Weight Loss: From Permissible to Beneficial (Part 2)

It’s been hard keeping up with this study, so I apologize to those of you who have been diligent with it. “I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend the next forty years of my life learning this lesson.” (pg 132) And things have hit the fan so to speak during the last 3 weeks and things are beginning to turn around. I’ve lost about 5 pounds and I can tell some of my eating habits have changed. This is a slow process, and I guess in the back of my mind I keep thinking, “Come on! You should be seeing results!” and I have been disappointed. (Which leads to more eating…)

In this section of the study, Lysa asked: If you could capture your woundedness in a photo, what would the image be? Here’s mine.

Recipe: Lowfat Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins

Hello everyone out there in Blogger Reader world!

This is usually not a blog that posts recipes, but because I am in the thick of trying to lose weight, I asked you, Readers, to give me some simple, easy, healthy recipes that I could try. Life has been crazy and I am just now beginning to cook these. I have meals of taco salad, chicken chili, and spaghetti to try. I am making my grocery list this morning so I can jump on these recipes and try them.

I did find this recipe on the Made to Crave website and I wanted to pass the results along. They use a different name for the recipe, but I think mine is more descriptive of the actual result.

Weight Loss: From Permissible to Beneficial

For those of you who may have just joined my blog, I have been working through the Bible study Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst. If you look up in the heading, you’ll find the back lessons under Adult Bible Studies. I’ve been watching the videos and working through the study book. My friend, Audria, over at The Well has completed the study as well. Please take a moment to click over to her page and read her results and life changes. She has been much more diligent than me. I’m afraid I have dragged my feet quite a bit. And I think I know why.

I’ll admit it. I have a food addiction. I’ve had the mindset that all food is permissible, so eat it all. But that’s not Biblical. Yes, everything is permissible, but not everything is BENEFICIAL. So my battle is not with food, it isn’t with the scale, it isn’t with the skinny jeans…

My battle is in my head. And my mind is supposed to be transformed and renewed! But let me tell you, it is a HARD process!! It is a SLOW process!!

Weight Loss: From Triggers to Truth Part 2

Alright. I must confess. I’ve been lazy. And that’s not good. I’ve been lazy in Bible study. I’ve been lazy in weight loss. I finally sat myself down the other day after a fabulous morning visiting with a young friend and told myself I needed to “get it together.” Who do I think I am mentoring a young lady when I myself have no self-control? It was a kick to my gut and what a merciful God I have! I’m so glad He allows “do-overs!”

There have been days recently when I have felt so empty. I’ve been empty and I have filled myself up with chocolate instead of the living Word of God. How stupid is that? You’d think by looking at the outside of my life that I have it all together. I’m a homeschool mom with two normally well-behaved children. I’m a deacon’s wife, involved with ministry, and I sing in the choir. I have had a smile on my face and I have been empty inside. I have felt sorry for myself and my little pity party went on for weeks.

Weight Loss: From Triggers to Truth

I’ve had a few small victories that I want to share with you, Readers. I hope that you will be as blessed by this forward movement as I have been.

After the death of my father-in-law, I ended up gaining about 5 pounds when all was said and done. It was not a fun time and I was a little bummed by the weight gain because I really am heavier now than I have been in 2 years. So I did part 3 of Made to Crave knowing I needed to be denying myself and praying that I would be successful with at least something.

My husband gave me the gift of going to the grocery store by myself after church one Wednesday night. I was tired. I was hungry. And I went to the store knowing all of this. This was not good. But I told myself…I want to be good. I don’t want to rationalize. I think, realistically, I could buy a chocolate milk and be good and happy with that decision and allowance. So I walked into the store with the mind set of only getting a chocolate milk to drink on the way home.

Weight Loss: From Guilt to Peace (Part 2)

**Please take a moment to check out Audria’s posts over at The Well. She is reading the book, Made to Crave, as I go through the video series.**

Do I have a weight problem?

Yep.

Do I allow this fact to cause me to be disappointed in myself? be dissatisfied with myself? to have a little pity party for myself?

Yep.

And it is time to stop. NOW, is the time to stop this craziness.

Normal Nutritious Recipes Wanted (Nope, NEEDED!)

Some friends of mine and I were commiserating about our weight loss problems and needs this past Saturday. I have no room to complain about lack of time to either one because they are both moms of four, including teenagers. I get no sympathy from them, which is good because they help me see how much I complain about silly things.

One of them began to talk about the lack of quick, easy, healthy recipes. And I have to agree with her. Of the recipes I find and search for, either they have a long list of twenty million spices in them, or they include foods I’ve never even heard of.

Weight Loss: From Guilt to Peace

**Please take a moment to check out Audria’s posts over at The Well. She is reading the book, Made to Crave, as I go through the video series.**

Here are the posters:
Week One’s Poster
Week Two’s Poster
Week Three’s Poster

This is a hard pill to swallow. I say in my About page that “Life is hard. Let’s be honest.” So I’m going to be honest.

Since I lost my 40 pounds 2 years ago, I have slowly gained and gained, and now I am at my heaviest since I lost it all. I haven’t gained it all back, but if I don’t do something drastic, then I will.

Made to Crave: Do Over

One and a half weeks into Made to Crave and life throws a curve ball at my family. After the death of my father-law-law, it’s taken about a week to get my feet back under me. But I do have to boast about how awesome the church is and how wonderful Christians are during the hurting moments of life. I haven’t gone through the death process of an immediate family member before. My husband was involved in all aspects of funeral planning and the process. It was quite the learning experience.

But I say all this to explain that…my eating went out the window for about 8 days. We were shell-shocked and people were so wonderful to bring us food. We had chicken fingers, sandwich meats, pizza, doughnuts, cakes, etc…and we ate. We sat around, visited, waited, and ate.

So, I’m having to review and get myself back in the mindset of this study.

From Desperation to Determination

I want to start with a HUGE thank you to Patty over at ThoughtsFromAnAmericanWoman for her encouragement. I’ve walked 3 days this week! Wahoo!!

I just finished watching the second video from Made to Crave. Last week’s study helped me to realize my laziness. My laziness is toward physical food and spiritual food. The video tonight helped me to see that this laziness causes me to become desperate. And desperation breeds defeat.

Esau Selling His Birthright (painting circa 1627 by Hendrick ter Brugghen) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I was asked to read Genesis 25:27-34. It’s the story of Jacob and Esau. Esau is hungry and in the course of trying to get a meal from Jacob (who evidently makes good red stew) Esau gave away his birthright. He tells Jacob to give him some food or he will perish! What an exaggeration!!