60 to go...

Man, I am so blessed to be an ambassador and representative for Nutralite. Dr. Chet zelasko came to Charleston to talk to us about supplementation and other health issues and concerns. His excitement and fervor for health really just re-focused me for the last stretch of my journey of losing 150 pounds. I have lost a good bit and i really just PRAISE GOD for the strength that He has given me to accomplish that. I think at this point in my life where I am in my weight loss, I had started to get "comfortable." My whole life I have hated who I was and how I looked but now I am a size 14 and it's "not so bad.." Its not as urgent because I am healthy on the inside so staying focused and determined is more difficult but I will not be denied and my goal will be reached. I am going to fight until this battle is won for the glory of Jesus Christ. I am really excited about finishing the goal strong and really just giving Him all the glory and helping people realize that they are made for greatness and they can accomplish anything and everything that they put their mind to. Really. ANYTHING.

A woman of beauty: boldness & overcoming

LeighAnn Odell

This is me and my roomie Leigh Ann. What an incredible woman she is. Words cannot even really begin to describe how God has used her in my life and how just by her presence in my life as a friend, roomie and sister in Christ it has made it so apparent to me how God's hand is working so mightily in my life! He is so good.

Leigh Ann displays beauty not only outside--which is incredibly obvious! Look at this girl. She is drop dead gorgeous but she has an inner strength and independence that just radiates beauty. She is just incredible. She is a fighter and an overcomer in everything she does. She could struggle with something but it's not long til she tells herself to "suck it up & get over it Leigh Ann" and gets bold and fights for what she wants. AND that displays so much beauty. God has created her (like all the other people I know) so beautifully and I am so thankful to HIM for placing her in my life.

Beauty through new eyes: Jennifer Tidwell

Christ's Beauty is SO alive in Jennifer Tidwell.

These pictures are of me and Jennifer Tidwell at Camp Joy Session III this Summer.

Simply stated... Jennifer Tidwell has one, if not the, most beautiful spirits of anyone that I have ever met. She is a camper at Camp Joy and was one of my very dear special friends from the past. Jennifer is such an example of beauty-- jennifer is one of the reasons that I was inspired to add this to my blog. I was observing her at camp joy and just reflecting on how she interacts with people she loves or... really any person for that matter. Jennifer Tidwell loves people. She absolutely is so radiant when she is talking to people who are dear to her. She truly delights in people and she is what I would like to call a "good finder." She is absolutely incredible at finding the best in people & encouraging them to be who God has created them to be. The world may look at her and not imagine that she has much to offer but oh my heart knows that it's quite a different story. She has blessed me time and time again. This particular summer, I left her everytime with my heart full & thankful for who I am & who I am becoming. What a beauty & full of such love.

On the weight loss note: Man- it feels good to be back from camp joy just for one reason-- I can eat well & work out again. My body was for real feelin' it while I was at camp. It's hard to believe I used to feel like that all the time and it was "normal." Thank God I have learned otherwise. I did maintain weight during camp which is a blessing in itself. I have about 60 more pounds to lose and 10 more and i'll be at 100 pounds. I am going to be signing up to run my first half marathon with Sarah Beth and Forrest. I'm pretty stoked about it!

New found eyes for beauty: Sarah Beth Lasso & Family

The Lasso Family

Sarah Beth Lasso and her precious son, Manning

Man- Two posts in one day? Man- Blair's getting crazy. :) I wanted to include this in the other post but I couldn't get the pictures to go where I wanted them. From now on, when I post, I want to write about a person, thing or experience that revealed God's beauty to me. God has really given me new eyes as I wrote about in my previous post for seeing beauty in His people and His creations. I especially want to focus on people. Too many people, especially women, do not know their own beauty; myself included. We are too focused on what the world says in beautiful and measuring ourselves to things that don't even come close to real beauty and all at the same time, we in fact have been given such tremendous characteristics of beauty. We are the epitome of beauty and we don't even know it. This is my efforts to reveal things and people of beauty in hopes to reveal God's beauty in the "unnoticed."

The Lasso family is such an incredible blessing and a perfect family to start my new posts on beauty. I thank God for allowing me to delight in His people. Sarah Beth Lasso is such an example of beauty. As I sit here and try to think how to put my feelings and emotions into words to express how much I love her and how much she inspires and encourages me... I am finding it really difficult because my heart is just so full. When I dream about my future family, I picture hers. As I watch them, I just ache to be a part of it. Just look at the picture of that family up top. What a beautiful family. Such precious kids... and I don't even know all of them. I've only had the pleasure of working camp joy with Sarah Beth and her children Sarah Grace and Forrest. The love and the Spirit of the Lord is so evident in SB and her children. She exemplifies such a servant heart for anyone and everyone that comes in her path but especially for persons with special needs (or anyone associated with camp joy for that matter.) Her heart is overflowing with radiant compassion and love. It's incredible and inspiring to be around. Not only does she exude the love of Christ, she is incredibly fun to be around. Sarah Beth Lasson is true depiction of the Joy of The Lord! Joy is always flowing from her and spilling out into the people around her. Sarah Grace, her daughter, has been given a perfect name. Sarah Grace in our outward and inward beauty truly is a picture of Grace. She really has become like my sister and I have such a heart for her. I'd probably beat someone up for her. She is only 12 and is such a wise, mature and beautiful young lady. She is such a perfect image of the gentle and quiet spirit and beauty that is described in God's word. And Forrest... what a man of Character. I am honored to have the opportunity to know him and experience his heart. He has such a pure heart that seeks to love people and bring glory and honor to God. He has a heart of such love and acceptance. He took is wise beyond his years. I have been blessed with a lot of time with Sarah Beth at camp and we have offically been dubbed soul sisters so I've been blessed to be able to talk with her a lot still post camp joy. Her words have been full of beauty and love reflecting on our relationship and our experience at camp joy but what really it was something else. When she speaks about her children...this is what got me thinking about beauty in her and in other people.... She speaks so highly and is so proud of her children. She has such a confidence in who they are and who they are becoming and that the Lord is so faithful in their lives. Sarahbeth, (and Sarah Grace & Forrest) I could go on forever but thank you for who you are and for sharing your beauty with me and allowing me to be a part of your life. You're a blessing to many and such an example of beauty and you don't even know it.

It's a journey...

It has been a while. You would think of all times that I would've really taken time to post and reflect during summer while I had time off for school. God threw some really cool surprises in for me this summer. I wish I could wrap it all up into words but I really cannot. God is so good and gracious though in ALL His ways. I thank God that it has nothing to do with me and my power because I am so weak and imperfect. Praise God that His strength is made perfect in my weakness.

I know most of you reading this have followed this blog because of my weight loss so I do want to give you a quick update on that... I am still around 89 pounds. I am still shooting for 150 by september but lets be honest, that probably will not happen. My real goal is to have 100 pounds done by september which will be 100 in a year which is pretty darn impressive. I love it though because yes, I mistakes in my eating. Yes, there are days when I do not work out but I, unlike most people which is where they fail and lose their success, I have learned that it is a journey. Much like everything else in our lives. We cannot become results driven but rather instead we need to become process driven.

This summer the Lord has really been challenging me with people in my path who have told me that I should write a book. Not necessary, I think, do I want to write it about losing weight but rather on becoming who God created me to be and finding my identity in Christ. He is my beauty. This, too, is definitely a journey as I am learning and making process on how to love myself and find my identity in Him. Praise God for his grace and patience during this journey.

Most of you who are reading this, I believe, are good friends of mine and know me fairly well. If so, you are aware that I have worked at a Camp for Special Needs every summer for a very very long time. This summer, the Lord graciously gave me an opportunity to work at camp and be there when I had not expected to be. And all for a purpose! Man- PRAISE GOD! There were a lot of things here in Charleston that I needed to be focusing on but He is good and is the author and perfector of my life and it was all in His hands. I learned so much this year at camp joy and was blessed with such tremendous relationships. Every year that I work camp joy, I have gone for the campers praying that the Lord would use me to work in their lives. This year... my heart was a little different. Those campers know the Lord. They are sure in their faith and confident in their savior. This year, the Lord really placed the counselors on my heart. Little do I believe that I was some great example or made any difference in any of the lives of the counselors but I went in with such a heart for all the people. If I am honest, it has not been until recently that I have really started to develop a heart for people. People honestly annoyed me in the past. There was always something bad about them that I could find to harp on or they were some type of inconvience to me. PRAISE GOD for the work that He is doing inside my heart. God I just pray that you would continue to mold my heart and my spirit to be in line with you. Make my heart your heart. Make my eyes your eyes. Make my hands your hands. I am thankful that I am starting to really delight in people.

DUDE! (oh man. I really get excited when I talk about this!!) I mean THINK ABOUT IT. REALLY. Think about this... every single person was made in the image of God. EVERY PERSON. That flipping blows my mind. What a mighty God we serve and how humbling it is to think that me... little old me... little blair christie was made in HIS image and so was everyone reading this. And every annoying person that is slow in the asile at walmart. Or the person digging in their purse at a green light or doing whatever it is that urks you. I love God so why not love people. Thank you, Jesus for working in my heart.

Anyways- at camp joy, I really got to sit back and delight in young people. It was incredible. I kind of got to sit back and be more of an observer and it was such a blessing to my heart. I just love people so much and it is such a testimony to God and his mighty power and creation. I got to start new relationships and build so many relationships with such people of beauty-- people who God was so evident in their hearts. I am tremendously blessed. I got to build strong Christian relationships and share my heart and what God has been doing with incredible women such as Julianne Cruce, Olivia Belk, Elise Harbin... man I could go on forever. And I was so so so blessed to create a new deep relationship with amazing people like the Lasso family. Sarahbeth Lasso, I swear, is my long lost soul mate. What an incredible woman with such a big heart-- and her kids... oh, man. They just melt my heart away. I sit here and pine over when I'll get to be back with them. They just fill my heart with so much joy. That will be a post for tomorrow perhaps. Then I got to delight myself in the campers, of course which have always had such an incredible place in my heart. The picture up top is Katie Hill. She and I have been at camp joy together since I have worked and she is incredible. What a perfect example of Christ's beauty and grace. She is one of my best friends and speaks to my heart about Christ's love. I wish I could be around her more-- she melts my heart. LOVE HER!

Anyways-- like I said in previous posts...this is going to start being about me and how God is transforming my heart, mind, soul and body so its no longer exclusive to my weight loss though i will definitely give an update on it because I know you guys have been such faithful supporters! I really am going to try to be better about updating again! I appreciate you and love you more than you'll know. God is good and gracious!

Progress Update!

Before After (taken 6/18)

Size 26 Size 14

Currently down a total of 86 lbs-- around 60ish to go.

Thank you God for giving me strength to push forward toward the goal!

so basically-- i really suck at updating. i could give tons of a excuses... but the Lord is really honestly just blessing me with so many opportunites at this moment, updating my blog is not high on my priority list...even though its something I really want and love to do. and I know a lot of you love to read it and ask about it so that is really why I want to do it. But time has been well budgeted lately because God is really teaching me about discipline! And PRAISE HIM for it! I am excited to learn to display discipline in every area of my life!

But did want to give you a weight loss update as I have FINALLY hit a mile maker: UNDER 200 POUNDS FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I weighed in tonight with a weight of 198 meaning I am now under 200!! PRAISE GOD! TO HIM BE ALL THE GLORY! I have a total weight loss of 83.8 and ready to finish the goal out. Maintence phase is going to be OH SO NICE! :)

It has been quite some time...

To all of you guys who read this and have been questioning about when my next post is going to be, I wanted to say thank you for your love and encouragement and especially your excitement for me during this time! I now have a computer and hopefully will be able to get back to updating the blog. Life has signifiantly changed since the last time I have blogged. I am still trucking along but my circumstances and position in life is incredible and I am definitely learning balance in every area of my life. I have so many goals and things that I am on my way to accomplishing. There are so many things I want to grow in and so many ways I want to become better so I think that I want to develop this more into how I am growing in EVERY way... not just my physical journey. BUT for those of you who are wondering-- I am still doing well. The weight loss has slowed down, which I expected, but I am a tiny bit over half way to my goal. I have lost 76 pounds and am weighing in at 205.6! I am SO incredibly ready to be under TWO! It's so close! :) Thanks for all your love and for reading!

A bit disconnected

Life is crazy busy right now...but in a good way. :)

Between that and the fact that my computer crashed and finances are not available to purchase a new one limits me on my ability to post new blogs. Please be patient with me as it may be a while until my next post.

I'm in a bit of a plateau for weight loss but still plugging away at it & looking forward to hitting my goal in september! Thanks for your love and encouragement!

Sisterhood of the Shrinking Pants!

I am so blessed!

For real. Blessed seems like such an intangible word to be able to really have people understand how I feel about my life and my experiences but I am blessed. It's the only word that could somewhat compare or be sufficient.

This second challenge is awesome. I am mentoring my trainers team and the team that I am working with is awesome. It's made up of 9 younger ladies and they are fiesty and ready to pump it out these next several weeks in the challenge. And we are now known as Sisterhood of the Shrinking Pants! :) Love it! They are so determined and they motivate me beyond belief.

My friend, Ginni, who was on my team during my challenge, is mentoring the team with me. When we first worked out with the team we looked at each other in horror because where we started the challenge with dying on 3 flights of stairs, they managaed to do about 10 with not too much trouble! I was amazed. Ginni and I tried not to be intimidated but it was hard not to be. But they are starting off pretty much in a good place for us to start off with. I know the Lord does all things for a reason to move us forward & challenge us-- and where they are is what we need. I'm excited about being with a group that still challenges me & encourages me where I am at because it's definitely a journey and I have not arrived yet.

The team is amazing and my friend from college, Jenny Blakely, is on the team which is always cool to see someone you know transform in front of you. I am excited about seeing her grow (or shrink rather...) and become a victor and conquerer! :) I look forward to updating you about the team and their progress as well as my progress through this challenge.

I am also very excited because Try Sports, my favorite store ever, decided to sponsor a team this time around! So there is another batch of people being supported and impacted by Try Sports and the amazing people that work there. I am so thankful to get to represent my trainers team and her business Total Approach as well as Try Sports by being a member of Team Believe Acheive. The Lord blesses me daily with open doors & I am thankful!

The weigh in this week: I lost 6.2 lbs.
Total Weight loss: 62.2 lbs.
Left until I reach my goal: 87.8 lbs.

I'm well on my way. I love that I have gotten into the habit of "endlessly creating myself" so that I may be better each day, moving myself forward to greatness all to Glorify and Honor God.

Challenge #2 :)

I officially made it! Pretty much a month on my own of weight loss. It was tough with the holidays but I have managed to lose 10 pounds since the healthy charleston challenge ended! Tonight, the next session of the Healthy Charleston Challenge starts. I am mentoring for my trainers team so pretty much I get to go through it all over again. I am really excited and have been remembering very fondly how I felt on this day in september. I was TERRIFIED! I am such a different person now than I was on that day in september when I began my journey to becoming a better me. I am learning that I am endlessly creating myself each and every day to new challenges and new standards that make me better & better. I am so thankful for this journey & for those of you following me. I started training officially for my first triathlon. It's going to be on May 1, 2010. I definitely will be needing all your prayers for this new challenge- Try Sports has been amazing with trying to prepare me and train me for this and future events. I am so blessed! :)