I ask myself daily if life on earth can really be this great! 3 ½ years ago at 172 pounds, I bought a pair of size 16 jeans and will never forget that day, I couldn’t believe how the makers of jeans kept increasing the size on the tag. Shortly after that shopping adventure I found out I was expecting my 2nd child, and I remember thinking, "I wonder what I will look like after this pregnancy?" Well, during my pregnancy I witnessed my father-in-law lose 100+ pounds, so when he mentioned he was going to coordinate a Weigh Down class, I thought, "Sure, I could lose a few pounds." I went to my first night of class when my daughter was 6 weeks old, weighing in at 168 pounds, and in those size 16 jeans. Within the first couple weeks, I knew that this was more than a weight loss program, my heart and love for God was found and growing! I will never forget the night I told my husband, “I don’t care if I lose another pound! I want this relationship with God!” Well, God blessed me with both, an amazing relationship with him and he took off 45 pounds and put me in a size 4/6. I also laid down nagging my husband, anti-depressants, and manipulation. A little over a year ago I gave birth to twins, I gained 50 pounds during the pregnancy, but by applying the basics of Weigh Down and eating only between hunger and fullness during and after the pregnancy, I was back in to my pre-pregnancy clothes in no time. What I have learned through the teaching of Weigh Down Ministries has allowed me to be a loving, sweet wife to my husband who deserves to be treated with love, sweetness and respect. I also love being the mother of 4 beautiful, loving, sweet children. I know that if I did not know what I have learned through this teaching, I would be an awful mother, always nagging and yelling trying to get the kids to obey. Now I get to be sweet and loving and in return, God blesses with sweetness and love!
Ashley Ellis