People's reactions to my weightloss

I've been using keto, intermittent fasting, and exercise to increase my health and fitness levels for about 5 months now.  Over that 5 months I've lost 30 pounds, the first 20 pounds being in the first 2 months and progressively slowing down from there.  I feel great.  I'm happier and more energetic than I've been in years. 

Now I've been getting a variety of reactions from people at my church.  My best friend who's thin herself (in a healthy way), tells me I look healthier every time she sees me.  Other people have told me that I look great or that I look like a teenager.  These are the more positive reactions I've gotten.  I've been gracious in accepting these compliments.

On the other side of things, there's the people who are worried about me.  This week someone asked me if I had a goal I was working toward to fit into my clothes from when I was a teenager and suggested they probably aren't in style any more.  I said I haven't kept them.  There was also in her comment the suggestion that I should stop losing weight.  The truth is my goal being health, I'm open to being whatever weight that means for me.  Weight loss is only a side focus at this point.  Some other people have asked my friend if I'm okay.  And people have had varying levels of concern in their voice when noticing to me that I've lost weight.  I know this is really a reflection of their mentality surounding weightloss and health.

Here's the thing I don't understand.  Why are they more concerned about me losing weight than they are about the obese woman coming each week with growing knee problems?  I'm almost to the bmi and waist measurements that are healthy for a woman my height.  I was just barely into the obese category on the charts before I started and I didn't feel good physically or emotionally.  Now I'm confident, happy and energetic, but people are more worried about me now, than they were when I was obese, sluggish, and depressed.  Why is that?  Really it feels backwards to me.  I love them, but wish they'd worry about the people who really should be worried about instead.  The ones who aren't progressing on their journey.

To the ones who've given up on their health journey, or their emotional well-being journey, or their spiritual journey, find your why.  Once you find the why that is powerful enough to move you to action, you can stick to it through years of failed attempts till you find what works for you, and finally see the results you were looking for.  My why is that I want to out live my parents, and I want to be the example of health that my kids will need if they're going to out live me.  I want to be strong enough to be in the presence of God.  I believe It takes a certain level of fitness for a body to withstand such an experience.  I want to live a life that will one day be a story worth telling.  I want to inspire others to better themselves in whatever way they need to, to become and do what God intended for their life.  I want to be physically capable of doing whatever work God needs me to do to build up His kingdom on Earth.  I wasn't building anything when I crashed for an involuntary nap every afternoon. 

What's your "Why"?  Now do the research to figure out the "How."  Experiment with yourself till you find what works and makes you feel good in your life.  Then, when God says, "hey could you ....?"  It won't matter what it is, because you'll be ready to go.

Commandments of Health Really are Spiritual

I got a gym membership with childcare 3 days ago, and have gone twice now (so sore!) and am resting today (a Sunday).  I wanted to get in better shape so I would feel better about how I look, and have better energy and endurance to keep up with my kids.

Yesterday I was listening to something someone shared with me about how to receive a Second Comforter experience, and he talked about keeping the commandments and to keep them you have to search the scriptures to learn them.  A lot of things on this path I've not wanted to do my own research about, but have preferred to read or listen to the research of others.  Some things I have researched for myself (head coverings, early Relief Society) but when it came to a visit with God I didn't want to have to dig through the scriptures (honestly my mission almost ruined the scriptures for me largely due to the lack of freedom about what to study).  This morning my heart was softened, and I repented of this anti-scripture mentality and was going to start searching the old testament commandments.  So I went to Genesis Chapter 1, and a verse or two in after thinking I should remember to look for the "Joseph Smith Translation" footnotes, the Spirit said, "Then you should really start with Moses 1"  And there it is Moses encountering God and being physically exhausted afterwards.  And the Spirit said, "and you want to see God, but a couple little work outs at the gym leave you sore?  Do you really think you are ready for the physical toll of an encounter with God?"  And I remembered another part of the talk/interview I'd listened to he talked about the laws about what to eat having things in common with the word of wisdom, and there being a connection between health and spirituality.  And this was a HUGE "Ah ha" moment for me.  Surely ALL commandments ARE spiritual.  The LDS Church teaches the word of wisdom like a way to live longer, and sometimes that drugs and alcohol can interfere with feeling the influence of the Spirit, but this brings a whole new insight and reason to be healthy.  Joseph Smith was a farmer and they are strong!  And he was tired after encounters with God.  Now, I'll be working out with a completely different motivation than I started with!  If my health has been something preventing the ability to encounter the divine I will do what it takes to regain the physical stamina I once had before having kids.  Let God and your love for Them and your desire to return to Their presence motivate you to gain the physical stamina to be able to withstand such an encounter.