does NOT work!
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Wonderful!!! Looking forward to more!
Xoxox
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Thanks, Michele. I hope all is well with the new role you have taken on this year. It is good to “see” you here! 🙂
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Heidi ~ God always leads us to what is next for us to bring Him the glory. Your new journey is His work through you, I know you trust that! Regardless of the new directions we take all those who have crossed our path leave a never ending impression on our hearts. You have shared your journey and love of Jesus to change other’s hearts….and are continuing to do just that moving forward. There are many grateful hearts for your sacrifice in preparing thousands of lessons and sharing your journey to guide ours. Be Blessed in your new endeavor. God’s got you!
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Hi, dear friend. Thank you so much. I will continue to coach Thin Within participants (I believe it works for growing us in our intimacy with God for 100% of us and for bringing us to peace with food and our bodies for 99.9 % of us! :-)). I will also continue to share through Michael’s and my ministry, Renewed Life Mentoring. 🙂 Michele, thank you for always being such an encouragement. I appreciate you!
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I want to journey with you.
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You big sweetheart. Deb, I love you. You are such an encourager. Come on along!
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Heidi, I feel you! I lost 40 lbs 20ish years ago & kept it off by eating according to hunger & fullness for 8 years until a major health crisis. I’ve gained it all back & have struggled for the last 7 years to figure out what is going to work now. I appreciate your candor & look forward to what “new thing” God may have for us & reading about your journey.
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Julie, I would love a chance to talk with you more about this. It sounds like we have been living parallel lives in some way. If you want to talk about it, feel free to email me at heidi@renewedlifementoring.com Thanks!
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Are you still doing 0-5?
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🌻🌼💕No matter how well I do with 0 to 5 eating, it seems that it doesn’t “work.” It works for the things that God cares about most…and I keep that in my heart. My body has taken so many hits since 2014 that I am beginning to think there is a new normal. I won’t give up as moderation is a godly trait in all things. Dieting did NOT ever teach me that. For me, this isn’t about the weight nearly so much as my heart. I still think that is true, but I am concerned that my joints won’t withstand carrying this size around…and I value mobility SO much.🌻🌼💕 Thanks, dear friend!
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🌻🌼💕Absolutely! Not perfectly…just like always. 🙂 🌻🌼💕I do NOT seem to eat enough to justify the size of my body…the growing or the sustaining of this size. It is weird. 🌻🌼💕
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Heidi, I’m coming along with you, too! This “new thing” is never an “easy” thing, but I know He will honor your heart and your desire to keep seeking Him on this journey!!!! ♥️ Much love to you.
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Thanks for joining in, Marci! Thanks for the encouragement. 🙂
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Though I’m not trying to lose weight (at least not yet, while I’m still trying to finish off the chocolate Christmas candy we received!), I know I will reap many insights from you, Heidi, so that when I’m ready to get more fit, I’ll have a godly perspective, which you so clearly exemplify. Plus, you write very well, without run-on sentences like this one ☝️ ❣️
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🌻🌼💕LOL! You silly girl! Thank you for your support! 🌻🌼💕
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Hi Heidi, you are always an encouragement to me. Are you still doing 0-5 and it’s stopped working or are you struggling to do it? I struggle with it every day. But if you’ve done it before, you can do it again x
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I’m with you too! Things have changed for me since being diagnosed with diabetes & a few autoimmune issues. I need to restrict carbs now, & this has been a major adjustment but I see in my blood sugar numbers how beneficial it is for my body when I do this. Wish it wasn’t so difficult & I continue to struggle with the ups & downs. I sympathize with your plight & wish you well going forward. Give God your shame in exchange for His grace to move forward. 🙂
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🌻🌼💕Thank you! 🌻🌼💕
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Walking with you arm in arm dear friend!
Love you so! 🌻🌼🍃🌻🌼🍃🌻🌼🍃🌻
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🌻🌼💕Thank you, dearest friend. 🙂 🌻🌼💕
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I am praying for you. I am with you in this as well.
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Thank you.
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I am making sure I signed up to be notified of new blog posts! You are truly a blessing to all!
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Thanks, Laurie!
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Same thing is happening to me.
My doctor says that I have extreme insulin resistance. He says I must watch my carbs.
I also felt sick a lot until I gave up gluten and majority of milk products.
I’m still overweight but I feel much better but not fantastic.
Praying for you.
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I found out in early September that I have intolerance to gluten, peanuts, and dairy. Since stopping these things, my pain level has decreased quite a bit. So glad that you are feeling better, Kathy. Thank you for your prayers!
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