Behind The Scenes With My Sweet Mom: Mother's Day Special

fitness May 05, 2021

Behind The Scenes With My Mom: Mother's Day Special

Press play to listen above or read the highlights below.

In celebration of Mother’s Day, I wanted to honor my Mom, Lily Dolan, and have her on the Strong. Confident. His Podcast.

Today we’re going to dive deep into rising above any old level we’ve set for ourselves, learn that at any age, yes... EVEN 70, God still has work for us to do and that we can all things through Christ who gives us strength.

Press play above to learn how she lost 40 pounds in her sixties, how God helped her create a new life as a widow, and how she’s celebrating her 70th Birthday doing her 5th Triathalon!!!

Don’t let the enemy keep you stuck in your story when God can do a NEW thing!

Let’s start by sharing the story I wrote about in Step 2 of Faith Inspired Transformation.

You had come to a place where you stopped believing you could ever lose weight again, and I told you you’re right. You can’t rise above any level you set for yourself.

Can you tell us about this time in your life and what were you believing that you now know wasn’t true?

That I just had to accept failure because I was over the hill.

Gaining weight as I got older was expected...a pound every year was what I had heard after 40. I was right on track in my 60's.

I did every diet imaginable: one bite diet, the cookie diet, Diet Dr. Pepper, and beef jerky for two weeks.

How old were you? 60

How much weight did you lose and not just pounds but excuses and expectations?

I lost 40 pounds slowly...I stopped limiting myself and limiting what the Holy Spirit could do in my life.

Can you share how you did it? What helped you keep going when those old comfortable ways started to surface?

Reading F.I.T. helped me create a plan that worked for me. I learned that the only way I ever lost weight was when I ate. I did portion control, reeducated my taste buds….sugar destroys your taste for fruits.

Kim is right when she says we really only eat about 10 things so I like to make up recipes with meats, veggies, fruits, and grains. I set a long-range goal with short-range goals to exercise. I planned workouts and my meals.

It is easier for me because I am single and don’t have to buy anything for anyone else.

I live out of the city so I learned to depend on staples and I like to eat clean. I learned how good I could feel and now when I cheat and eat something it makes me feel so bad that it’s not worth it.

When your mom and sister died, you heard something that changed you, it was “Don’t get stuck in your story” can you share how that helped you?

I had gotten stuck at my pity party. After a lady at church read, The Lord says, Behold I do a new thing...she looked up and as if she spoke directly to me she said...so don’t get stuck in your story. We have a story and then there’s the story God wants to write. As writers, we understand that. It’s letting go of that pen and trusting Him...day by day, step by step. It won’t happen overnight. But it is so worth it. Embrace the process.

What’s your advice to women who are hurting, whether it be they’re single, widows, or feel alone or old and like life has passed them by? And for those who have lost hope that God could do a new thing in their lives?

Losing hope is one of the worst things that can happen. My acronym for hope is: heavenly outlook permeates everything. This is all temporary...that’s the real meaning of the word vanity.

At almost 70, I have made peace with the wrinkles, even if the skin above my knees has a life of its own.

Seriously though, at every stage of our lives, we have to make adjustments. It’s all about change and adapting. I learn so much from my children. Kim has a goldmine of info in all that she has written. She takes a lot of research and makes it easy to use. Her sister, Crystal is amazingly strong like their brother Johnny, Billy is a cyclist and Tommy ran a marathon and played and coaches his son in rugby. Just had to brag on the ones that made me a mom.

Now you’re going to be 70 in a month and you’re celebrating by doing... share with us!

I signed up for my 5th Triathalon at the end of July. It's been over 5 years since my last one so I am retraining slowly. I ran track as a child, swam on a team, and rode my bike everywhere. I just have to rely on more Holy Spirit Power.

It's true we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

Favorite scripture:

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalm 19:14

Favorite recipe:

Right now, I am smoking chickens with my mesquite wood. Then I have a week's worth of meals. Just add a salad and fruit.

I love tropical fruit. I make a mango bar with just almond flour and baking soda, salt, honey, and olive oil. I soak dried mangos in key lime juice and layer it.

Eating God-made is so simple, just shop the perimeter of the store. The aisle has staples, but try to choose the ones the closest to their natural God-made state.

Favorite workout:

I feel like a kid when I swim. I'm grateful that I can still run and I'm cycling better with the help of my cyclist son, Billy.

I hike and even did the Grand Canyon with my girlfriend's to help my endurance.

I like working on my land and planting in my prayer garden to keep my arms strong.

Anything you’d like to share?

WE have this body, this tent...it is only temporary and we can take it all too seriously. I have done that. Fought through all the stuff Kim talks about. I believe the turning point for me was gratitude. Grateful to be alive!

I survived being hit by a truck and thrown 40 feet, only to have God heal me. He even created me to withstand that impact by knitting me in my mother’s womb with two vertebrae fused.

Truly I live and move and have my being in Him.

Being satisfied makes our Creator smile. At whatever stage you’re at thank Jesus for the breath in your lungs and for your heart that beats under his control.

The body is a miraculous machine...use it for His glory.

Faith fuel

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children…” – Deuteronomy 4:9

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed.’” – Luke 1:46-48

As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” – Isaiah 66:13

Now you know I’m never going to leave you without asking you to get into action because nothing happened without it!

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