We’d like to thank Pam Colville for sharing her journey with us…these are her words.
I started this journey with my first Lose It For Life weekend in 2006. At that time, I was over 500 pounds… walking with a cane and couldn’t walk very far without sitting down to catch my breath. I listened to Steve Arterburn as he explained that winning the battle wasn’t about the “quick fix”, but a combination of things… spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical. All four need to be addressed in order to be successful. For the next 2 years, God used the things I learned from the workshop to deal with the emotional and mental things that had gotten me to over 500 pounds… this time was for healing. While I didn’t start the weight loss journey until 2008, everything happened in God’s timing to prepare me for the changes to come.
Pam Colville 230lbs lighter
One of the items discussed that first Lose it for Life weekend was about connecting… allowing others into my life, instead of pushing them away. This was something I had always had trouble doing because I was so ashamed, but in 2008 God led me to a support group with a counselor where I did learn to open up, instead of stuffing the emotions down with food. I have also learned to accept others into my life and reach out for help when it is needed. From the support group, God led me to a gym, where I met my trainer, Randy Crawford, who has been with me on this weight loss journey. Along with his exercise knowledge, God has used him as one of my key supporters… keeping me focused, not on the number of the scale, but to continue the journey to health.
I have now removed 230 pounds and I no longer need a cane… in fact, I now walk 5Ks and I’m currently training for a quarter marathon in the Spring.
One of the statements Steve made in the last Lose it for Life workshop I attended in 2009 was: “when you don’t know what to do… do the next right thing”. This has been a statement I have put into practice when I get frustrated because the weight loss isn’t as fast as I want it to be… weight loss isn’t a matter of how fast or slow it happens… but learning to enjoy the journey to health.
If I hadn’t attended the Lose It For Life workshops, I hate to think where I might be today. I was just existing before and now I’m living joyfully and fully alive, knowing that God is now in control!
~ Pam Colville