I Lost 275 Pounds!

thanks, chancie72!

Thank you, kwbalance! ☺️

And yes, once you've been a member of such a controlling group where FEAR and man made rules and 'religion' control the people, you *never* want to go back there! So thankful to have a true relationship with God without the self condemnation the group rules and customs brought. Being healthy physically, emotionally and spiritually is a GIFT that I do not take lightly!! ❤️

Best wishes to YOU!!

Thank you, everyone! ☺️

It's not a journey I would have chosen to take, but I am still thankful for the experiences and lessons learned... they did work for my ultimate good- despite the messes I had made myself!

"Could you talk a bit about how you got your food prior, preparation, and overall culinary lifestyle and how things are now? Do you shop differently, eat out more, etc..."

EvgeniZyntx, Mennonite style of cooking includes a lot of 'comfort food' style of cooking... that traditional custom of serving 'seven sweets & seven sours' is the rule of thumb! A plethora of homemade breads, muffins, noodles (with brown butter!) baked goods (cakes, Whoopie pies, cookies) and home grown veggies and meat are staples at the table. Serving sumptuous food to your guests is a MUST and is to be expected... with Sunday dinners for 20-30 people a typical experience.

For me, breaking FREE of those traditions that I was also indulging in to drown and bury my feelings and emotions, meant turning down MANY meals away in the beginning of my journey. The few I could not turn down involved me eating a little something BEFORE we went, for I literally would have very little 'healthy' food to choose from besides meat. The veggies served are nearly ALWAYS buried under rich brown butter, sauces or cheese... so picking through a serving bowl hoping to find an area missed could get awkward!

At home, it meant finding alternative ways to fix healthy 'comfort' foods, while retaining some of the beloved favorites
for special occasions and holidays, instead of 'every day' fare.

As I lost the weight and finally got to the ROOT of my emotional dependency on food, and STOPPED feeding my feelings- my strength and courage grew. I was able to freely talk with my husband and our children about the possibility of
changing directions, and leaving the group. We left 3 years ago. ☺️

We honestly could not be happier now... but do look back and see SO many lessons learned, and know our time with the Mennonites was not 'a waste'. We firmly believe ALL things work together for good!