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NORTHWOODSMOM8's Recent Blog Entries
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Saturday, March 17, 2012
As I shared in my last blog, I've been contemplating faith, hope, grace and action quite a bit lately! I've been asking myself some questions about goals that go a bit deeper than weight loss, and I've been very pleased with some insight that hopefully will further my journey towards freedom.
I now understand that my initial 'first step' in the journey was just that--the beginning in getting some control over my physical appetite; however, there is more to the story. I believe I'm beginning to go into stage 2--discovering the WHY'S of turning to food in my time of boredom, discouragement, emotional upheaval, stress, etc.
I'm excited and believe it will be worth any pain during this process of discovery because my hope is that food will no longer have a grip on me, and that I will be able to live a life of freedom and victory over this area of my life. And most of all, I hope my life can be a conduit of blessings and hope to others who have also faced debilitating habits.
"“God can take what Satan meant for shame and use it for His glory. Just when we think we've messed up so badly that our lives are nothing but heaps of ashes, God pours His living water over us and mixes the ashes into clay. He then takes this clay and molds it into a vessel of beauty. After He fills us with His overflowing love, He can use us to pour His love into the hurting lives of others.”
― Lysa TerKeurst
As I get more clarification from God on specifics of this next stage, I will be sharing. For now, I CELEBRATE the LORD'S faithfulness for leading me every step of the way! I look to Him and my heart is FULL of expectation for all that He will accomplish for the praise of His glorious grace!
I will share one thing though. I'm taking the "Break the Sweet Tooth Challenge" and here were the results of my quiz today:
Are Your Sugar Cravings Out of Control?
We all have a hankering for a little sugar every so often. But are your sweet cravings so overpowering that they affect other areas of your life? Take this quiz to find out if your sugar cravings are beyond the norm.
Your Sugar Cravings Are Out of Control
You have some pretty intense struggles with sugar cravings and moderation on a regular basis--but you’re not alone. Cravings can be overpowering for all of us sometimes, but it is possible to manage them with a little work. Start taking steps now to stop your cravings and break your addiction once and for all. Remember, the only person who ultimately decides what goes into your mouth is you.
This is my first step in stage 2! Thanks for your prayers!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Recently someone mentioned the No S Diet and I decided to look it up online. It stands for No sweets, No snacks, No seconds on any days that don't start with S [Saturday, Sunday, Special Days].
Well, I'm not really anxious to embrace the fullness of this 'diet', in fact, I simply do not even like the word DIET [too many years of dieting], but I thought that the "No Sweets" [except my one piece of dark chocolate daily] on days that don't start with S might work for me and I've been practicing that this week.
As you all know, I've struggled these past 2 months--especially in February and March. Unfortunately, I'm up on the scales 5 pounds higher than my 5# range! And yes, that means I've actually gained 10#'s since hitting my goal weight last April 8, 2011. I'm so thankful that God's rich grace empowered me to stay within my range for almost an entire year [except for being up at Christmas], but the combination of being sick and my other hormonal challenges have taken a toll, and have made me CLOSE to doing this number on my scale! ha!
But He GIVETH MORE GRACE!!!!!
I've been meditating much on faith and grace and that God does ALL things for the praise of the glory of HIS grace!
According to Hebrews, faith is the ACTUAL existence of things hoped for.
Grace is GOD'S RICHES [at Christ's expense] poured out upon us. I'm so blessed to think that ALL of God's resources for ALL things are available to us at ALL times!
When faith and grace 'kiss' then the 'channels for obedience' [as John Piper describes it] are opened and we are completely able to do that for which we hope.
So let me see if I can explain what I am understanding and experiencing.
Faith or the actual existence of what I hope for:
I earnestly desire to lose this weight and faithfully exercise--and comfortably fit in my size 4 jeans again. I have to SEE the reality of it NOW! If I don't then I get discouraged! I embrace THIS DAY as THE DAY that God will work miracles in my heart, mind and life!
Grace receives all of God's riches for the day! Grace 'banks on the bounty of GOD' and not my own insufficient resources! I CANNOT do this life WITHOUT Him living and moving in me! I MUST have my VERY being in Him!
And THEN the channels are opened and I'm FLOWING in the 'ability' to eat clean and exercise with burning desire and purpose! And do I BOAST of this ability as SOMEHOW resulting in ME??? Absolutely not! It's TOTALLY to the 'praise of the glory of HIS GRACE and His RICH mercies poured out!!!!
Blessings, my BEAUTIFUL SparkFriends! May the LORD empower you for the next step! {{{{all my love}}}} Susan
Friday, March 09, 2012
Don't let junk food warp your brain
Sure, M&M's and potato chips are irresistible, but could they be addictive?
A new study in rats suggests that junk food can affect the brain in ways similar to drug abuse. Mirroring human consumption patterns, rats were given unlimited access to food we can find in every corner store -- frosting, bacon, candy bars, donuts, sausage, hot dogs, snack cakes and so on.
Obesity, of course, resulted, according to the study detailed in the journal Nature Neuroscience in March 2010. Two hallmarks of drug addiction also appeared.
First, many dopamine receptors -- important players in the brain's reward pathway -- disappeared, possibly signaling that more food was now needed to reach previous levels of satisfaction. Behavior also changed; eating these foods became top priority. The rats continued eating even after a light warned them that they would get shocked if they didn't stop.
The behavior parallels both that of compulsive eaters and addicts, said study researcher Paul Kenny of Scripps Research Institute in Florida. "They can't control it even when doctors have warned them, and their relationships suffer," Kenny told LiveScience.
Since rats that ate regular food did not experience such changes, the researchers concluded there is something unique about junk food.
"Really try to regulate your access to this type of food," Kenny advised. "It is not as innocuous as you think."
Enjoy your food
The best diet advice is often given indirectly. Studies such as those associating healthy weights with eating slowly, away from the television, apart from the Blackberry or iPad and in conversation with loved ones, all essentially advise the same thing: Savor your food.
Food that is eaten mindlessly is neglected food. And neglected food imparts the emptiest of calories.
When we pay attention to what we eat -- its color, texture, freshness and seasonings -- we are satisfied in a deeper way than stuffing of our stomachs could ever accomplish. In this way, we maximize the pleasure of our meals, while eating an amount best for our bodies. And, according to Lippert, if you truly take the time to savor each luscious bite, you will be surprised how much less will satiate you.
Eating well, after all, is as much about the brain as the belly, scientists say.
www.livescience.com/13084-7-diet-tri
cks-work.html
Thursday, March 08, 2012
I'm here to testify of the LORD'S abundant grace! Last week at this time, I was in the depths of despair--in a pit so deep that I truly didn't think I would get out! For weeks, I had beens struggling with my health, my new lifestyle or 'live-it' [NOT diet!], and my peri-menopausal symptoms, and I was so depressed! Well, to the praise of the GLORY of HIS grace, I'm doing so much better! I'm rejoicing in the victories that HE ALONE gives!
Tuesday, I read the MOST WONDERFUL thing from a book called, "Future Grace" by John Piper. He was talking about a true event from his childhood.
"When I lost my footing as a little boy in the undertow at Daytona Beach, I felt as if I were going to be dragged to the middle of the ocean in an instant. It was terrifying thing. I tried to get my bearings and figure out which was was up. But I couldn't get my feet on the ground and the current was too strong to swim. I wasn't a good swimmer any way. In my panic I thought of only one thing: Could someone help me? But I couldn't even call out from under the water. When I felt my father's hand take hold of my upper arm like a mighty vice grip, it was the sweetest feeling in the world. I yielded entirely to being overpowered by his strength. I reveled in being picked up at his will. I did not resist. The thought did not enter my mind that I should try and show that things aren't so bad; or that I should add my strength to my Dad's arm. All I thought was, YES! I need you! I thank you! I love your strength! I love your initiative! I love your grip! You are great! In that spirit of yielded affection one cannot boast. I call that yielded affection "faith". And my father was the embodiment of the future grace that craved under the water. This is the faith that magnifies grace."
Isn't that EXCELLENT!!!! And such a beautiful correlation to our relationship with Jesus!!!! So in my weakness, I didn't try [esp. since I COULDN'T] to add anything to the 'work of grace'; I simply allowed my SWEET Jesus to lift me out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock and establish my goings! He is SO GOOD!!! I with 'yielded affection' praise Him with my whole heart!
Yesterday was the 4th day in a row of staying within my limits, and even though it's been VERY tough *not* to eat in the evening, by God's grace, I haven't succumbed to that temptation. My 3 'fast break goals' are going good, except that I refuse to walk in the freezing rain! ha! But I did venture out, and I did take some steps down the driveway, before COMMON SENSE made me turn around! Anyway, I've been walking, cycling, not mindlessly eating in the evening, and encouraging myself with motivational reading every day.
Yesterday I had a SIMPLY delicious afternoon snack and had to share! I lightly steamed 6 oz. of fresh broccoli [2 servings of veggies] and then I added my Chipotle Chili Fage Total 0% dip! To say that it was GOOD is such an understatement. I got this powder dip from Sam's and it's MSG free and looks fairly healthy. I add the whole pkg to 2 cups of the Greek yogurt. I put 2 oz. of the dip over my steamed broccoli. OH MY WORD, was it delicious!!! And then I had 1/2 banana and 1/2 serving of key lime greek yogurt. TOTAL of 229 calories, 1 g. fat and 19 GRAMS OF PROTEIN!!!!
Today I work at the hospital gift shop, take one of the boys for their driver's permit, and have dinner out with my NEW 18 year old! I now have 4 adult sons! WOW! When they were 3, 2, 1 & newborn, I seriously wondered if this time in my life would ever come, and now they are 21, 20, 19, 18! They DO grow up so fast!!!
Love and hugs, Susan
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It's a company that comes every now and again and they sell spices--I bought the 'spinach' dry mix and the 'chipotle chili' powder. Then I had one packet to 2 cups of FAGE Total 0%. You might be able to get contact info directly from the Sam's store. I LOVE the spinach one as the base for my egg salad. SO yummy! {{{{hugs, my precious friend}}}}
Member Comments About This Blog Post:
for being here a stage 2, Susan! 
