Week 43, Thursday, Diet with Dianna

This is long...but so worth it to read! 
I was very busy yesterday. I will jot my thoughts about food on tomorrow's blog. Today, I give credit and honor to Jesus Christ!


Today, make the most of your day. Enjoy your family and friends. Be kind! 
Eat smart, Eat lightly, Resist overeating, No guilt, and Exercise!


Now please read the following excerpt from the Holy Bible.

Isaiah 53 [New Living Translation]:

There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance,

nothing to attract us to him.

He was despised and rejected—

a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.

We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.

He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;

it was our sorrows that weighed him down.

And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,

a punishment for his own sins!

But he was pierced for our rebellion,

crushed for our sins.

He was beaten so we could be whole.

He was whipped so we could be healed.

All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.

We have left God’s paths to follow our own.

Yet the Lord laid on him

the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly,

yet he never said a word.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,

he did not open his mouth.

Unjustly condemned,

he was led away.

No one cared that he died without descendants,

that his life was cut short in midstream.

But he was struck down

for the rebellion of my people.

He had done no wrong

and had never deceived anyone.

But he was buried like a criminal;

he was put in a rich man’s grave.

But it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him

and cause him grief.

Yet when his life is made an offering for sin,

he will have many descendants.

He will enjoy a long life,

and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands.

When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish,

he will be satisfied.

And because of his experience,

my righteous servant will make it possible

for many to be counted righteous,

for he will bear all their sins.

I will give him the honors of a victorious soldier,

because he exposed himself to death.

He was counted among the rebels.

He bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

Week 43, Wednesday, Diet with Dianna

I Corinthians 10:23, You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. NKJV

So, according the the Bible scripture above, I should ask myself, "Before you eat this, is it beneficial to your body?" Sure, I could eat anything...but is just anything good for me? Absolutely NOT! I need to take care and choose wisely.  I only need to eat healthy and in decent, moderate portions. 


I also need to be consistent at exercising. I have become somewhat lazy as the weather has begun to heat up. Hot or not...I need to walk! Go me!!!!

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For the past several months I have been desiring a bicycle. Not just any bicycle but a retro style bike. I've been shopping around for a good deal. I am not wanting to ride a marathon or become another Katie Compton or Lance Armstrong. I just want to add some new ways to exercise, besides walking and working out with weights. Riding a bicycle is a good idea!

 

I can see myself riding on a cruiser bicycle, with my little "Todo" in the handlebar basket and I ring the bell as I pass the pedestrians. I must have a generous, cushy and springy seat. I need bottom comfort! I don't want to toil or even have to walk up the hills, so I hope to find a 3 to 5 speed.  I would just be so pleased if the bike were a pastel purple or soft green.  I foresee a shopping trip in the very, very near future!

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Week 43, Monday, Diet with Dianna

“My victory and honor come from God alone. He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.” Psalm 62:7 NLT

Wow, this scripture says that I am a winner, not a loser. God is the source of my victory. I have to keep the Bible in the forefront of my everyday life. I call on God to protect me from Satan's lies about food. Satan wants me to feel deprived, hungry, a failure, and defeated so I won't be a healthy representative to others.


That verse says that no enemy can reach me...now it doesn't say that I won't see the enemy or that the enemy won't try to get me. It most definitely says that the enemy is held a bay and cannot reach me, therefore in order to be defeated it takes the action on my part to cause the defeat. Satan only tempts me. He is only a shadow or whisper of evil but he cannot harm me, unless I allow him to.


I have the victory! The scriptures reveal that when Jesus defeated Satan, on the day he rose from the grave, and he took back the authority that Adam and Eve gave away. The entire 91st Psalm talks about God's supreme and supernatural protection, if I will make Him my refuge. In Psalm 23, verse 4 the scriptures say, Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Death is only a mere shadow for believers. God's word is my rod and staff, his words tell us how to speak authority over evil and to be victorious in all our battles [trials, temptations, sickness, disease, poverty, lack...and more].


To be victorious, I have to read & meditate on the scriptures, and pray . 

• Joshua 1:8 - meditate on the word, day and night.
• Psalm 1:2 - meditate on the law, day and night.
• Psalm 119:5 - meditate on your teachings
• ...And there are seventeen more instances in the entire King James Version of the Holy Bible regarding meditating on the Word of God.

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Exercise:

I mowed the front and back yard, leaf-blowed nearly all of the front yard before the blower died...then I swept the remaining front and all of the back area with the broom.

I did all the laundry, cooked lunch and dinner [and right now the dishwasher is out of service and waiting on an ordered part, so hand washed, dried and put away all the dishes].

No other physical exercise...back is very achy so I used some moist heat the rest of the evening...bother!!! I am healed, in Jesus' Name!

Food Menu for today:

Egg, turkey sausage, whole wheat soda bread [homemade], fresh strawberries, coffee.

Drank 20 ounces of water after mowing!!! Whew, I was thirsty!

Fresh Spinach leaves with carrots, tomatoes, strawberries, raisins, sunflower seeds, Feta cheese, almonds and Low-fat- low calorie Newman's Own Family Italian dressing. Life Water Zero lemonade [sweetened with Stevia].

Soup with turkey kielbasa [skinless] , carrots, peas, sweet yellow corn in vegetable broth and diced tomatoes! DEE-LISH!  Water

strawberry yogurt [Fiber One, low sugar, 50 calorie size] & coffee

Week 42, Sunday, Diet with Dianna

Philippians 4:4-7. Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon. 6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Sunday is a awesome day. The family, except me, went to the movie theater and watched different movies. I think three movies were viewed. They all ended about the same time. While they were movie going, I headed to the grocery store and came home with a load supplies. After the bags were hauled in and unloaded, I prepared hamburgers and fries for lunch. YUM!!!!

I grilled the burgers and oven baked the fries. They were just about done when all my arrived back home. We all sat around the table and enjoyed the juicy burgers (mine without bread) and the spicy seasoned fries [no ketchup for me]. DEE-LISH! We enjoyed great food and great conversation.

Afterwards I piddled around in the yard. I planted five strawberry plants, pulled weeds, and worked on the soaker hose for the flower beds. I came in, showered and sat down. Eeek, my aching back...I think I might have over stressed my lower back. I applied some muscle rub and took some pain reliever. Tomorrow it will be much better!!!! 


GREAT DAY! God is super to have given us such a gorgeous day! I am so blessed!


Menu:
Soda bread and coffee
Hamburger patty [no bread] fries, and water
No dinner just a few handfuls of nuts w/raisins.


EXERCISE:
Worked in the yard and hauled in groceries...not much, but at least I stayed active. 

Week 42, Friday & Saturday, Diet with Dianna

James 3:17But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

The verse above just said something to my spirit. I don't think it has anything to do with healthy eating. I feel peaceful when I read this verse. A calmness, love, and warmness fills my soul. I have a heavenly Father that is peace loving, gentle at all times, full of mercy and good deeds and shows no favoritism! Wow! 


Even though I stumble along this journey, I know that He is fair and gentle. He encourages my soul through the Holy Spirit. I don't feel condemnation when I fail. I feel His gentle nudge to do what is right. I feel His disappointment when I eat unhealthy, but not judgment. I know He is ever encouraging me...sometimes sternly...to stick to my healthy eating lifestyle. Satan wants me to cheat and lose. I won't give the him the satisfaction of failure. NOPE! I win because Jesus Won!


He has given me every opportunity and weapon to succeed. All I have to do is use His words, written out fully, to battle the desires of my flesh. When I feel the gravitational pull towards the unhealthy choices, He has given me an escape. I only have to choose wisely. I can call on Him to give me the strength to resist and the wisdom to know right from wrong.


I know that I'm not a failure; just human...well, not actually JUST human. I am a supernatural human. What?  Yes, supernatural! When Jesus died for my sins, and rose again, he took the human control of sin (and lusts of the flesh) away. For every believer and follower, He gave us his permission to use His authority and power, as believers and followers of Him, to stop the unhealthy desires of our bodies.  The fact is, I have sometimes chosen to ignore those quiet warnings of the Holy Spirit. Today, I ate the unhealthy food anyway. Already the regret is here. I have asked for His forgiveness, and most definitely, I will choose healthy food tomorrow! I can do it!!!!! I will do it!!!


Go me!

Week 42, Tuesday & Wednesday, Diet with Dianna

I Peter 1:3-9 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen[a] you love. Though now you do not seeHim, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

I have been eating well. I have not lost...boring and frustrating. I'm not giving up. Now, the fault is mine because I haven't be diligent in my exercises. I have faltered and been giving in to laziness, lately. 


This isn't an excuse, by any means. We had about four inches of rain in less than twelve hours. The neighbors house, up the hill, dumps water off the roof and gets trapped between our house and theirs. Even though we've taken preventative measures, the rain still seeps into the office. So,  for the last day and a half, we've sucked up water, put down fungicide, and had fans blowing to dry out the flooring and walls. Plus, during the storms, our dogs get emotional...fretful and since the rest of my family works outside of the home, I am the logical dog sitter/soother. I keep them from bothering the sleeping folks.  Sadly, at 3:30 a.m. I got the munchies and I ate some chips...not a lot, but a few...still...I was tired and hungry. I didn't make a good choice. I could have had grapes or some cheese, but they weren't crunchy and noisy to keep me awake...so I caved in and ate about twelve Jalapeno Pringles.


Today, in my car, on my way to volunteer at the church offices, the "check engine" light came on. So, on my way home, after volunteering, I dropped off the car at the mechanic's garage and walked home. Brrr, it was a bit chilly and windy, but the walk warmed me up and it felt good to walk. I didn't get in a full 2.5 mi walk, but about 1.5 mi. Still, I walked!  I do need to get off my bee-hind and exercise a bunch more! Gotta do it! Must exercise! REALLY!


Go Me!

Week 42, Monday, Diet with Dianna

Romans 12:2: And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Be careful what you believe about dieting. Watch out for fad diets. Use caution when determining how much weight is healthy to lose in a short amount of time. Remember, it may have taken you ten or more years to gain your weight so don't expect to lose all the weight in just a few short weeks.
Eat healthy and exercise. There are no magic cures or magic pills. You will have to work at it and be consistent. Make a lifestyle change in your eating habits and exercise habits. That is the only true cure for obesity.

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Here are a couple of debunked Dieting Myths:




Myth:
You can lose 15 pounds in two weeks.

Truth:

Maybe you have lost a pound or two this week. SUPER! Don’t compare yourself to someone that is on a radical fad diet and has lost 15 pounds in two weeks. The first debunked myth is when you see dieters having unrealistic weight loss goals and expectations. Find a safe healthy program that is set up to help you safely lose between half a pound and two pounds per week. Studies show that individuals who rapidly lose weight are more likely to gain it back. So if you’ve lost a few pounds this month—excellent!

Everyone is Different so while some people lose a lot of weight in the first few weeks, others might not lose any weight for a few weeks. Although this can be frustrating when you’re doing everything right, it’s not a reason to give up. Sometimes it just takes a little while longer to see the results of your hard work reflected on the scale. Remember, eating right and exercising regularly have positive impacts on your health in many other ways, such as more energy, less stress, better sleep, and reduced risk of many diseases. You’ll receive those benefits—regardless of the number on the scale.

Myth:
Weigh yourself everyday.

Truth:
Actually, your weight will fluctuate from morning to evening, day to day. It all depends on your current physical health, the food that you have eaten. Your weight in the morning will be different than your weight in the evening. It all depends on the food and water in our bodies. Exercising won't automatically show up on the scale. Wearing a sweat suit will remove some water gain...but just for a few hours. When you replace the water, the weight will return.

Weighing shouldn't be the only gauge in which you determine your weight loss. A more accurate measure of weight loss will be seen in your clothing, your physical appearance, your energy, your stamina, and other ways besides just the numbers on the scales.

Limit your weigh-ins to just once a week.

Limit measuring yourself with a tape measure to every other week or once a month.
Excerpts taken from www.sparkpeople.com

Week 41, Saturday, Diet with Dianna

Luke 12:29 & 30 “And don’t be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don’t worry about such things. 30 These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. 31 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.

I sometimes wonder why I do so great at resisting food temptations during the day, but when the evening comes I seem to be starved and get the munchies? Why do I sometimes feel like I could clean out the refrigerator? When I feel this way I seem to do it nearly mindlessly? IT is so frustrating to think that I can do so well at resisting most temptations during the day, even when no one is around. Then, around 11 p.m. I'll be relaxing and watching a great Hallmark Channel movie and suddenly I am overwhelmed with ravenous a munchy attack! Then the bag of chips, way--way in the other room, on the uppermost shelf, will start whispering my name. Sometimes my nose will play tricks on my mind and think it smells microwave popcorn. 


Most of the time, I pray away the urges. Sadly, on occasion, I give in and scarf down enough snack food to feed an entire kindergarten class. Aaahhhh!


Just recently I was reading an article from SparkPeople.com. The author of the article explained evening binges this way:

Is Evening Eating Destroying Your Weight Loss Efforts?Cues to Eating and How to Control Them

*by Becky Hand at SparkPeople.com 

Balanced breakfast? CheckMid-morning snack? CheckHealthy lunch with your co-workers? CheckPassing up your friend's homemade cookies? CheckComing home in the evening and going on a feeding frenzy? CHECK!! Does this sound like the bulk of your days? You're in control, everything is going fine - until you come home starving at night and eat a large dinner, say yes to dessert (and seconds) and finish off a bag of chips before bed. What gives?

For most people, the evening is "down-time," used to relax, watch television, and unwind from the stresses of the day. Others view this as a time to multi-task and catch up on household chores, bills, homework, and other responsibilities. Whether you're winding down or checking off your to-do list, unconscious eating can accompany your routine and result in a massive calorie intake. Devouring a bag of chips, a sleeve of cookies, or a pint of ice cream can occur when your mind is somewhere else.

Put An End to the Evening Binge Cycle!
You CAN control evening eating disasters. Try these tips to normalize sleeping patterns and fend off hunger:Plan activities to do throughout the evening, but don't make food a part of the activity:Take a bathWalk the dogPay bills; balance the checkbookPlay board games with the kidsCall a friendKeep your hands busy (polish the silver, sew, knit, or do any craft)Play basketball, baseball, soccerRead a book or magazineTry a relaxing fitness video such as yoga or tai chi.Eat 3 meals daily and 1-2 planned snacks, keeping in mind your total calorie range.Plan to eat about the same number of calories at each meal throughout the day. The total should be within your calorie range.Have a low-calorie beverage (diet soda, flavored water, etc.) in the evening.Make a list of low-calorie snack options. Select one for the evening. Eat it, but no more.Don't eat mindlessly! Eat all meals and snacks at the kitchen table, keeping all of your attention on the food you're enjoying. Take your time and really enjoy every bite.Get 7-8 hours of sleep nightly.Maintain a regular bed and wake time schedule, even on the weekend.Establish a regular, relaxing bedtime routine.If you have trouble sleeping, leave the bed (or room) and pursue another activity like reading until you're ready to sleep. Use your bedroom only for sleep and sex.Finish eating at least two to three hours before your regular bedtime.Exercise regularly.Avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime; avoid nicotine altogether*To read the full article CLICK HERE 

Week 41, Friday, Diet with Dianna

THINK THIN

2 Peter 2:19 They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves of sin and corruption. For you are a slave to whatever controls you.

Think of the person God created you to be. 2 Peter 1:2-4 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

Have the correct motive for eating healthy and losing weight. 2 Corinthians 5:9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

Identify the real reason you overeat. Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; 24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.

Nail down a personal commitment to obey God. Deuteronomy 30:17-20 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; 20 that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”

Know and listen to the Lord. Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;


Turn your focus on things you should eat. Romans 14:20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense.

Have an exercise plan that will increase your metabolism and vary the plan. Proverbs 15:32 If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.

Initiate a daily journal. Isaiah 30:8-9. Now go and write down these words. Write them in a book. They will stand until the end of time as a witness 9 that these people are stubborn rebels who refuse to pay attention to the LORD’s instructions.

Nurture your relationship with God. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

Excerpt taken from "Overeating" by June Hunt, Hope for the Heart
Scriptures from: New King James Version & New Living Translation

Week 41, Wednesday & Thursday, Diet with Dianna

What happened to Wednesday? I don't know. I was very busy! I just thought I had posted something. Oh, well. Forgiveness and mercy is mine.

Ephesians 5: 15 & 16. Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Exercise:
Wednesday: I walked twice for a total of 5 miles.
Thursday: 2.5 miles

Both days, I ate wisely: 
Wednesday:
Breakfast: Egg, Toast, Turkey Sausage patty, coffee
Lunch: Jason's Deli! Black Currant Tea, Yummy dee-lish-ous!
Dinner: Yogurt [cherry vanilla] and a handful of mixed nuts.

Thursday's Menu:
Breakfast: One egg, Turkey sausage patty, toast, coffee

Lunch: A delicious Turkey Caesar Salad from Schlotzsky's. ( I only ate half, it is just too big!) Tea w/lemon.

Dinner: Mixed veggies and butternut squash, Turkey Kielbasa w/barbecue sauce and a couple of slices of Whole wheat Irish Soda Bread [homemade!].

Snack: nuts w/raisins and cranraisins.

Week 41, Tuesday, Diet With Dianna

Matthew 26:41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

How do I avoid giving in to temptations? Prayer, studying the Word, and giving in to God's calm quiet voice whispering in my ear. When I feel deprived, tempted, or overwhelmed by a food temptation, I begin to talk to my heavenly Father. I hand over my physical desires for unhealthy food and God responds immediately. I feel a peace come over me and I hear Him encouraging me...not reprimanding or berating me, and most definitely not in a commanding or harsh voice, but a gentle persuasion and reminder. "Dianna, you asked me to help you refrain from those kinds of foods. You told me that you were going to give up those kinds of foods to bring your body into a healthier state.  I'm not going to make this choice for you. I have given you complete freedom to make your own decisions. I will only bring your request to mind. IT is up to you to choose. Now, will you take my strength and walk away from that temptation? You can do it because I have already defeated the world and the desires of the flesh. All you have to do is trust in me, take my will and you win."


When I thought of those words he spoke to me I understood that even in the small things, God allows us to make the choice. He won't overstep his authority and choose for us. He only guides and reminds us what the better choices are, but he never chooses for us. FREE WILL!  Ultimately, it is my choice that will cause me to be successful or fall flat on my face. Here's the deal: God said that he would walk through the valley of shadow of death...he didn't say that he would do it for me, but walk with me.


When I am weak and tempted, I turn to God's strength to get me through. But I have to trust Him! He will only help me through it if I will give up my will to Him. God's spirit is what reminds me to make the right choices. In 2 Corinthians 12:8 &10 “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” ...For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Philippians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!

Week 41, Monday, Diet with Dianna

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.” Romans 8:28 NLT

Today was a great day! I did my house cleaning chores, laundry, ran an errand, ironed, and cooked three meals at home. I walked 2 miles. I ate well and proper. However, I am trying to get used to the Spring/Summer time change. My body is a bit thrown off at the timing of meals, but in a few weeks it should sort out okay.


I didn't have any cravings today! Woo-hoo.
I had a delicious breakfast of egg, turkey sausage, toast, and coffee.
For lunch I had left over sweet potato and a small salad. Water.
Dinner: Left over French onion soup, sweet potato, and a few corn chips with salsa. Water.


A handful of mixed nuts w/raisins.


Boring, I know but that's all for my day!

Week 41, Monday, Diet with Dianna

Well, I've been absent from posting for the last few days. Sorry. I was really busy and didn't take the time to post. Now, I'm ready to hop on the saddle and ride again!

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The If Only Syndrome

The Bible says that our real problem is that every one of us is building our identity on something besides Jesus. Whether it's to succeed in our chosen field or to have a certain relationship-or even to get up and walk-we're saying, "If I have that, if I get my deepest wish, then everything will be okay. [King's Cross by Timothy Keller]

"If only I could lose ten pounds...If only I had this car...If only I had this job...If only my children were...If only my health was...If only my bills were...If only my husband did...If only my parents would...If only..."


Do you find yourself living in the "if only" syndrome? For quite some time I have been living in the "if only syndrome". My focus has shifted from a longing for God to a longing for circumstances and things? When did my life become a constant longing for the things I don't have? When did I take my eyes off of God, my source, my provider, my protector, my manna! My daily thoughts have been, "If I lost seventy-five more pounds I'll be great!...If I had my own house I'd be happy...If I had my own car I'd be happy." Instead of focusing on ALL the blessings I do have. I have become stagnant in the 'if only syndrome'. 


Satan wants us to see the things we don't have and have us believe the lie that God has turned his back on us. He wants us to think that God has forgotten us. That God wants us to suffer and be in poverty, sickness, disease, lack, and sadness. What parent wants it's child to suffer and be sad? NOT our Heavenly Father! God isn't that way! 


God wants me, and all of us who trust and believe in Him, to have the desires of our hearts. He wants us to have the best jobs, the best children, the best health, the best financial security, the best houses, the best cars; He wants us to have it all! But first He wants us to desire HIM, trust Him, Love Him! Everything else is a side benefit of our longing for God. If I would spend more time in the Word, gaining knowledge of my Lord, I would see that He has revealed all of His promises to me. God has already given me HIS power to have all of his glorious promises and blessings; for my future in Heaven and my temporary time here on earth. See what the Bible says in 2 Peter, chapter 1, verses 2-11 [New Living Translation]

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. 3 By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. 5 In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. 8 The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But those who fail to develop in this way are shortsighted or blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their old sins. 10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When I take my focus off of the things I don't have, replace them with thankfulness for what I do have, AND put my eyes in the Word and on my Lord and Savior, all of His promises come and fill me with peace, fulfillment, knowledge, love, and a desire for more if His presence in my life!


*****************
I am holding at 211 pounds. I did not exercise on Friday or Saturday. 
However, I did a 3.2 mile walk/run.
I also did muscle strengthening exercises with weights and floor exercises.


Sunday's Menu:
One pan fried egg (in a non-stick skillet with just a 1/2 teaspoon of butter). Turkey Sausage and whole wheat toast.


Homemade French Onion Soup, two small slices of French bread - toasted with Swiss cheese, and a small sweet potato. Water


Some corn chips and salsa.




GREAT DAY!

Week 40, Wednesday, Diet with Dianna

Hebrews 4:16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

BOLDLY: Fearless and daring; courageous. Requiring or exhibiting courage and bravery. Unduly forward and brazen.


God wants us to come boldly before him to make our requests known. Through boldly praying I am convinced that it changes me. I have said, "Lord, I commit myself to you and this healthy lifestyle to you. I will make good choices when It comes to eating food. I am going to succeed because I have your power inside of me to make it happen."


Prayer opens my spiritual eyes so I can see God's supernatural power flowing from me. Power that I could not see without first allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal it to me through my prayer time. 


Even though I may not see the answers right away, I stand firm in my faith that the Lord will make it happen, according to the Word [His will]. My prayers must line up with the Word. I have to study the Word to know His Will, then I can pray confidently knowing that my prayers will be fulfilled. Of course it will be in HIS perfect timing.


I'm not being bossy, demanding or manipulative. My prayers come from a righteous heart, changed and purified by Christ. My prayers are to re-position my flesh, mind, will, and emotions. I will boldly pray that I will improve the state of his holy temple by eating healthy. That is what He wants for me. To turn to Him and not food. A healthy lifestyle; physically and spiritually. Boldly praying during the entire journey.


*****************


I had several stressful situations happen today. I felt like I was going to lose it. However, I continually spoke to the Lord and he led me through it. He kept me focusing on Him and His joy changed my outlook. I did not eat emotionally! I ate well and made good choices. This was a great breakthrough, today.  


If I can [with the help of the Holy Spirit] do this today, I can do it the next time, too.

Week 40, Tuesday, Diet with Dianna

Daniel 1:8-15. But Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king. He asked the chief of staff for permission not to eat these unacceptable foods. 9 Now God had given the chief of staff both respect and affection for Daniel. 10 But he responded, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has ordered that you eat this food and wine. If you become pale and thin compared to the other youths your age, I am afraid the king will have me beheaded.” 11 Daniel spoke with the attendant who had been appointed by the chief of staff to look after Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 12 “Please test us for ten days on a diet of vegetables and water,” Daniel said. 13 “At the end of the ten days, see how we look compared to the other young men who are eating the king’s food. Then make your decision in light of what you see.” 14 The attendant agreed to Daniel’s suggestion and tested them for ten days. 15 At the end of the ten days, Daniel and his three friends looked healthier and better nourished than the young men who had been eating the food assigned by the king. 16 So after that, the attendant fed them only vegetables instead of the food and wine provided for the others.

God wants us to be healthy -- spiritually and physically.  Just like Daniel in the Bible reference above; the right thing is to choose healthy choices for ourselves.  The right thing is to satisfy our deepest desires and needs with God and not food, or sex, or drugs, or alcohol... It is a choice, just like Daniel, to resist the temptation of unhealthy foods and to concentrate on God and eating healthy. It is a good choice to walk on the path willingly of discipline in the area of food choices. Make those good, positive, healthy choices again, and again, and again!


You don't have to go through the journey alone. Satan wants you to think that you are defeated, isolated, and a failure. GOD says we are victorious, powerful, more than conquerors! We can do ALL things through Christ who gives us strength. With God ALL things are possible. Choose to focus on God and not cravings for the unhealthy choices. Pray for success. Focus on victory with God as your partner and biggest supporter.

Week 40, Monday, Diet with Dianna

Galatians 5:22-24. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.

We had a beautiful Spring day. Mid 70's! AWESOME! Thank you Lord for your beauty.


 I started out with a nice workout of mowing the yard, front and back, then sweeping. Whew! It wasn't walking 3 miles, but I definitely used all the muscle groups. It took about forty-five minutes to mow and another twenty minutes to sweep. I figure it was the equivalent of 1.5 miles...maybe 2.


Next I was off to wash the car and vacuum the inside. I dried the outside, vacuumed the interior, and washed the windows, inside and out. That really worked up a sweat. I suppose that would be about another quarter mile. 


When I got home I finished up the laundry and cleaned the kitchen...that added a small fraction of energy burn.  I most certainly kept active and burned up some calories.


Tomorrow, I will work on core muscle strengthening. Maybe I'll throw in a walk too.


Menu:


For lunch I ate a small salad and three small, Extra thin & crispy slices of pizza...really small slices. If I put them all together, they would have formed a normal single slice of pizza. I drank some tea with lemon.


For dinner I had a beef taco and some salsa and a glass of sugar free orange tea.


Later for a snack I had some mixed nuts and a few raisins and cup of coffee!


Oops, forgot about breakfast...a Multi-grain, whole wheat 3 inch waffle, about one tablespoon of sf syrup, one egg and one turkey sausage patty. Cup of coffee.

**************** I Could Never Give Up That!  Self-control is hard. We don’t like to deny ourselves. We just don’t think it’s necessary. We make excuses and declare, “That’s nice for someone else, but I could never give that up!” If we’re relying on ourselves, that excuse may be true. But there’s another level to self-control that too few of us find. Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” [Matthew 19:23-24] If you study this verse in context, it actually means, “With human effort alone, it can seem impossible to deny yourself. With human effort alone, it can seem impossible to make sacrifices. With human effort alone, it can seem impossible to have self-control. But with God, all self-control, all sacrifices, all effort is possible.” Rather than giving in to the foods we crave, we can have God’s self-control to make completely different decisions—decisions for health, decisions for renewed energy, decisions for confidence and peace. Most importantly, decisions that honor both our bodies and God! Lysa TerKeurst – Made to Crave Devotional – 60 days to Craving God, Not Food.

Week 40, Sunday, Diet with Dianna

Job 7:1-3 “Is not all human life a struggle? Our lives are like that of a hired hand, like a worker who longs for the shade, like a servant waiting to be paid. 
 I, too, have been assigned months of futility, long and weary nights of misery.
****************


My life is far, far, far from that of Job's in the Bible. Truly, he was in sad, sad shape; spiritually and physically. It was a tragic, tragic story!
I am so blessed to NOT be in his shoes! I am not at all comparing my life to Job's. Thank the Lord--I am NOT living a life like Job's. AMEN!


However, I feel frustrated, and irritated, and angry, and tired of battling this plateau of non-weight loss. I use the words that Job said, 'months of futility, long and weary...waiting on the plateau to end and weight loss to begin, again!


My weight seems to be in a constant 'YO-YO' state, at this point. I am doing so much better. Really, I have nothing to complain about. God has so richly blessed my life. I have health, the love of my best friend-husband, great children, a free country, worshiping God -- my way, and much, much more! I am healed of sickness! I've grown spiritually because I am studying the Word more and looking to the deeper reasons for not craving food but craving God. All things are good! Really, I have no complaints with my life.


I am exercising more, eating right, exercising more...exercising more. I am walking and jogging over 3 miles nearly every day!  


For the last three weeks, I have quit all carbonated beverages and I'm drinking more water...I actually like it, now. I have added some fruit, [emphasis on 'some'] in it's natural state. I don't eat more than a 1/4 to 1/2 a cup of fruit and only then I eat it every other day. I have eaten less carbs, avoiding processed foods, and added fish [which I really do not like most fish].


I stopped the eating every three hours because I just was so full all the time. I felt that that could possibly be the reason I was at a plateau. STILL NO additional weight loss! I don't understand why the weight loss has stalled? I've been so good at watching what I eat; even though temptation is EVERYWHERE! 


WHAT IS GOING ON?


*Sigh*

Week 40, Saturday, Diet with Dianna

Proverbs 25:16 Do you like honey? Don’t eat too much, or it will make you sick!

EXTREME DIETING - Omitting fats from your diet can be harmful!




Be careful if you are continually selecting low-fat or fat-free foods at the grocery store. By exchanging a "no fat" diet plan for a diet that contains 'moderate essential fats', you might be sabotaging your weight-loss efforts. Unfortunately, so many of the "no fat" or "low fat" foods are processed and have added sugar as a replacement for the taste of fat. Even more horrible is that you are still eating the same amount of calories, carbohydrates and sodium than that of the similar original full-fat product. Researchers, dietitians, and heart surgeons have determined that the public have been duped and tend to believe these "low fat" or "no fat" foods are "freebies". Be that the case these dieters will over indulge in these fat free processed foods thinking they're healthier or even lower in calories when they are anything but.

When that fat is missing from your diet your appetite may signal for you to eat sooner. Good fats will actually carry flavor in your foods which leads to a full and more satisfied feeling. What does this mean to you? It means you can stave off hunger a bit longer on just a mere snack or light meal without feeling the need to eat again too soon.

Just as eating too few calories can hurt your weight-loss efforts, a diet too low in fat can hurt your health, too. Enjoy a moderate amount of fat daily with the peace of mind that you are protecting your heart, brain and your body with every bite, Diets that are too low in fats...the good kind... can cause a HUGE amount of health problems. Just as eating too much fat. Some of the health risks of not eating enough good fats are:

• HDL (good cholesterol) levels get too low! 
• Overeating (not enough of good fats will cause you to not feel full and get hungry quicker) 
• Causes Poor vitamin absorption, 
• Depression 
• Increased Cancer risk 

Moderation is the key! Most of us understand the importance of applying it to exercise, eating and setting goals. Still, there's one thing that many of us fear so much that we forgo moderation and head to extremes: fat. The residual effects of the low-fat craze of the 1990s linger, causing many people to believe that less is more when it comes to fat.

We live in an all or nothing society. Being conscious of your dietary fat intake is definitely a good thing, especially when you're trying to reduce your risk of heart disease or lose weight. But if you take it too far, you could be putting your health in jeopardy.

Article excerpts taken from: SparkPeople.com

Reference Guide for Fats

American Heart Association: Know your fats!

Good fats vs. Bad fats

Risks of Low Fat Diets

Week 40, Thursday & Friday

2 Corinthians 7:1. Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God.

The Mighty Spinach Leaf

Watching a mountain of fresh spinach reduce in a matter of a couple minutes to only a shadow of its former dimensions is one of my favorite cookery tasks. I add spinach to lots of dishes – sometimes raw and sometimes briefly sauteed. Adding more and more of the beautiful green leaves to my meals was an easy decision. It’s delicious, filling, and versatile. One cup of raw spinach has only a few calories and it rocks the nutrition charts in calcium, fiber, iron, manganese, magnesium, niacin, phosphorous, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamins A, B6, C, and zinc. Spinach is also firmly packed with the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are the “eye vitamins” that the ophthalmologist told me to take because of a family history of macular degeneration. The American Macular Degeneration Foundation has a great article referencing a few excellent studies on the connection between nutrition and eye health. This article from the US National Library of Medicine at the National Institute for Health says that for best absorption of your eye nutrients, eat uncooked spinach. If macular degeneration runs in your family, give these articles a read.

The more I read about spinach, the more convinced I was that it was the perfect veggie to add to every single meal I could. [Calorie Count Web Site] by Jannid

An interesting sidenote regarding the power of eating a food like spinach and losing weight. Your body has primarily two ways to inform you that it is full. One of those ways is mechanical. Your stomach fills up with a whole lot of food and your body screams, I’m full! Eat too much on Thanksgiving and you will know exactly what I’m talking about.

The other approach is chemical. This way, your body tells you that your full, not because you have eaten to much but rather, because you’ve gotten all the vitamins and nutrients. The spinach nutritional benefits are one of the absolute most powerful approaches to attaining this other level of being full. This is by far the healthiest and most beneficial methodology of achieving satiation that you could ever imagine. If you are seriously interested in controlling your appetite then eating green foods like kale and spinach is the total way to go. 

OK, so, whether you've watched your Saturday morning cartoons or not I imagine you are beginning to realize why spinach nutritional benefits are one of the top metabolism boosters and beyond. If you only eat spinach for it’s ability to keep you full and satiated then there is nothing wrong with that. However, just put a big smile on your face in knowing that you will be taking part in a wide variety of extra positive side benefits.

[Metabolism Booster]