Bread was always my downfall.  I always loved bread.  My father was a bread man for Rainbo, Earth Grains and Sara Lee.  He always had the freshest bread and I loved spending time with him on his bread routes because you would smell like fresh-baked bread all day.  Bread was the most challenging temptation for me while on the Atkins diet…well, bread, and chocolate…and ice cream…pizza.

Recently a friend was eating fresh-baked, braided bread from a local pizza place.  It smelled delicious.  But it looked like a thousand calories to me.  I could see the oil or butter that was on top of the bread.  I could envision the sugar and oil in the sauce.  It did not appeal to me in the same way it had in the past. I was able to walk away from the treat.

The next day I was invited by friends to the same pizza place. I was able to enjoy a slice of cheese pizza and stay within my diet goals for the day. It was delicious.

Something changed.

I used to think, if I had a few hundred dollars I could buy a decent television for me and Rhaylee. Now I think, if I had a few hundred dollars, I could buy us bicycles with safety gears and tools to maintain them and we can ride them together around our neighborhood.

Something…changed.

A few months ago, I had to hire a housekeeper to maintain my home and a neighbor to mow my yard.  Now I do those things myself.

A few months ago, I had to buy a grab tool so I could pick up stuff around the house. Now I can easily bend over or squat to pick things up, weed the yard, clean up spills, whatever.

A few months ago, I had to park in ADA parking spaces to be as close to the door as possible.  Now I park far away on purpose.

A few months ago, I had only one chair in my home I could sit in because it was the only one rated up to 500 pounds.  It now sits in storage while I use any other chair, recliner or sofa I want.

A few months ago, I was reluctant to keep my daughter overnight because I was afraid of having a heart attack, a diabetic episode or some other health crisis.  Today, I have no fear of her staying with me at all.

I have changed.  And…oh man does it feel good!

This change is not just physical; it is also mental and spiritual.  My whole being is going through transformation.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

-Romans 12:2 NIV

Image: Author on stage in Marlow Opera House for a play at over 480 pounds from September 2017, next to an image of the author in September 2018 at 307 pounds. Courtesy of Duncan Little Theatre and Robert Jones.