Week 44, Tuesday, Diet with Dianna

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”Romans 10:9-10 NIV

Our dishwasher officially quit working yesterday. I did some shopping and internet research yesterday and today. I finally decided on a brand and style. I printed out the information and found the best price in town by using the internet. I took my printout with me to the store and it is a good thing I did. The price displayed on the 'mega-store's' web site was $100 less than the advertised price in the store! It was a good thing I took the printout with me because the mega-store matched the price...even though they are one and the same company. Strange!!!!! I saved a hundred bucks by shopping online and printing out my comparisons. 


God is so good. I listened to the Holy Spirit tell me to print out the web page with the unit model and price...I stuffed it in my purse as I ran out the door. I felt kind of silly toting in my paper when the salesman approached. I told him exactly what I wanted and he looked at me funny. He showed me the unit and then that's when I noticed the price difference. I questioned him about it and he asked me if I had proof of the price difference. YEP! I handed it to him and he asked, "But is this current? When did you print this out? It's probably out of date." he said sort of smugly. NOPE! I pointed to the date on the top of the printout!


HOORAY! I got the lower price!  Even though I had to buy a new dishwasher, I got the bargain price! Thank you GOD!!!!


*****************
Yesterday when I was out shopping, we had stopped for lunch and getting back in the car I noticed that both drink cup holders were full of other things. I quickly stuck my drink between my thighs. WHAT!? WAIT!!!! Hello! The realization finally made it to my brain. HEY! DIANNA! Your legs have thinned down enough that you can hold a drink cup between your thighs! Imagine that! Wow! 


Yes, a thin person is probably shaking their head. Only a person that has lugged extra weight around for a long time could understand this excitement. Only a person who once had thunder thighs the size of small sequoia redwood trees could fathom the significance and thrill of once again being able to use her legs as a cup holder. I grinned and hummed happily to myself for a couple of hours...even though the drink was very cold and the condensation was soaking into my jeans. I left the cup there for the entire trip home.


Go me!

Week 44, Saturday & Sunday, Diet with Dianna

Psalm 145:9-13 The LORD is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. 

10 All your works praise you, LORD; 

your faithful people extol you. 

11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom 

and speak of your might, 

12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts 

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. 

13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, 

and your dominion endures through all generations.

 Wow! I had a very busy weekend. Some activities were planned and others were a surprise. I definitely did not get a lot of rest. I will have to rest this week. I won't be getting to be early, tonight. *Ugh*

Friday I ended my week with a delicious dinner with all but two of my immediate family.

Saturday was abruptly woke up when the thunder shook the windows...yuck to be awakened in a startling way...thank you Lord for your protection from the storms. Your alarm clock is a bit loud, though. Saturday was worship service and that I always a most delightful highlight of every weekend! The Word given was most excellent and uplifting. Dinner with all the family was the topper to my day.
My surprise for the day was to an impromptu home improvement activity. My folks were doing some much needed interior painting. They'd decided to do this and before we left for church I moved all the furniture to the center of the room and covered everything with blankets and vacuumed. THEN, I freshened up and dashed out the door for church.

Anyway, my folks had been painting for several hours when we arrived back from church and dinner, and they needed some assistance. My daughter and I put on our work clothes and did some touch-up paining.

Sunday, I got up and made cinnamon and orange rolls for the "guys". Britt and I had egg and toast with our coffees. Then it was off for some shopping for a baby shower gift and pick up a few grocery items. Upon our return, we took off on a walk with the dogs. OH, BEAUTIFUL day after the rain. Cool and sunny. AWESOME. Then Britt and I again dressed for some painting and finished painting the hallway walls and ceiling.
Tomorrow we tackle the trim and doors.

Great weekend and ready for the week. God is good and has so richly blessed me!

Week 44, Friday, Diet with Dianna

James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

Well, I mentioned "flabby arms blowing in the breeze" in yesterday's blog. Would you believe that there was an article about losing "Arm flab" in my email box today? The exercise is called the reclining arm press. Yeah! I can recline and exercise at the same time! No? Not that kind of reclining? Nuts! I will still have to move and exercise...duh! 


I digress...anyway, the article mentions a few more exercises for other problem areas. Check out the full article and try the moves. In the meantime I plan on exercising my Jell-O giggler arms. However, the other jumping type exercises...no way, nuh-uh! I'll just stick to walking, kettlebells, and yoga. Thanks anyway.


Have a blessed, happy, and healthy weekend! God be with you!

Week 44, Thursday Diet with Dianna

Genesis 1:27, So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

A Godly and Positive Self Image

My arms are fat. I have thunder thighs. My butt is as big as an elephant. I'd be happy if my face were thinner. I wish I didn't have a double chin. My arms flap in the breeze. I have a muffing top waist. Do any of these statements sound familiar? Are you constantly putting yourself down? As your body changes to a thinner, healthier shape, sometimes our memories of our previously fluffier self seems to stick in our memory. Lots of people have trouble forgetting their thicker appearance, and this can affect their self-esteem.

How can you stifle the mean thoughts that continue to convince you that you are fat? Let's face it, most women, (and even men but they rarely admit it), have a critical eye when they look at themselves in the mirror. Women especially who have struggled with weight sometimes have a harder time shedding the "fat girl" image. What can you do to quiet the unhealthy thoughts that creep into your mind?

Well first let me say that worrying over your physical appearance can ad stress to your physical body. Just the day to day challenges are hard enough without adding your own mental beatings about your physical appearance. To boot, medical researchers have found that women who fret over their weight release the hormone, cortisol, which can raise your blood pressure, lower bone density, add unhealthy belly fat and even cause menstrual problems. Over a longer period of time it may cause even more physical damage.

The answer is to take those thoughts captive (2 Corinthians 10:5) and replace them with the Love of God. We are made in the image of God. When you criticize yourself, you are criticizing the Lord's perfect creation. He loves you, not for your physical appearance, but for the condition of your heart. The whole reason you are dieting should be to gain better health. Losing weight is a by-product of making better choices. Focusing on so called physical flaws is Satan's attempt to get you to lose your focus on God's unconditional love. If you are worried, or sad, or angry about your physical appearance, then you are probably going to have a horrible attitude and even possibly lash out at a co-worker, child, husband, or even a stranger. 

No amount of worrying is going to change your immediate appearance. Instead you should turn your heart and mind towards the Lord and give him praise for your health, family, jobs, house, food, friends and more! Use that negative energy and turn it into good. Give someone a hug, call a friend and encourage them, go for a walk, write an encouraging email to a co-worker...It may seem a bit “Kumbaya,” but this mental adjustment and focusing on others will improve your self-image! When you give love to others your inner self is rewarded with a fulfilling joy and happiness and that has a positive effect on your physical appearance.

Remember, you are a "Godly creation". You are worthy. You are beautiful. Let Jesus shine from within and your physical appearance will change too! Others will see your inner beauty which will totally overpower any physical flaws that you think you might have. Really! It's a biblical principle.

Week 44, Tuesday, Diet with Dianna

“When we were utterly helpless [sinners], Christ came at just the right time and died for us. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:6-8 NLT

What is in your refrigerator? 

Have you really changed your unhealthy eating habits? Well, you think you have but with further investigating you might still be harboring foods that could sabotage your weight loss. Believe it when I say that a higher fat content is better for you than lower fat...the added sugar is much worse for you than the fat. Limit your serving sizes and enjoy the extra fat. REALLY! Take a tour through your fridge and remove the diet dangerous foods.

Here is my list of Better Food Choices to stock in your fridge.

FRIDGE:

Mustard

REAL mayonnaise 

Dill pickles 

Soy or Almond Milk

Cream or half & half

Butter (avoid margarines and diet butters they are full of fake ingredients and sugars).

Fresh baby spinach

Cheese (swiss, cheddar, mozzarella, gorganzola)

Eggs or Egg whites (Free Range, cage free, organic feed) Pricer but nutritiously better!

Sugar free syrup

Low sugar or sugar free jam/jelly

Italian salad dressing (low fat usually has added sugar)

Fresh strawberries, blueberries

garlic

basil

onion (scallions, whole yellow & white)

Bay leaves

Worcestershire sauce

grape tomatoes

sweet potatoes

carrots

broccoli sprouts

sunflower seeds & almonds

Fiber One 50 calorie yogurt (5 grams sugar)

Soybee Zero or Lifewater Zero (sweetened with Stevia)

FREEZER:

Whole wheat waffles (freezer) (whole wheat is better than regular and lower in sugars)

Chicken (boneless, skinless, breast...freezer)

Fish (freezer...look for wild or Alaskan -- Farm raised are not as nutritious)

Mixed veggies

Broccoli

Peas

Brussel Sprouts

Green beans

Turkey Sausage (regular sausage is higher in fat but is still okay).

lean ground beef

Lean steak

Pecans/nuts

85% chocolate bar from Lindt

Foods to AVOID:

Anything labeled low fat or fat free are usually full of added sugars

yogurts (very high in sugars) Plain is better and much lower in sugar, but who like plain?

grapes are very high in sugars

beer

juices

Milk: 2%, 1%, fat free, Whole (too high in sugar)

margarines and diet margarines

salad dressings are full of added sugars (oil and vinegar dressings are ideal)

Apple sauce (VERY HIGH IN SUGAR and fructose)

jellies & jams

Ketchup

Salsa (make your own...it better for you and so easy).

syrup

sweet pickles

low fat or fat free mayonnaise

Sodas/Pop (Too much sugar)

Energy drinks (TOO much sugar)

Diet Soda/Diet Pop (artificial sugar is equally bad, but it is free of sugar and calories).

Limit your fruit (higher sugar content)

Processed meats

Processed breads

Ice cream

cakes & cookies

Frozen pizzas