Week 44, Saturday, Diet with Dianna

Ecclesiastes 5:16-18 16 This too is a grievous evil:   As everyone comes, so they depart,
and what do they gain,
since they toil for the wind?
All their days they eat in darkness,
with great frustration, affliction and anger.This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them—for this is their lot.

I am taking a week off from blogging. I have some spiritual self examining to do. I hope that when I come back, you will be still willing to read my blog.


Make good eating choices, exercise, and live for God...not man. Man will let you down, but 
Deuteronomy 31:8 says, "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you norforsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Week 43, Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012, Diet with Dianna

Luke 24 36-42 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
40 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.41 But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” 42 So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.43 And He took it and ate in their presence.

Thank you Jesus for your supreme sacrifice! Praise God! Eternal Life is for all who believe!
Now be baptized in Spirit and flesh. Follow Him [Jesus]. Love one another! Let us be bold and share the Good News with all who will hear! 

Week 44, Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday

Romans 12:10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Where have I been? Where did the days go? I have been so busy I forgot to blog! Ahh! 
I like blogging and I don't know where my head has been? I think it is so very important for me to blog...not for the sake of having someone read this blog, but for myself. Writing about my day and the foods I eat, and my feelings is such a HUGE help! It sort of helps me be accountable, knowing that someone might read what I ate for the day.


I don't want to have to confess that I ate like a pig and blew my diet...healthy eating plan...
I haven't been exercising like a should. Shameful, I know. I have put other things in place of my exercise. Sleeping, watching my favorite programs...which I could easily exercise while watching those...lazy! IT's time to get my butt back in gear! 


I really dislike the humid weather and the fact that it is rapidly getting hotter outside. I so enjoy the cooler weather...NOT COLD weather, just cooler temperatures. The extreme temps are just not exciting and, if I'm not careful, I use that as an excuse to skip the walking! 


NO! Hot or cold...I have to walk. Tired or not, I have to exercise! No one can do it for me. I am a failure or a success of my own volition. I cannot complain if my diet stalls because I have been lazy or eating the wrong foods!


SO, I am getting back on track. By the way, I have lost two more pounds, so I haven't really been doing so bad. BUT, I will not let the old bad habits creep back in. NO!


Memo to me:

1. Make good, healthy food choices
2. Eat small portions
3. Exercise - Aerobically
4. Exercise - Muscle strengthening
5. Don't allow poor choices to get back into my NEW lifestyle!
6. Give God all the glory!
7. Be grateful
8. Love my family
9. Love my friends
10. Love my neighbors
11. Love strangers
12. Love my enemies! 

Week 43, Friday through Sunday, Diet with Dianna

Easter is almost here! Christians recognize Jesus’ resurrection every day, but once a year the church sets aside Easter for a special celebration of everything that Jesus’ death and resurrection means for us.Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, the first day of Holy Week—the period of time beginning with Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem and ending with his death and resurrection. [www.BibleGateway.com]

********

Friday, I was out all day running errands and then hurriedly dressed for girls night out at Bass Performance Hall to see the Broadway Musical, "Mary Poppins". We arrived two hours early, parked, then walked 7 city blocks to P.F. Chang's for dinner! My daughter and I had the four course dinner for two. My youngest sister and mother went also. After dinner, we walked at a brisk pace, in dress shoes, back to the parking garage to store the leftovers then over to the Theater where we climbed a lot of stairs to get to our seats. Even though we were on the main floor, we still had to climb stairs. Then the lady's bathroom was down two fights of stairs! Ugh! I'm thankful for the exercise, but I should have had on my walking shoes! [I ate very well at dinner...no rice, only protein and veggies; I gave my dessert away!]

Let me just say that I was transformed, in my mind's eye, back to a little girl of three years old. I felt giddy and so thrilled as I was entranced with the entire show. I simply had a grand time! The musical's story followed the book rather than the popular Disney classic movie. However, the music was just the same with a few original scores specifically written just for the original Broadway musical.

What a fabulous show! I was just amazed with the scenery and the rapid scene changes that magically and seamlessly transformed before my eyes. The actors were superb and the singing was top notch and the music was over the top! Truly a grand show! I teared up as the main actor that played Mary Poppins flew off the stage at the end...and I was again transformed back to reality and adulthood once again!
 

Evanne, Carrie, Mary Poppins, Me, Britt 

As an extra added treat, I was just so blessed to have my picture taken with my daughter, Sister, Mother and Mary Poppins. Happy times!
P.S. Please notice in the photo, even without knowing, we lined up in order of our height.

Saturday:Just a day of lazing around until time for worship service! WOW! Pastor Robert Morris gave us such an awesome word from the Lord! The praise time was such an spiritually uplifting time. I hated for it to stop. We also took communion, which I was blessed enough to be able to help serve. So Cool!

EXERCISE: Resistance bands...my back was sore on Sunday!
MENU: No breakfast...I got up too late
Lunch: Hamburger and fries from Five Guys Burger and Fries
Dinner: None, but I had a Soy Vanilla Frappe - sugar free
Snack: Nuts and raisins

Sunday: Another day of hanging at home, but not such a lazy day. Went for a long walk, ate breakfast, started the laundry, watched my sweet, sacrificing husband mow the yard--thanks sweetheart-- baked two cakes [going to be making wedding cake balls this week], a batch of cookies for my family, and dinner. WHEW!

EXERCISE: 2.5 mi walk! Felt so good!
MENU: eggs and sausage sandwich & Coffee {my family ate donuts and I ate donut ball}
NO LUNCH but I ate a snack of 50 calorie yogurt with nuts and raisins.
Dinner: Whole wheat tortilla pizza with basil pesto, baby spinach, and low fat skim mozzarella cheese.
Snack: Snack size Redenbacher Kettle Corn


Great eating and good exercising!

Week 37, Friday, Diet with Dianna

Romans 14:19-12a “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to PEACE and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.”

Frustration...I have to give it to God!
Boredom...I must focus on others and not myself. Crave God not food.
Anger...release it and let God handle every emotional situation.
Sadness & Comfort...The Joy of the Lord is my strength...Your rod and staff comfort me...I lie down beside still waters...be still and know that I am God.


Today was a great day and I was able to resist temptations to eat too much. The food was so delicious I didn't want to stop, even when I started to fill full. It was there, staring at me, calling...no, screaming out my name; I stopped and my hand was poised over morsel of food! I heard a stern voice in my head reasonably and calmly say, "Dianna, you know this is not your last meal? You know that there is more where that came from? How about you relinquish your desire to overeat and give it to me?" (This was the Holy Spirit speaking to me inside my head.)  


I didn't want to listen and felt a stubborn, rebellious urge start to bubble up inside of me, my hand moved closer to the food...then the Holy Spirit quoted the Word inside my head (I highlighted the parts that were pointed out to me.: 

2 Timothy 3:1-9 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.

I snatched back my hand as if it were burning. Now, that is one way to nip the cravings of unhealthy habits in the bud! Thank you Lord for correcting me. I am so glad that I chose to listen. I give God all the glory!

Week 36, Monday, Diet with Dianna

Scripture Verse for today:

James 1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

Triumphs in my choices will produce many blessings.

Tips for Successful Weight Loss

1. Minimize or avoid the following three white foods – salt, sugar and processed flour. Cut back on the sodium and other additives and preservatives, reduce the amount of sugared goods you eat and the amount of sugar you add to your tea and coffee, and stay away from those breads, pastas and cakes that load the fat on to your body and see how easy it is to lose weight and get fit.
2. Exercise moderately four days a week. You don’t have to go all out and strain yourself; it’s enough even if you walk for an hour or so whenever you find time. If you’re working out for a longer period of time or for more than four days a week, you must rest your aching and sore muscles and joints on at least one day of the week if you want to avoid injuries.
3. Ensure that you get at least six hours of sleep every night. A sound sleep is your body’s natural healing mechanism and when you deprive yourself of this, you’re not doing your health any favors.

EXERCISE AT HOME FOR FREE!

If you don’t have a lot of spending money for exercise equipment, try these things that are probably just lying around your house! Who needs expensive gym equipment or membership fees? Try these crafty ideas for homemade exercise equipment:

1. Take two large men's tube socks, fill each sock with one or two pounds of beans, or rice, or 1 lb. soup cans. Tie the tops of the socks to each other. Now you have a nice 2 to 4 lb. weight. Use like a kettlebell or dumbbell.
2. My husband carries around a small computer bag and it weighs about 10 pounds. Because computer bags usually have handles, these can be great for exercises like bicep curls, lateral raises or one-armed rows. Small duffel bags with handles can be filled with books and used for lower body exercises like squats, lunges and dead-lifts.
3. Stairs...if you live in a two story house then you have a built in stair master. During your exercise routine, climb your stairs in sets of three, two times. This should get your heart rate pumping and your leg muscles burning. Be careful!
4. If you don’t have stairs in your house then you probably have a curb next to the street or a step to enter your house. This is your stair workout: 20—30 reps of stepping up and back down, alternating your feet, for 3 sets of 25 to 40.
5. Bungee cords. Who doesn't have some of these in their garage or trunk of your car? They make great resistant bands for your work out routines.  Hook them together and then pull and release. 3 sets of 12. They are good for your arms and legs. Double up by using two sets of bungee cords for the leg exercises!

Recipe—Supercharged Cleansing Meal Replacement

If you haven’t been feeling quite like yourself lately, you might try replacing one meal about once a week with a green detox juice drink to get back on track. It is power packed with natural antioxidants and fiber.

If you lack a good juicer, you can use a blender. Vegetables are often hard to digest but the blender does it for you! Plus you get the benefit of extra fiber. Consistency is sometimes a problem, but you can fix that as you become more accustomed to your blender.

If you cannot find fresh kale at your grocer, you may substitute it with either cabbage or collard greens (since they are in the same family). Fresher taste better and older taste bitter. Wash all leaves just prior to blending.

Walnut Apple Green Cleansing Juice
Makes approx. 20 oz.

1 small handful walnuts

1 large seeded green apple

1 stalk celery

½ cucumber, peeled

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

3 medium kale leaves

10 seedless green grapes

Filtered water (until desired consistency)

Week 35, Day 7, Diet with Dianna

EMPOWER yourself through the word of God.

Prayer for today:

Dear Lord,

Even when I don't understand your ways, I can find joy in Your protection, Your provision, Your ways. I depend on Your strength today to help me to make GREAT healthy choices. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN.

Scripture Verse for today:James 1: 12-15 (NLT) God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

QUOTE:I crave what I eat. The more I provide my body with healthy foods, the more I crave healthy foods. (Made to Crave - by Lysa Terkeurst)

Tips for Success!

We live in a busy time and we cannot always prepare our meals. Time and Convenience are HUGE factors in our eating habits. Here are a few tips to help you make better choices.

• If you eat a hamburger, choose the Junior burger. You don’t skimp on flavor, however you are getting a much smaller portion. You can cut the calories in half by choosing smaller portions.
• DON’T purchase the ‘Value size’ meal. You might be saving money but you are getting EXTRA calories!  
• Instead, eat the junior size value meal or just order the junior hamburger and ask for extra lettuce, 
• Skip the mayonnaise and sauces. Mustard is the better choice, OR try using salad dressing: Balsamic Vinaigrette or Italian for your Hamburger. 
• HEY! SKIP the fries! You don’t need them. Try ordering a small side salad or fruit cup. Most fast food restaurants have some kind of fruit for the kids meals.

EXERCISE TIPS:

• Get a buddy to walk with you.  It is more fun to walk and talk!
• Have your spouse or friend drive you out 1 mile from home and walk back. As you become more fit and trim, have your friend drop you off at 2 miles out. Increase it up to 5 miles.
• Don’t have any weights for strength training? Use 2 cans of  beans, the one pound size cans.  Get two heavy cotton tube socks. Place one can in each sock. Knot the two socks together at the top. Now grip the sock at the knot and lift your way to toner muscles!  HINT: as you progress, the 2 lbs. will become too easy, so add two, 1 lb. cans to each sock and tie the tops of the socks together in a knot.
• PLANK—this is a very tough exercise but with practice it is a GREAT muscle toner. Follow the link to get the proper way to do this exercise: Plank Demonstration NOTE: the first time I did this exercise I could only do it for 5 seconds. It is hard but with practice you will be able to work up to one minute.

Exercise:

I walked 3.4 miles. (We ate lunch at Cici's Pizza. My eldest son drove us there and after we ate, he drove home, but my husband, myself, and my other two grown kids walked home! WHEW there were a lot of big hills!) It took us a little under an hour to walk it!)

Kettlebells: 30 minutes

Today's Menu:

Slept til 11 a.m. (I didn't go to bed until 3:30 a.m.) Saturday evening is our worship time so I have the great privilege to sleep late on Sunday mornings!)

Lunch: Cici's Pizza

Dinner:

1 egg omelet with turkey, basil, Parmesan cheese. 

a few baby carrots - so sweet and delicious! 

Snack:

Lemon cookie and coffee!!!! YUM!

I like Friday! Week 24, Diet with Dianna

Fun Friday! Whoo-hoo. Did some volunteer computer work, ate breakfast, got dressed, did a little more volunteer computer work, and then headed off to work on some book edits and lunch. After lunch the car would not start...well it actually made the cranking noise, but wasn't getting any fuel. Uh, oh! Called a tow truck and it is sitting at our mechanic's garage. Possible fuel pump or fuel sensor (in most Ford Product that are the Crown Victoria, Mercury Marquis and similar cars). WE just replaced the entire fuel tank assembly last summer. Ford thought that the fuel pump and tank should all be one unit....therefore it all has to be replaced when it fails! BOO-HISS! Mean ol' Ford!  This Grand Marquis was a FREE gift from my Grandfather for us to drive, since we didn't have a car. I'm not complaining, mind you, but I don't really like (nor would I purposefully purchase) FORD products...

The day was, absolutely gorgeous, windy, partly cloudy, and cool. We stood outside waiting for the tow truck and my husband that was on his way from the other side of town to rescue us from the parking lot. The tow truck driver, Charlie, was so very kind. His truck cab only seated two additional riders, therefore, one of our party would have been stranded. He waited with us until our ride showed up. We followed him to the garage and our mechanic met us out front..."This doesn't look good..." he says to me. We laugh and he already had a bay cleared for our car to be pushed into. ~Side note: we spend a lot of time and money with this mechanic. My husband is a very gifted man and perfectly capable of doing the repairs, but chooses not to when we have a mechanic that will do it for nearly peanuts and he has all the employees and tools, and lifts, and the such.

We also use this opportunity to be a witness to him for Christ. He was raised in a Buddhist family. He no longer follows the Buddhist ways, but he doesn't follow any thing. He is such a kind, honest and caring person. We would love for him to join us in eternity! I don't know why our car has been attacked with malfunctioning, but we are God's tools and He will provide for the expense of repairs! No worries!

Revelation Knowledge:
Sitting in the car, listening to the engine turning but not getting fuel reminded me of dieting. We diet and sometimes forget that our bodies need fuel. Not enough of the right kind of fuel (nutrition) and our bodies will get tired quickly and begin to hurt and our brain gets fuzzy...putt-putt-sputter-blahhhh.

Too much fuel and we get bogged down, tired quickly, gasping for air, needing to pull over for frequent pit stops...equally bad.

Eating and exercising is just like maintenance on your vehicle. Add in the right type of fuel, right air pressure in the tires, regular preventative maintenance, and it will last for a long time. That's the way it is for our bodies, too.

Eat the right kinds of food, exercise, and regular checkups and our bodies will last for a long, long time.

Scripture:Isaiah 40:28-31: The LORD is the everlasting God,    the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary,    and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary    and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary,    and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD    will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles;    they will run and not grow weary,    they will walk and not be faint.

Today's Menu:
One egg-fried, two turkey sausage patties, coffee

Half a Schlotzsky's Small Original Sandwich and a few Jalapeno chips.

Saltgrass Steakhouse - small dinner salad, one slice of bread, and some fried mushrooms! DEE-LISH!

Week 24, Thursday, Diet with Dianna

OH MY! I started at 7:30 a.m. and haven't stopped yet. 2:18 a.m. I am so tired. I had so much to do and it still isn't finished. I give up for today. I didn't have time to walk, but I did Kettlebell for 15 minutes. My arms, legs, rib cage and ankles...yes ankles are sore today. I really worked hard on the kb yesterday. I didn't work nearly as hard because my muscles were not happy.  My rib cage is sore the most....come on sculpted bod!!!

These are not diet food!

My daughter and I did baking/candy making and some then crafts to make some Christmas banners today. WHEW! Labor intensive on the CakePops, cake balls, and then the fairly simple on the Christmas banners.
I only tasted a small bite of my husbands cakeball. It was so good but way too sweet for me! This is such a strange phenomenon to not want to eat all the sweet stuff...Its satisfying to be able to easily resist! Thank the Lord!















I ate well...
Breakfast:
Egg
Turkey Sausage
Coffee

Lunch:
Jason's Deli Salad  (My favorite)
I did eat one mini cornbread and one mini gingerbread muffin.


Dinner;
Single beef taco.
Diet Coke

No snacks...just too busy.

Tomorrow....don't worry about tomorrow!

God is good and I am very blessed!

Week 23, FRIDAY! Diet with Dianna

Friday already! Wow, where did my week go? I hardly even remember the week passing. I need to slow down and smell the flowers. 


Today was an excellent day. I got in some book edits and got groceries for the week. I like to plan my meals in advance...less chance of not having good choices to eat. Even though I am dieting, my family still eats cookies and chips...those are always lying around for temptation. Yuck!  It's sort of like having a stocked bar in the house of an alcoholic. DANGEROUS!


Revelation Knowledge: Temptation:  Wikipedia's definition of temptation:

 A temptation is an act that looks appealing to an individual. It is usually used to describe acts with negative connotations and as such, tends to lead a person to regret such actions, for various reasons: legal, social, psychological (including feeling guilt), health, economic, etc. Temptation also describes the coaxing or inducing a person into committing such an act, by manipulation or otherwise of curiosity, desire or fear of loss.

Temptation is all around, at every corner, every table, every where we go. Just visit any store and there is sugary foods lining the checkout lines. Yesterday I was walking through Sears, with my beautiful daughter, and there were MEGA chocolate candy sitting in the middle of the main walking aisles, at the bottom and top of both escalators and at each entrance/exit. SEARS!!!!

2 POUNDS OF PEANUT BUTTER CUPS! YIKES!

TEMPTATION IS IN A SEARS DEPARTMENT STORE!!!!!

OVER 2 POUNDS OF SUGARY CHOCOLATE! IS THIS REALLY NECESSARY???? REALLY????

  Is this really necessary? When is this too much? Have you seen the people of America? The majority of Americans are overweight. Dibetes and Heart Disease are at an all time high! The pharmaceutical companies are making billions of dollars from overweight diseased Americans. This is horrible and part of the issue is the availability of such temptation at every checkout, on half of the television and radio commercials, and more. Is it any wonder that the diet industry is making as much, if not more, than the pharmaceutical companies?


  GOOD NEWS! I have something that most people don't. I have the support of my family, friends and most of all, GOD! I would fail if it weren't for the strength that I receive and take from the Holy Scriptures; God's Word.

 I Corinthians 10: 13, No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Desperation breeds temptation and if grabbed, failure. The times that I am at my weakest, or when I've waited too long to eat, that is when I am vulnerable to temptation. I have learned to prepare for such occurrences and carry small snacks in my purse and car...acceptable snacks that provide me an escape from the temptations. I also call upon the Word of God that is written in my heart. And only that can happen IF I have prepared with study and memorization and prepared for such temptations. Only the Lord has the power had provided the strength to get me through these dangerous temptations. Even the Lord Jesus was tempted after fasting for 40 days in the dessert. Jesus didn't even have water during his fasting in the desert and the Devil used Jesus' weakness to tempt him into failure and regret. Jesus called upon the Words of the Father. It is our example on how to handle any sort of temptation...any kind! I use it here for the cravings and weak times -- times when I am hungry and vulnerable to diet dangerous temptations!


Thank you Lord for your word and for your examples. Thank you for providing an escape from ALL temptations. I give you all the praise and Glory! AMEN!


EXERCISE:
No kettlebells
Yes, I walked about 2.5 miles


Food:
Usual breakfast...see past posts
Lunch - Salad with turkey, cheese, and hard boiled egg w/little dressing on the side and a coffee with one pump squirt of sugar free vanilla and half & half.
Dinner - Whopper JUNIOR with all the veggies! A few fries.....and a diet coke. YUM!!!!
Snack: A few corn chex cereal baked with worcestershire sauce, seasonings and butter.  OH! DELICIOUS!!! and some homemade sugar free HOT COCOA!


The Lord is good to me!