I can't believe it! I completely miscalculated when we would finish our diet and it turns out that yesterday was our last day. When I figured it out yesterday, I went through a ton of different emotions . . . I was so excited and so afraid all at the same time. It didn't seem real. In fact, I'm not sure I totally accepted it as a reality until the day was almost over. Even today it seems weird, but I'm praising the Lord for this blessing because I know for a fact that it is from Him.
Today is mine and Vernon's 5th wedding anniversary. We were both feeling so down because we weren't going to be able to celebrate to the fullest extent and then this beautiful realization about our diet appeared. What an amazing anniversary gift from the Lord! I love that He is celebrating this day with us - that He delights in our marriage and wanted to give us that reminder. Vernon is definitely my perfect match, the man that God made just for me. It's just incredible to me that God has orchestrated every facet of our lives - leading us to find each other, helping us through some really difficult times, and bringing us to a deeper love for each other than we ever knew was possible. That's His way though and I love Him for it!
So here are some of my thoughts as we come to the close of this diet:
1) God is GOOD and FAITHFUL!!! He sustains us and gives us ALL that we NEED. He satisfies our deepest hungers as His Spirit works diligently to help us know our Father better.
2) The reason I had some fear about ending this diet is because now I am left with the challenge of eating sensibly all on my own. I don't have any more "rules" to follow. That is liberating, but also terrifying. Our carnal bodies like rules because we think it's sometimes a lot easier to live by a lot of rules. If the list is black and white, at some point that gets pretty easy to follow. The problem with that is that when we live by a list of black and white rules, we are still way to prone to live through the flesh and not the spirit and that deprives us of what the Spirit wants to give us. Having a list of black and white rules can give you a sense of self-empowerment . . . at some point it's easy to believe that YOU are able to follow these rules and that you don't need the Holy Spirit to guide you in your efforts. WE make the rules and then WE follow the rules. We like being in control. Being on this diet for the amount of time we have been on it has definitely brought us to a place where it's been "easy to follow the rules". I'm SO excited to ditch the rule list and just simply rely on the Spirit for guidance and strength in my decisions . . . to get rid of the control again. It's definitely time for that. Flood, Holy Spirit, flood!
3) There are definite blessings in doing this detox that I'm grateful for: I've lost 26 pounds, Vernon has lost somewhere around 30 pounds, Vernon's immune system is MUCH improved and he doesn't have allergies anymore. I can't tell what other health benefits I've gained yet, but I now gladly eat veggies. I crave them in fact. I think about food differently and I'm aware of how I was harming my body before. Of course, I've learned so much about my sweet Lord through this and that has been the greatest blessing of all. Overall, it's been a good thing, but . . .
4) There are some definite downs to this detox as well: For the last few weeks, I have felt very convicted that this detox is not really THAT healthy. I've had to cut out whole food groups for this diet, it's lends itself to a controlling spirit, and it cuts you off from friends and family. The health of the body is based on so much more than just the physical that requires food. The mind and the soul need refreshment and rejuvenation as well. So much of that comes from being with those you love; from EATING with those you love - sharing a common ground. Our physical bodies need something from EVERY food group and to deny your body that is just not good for you. About a week ago, there was a segment on the Today show that talked about the dangers of being obsessed with eating healthy. It confirmed everything I had thought and felt for the last few weeks. Being obsessed with eating healthy can be as much of an eating disorder as anorexia. I totally see how that happens. Half of what we were doing on this detox were listed as signs of someone who suffered from the "eating disorder" of the obsessed with healthy eating group. Talk about an eye opener. Who knew the Lord spoke on the Today show?
Again, I am overall very thankful for this experience because of the so many things I learned. I'm equally thankful that the Lord removed us from the harm that potentially lies in this diet before it became too much of a problem. Oh, how I love Him for guiding every step I take!
Vernon and I will celebrate such a beautiful day with salad, pasta and chocolate cake from the Olive Garden. YUMMY!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much for taking this journey with me. I appreciate it more than you know and thank God for the blessing of friends.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Days 40-53
This past weekend was our half way mark . . . PRAISE THE LORD!!!!! I can't believe we are half way finished, but I'm SO thankful that we are. At the half way point, I have lost 18 pounds and that is just amazing to me. I'm really curious to see how much more I'll lose. Our last day is December 10th and that day will be a glorious one! I usually don't get excited about Christmas until after Halloween since I love Halloween so much, but this year I have found myself looking at Christmas stuff longingly as I wait for it's arrival. I think it has something to do with the fact that I'll get to eat something sweet at Christmas. What do you think?
The diet continues to truck along with nothing new to add really. I actually had a moment today when I thought, "You know what? I'm done." I wasn't really feeling desperate to eat anything in particular, I think I just wanted to be done. But as always, the Holy Spirit sustained me and kept me going just as He's done this entire time.
A friend of mine has commented since the beginning of this diet that I am glowing. I will be the first to admit that when you eat healthy, your skin clears up and looks really healthy and pretty, but as I was driving home from church tonight contemplating that statement, "You're glowing!", it occurred to me that it is so much more than the diet that is bringing about that glow. I had the revelation that the glow is not so much about the diet as it is about the Holy Spirit sustaining me. Every day I literally have to die to myself and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in me. The Holy Spirit's work is to sustain me in every way and free me from bondage I place myself in to bring me closer to the Father and the Son. Who wouldn't glow from the inside out when the Holy Spirit is alive and working inside of you to bring about freedom? When we free ourselves up to love the Trinity, it shows on our face, in our words and in our actions. Why is it that we don't boldly live like the free people that we are? Why do we strap ourselves with chains that keep us from loving our Lord?
Being obedient is not about trying to please the Lord so that we are good enough in His eyes. Being obedient is about love . . . our love for our Father, honoring the love that the Lord has given us. It's about getting rid of what stands between us and our Father so we can love Him more and follow Him to wherever it is that He calls us. We are already His beloved. That's not the question and not what obedience is about. If there is anything in my life that keeps me from knowing His love to the fullest extent or keeps me from growing to the full stature of His image, then I need to find obedience in that area in order to be free and the Father has given us a Helper to do that. I want to have a correct understanding of the Father's love and be able to offer that same love and passion in return. I want to hear Him speak and respond in obedient faith and I can't do that when my chains are rattling behind me and holding me back. Jesus already died for every incident of my disobedience, so I need not worry about trying to be pleasing to Him. His Word says that He is well pleased with His people. My obedience tells Jesus, "Thank you. Your suffering was not in vain because I love you too. I want to know you more because you amaze me! I will follow you wherever you go."
The diet continues to truck along with nothing new to add really. I actually had a moment today when I thought, "You know what? I'm done." I wasn't really feeling desperate to eat anything in particular, I think I just wanted to be done. But as always, the Holy Spirit sustained me and kept me going just as He's done this entire time.
A friend of mine has commented since the beginning of this diet that I am glowing. I will be the first to admit that when you eat healthy, your skin clears up and looks really healthy and pretty, but as I was driving home from church tonight contemplating that statement, "You're glowing!", it occurred to me that it is so much more than the diet that is bringing about that glow. I had the revelation that the glow is not so much about the diet as it is about the Holy Spirit sustaining me. Every day I literally have to die to myself and allow the Holy Spirit to do His work in me. The Holy Spirit's work is to sustain me in every way and free me from bondage I place myself in to bring me closer to the Father and the Son. Who wouldn't glow from the inside out when the Holy Spirit is alive and working inside of you to bring about freedom? When we free ourselves up to love the Trinity, it shows on our face, in our words and in our actions. Why is it that we don't boldly live like the free people that we are? Why do we strap ourselves with chains that keep us from loving our Lord?
Being obedient is not about trying to please the Lord so that we are good enough in His eyes. Being obedient is about love . . . our love for our Father, honoring the love that the Lord has given us. It's about getting rid of what stands between us and our Father so we can love Him more and follow Him to wherever it is that He calls us. We are already His beloved. That's not the question and not what obedience is about. If there is anything in my life that keeps me from knowing His love to the fullest extent or keeps me from growing to the full stature of His image, then I need to find obedience in that area in order to be free and the Father has given us a Helper to do that. I want to have a correct understanding of the Father's love and be able to offer that same love and passion in return. I want to hear Him speak and respond in obedient faith and I can't do that when my chains are rattling behind me and holding me back. Jesus already died for every incident of my disobedience, so I need not worry about trying to be pleasing to Him. His Word says that He is well pleased with His people. My obedience tells Jesus, "Thank you. Your suffering was not in vain because I love you too. I want to know you more because you amaze me! I will follow you wherever you go."
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Days 32-39
Vernon and I got back from a trip to Seaside, Florida yesterday. If you haven't visited the Gulf Coast in Alabama or Florida, I strongly recommend making the trip . . . it's AMAZING!!! And, if you're one of my Texas friends reading this and thinking that the trip wouldn't really be worth it because you've been to the Gulf Coast of Texas and it's not that great, let me tell you now to get those images out of your head immediately!!! The Gulf Coasts of Alabama and Florida are simply spectacular and NOTHING like the Gulf Coast of Texas. I've often wondered how they are the same body of water!
The vacation was wonderful . . . it was great to be with my sweet husband away from our normal routine. I definitely loved it, but there were things that were really hard about it . . .
1. I still had to cook every single meal . . . not my ideal vacation, but it was also kind of fun. The Lord showed me the blessings of it - eating on the balcony, listening to the water and uninterrupted conversation with my sweetheart. That's definitely not a bad way to spend the evening!
2. I've been to Seaside before and you can buy the GREATEST chocolate cake in the whole world there! I didn't realize just how hard it would be to go there and not eat that cake. It was HARD!!! There were times that I had to stop myself from premeditating how I could sneak some home. That was a great reminder about how we don't just accidently fall into temptation or sin . . . we plan it, we plot it out and then we take action. In order to be obedient, we have to capture our thoughts and realize where those thoughts lead us . . . do we need to change the course of our thoughts in order to change our later actions? Had I not taken captive those thoughts, I would be sitting here with that cake right now, being disobedient in what I'm trying to break free from. Obedience leads to freedom . . . NOT chocolate cake. I wish chocolate cake did bring freedom!
3. The other thing that I didn't realize would be hard on this trip was stopping for gas at "convenient" stores. Wow. It was brutal walking into those gas stations and not buying some kind of treat . . . either a soda or some candy or even just some gum. For whatever reason in the past, the food I've eaten while traveling hasn't felt like it counted because there aren't really any great options, so that just gave me permission to eat a ton of JUNK! What a striking revelation! A disgusting revelation too. And, it occurred to me that the food we consider "convenient" is TERRIBLE for us! I've come to realize that it's just as "convenient" to eat grapes and apples for a snack as it is to eat something with a wrapper on it. So why do these "convenient" stores only sell us garbage? Granted, it's yummy garbage that I desperately wanted to partake in, but it's just a sad state of the way things are. I was telling my mom about that today and she said that one of the challenges on The Biggest Loser is to take a road trip and have to go into the convenient stores all along the way without purchasing what they used to. GOOD CHALLENGE!!! HARD challenge. It's also a sobering thought to realize that had I not taken charge of my eating now, I could have ended up in even more bondage that would have been even harder to be set free from. My challenges are no different that those contestants on that show. My hat's off to them for doing what they are doing. I praise the Lord for bringing me to a place of recognition early in the battle! He's SO GOOD!
The Lord definitely continues to bless me in this process . . . He's constantly teaching me and revealing His provisions for me. He's showing me where I struggle and how to find victory in Him. He loves me real good.
The vacation was wonderful . . . it was great to be with my sweet husband away from our normal routine. I definitely loved it, but there were things that were really hard about it . . .
1. I still had to cook every single meal . . . not my ideal vacation, but it was also kind of fun. The Lord showed me the blessings of it - eating on the balcony, listening to the water and uninterrupted conversation with my sweetheart. That's definitely not a bad way to spend the evening!
2. I've been to Seaside before and you can buy the GREATEST chocolate cake in the whole world there! I didn't realize just how hard it would be to go there and not eat that cake. It was HARD!!! There were times that I had to stop myself from premeditating how I could sneak some home. That was a great reminder about how we don't just accidently fall into temptation or sin . . . we plan it, we plot it out and then we take action. In order to be obedient, we have to capture our thoughts and realize where those thoughts lead us . . . do we need to change the course of our thoughts in order to change our later actions? Had I not taken captive those thoughts, I would be sitting here with that cake right now, being disobedient in what I'm trying to break free from. Obedience leads to freedom . . . NOT chocolate cake. I wish chocolate cake did bring freedom!
3. The other thing that I didn't realize would be hard on this trip was stopping for gas at "convenient" stores. Wow. It was brutal walking into those gas stations and not buying some kind of treat . . . either a soda or some candy or even just some gum. For whatever reason in the past, the food I've eaten while traveling hasn't felt like it counted because there aren't really any great options, so that just gave me permission to eat a ton of JUNK! What a striking revelation! A disgusting revelation too. And, it occurred to me that the food we consider "convenient" is TERRIBLE for us! I've come to realize that it's just as "convenient" to eat grapes and apples for a snack as it is to eat something with a wrapper on it. So why do these "convenient" stores only sell us garbage? Granted, it's yummy garbage that I desperately wanted to partake in, but it's just a sad state of the way things are. I was telling my mom about that today and she said that one of the challenges on The Biggest Loser is to take a road trip and have to go into the convenient stores all along the way without purchasing what they used to. GOOD CHALLENGE!!! HARD challenge. It's also a sobering thought to realize that had I not taken charge of my eating now, I could have ended up in even more bondage that would have been even harder to be set free from. My challenges are no different that those contestants on that show. My hat's off to them for doing what they are doing. I praise the Lord for bringing me to a place of recognition early in the battle! He's SO GOOD!
The Lord definitely continues to bless me in this process . . . He's constantly teaching me and revealing His provisions for me. He's showing me where I struggle and how to find victory in Him. He loves me real good.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Days 21-31
We have successfully completed 4 1/2 weeks on this diet!!! It's amazing to me that we are 1/3 of the way finished. At the 1 month milestone, I'm proud to announce that I've lost a total of 13 pounds, which thrills me beyond no end! I'm not sure how much Vernon has lost because he hasn't kept up with it as religiously as I have. There's my vanity shining ever-so-brightly!
It's been interesting to see the progression of this diet. The first couple of weeks were brutal, the next couple of weeks were easy, and it seems like we're getting into another hard stage. For the couple of weeks that were easy, I feel like it was that way because we were able to reach the milestone of adding meat and then we finally found a routine that worked for us. Those were both such beautiful rewards to receive! I feel like it's getting hard again because there's no more small milestone's to make . . . we're done adding new things to eat and what was a good routine feels a little monotonous now. We're also both feeling tired again and that is a serious downer! The rewards are definitely harder to see right now.
The other night we had to go to a dinner party with some people that Vernon works with. We had to sit there and politely decline ALL of the food that had been prepared for us and I was mortified the whole time. They were gracious, but I couldn't get rid of the feeling that we were being so rude. I'm going to visit an elderly friend of mine tomorrow and I feel confident she will offer me something that she has prepared for me and once again, I will have to be rude and say, "No, thanks." This is all really hard for me right now, but as it is with all walks of obedience, we have to say, "No, thanks.", a lot . . . even to people we love. That's just plain hard and it's definitely something I'm having to rely on God's help to do.
Being tired again has been hard because I immediately want to default into my old pattern of doing things . . . going somewhere to eat, grabbing things that aren't as healthy, etc. It's made me aware of how hard obedience is when we're tired and when we're comfortable in our routine. Obedience is something that I have to work on all the time and just when I think I've mastered the area I'm trying to be obedient in, that's when it gets hard again because I quit being diligent.
So, it's back to being diligent in looking for new ways and new areas to be obedient in this diet. It's time to dig deeper.
It's been interesting to see the progression of this diet. The first couple of weeks were brutal, the next couple of weeks were easy, and it seems like we're getting into another hard stage. For the couple of weeks that were easy, I feel like it was that way because we were able to reach the milestone of adding meat and then we finally found a routine that worked for us. Those were both such beautiful rewards to receive! I feel like it's getting hard again because there's no more small milestone's to make . . . we're done adding new things to eat and what was a good routine feels a little monotonous now. We're also both feeling tired again and that is a serious downer! The rewards are definitely harder to see right now.
The other night we had to go to a dinner party with some people that Vernon works with. We had to sit there and politely decline ALL of the food that had been prepared for us and I was mortified the whole time. They were gracious, but I couldn't get rid of the feeling that we were being so rude. I'm going to visit an elderly friend of mine tomorrow and I feel confident she will offer me something that she has prepared for me and once again, I will have to be rude and say, "No, thanks." This is all really hard for me right now, but as it is with all walks of obedience, we have to say, "No, thanks.", a lot . . . even to people we love. That's just plain hard and it's definitely something I'm having to rely on God's help to do.
Being tired again has been hard because I immediately want to default into my old pattern of doing things . . . going somewhere to eat, grabbing things that aren't as healthy, etc. It's made me aware of how hard obedience is when we're tired and when we're comfortable in our routine. Obedience is something that I have to work on all the time and just when I think I've mastered the area I'm trying to be obedient in, that's when it gets hard again because I quit being diligent.
So, it's back to being diligent in looking for new ways and new areas to be obedient in this diet. It's time to dig deeper.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Days 16-20
What a blessing to feel like myself again! I'm even enjoying doing the mundane chores around the house since I had no energy to do them just a few days ago. It's amazing how the body works when you eat protein! While I am still enjoying the vegetables, I can now say with some authority that being a vegetarian is definitely not the way to go for me. I guess that some bodies do fine with it since there are several people that choose that lifestyle and swear by it, but my body definitely does not function normally without meat. I'm good with that.
One of the greatest blessings of this whole detox experience is what it has done for my marriage. I'm a better wife than I used to be. I'm taking better care of my husband, our home, and myself and that just makes for a better marriage. I loved my husband more than anything before, but now that love is so much stronger and sweeter. Love the blessings the Lord bestows on His children when we live our lives for Him!!!
One of the greatest blessings of this whole detox experience is what it has done for my marriage. I'm a better wife than I used to be. I'm taking better care of my husband, our home, and myself and that just makes for a better marriage. I loved my husband more than anything before, but now that love is so much stronger and sweeter. Love the blessings the Lord bestows on His children when we live our lives for Him!!!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Day 15
I FINALLY feel like myself again and Vernon feels like himself again . . . what an INCREDIBLE blessing!!! I was able to get much needed work done around the house today, I went to Jazzercise, and I was actually able to formulate my thoughts in a way that actually made sense today. I was so excited to go to Jazzercise today that I actually got butterflies in my tummy turning into the parking lot. Is that not crazy??? I'm SO thankful for all of these things and know that they come straight from the Lord.
I think one of the things that this act of obedience in my eating is teaching me is to pay attention to the little things in my life. I was reading the sermon on the mount this morning in my quiet time and I noticed how much of that God is stirring in me. He commands us not to worry about tomorrow because He will provide for us. Walking through this detox has helped me with that so much without me really even realizing it just for the simple fact that thinking about doing this every day for the next three months is way too overwhelming. I have to focus on being obedient each day and not worry about what the next day will bring. What a great life lesson to really learn and put into practice! The NLT of Matthew 6:31-33 reads, "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern."
I also feel like this detox experience has made me much more aware of blessings I receive every day. Our Lord delights in loving and blessing His children. I love seeing His blessings with a more attentive eye and appreciative heart. When we fall into the rut of "the American way" of wanting everything we see and wanting it right this minute, we miss out on SO MANY BLESSINGS! The truth of the matter is that we're on this Earth to bring honor and glory to the King and that's it. It's not about us, but we make it about us. When we get ourselves out of the way and just see Him, we see A LOT . . . power, love, generosity, grace, healing, truth, beauty, compassion, and so much more. What a beautiful thing to look at all day every day!
On my flight to Portland a few weeks ago, I began reading a book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss entitled, The Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free. I got about half way through the book on the plane, and it definitely challenged me. I felt like I was a little bit distracted on the plane, but apparently some of the ideas in the book have stuck with me without me even realizing it. For example . . . "Obedience is the pathway to freedom." I decided last night that I needed a refresher of what I had read a few weeks ago, so I skimmed through the things I underlined and one of the first things I came across was that sentence. How true that statement is! In our obedience, we find incredible power from the Holy Spirit to overcome anything and that leads to freedom. The Spirit is constantly speaking truth in our lives and showing us truth in our lives. When our ears are tuned to hear that voice, when our eyes are focused on our beautiful Master, He leads us to freedom in Him. We train our ears and our eyes through obedience.
I think it's definitely time to pick this book back up and start over from the beginning. I've definitely been wanting to hear God's truth in my life more and more lately. Praise be to Him that speaks Truth over me every day!
I think one of the things that this act of obedience in my eating is teaching me is to pay attention to the little things in my life. I was reading the sermon on the mount this morning in my quiet time and I noticed how much of that God is stirring in me. He commands us not to worry about tomorrow because He will provide for us. Walking through this detox has helped me with that so much without me really even realizing it just for the simple fact that thinking about doing this every day for the next three months is way too overwhelming. I have to focus on being obedient each day and not worry about what the next day will bring. What a great life lesson to really learn and put into practice! The NLT of Matthew 6:31-33 reads, "So don't worry about having enough food or drink or clothing. Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern."
I also feel like this detox experience has made me much more aware of blessings I receive every day. Our Lord delights in loving and blessing His children. I love seeing His blessings with a more attentive eye and appreciative heart. When we fall into the rut of "the American way" of wanting everything we see and wanting it right this minute, we miss out on SO MANY BLESSINGS! The truth of the matter is that we're on this Earth to bring honor and glory to the King and that's it. It's not about us, but we make it about us. When we get ourselves out of the way and just see Him, we see A LOT . . . power, love, generosity, grace, healing, truth, beauty, compassion, and so much more. What a beautiful thing to look at all day every day!
On my flight to Portland a few weeks ago, I began reading a book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss entitled, The Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free. I got about half way through the book on the plane, and it definitely challenged me. I felt like I was a little bit distracted on the plane, but apparently some of the ideas in the book have stuck with me without me even realizing it. For example . . . "Obedience is the pathway to freedom." I decided last night that I needed a refresher of what I had read a few weeks ago, so I skimmed through the things I underlined and one of the first things I came across was that sentence. How true that statement is! In our obedience, we find incredible power from the Holy Spirit to overcome anything and that leads to freedom. The Spirit is constantly speaking truth in our lives and showing us truth in our lives. When our ears are tuned to hear that voice, when our eyes are focused on our beautiful Master, He leads us to freedom in Him. We train our ears and our eyes through obedience.
I think it's definitely time to pick this book back up and start over from the beginning. I've definitely been wanting to hear God's truth in my life more and more lately. Praise be to Him that speaks Truth over me every day!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Day 14
Thank you, Lord, for CHICKEN!!! I've never loved chicken as much as I do today . . . our first day to have chicken in two weeks. It was a glorious thing and my body is SO THANKFUL that I remembered that it likes food! It was definitely a good day. Hopefully, the chicken will make it where I can go to Jazzercise tomorrow. Chicken and Jazzercise all in one day . . . now that is what dreams are made of!
Oh, and on this big mile stone in the diet, I'm proud to announce that I've lost almost 9 pounds. HALLELUJAH!!!
Oh, and on this big mile stone in the diet, I'm proud to announce that I've lost almost 9 pounds. HALLELUJAH!!!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Days 11, 12 and 13
The last few days have been good . . . I had enough energy to run a lot of errands Thursday afternoon and then that night we celebrated my father-in-law and brother-in-law's birthdays at a local restaurant. I have SO MUCH respect for Vernon going to eat in a restaurant EVERY DAY for lunch on this diet!!! We knew there wouldn't be anything on the menu we could partake in, so we ate before we went and then sat and enjoyed the visiting while everyone else ate dinner. That was HARD!!! However, it was very interesting to see what I wanted steal off of their plates the most. The thing I wanted the most was . . . the SALAD!!! There was prime rib, baked potatoes, and crab claws in front of me and I about lunged across the table at the salad. Granted, I can eat salad, but I can't eat real dressing or croutons. That combination is the thing I coveted the most. The thing I coveted second most was the baked potato with butter, but that ran a close tie with the crab claws. I definitely could have put a dent in those crab claws. The most interesting part to me though, was that I had NO DESIRE for the prime rib at all. I wasn't tempted by it in the least and this is huge for me . . . I have always had a healthy "cow appetite" and Thursday night, I had none. Interesting.
I guess I ran myself into the ground on Thursday because I was tired all day Friday and had to have a lot of down time. The energy returned today though and I've had a wonderful day hanging out with my sweetheart. It's been a really good week and I can't believe that 13 days of eating only veggies and fruit has passed. TOMORROW is our day to add in some meat! I can't even tell you how exciting that is for both of us.
I've run across some great recipes at vegcooking.com and I thought I would share some of them with all of you since they have been some of our life savers. I hope you enjoy this as much as we have!
COCONUT CABBAGE SALAD
2 tsp vegetable oil (I use olive oil.)
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
2 green chilies, chopped lengthwise
8-9 curry leaves (optional) - I leave them out & it's yummy.
2 cups fresh green cabbage, finely chopped
Pinch turmeric powder
1/2 cup grated coconut, fresh or dried (I haven't found any that isn't sweetened and I'm not into cracking fresh coconuts myself, so I leave this out as well and it's still yummy.)
Salt to taste
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped coriander (I just use a little bit of the ground coriander that's easy to find in the spice section until it tastes right.)
10 2-inch coriander sprigs (I leave these off as well.)
-Heat the oil. Pop the mustard seeds in it and add the chilies and curry leaves.
-Add the cabbage and turmeric powder and stir for a minute.
-Add the coconut, salt, lemon juice, and chopped coriander. Stir for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
-Remove from the heat and cool.
-Serve at room temperature, garnished with the coriander sprigs.
Makes 4 servings.
GARLIC BROCCOLI
2-3 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 crown broccoli, cut into quarters
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup water
-Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Saute' the garlic for 1 minute. Add the broccoli, salt and water. Cook covered for 5 minutes on low heat.
Makes 1 to 2 servings.
GRILLED CAJUN PORTOBELLO WITH AVOCADO CREME
For the Portobello Fillets:
1 1/2 Tbsp smoked paprika
1 Tbsp paprika
2 Tbsp Celtic sea salt
2 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp onion powder
1 Tbsp black pepper
1 Tbsp cayenne pepper
1 Tbsp dried oregano leaves
1 Tbsp dried thyme
4 portobello mushrooms, cleaned
4-5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
-Combine the spices in a dish to make the Cajun rub.
-Lightly coat the mushrooms first with the olive oil and then with the rub. Grill each side until cooked through. (I use my George Foreman grill and it's perfect.)
For the Avocado Creme:
2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise (I leave this out and it works great.)
Juice of 2 limes
Salt and pepper to taste
-Combine all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Makes 4 servings.
I guess I ran myself into the ground on Thursday because I was tired all day Friday and had to have a lot of down time. The energy returned today though and I've had a wonderful day hanging out with my sweetheart. It's been a really good week and I can't believe that 13 days of eating only veggies and fruit has passed. TOMORROW is our day to add in some meat! I can't even tell you how exciting that is for both of us.
I've run across some great recipes at vegcooking.com and I thought I would share some of them with all of you since they have been some of our life savers. I hope you enjoy this as much as we have!
COCONUT CABBAGE SALAD
2 tsp vegetable oil (I use olive oil.)
1/2 tsp mustard seeds
2 green chilies, chopped lengthwise
8-9 curry leaves (optional) - I leave them out & it's yummy.
2 cups fresh green cabbage, finely chopped
Pinch turmeric powder
1/2 cup grated coconut, fresh or dried (I haven't found any that isn't sweetened and I'm not into cracking fresh coconuts myself, so I leave this out as well and it's still yummy.)
Salt to taste
1 tsp lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped coriander (I just use a little bit of the ground coriander that's easy to find in the spice section until it tastes right.)
10 2-inch coriander sprigs (I leave these off as well.)
-Heat the oil. Pop the mustard seeds in it and add the chilies and curry leaves.
-Add the cabbage and turmeric powder and stir for a minute.
-Add the coconut, salt, lemon juice, and chopped coriander. Stir for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasonings.
-Remove from the heat and cool.
-Serve at room temperature, garnished with the coriander sprigs.
Makes 4 servings.
GARLIC BROCCOLI
2-3 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tbsp minced garlic
1 crown broccoli, cut into quarters
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup water
-Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat. Saute' the garlic for 1 minute. Add the broccoli, salt and water. Cook covered for 5 minutes on low heat.
Makes 1 to 2 servings.
GRILLED CAJUN PORTOBELLO WITH AVOCADO CREME
For the Portobello Fillets:
1 1/2 Tbsp smoked paprika
1 Tbsp paprika
2 Tbsp Celtic sea salt
2 Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp onion powder
1 Tbsp black pepper
1 Tbsp cayenne pepper
1 Tbsp dried oregano leaves
1 Tbsp dried thyme
4 portobello mushrooms, cleaned
4-5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
-Combine the spices in a dish to make the Cajun rub.
-Lightly coat the mushrooms first with the olive oil and then with the rub. Grill each side until cooked through. (I use my George Foreman grill and it's perfect.)
For the Avocado Creme:
2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
1/4 cup vegan mayonnaise (I leave this out and it works great.)
Juice of 2 limes
Salt and pepper to taste
-Combine all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.
Makes 4 servings.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Day 10
The energy is FINALLY returning on a more consistent basis for me and that is music to my ears! Praise the Lord for continuing to provide energy! Vernon still comes home from work completely drained, but maybe that's to be expected. After all, he is expending A LOT of energy at work all day and still is only eating fruits and vegetables. We're just going to have to pray fervently for Vernon to have the energy he needs to feel really good.
I think the thing that both of us have struggled with today in this diet is how inconvenient it is. Vernon has business lunches every day and this diet does not lend itself well for those types of situations. Right now, he's just ordering dry salads and either taking an "approved" dressing from home or making his own of olive oil and pepper. If I had to do that everyday, I would DEFINITELY be sick of it. I want something WAY YUMMIER than olive oil and pepper on my raw salad! I'm so proud of his ability to continue in this detox journey away from the house!
While I feel so blessed to not have to navigate this diet outside of our home, I do feel like I'm cooking all the time (something I'm not really used to) and have to completely arrange my schedule around that. Now that I have some energy, that is starting to get a little bit old and restrictive. Everything I'm making doesn't take long to make, but I still have to be home to do it.
Also, our list of "acceptable" foods for this detox is so limited that it definitely poses a challenge. I still need to continue to branch out and try new things, so I'm going to type out the list of those "acceptable" foods as a reminder, hoping that it will spark some renewed interest in making something new. And, I'm sure some of you are curious as to what exactly we can and cannot eat. Here's the list:
Fresh or Frozen Vegetables as follows - Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chives, Onions, Leeks, Garlic, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Kohlrabies, Mushrooms, Peppers, Radishes and any leafy greens that we want. That's it for veggies . . . no substitutes.
Fresh or Frozen Fruit as follows - any of them with the exception of tomatoes and oranges.
Lentils and Brown Rice.
Oils as follows - Coconut Oil, Extra-virgin Olive Oil, Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil and Grapeseed Oil.
Seasonings as follows - any that do not have sugar in them.
And on Sunday we can add free range organic chicken and deep sea fish.
That's it for 3 months. Sadly, I don't feel inspired to try anything different on that list yet. Maybe I will tomorrow. The Lord is so faithful that I know He'll send the inspiration that I need. I'm also reminded that obedience is very rarely the easy solution. Oh, the lessons to learn!
I think the thing that both of us have struggled with today in this diet is how inconvenient it is. Vernon has business lunches every day and this diet does not lend itself well for those types of situations. Right now, he's just ordering dry salads and either taking an "approved" dressing from home or making his own of olive oil and pepper. If I had to do that everyday, I would DEFINITELY be sick of it. I want something WAY YUMMIER than olive oil and pepper on my raw salad! I'm so proud of his ability to continue in this detox journey away from the house!
While I feel so blessed to not have to navigate this diet outside of our home, I do feel like I'm cooking all the time (something I'm not really used to) and have to completely arrange my schedule around that. Now that I have some energy, that is starting to get a little bit old and restrictive. Everything I'm making doesn't take long to make, but I still have to be home to do it.
Also, our list of "acceptable" foods for this detox is so limited that it definitely poses a challenge. I still need to continue to branch out and try new things, so I'm going to type out the list of those "acceptable" foods as a reminder, hoping that it will spark some renewed interest in making something new. And, I'm sure some of you are curious as to what exactly we can and cannot eat. Here's the list:
Fresh or Frozen Vegetables as follows - Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chives, Onions, Leeks, Garlic, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Kohlrabies, Mushrooms, Peppers, Radishes and any leafy greens that we want. That's it for veggies . . . no substitutes.
Fresh or Frozen Fruit as follows - any of them with the exception of tomatoes and oranges.
Lentils and Brown Rice.
Oils as follows - Coconut Oil, Extra-virgin Olive Oil, Fish Oil, Flaxseed Oil and Grapeseed Oil.
Seasonings as follows - any that do not have sugar in them.
And on Sunday we can add free range organic chicken and deep sea fish.
That's it for 3 months. Sadly, I don't feel inspired to try anything different on that list yet. Maybe I will tomorrow. The Lord is so faithful that I know He'll send the inspiration that I need. I'm also reminded that obedience is very rarely the easy solution. Oh, the lessons to learn!
Day 9
Since the "official cleanse" is on with the full dose of supplements, I started out the day feeling kind of puny. Vernon's second day of all the supplements made him feel like he had the worst case of the flu known to man, so I expected today (my second day of full supplements) to be a little bit rough. Since I gradually added the supplements into my diet, my body didn't have as bad of a reaction as Vernon's did - yet another blessing from the Lord in all of this! I spent a lot of time lying around today and then after my afternoon shake, I started feeling better. I was blessed with some needed energy and was able to take a shower and get some stuff done around the house. It clearly hasn't been too bad for me this evening considering that I'm still up and going at midnight!
Speaking of being up and going at midnight . . . all the literature that we got for this detox said that this detox would help us sleep better. I was really looking forward to the idea of having a more regular sleeping schedule . . . going to bed at a reasonable hour and waking up at a time of day that's not embarrassing to admit. So far that has not been the case. Even on the days I have felt horrible, I haven't been able to go to sleep at a reasonable hour and when I do go to bed, I still have a hard time falling asleep. I'm still waking up at an unmentionable time in the morning too . . . really, it's awful! Maybe that's something I'm just going to have to work on retraining myself. I think I'll wait on that though until we're a little bit further into this whole thing!
In my inability to go to sleep when I get into bed, I've been able to think through a few things. Last night I contemplated why I've been able to stick with this diet as well as I have. Granted, it's only been 9 days, but for me it might as well have been a year. I think for me, it all comes down to my motivation. About 3 years ago, I was on a strict diet because of a tear I had in my esophagus that I needed to heal. For obvious health reasons, I was very diligent about following my diet, but once that tear healed, my motivation for continuing left and the overeating began. I went through some excruciating pain through that whole esophagus tear ordeal and even that wasn't enough to motivate me ultimately to continue in the better eating practices that I was doing. I allowed the emotional strain of our infertility struggles to cause me to say that I deserved the food that I wanted . . . and as much of it that I wanted. I guess on some level, I figured the pain of the esophagus tear wasn't as bad as the current pain. (There's my psycho-babble for you!)
On the diet for the esophagus tear, I lost a lot of weight (all that happily married weight you gain) and I enjoyed being my normal, skinny self again. Two years of struggling with fertility issues, nasty fertility drugs, and the simple fact that I was not okay with all of that added A LOT of weight - all that I had lost and then some. Since Vernon and I have fully accepted our fertility challenges and are no longer pursing any fertility treatments, I have thought a number of times that I would love to get back into those skinny clothes . . . to be in the body that I know is my normal, healthy body. I tend to be a rather vain person - it matters to me how I look and I love feeling pretty. I love clothes, shoes, purses, hats, make-up and the whole nine-yards. Someone told me at church on Sunday that I looked extra prissy and that totally made my day. You would think that my vanity would be strong enough motivation to take control of my eating just for the sheer joy of weight loss. That hasn't been the case though. All these months that I've wanted to get back to my normal self, I've never found enough will power to make that happen. I actually gained even more weight in my pursuit!
This detox started as an act of obedience to the Lord and that continues to be my motivation. I came to the conclusion last night that in my life, I need motivation that is birthed in LIFE CHANGING POWER and that only comes from the LORD. The Lord is POWERFUL and He CHANGES LIVES just by His being. If my ultimate goal is to know Him better, love Him more and then live with Him forever in Heaven, that changes EVERYTHING. And He doesn't stop at providing the motivation . . . He gives us His Spirit to empower us to persevere, to make radical changes and do radical things in His name. I believe in the power of the Lord to heal every part of me that is in need of healing because His Spirit is alive and active, and in the business of carrying out the powerful purposes of the Lord in our world. His purpose is always for us to know the TRUTH - He is the only truth and I want my life to stand next to His truth and be in line with it.
Health issues aren't a strong enough motivation because it's way to easy for me to convince myself that we're all dying and the Lord knows the number of my days anyway, so there's probably not much I can do to change that. Is that wise, healthy or even 100% truth? NO! There is truth in it, but it's not 100% truth. Even if I didn't consider my body a dwelling place of the Lord, what an insult to my husband and family to not try and be here for them in as good of condition as possible in the days I do have on this earth.
Vanity certainly is not a strong motivation because the Bible clearly tells us that beauty is fleeting. I can never do enough to keep myself looking "ideal". I'm a huge believer in being happy in your own skin - take care of yourself to the best of your ability and then be happy with what that looks like. We're commanded to do that. And you know, I see women all the time that weigh more than I do and think, "Wow. I wish I were as pretty as she is." The Lord speaks the absolute truth when He says that what is beautiful in a woman is her spirit - beauty that comes from within.
I'm counting on the Spirit to continue stirring this motivation of obedience in love and respect for the Lord in me all the days of my life.
Speaking of being up and going at midnight . . . all the literature that we got for this detox said that this detox would help us sleep better. I was really looking forward to the idea of having a more regular sleeping schedule . . . going to bed at a reasonable hour and waking up at a time of day that's not embarrassing to admit. So far that has not been the case. Even on the days I have felt horrible, I haven't been able to go to sleep at a reasonable hour and when I do go to bed, I still have a hard time falling asleep. I'm still waking up at an unmentionable time in the morning too . . . really, it's awful! Maybe that's something I'm just going to have to work on retraining myself. I think I'll wait on that though until we're a little bit further into this whole thing!
In my inability to go to sleep when I get into bed, I've been able to think through a few things. Last night I contemplated why I've been able to stick with this diet as well as I have. Granted, it's only been 9 days, but for me it might as well have been a year. I think for me, it all comes down to my motivation. About 3 years ago, I was on a strict diet because of a tear I had in my esophagus that I needed to heal. For obvious health reasons, I was very diligent about following my diet, but once that tear healed, my motivation for continuing left and the overeating began. I went through some excruciating pain through that whole esophagus tear ordeal and even that wasn't enough to motivate me ultimately to continue in the better eating practices that I was doing. I allowed the emotional strain of our infertility struggles to cause me to say that I deserved the food that I wanted . . . and as much of it that I wanted. I guess on some level, I figured the pain of the esophagus tear wasn't as bad as the current pain. (There's my psycho-babble for you!)
On the diet for the esophagus tear, I lost a lot of weight (all that happily married weight you gain) and I enjoyed being my normal, skinny self again. Two years of struggling with fertility issues, nasty fertility drugs, and the simple fact that I was not okay with all of that added A LOT of weight - all that I had lost and then some. Since Vernon and I have fully accepted our fertility challenges and are no longer pursing any fertility treatments, I have thought a number of times that I would love to get back into those skinny clothes . . . to be in the body that I know is my normal, healthy body. I tend to be a rather vain person - it matters to me how I look and I love feeling pretty. I love clothes, shoes, purses, hats, make-up and the whole nine-yards. Someone told me at church on Sunday that I looked extra prissy and that totally made my day. You would think that my vanity would be strong enough motivation to take control of my eating just for the sheer joy of weight loss. That hasn't been the case though. All these months that I've wanted to get back to my normal self, I've never found enough will power to make that happen. I actually gained even more weight in my pursuit!
This detox started as an act of obedience to the Lord and that continues to be my motivation. I came to the conclusion last night that in my life, I need motivation that is birthed in LIFE CHANGING POWER and that only comes from the LORD. The Lord is POWERFUL and He CHANGES LIVES just by His being. If my ultimate goal is to know Him better, love Him more and then live with Him forever in Heaven, that changes EVERYTHING. And He doesn't stop at providing the motivation . . . He gives us His Spirit to empower us to persevere, to make radical changes and do radical things in His name. I believe in the power of the Lord to heal every part of me that is in need of healing because His Spirit is alive and active, and in the business of carrying out the powerful purposes of the Lord in our world. His purpose is always for us to know the TRUTH - He is the only truth and I want my life to stand next to His truth and be in line with it.
Health issues aren't a strong enough motivation because it's way to easy for me to convince myself that we're all dying and the Lord knows the number of my days anyway, so there's probably not much I can do to change that. Is that wise, healthy or even 100% truth? NO! There is truth in it, but it's not 100% truth. Even if I didn't consider my body a dwelling place of the Lord, what an insult to my husband and family to not try and be here for them in as good of condition as possible in the days I do have on this earth.
Vanity certainly is not a strong motivation because the Bible clearly tells us that beauty is fleeting. I can never do enough to keep myself looking "ideal". I'm a huge believer in being happy in your own skin - take care of yourself to the best of your ability and then be happy with what that looks like. We're commanded to do that. And you know, I see women all the time that weigh more than I do and think, "Wow. I wish I were as pretty as she is." The Lord speaks the absolute truth when He says that what is beautiful in a woman is her spirit - beauty that comes from within.
I'm counting on the Spirit to continue stirring this motivation of obedience in love and respect for the Lord in me all the days of my life.
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