One Week Down...Realizations and Motivation!

Seven days...I have survived!!

My body is still adjusting to the new diet, but overall, I'm actually doing pretty good.

There are still times that feel like I need to eat something...just to have something to "munch" on, but I'm working on that!  ;)

I had a realization, the other day, though!

There have been places, that I have been, in years past, that had activities where there was a weight limit.  Well, a few days ago, we went somewhere that had an activity with a weight limit...and I was below that limit!!!  I can't begin to tell you how that felt!  Talk about motivation!!

I also had another moment of extreme motivation...the weight loss I have achieved!!  Since starting this blog, nearly 3 years ago, I have kept a record of my weight, including when we started making the changes to our diets, back in 2010.  From May 2010 to October 2012, I had lost 17 pounds.  That was without really trying very hard!  We had reduced our sugar intake, totally eliminated sodas, and started eating almost zero processed foods.

From October 2012, up until seven days ago, I had lost an additional 19 pounds!  That was from eating a gluten-free/wheat-free/sugar-free diet, with limited starches.

In the week, that I have been on the elimination/detox diet, I have lost nearly 10 pounds!  Now that, is some serious motivation!!  I haven't been at this weight, for nearly 18 years!!  I'm so excited at how my body is already changing and the good things that God is doing in me, physically and spiritually!!  He is SO good!!  :)

Be Blessed!!

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

Day Six: Breaking Old Habits

I have realized that I do a lot of things, out of habit, when preparing food.  Some good...some bad...

The Bad...licking my fingers all the time!

I didn't realize how much I lick my fingers!  I have really had to restrain myself, so that I don't jeopardize my diet.  I don't want to cause any set-backs, because I have already worked so hard!  Yes, it's only the sixth day, but I have already put so much into this!

The Good...tasting food for flavoring!

UGH!!  I have never gone by a recipe, "as written."  I have always made modifications, added my own things, etc.  So, having to prepare food, for my family (that I can't eat), has been extremely challenging for me!  I have had to enlist each member, to taste, since they all have their own opinions...and then I adjust the foods, if necessary, according to an "average" evaluation of the taste!

I really don't like not knowing what I am feeding them!!  It bugs me!  I have always been the type of cook that flavors/adjusts, according to how it tastes.

So now you know a new level of my frustration.

I have also noticed that I used to just "grab" something, if I was getting hungry or wanted something to munch on.  I have been constantly having to stop myself from getting a small handful of nuts or eating a few oven roasted okra.

In a way, I guess this is good!  I didn't realize how often I would do that, but apparently, it was quite often!

I have also figured out a way to get my "required ingredients" into my daily diet, and for it to be enjoyable for me.  I tried making the "salad dressing" with the apple cider vinegar, fresh lemon juice, salt, pepper, stevia and sometimes dill.  It was good, for the first 3 days, but got old real fast!!

I've noticed that I almost like just eating my greens, like chips!  It's still part of my meal, but I can just eat them, by hand, leaf by leaf (which has actually been more satisfying)...or using the leaves as mini wraps for my meats!  I guess you could say that it has been fun, in a way!  LOL

So, I know that I need to get in my apple cider vinegar and my lemon juice, so I ended up putting them in my glass, adding a little raw honey and some stevia, and using my hand blender, I made it frothy!  This almost reminded me of a lemon soda!!  It tastes great (although, not according to my family), and I have had it as my "treat" for the last 2 days, between my lunch and dinner!!

I love how this is forcing me to be creative with my food (which I love to do), but at the same time, it has already become a little monotonous.  But, I will prevail!!

 Almost 6 days down....just 34 more to go!!  :D

Be Blessed!

Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21

Spiritual Healing

One of the things that God showed me, a few days before starting this new diet, was that not only was I cleansing and healing my physical body...but I was also cleansing and healing my spiritual body, as well!

It's amazing what He has revealed to me, spiritually, that I needed to take care of and change!

One of the biggest lessons that I have learned, so far, is to consult Him in ALL things!  Even if I think it is something trivial...it isn't trivial to God!!

If we put God first, above all else, we will be blessed by it...physically and spiritually!!

God desires to have that kind of relationship with us!!

Give Him your time...even if it's for a moment...but continually give it to Him.

Consult with Him!  Ask Him if what you are wanting to do is by the leading of the Holy Spirit or the leading of the flesh!

I know, first hand, how hard that can be...but even in our moments of His teachings, He is still glorified!

Pray!  Ask God to give you peace about what you are doing...even if it's which direction you should take to go home or whether or not you should do something for someone...ASK!

He will answer you...and you BOTH will be blessed by it!

Have a beautiful day!

And this is the confidence that we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will He hears us.
1 John 5:14

Day Four!

One of the things, that I love the most, about this new diet, is that I can drink hot tea!!  I love hot tea, and there are so many different kinds, that I can have!!  Because of the nature of the diet, though, I'm sticking to a limited number, so that I can make sure what is okay for my body and what isn't.

One of my absolute favorite teas, is Stash's White Christmas tea!  It is a peppermint-ginger white tea, that has been excellent for my tummy!

I have also discovered Pete's Hibiscus C tea, which has been a LIFE-SAVER when going to the grocery store...and it's also kind of a treat, to be able to get it at the coffee shop and sip on it, while shopping!  :)

And yesterday, I found Celestial Seasoning's Honey Vanilla Chamomile tea.  So far, so good!  I'm trying my first cup, this morning, and it is pretty good...although, I would have to say, my favorite is still the White Christmas!  LOL

Also, I started weighing in, each morning, starting on the very first day, of this elimination diet.  I was curious as to what it was doing with my body, from that perspective.

Well, as of this morning, I have lost 5 pounds!

I know what you are thinking...because I can only eat 3 different kinds of foods, I am probably starving myself...but that's not true!

I am full, after eating!  In fact, so full that I end up only eating part of it, waiting a short bit and then finishing it!

So, don't worry...I'm eating!!

Be blessed!!

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
Psalm 32:8

Another New Adventure

It's amazing how life can get so busy!!  The last time I posted, I had started doing a candida/yeast diet.  I had been on that diet, up until a few days ago.  I had totally eliminated all sugar and wheat/gluten, most grains, most dairy, and almost all starches.

Unfortunately, though, it didn't seem to matter what I "didn't" eat, I was still not feeling well and I was still having candida break-outs!  This has been extremely frustrating!  I thought I was doing all the right things, but my body just wasn't healing.  I had lost approximately 20 pounds, since October 21st, 2012, which was encouraging, but I noticed that if I indulged in some organic corn chips or a little bit of potato, I would feel really bad...and break out!

Two weeks ago, I visited with my mom, and asked her what else I could do.  She has studied nutrition and diet, for years, and has been extremely helpful, but this was past her knowledge!  Talk about frustration!  I started praying more, "God, I REALLY don't know what else to do!  I REALLY need help!!  I want to feel better and I want to be well!!"

A week later, God answered my prayers!!

I connected with a lady, that I had met, over 25 years ago!!  It turns out that she is a Health/Nutrition Coach (but I didn't know that, until later)!  We started visiting and she was asking me questions about what exactly was going on, with my body/system...so I told her!  She said that basically, my body had kind of hit a rock and that I was going to have to go to extremes, to kind of "reset" it.  I was all for it!!

Flash forward a few days...

Four days ago, I started an elimination/detox diet.  I literally have 3 types of things that I can eat (a variety of chicken, fish and raw veggies) and a LOT of liquids to flush it all out.  I am excited, because I am working with someone who has had extensive training with these kinds of issues and I know that this is where God wants me, right now.

The first day was pretty good.  I noticed that my metabolism had started kicking in...YAY!!  I was actually hungry, for the first time, in a long time!!

The second day went o...k... but I discovered that some of the herbs that I was using, were making me sick to my stomach!  It turns out that that was a good thing.  For whatever reason, I can't have that, right now...so...eliminated!!  I did wake up with a headache, that morning, but after checking in with my H/N-Coach, she said that it was from the toxins being stirred up, in my body!  My first thought was, "I already had flare-ups from the toxins...months ago!  UGH!!"  But then I realized that this meant that my body was cleaning itself out!!  That was encouraging!

The third day, I started breaking out in whelps.  This happened, a month after I started the candida diet, and lasted nearly a month.  It was extremely painful, but I knew that it was my body getting rid of the garbage.

So, here we go...AGAIN!!

I survived, the first time I went through this, so I know that I will survive this, too!  I have noticed, that I seem to have more support, this time around...from all directions!  I know that it's God's doing!

My H/N-Coach shared her story with me and she said that God told her that even in all her struggles with her health, that she was already victorious in what she was going through, through God!!

That blessed me, tremendously!!!

When I was praying about taking this new direction, I knew in my spirit, that I, too, would be victorious..in this...through God!!  I have such peace about this and I know that it is all in God's hands!!

Be Blessed!

I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me!  Philippians 4:13