Week 32, Saturday, Diet with Dianna

Psalm 23:1-3 The LORD is my shepherd.
I will always have everything I need.
He gives me green pastures to lie in.
He leads me by calm pools of water.
He restores my strength.
He leads me on right paths to show that he is good.

Rut, rut, rut...I feel like I'm spinning my wheels and going nowhere fast. I feel like I have lost my enthusiasm and drive. It seems that Satan is throwing food in my face; temptation is everywhere.  I feel physically robbed. Today, was not a good day. I didn't sleep well last night and today my allergies were annoying me. I thought I had gotten over this and today it seemed to be coming back.

PRAYER! PRAYER! THANKSGIVING! PRAISE! This is what my Spirit urged me to do today. So, I spent about several hours in Bible study and listening to praise music and worshiping God! I closed my bedroom door and just captured the Holiness of the Lord. I needed to take the focus off of me and my circumstances and put them on the Lord. He is my strength and refuge. Later in the day I dressed for church and went to participate in BIG worship. I could feel my Spirit reviving and bubbling and moving. Even though my body is sore and exhausted, my spirit has been recharged. I know I can do anything through Christ who strengthens me.

My family is a great support system too. If not for them, I would have failed by now. I know that I can lean on them for motivation and engorgement. Not mere words but participating with me in walking. They, like the Lord, are restoration. I know that tomorrow I will be ready to resist to temptations, tackle exercise and get out an walk. I will be a success at eating well!

No exercise today. I rested my physical body but I exercised my mind and Spirit in the Lord!

Menu:

• Small bowl of oats, toast, egg, turkey sausage, and coffee.
• Turkey, spinach, basil pesto, and balsamic vinaigrette dressing, and a few chips
• Asparagus and yellow squash, whole wheat toast.
• Cutie mandarin orange and chai tea. 

Week 32, Friday, Diet with Dianna

Isaiah 40:31 But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

Gorgeous, beautiful, warm day. I stayed home most of the day today, however, I didn't just sit around doing nothing. First, I fixed breakfast for myself, my daughter and son. Then I walked the dog. Next I got in my car and drove down to the local auto store for some two stroke engine oil. Then back home to blow leaves and then mulch leaves. Whew! My son and I finished up in a couple of hours. I got some good exercise. I'm glad I've been working out. My arms didn't get fatigued holding the leaf blower, like they used to.
When I was finished I looked like "Pigpen" from Charlie Brown. As I walked I left a trail of dust and dirt.
I showered and spent the rest of the day was catching up on emails, and laundry.

Exercise:
Walked 1.5 mi
Mowed & blowed leaves.
I even kettlebelled before I went to bed! I had so much energy today. Wow!

Today's Menu:
Fried egg, turkey sausage, toast, coffee
Small bowl of chili and diet coke zero
Small bowl of chili with added mixed veggies & water
Three mini Famous Amos chocolate chip cookies and a cup of coffee.



Successful weight loss stories at SparkPeople.com

Week 32, Thursday, Diet with Dianna

Wow! Great day! Stayed busy most of the day. I did eat well. Woke up late but grabbed a piece of toast and coffee as we ran out the door. Later I baked cookies for the family and made two pots of chili. One with beans (I like the beans) and some without beans (my men folk like it bean-less). OH, so Dee-Lish-Ous!!!!! Good winter comfort food!  It was good and spicy, which made my nose water.


Exercised:
Kettlebell
Did not walk.


Revelation Knowledge:
Psalm 139:13 & 14  You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!




Even though we may change our eating habits, we still have cravings for unhealthy foods. Here is a testimony from a girl who replaced her cravings for food to Cravings for Jesus and gained control over her fleshly desires:

After having lost 60 pounds through exercise and changes in diet, I knew I still had not conquered my addiction to food and I privately feared that I would gain the weight back. Despite my physical success, I still fell prey to desires for the sugary treats and unhealthy meals. During a session at a health conference at my church, the speaker (Dr. Celeste Owens) mentioned... spiritual malnutrition. I can’t thank God enough for the book and for Lysa.Made to Crave has changed my life. I’m now down 75 pounds, with a goal to take off a total of 120 pounds. I know that each choice I make determines my victory or defeat. I tell everyone about this book. Even my trainer (a male) is reading it! — Vanessa T.  http://madetocrave.org/success-stories/

Today's Menu:
Toast and coffee (on the run).
Jason's Deli: Salad bar (I measured out 3 cups total salad and topping) Carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumbers, red onion, apples, nuts, raisins, feta cheese, spinach leaves, and romaine. Oil & Vinegar dressing. :D
Bowl of homemade chili (three beans and ground turkey) DEE-LISH!
Spiced Pumpkin cookie and coffee for a late snack.

Week 32, Wednesday, Diet with Dianna

Tuesday. I did a good workout tonight with the kettlebell. Wow, I was huffing and puffing! It felt good to heat up. The room was slightly chilled, but after I got moving I quickly shed my sweater and ran for the shower afterward. 


I haven't weighed and won't until Monday night. I know that the workouts, walking, and good healthy eating will pay off!!!! I like watching the scales go down to lower numbers. 


Support: 
It is a great idea to find a support friend or friends to help you stay accountable for your new lifestyle. Don't do it alone. Plan to succeed. Here is one way I stay accountable and encourage myself/motivation:

• I have been reading a website by Lysa TerKeurst and her "Made to Crave" Daily Devotionals. She offers great spiritual uplifting for living a better life Craving God and not food. Here is a link to her website. Lysa TerKeurst

"Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food." Romans 14:20a (NIV)

 By Lysa TerKeurst: Excerpt from: Made to Crave:

Old thought patterns: "I need these chips. I deserve this ice cream. I must have that extra large portion."
New thought patterns:Chips will only taste good for the moment. But the calories are empty and will do nothing good for my body. 2 Corinthians 7:1 reminds me, "...Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit... out of reverence for God." (NIV 1984)
This ice cream will give me a sugar high but then I'll crash and feel terrible. Psalm 34:8...reminds me to get into God's Word and let it satisfy the deep hungry places of my soul, "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." (NIV 1984)
This extra large portion will overstuff me and make me feel sluggish. I can't look to this food to soothe me. Psalm 34:5 says, "Those who look to [God] are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame." (NIV 1984)
Learning to do this has been a process that I have to intentionally choose day after day. Eventually, I did lose the extra weight I needed to shed and have kept it off. But the real reward was what I gained with Jesus in the process. He became the best part of my journey. And I wouldn't have missed this new found closeness I now have with Him for anything in the world.
Dear Lord, if this devotion is a call to action that I need to make, please help me. I want to see the root of my issue, I really do. I want to learn to crave and depend on only You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Today, on Lysa's devotional there were a few great helpful hints and questions:

• Keep a pocket sized notebook nearby all of this week. Every time you crave food, ask yourself if you are hungry or if you are craving something else like comfort or peace. Write down your old thought patterns and then rewrite them using new thought patterns.
• Have I learned to let God satisfy my deepest needs?
• What is one healthy choice I can make today?
• Power Verses:
  Romans 14:17, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit..." (NIV)
  Psalm 18:1, "I love you, O LORD, my strength." (NIV 1984)

Week 32, Tuesday, Diet with Dianna

Titus 2:11-12 NIV, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions (and I believe that it also means cravings for food, too), and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” 

Well, I'm down a pound so I'm headed in the right direction. I hate that I am having to backtrack through to the weight I had already lost, but at least I'm going down.  Day before yesterday I exercised. Yesterday I was sore...today I am REALLY sore. AHHH! Exercising was not fun and rather painful! I know it will do me a lot of good, though. Walking was at a slower pace because my groin muscles are very sore.

Well, I woke up too late to get in my exercise for the morning. I kettlebelled tonight. It all worked out, thankfully. BUT, I did get my devotional/Bible study completed for day three, this morning.

Last night I made two loaves of bread. One was white bread and the other was whole wheat. They turned out beautiful! Mrs. Baird would be so proud. The house smelled heavenly.  I was so tempted to eat a slice as they came out of the oven, but I resisted. I did, however, eat a slice for breakfast with my coffee this morning and it was worth the wait! It was soooo good!  I wish you could sample a piece. It is so much better than store bought bread and so easy to make!

I will put the recipe here for those of you that would like to try and make some. NOTE: Once you make it, you will be hooked and will have to make more, guaranteed!

No-Knead Whole Wheat Bread
                                                                                                                                                                                                     Yield: 1 loaf of bread (16 slices)If you've never baked homemade yeast bread, but want to learn how, start here. Unlike most yeast breads, this one isn’t kneaded; instead, the soft dough is simply beaten in a bowl for several minutes, and then scooped into a bread pan. Ninety minutes later, it’s ready to pop into the oven and bake. The result: A dense, moist, easy-to-slice loaf; Ideal for sandwiches!Ingredients:
1 cup      lukewarm water, (approximately 110°F).
¼ cup      (2 ounces) orange juice
¼ cup      (2 ounces) melted butter or vegetable oil (do not use margarine)
3 Tablespoons      molasses (or maple syrup)
1 package              (2 teaspoons instant dry yeast)
¼ cup                      whole milk or soy milk
3 cups                    (12 ¾ ounces) Premium 100 % whole wheat flour ( I use King Arthur brand)
1 teaspoon            sea salt 

Supplies:

1.       Non-Stick cooking spray or vegetable shortening

2.       Stand mixer with large mixing bowl, and paddle attachment

3.       Measuring cups and measuring spoons

4.       1 bread loaf pan

5.       Plastic wrap and one large piece of aluminum foil

6.       Instant read thermometer

7.       Hot pads or mittens

8.       Large spoon or scraping spatula

9.       One gallon-size, zipper style, storage bag and paper towels.

Directions:

1.       Add the yeast to the water and let it stand for 5 minutes. Set aside and work on the next step.

2.       Thoroughly and liberally grease a bread loaf pan (8 ½” x 4 ½”) It is very important to grease the pan well, as this bread tends to stick.

3.       Combine all of the wet ingredients into a very large mixing bowl or a large stand mixer bowl.

4.       Add all the remaining dry ingredients next.

5.       Beat on very low speed at first, then on a medium/high speed for 3 minutes. (If you are hand stirring, make sure to have a friend nearby because your arm will get very tired).

6.       THE DOUGH IS STICKY SO SPRAY YOUR HANDS WITH NON-STICK SPRAY BEFORE HANDLING THE DOUGH. Scoop or pour the bread dough in to the prepared loaf pan. 

7.       Spray a large piece of plastic wrap with non-stick spray and cover loosely over the bread and set it in a warm place to rise. The dough will  rise up over the top of the bread pan.

8.       Let rise for 45 to 90 minutes (until the dough has risen up above the top of the pan)…do not skip this step.

9.       Preheat the oven to 350°F, if using a glass baking dish (325°F for a dark metal pan). Bake for 15 minutes.

10.    Remove with hand protection and tent the bread with aluminum foil, and replace into the oven for an additional 15 – 20 minutes.

11.    The bread is actually done when an instant read thermometer temperature reaches 195°F

12.    Remove from the oven. Turn oven off. Set the bread on a wire rack, in the pan and let it rest for 5 minutes.

13.    With hand protection, invert the loaf pan and place the bread on a wire rack to cool. Let the bread cool completely before slicing.

14.    Store any remaining bread wrapped in paper towels and then placed in a zipper style bag for up to 1 week at room temperature, or 2 weeks in the refrigerator.