Freeing the Fat Friday! Not a Diet!

I am finishing up my two week goals, changing my menu and exercising. It went pretty well. I followed the menu exactly...except for one bit of pizza. I squeezed some exercise in as well....not as much as I should have I am afraid. Overall, I am pretty pleased with the results.

Now, I want to make something very clear...I am NOT on a diet. I am in the process of a life change. I have been physically sick and tired. I can not keep moving in the direction I was heading. Now portions of this "Life Change" may seem like a diet; but its purpose is to get me healthy once again. (I will share more of my feelings about this on another Friday in the future. )

God's Lesson for Me!

One of my favorite verses is

Philippians 4:13 (New International Version)
13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Thanks Leslie for encouraging me with this verse just recently. On one of my walks, God shared with me that He will help me if I do my part. The neat thing is about this verse is that I have to start the "DOing". This verse does not say, " I can sit on the couch and eat pizza all day through Him who gives me strength." Now of course I could choose to do that it would be yummy but you would have to hire a fork lift to get me out of my house someday.

But He has so much more for us. This verse is more about God giving us the strength to do His will and be content with what He has in store for us. It means I have to get up off the couch and do something and He will be faithful with His promise to give us the strength to do it. I can only find contentment and joy in this life change with God's strength; but it requires action on my part.

Check out this post for more thoughts on this verse.

Reality's Ups and Downs

Downs
Well of course eating healthy doesn't taste as great as chocolate ice cream in a waffle cone or a greasy everything cheeseburger...it is an adjustment. There are times that my tummy growls at me and I want to fill it with something a little more yummy than a carrot.

Exercising is not something I have the motivation to do until I actually start doing it. It maybe the hardest adjustment to this whole life change. I have had far too many excuses for far to long that keeps me sitting on the couch. It is biggest challenge for me...even more than the eating thing.

Ups
I am amazed that the food still tastes pretty good. I am also amazed how many times I am not hungry after a meal. I have realized, that with me, it wasn't how much I was eating; but what I was eating that was the problem. I had some big offenders like juice, milk and carbs. I was drinking my calories! I am definitely learning my food mistakes.

I am feeling a lot better physically. I was surprised how quickly I noticed a difference. I thought it would take a few weeks for my stomach to feel good again. This has been a shocking happy surprise!

Meals for Today:

Breakfast

Warm, yummy oatmeal just makes you feel snug as bug in a rug. I curled up under my quilt and enjoyed my bowl of oatmeal with raisin, almonds, splenda, splash of milk and sprinkle of pure vanilla. I have never had my oatmeal like that and it will be something I have again...YUM!


Lunch

Pizza, Pizza, Pizza...Yeah!
English muffin + Tomatoe sauce + Broccolli + Lowfat Cheese = YUM!

Dinner

I could not believe that at my grocery store was sitting one package of lamb...just for me. Ha I was simply amazed, I have never ever ever seen it there before and there it was one package...it might as well of had my name written all over it. I honestly thought I was going to have to change my meat for this meal. I will probably never buy it again it was a little pricey for so little. But I love lamb....so another Yeah for me!!!!!!!


Snack
Awesome! A peach shake was on the menu. 1 peach, ice and 1 cup of skim milk...add a little splenda and it was really good. Your kids will love this drink for sure.

Exercise
Didn't get any in today...I got a headache coming on. Ugh!


FOOD'S FAVORITE FRIENDS!
Pure Vanilla Extract, Salsa, Lime, Haagen Dazs Vanilla Low Fat Yogurt, Garlic and Splenda!

Life Change Challenge:

I have decide that since this life change is not about how I look on the outside but more about being healthy; I am going to make a bold move. Starting today, I am not going to step on a scale to weigh myself until I go to my physical Sept. 8th.

Now, some of you maybe thinking, "That is crazy, how can you see if you are making progress?" For me, I have to make sure that I keep my mind focused on the "God Issues" going on inside of me. This has to be about glorifying God with my habits and my physical temple not vanity. Now, I am already a week into this and I feel the benefits of this low calorie/ low fat diet (which I will write about next week). I am excited about what God is going to do!

Next week:

I forgot we are going to be working at Youth Camp! Yikes they prepare all our meals there. This is going to be interesting. I will not be able to follow the menu my doctor gave me. I have to figure out how to eat... I think I am taking some of my food friends and some extra food with me. Thank goodness they have a fridge there. I can't wait to read about the outcome next week! Hahahahaha Remember, I can do ALLLLL things through Him who gives me strength...that means even avoiding the snack shop! Praise GOD!

Even with my food, I am choosing to...






Oh, be sure to pick up my button on the side bar, thanks Jenilee. Please, feel free to share my blog with friends who might be going through the same life change. I would love to be an encouragement to them. ~Blessings!