Is Over-eating Sin? If So, then God Can Help

 

  If you use your lives to do what your sinful selves want, you will die spiritually. But if you use the Spirit’s help to stop doing the wrong things you do with your body, you will have true life. Romans 8:13

Hi friends, It's been a long time I know. :)  I have been through such a journey this year with the Lord after a year of struggling and  failing in so many ways.  I have been writing about my journey back from there daily on a devotional blog, At Home With God.

One thing that has amazed me, as I've been seeking the Lord with all my heart, is the self-discipline and self-control that have resulted in so many areas of my life!

Whether it was procrastination, anger, fear, worry, envy, laziness, needy-ness,  pride, over the last eight months, the Lord has given me so much freedom from the power of the flesh. It is ALL the Holy Spirit's doing as I can assure you, I have not a single ounce of self-discipline.

Day by day, week by week, the Lord has freed me from bad habits and besetting sins.  One area (just to show you what I mean) was procrastination and laziness. My bad habits of putting things off and just not being able to make myself do what I 'ought' was just misery to me.

I remember thinking, "Wow, If I could just make myself work--and stop putting things off--how different life would be."  So knowing what a mess I was, I simply offered that need up to the Lord, and kept my focus on Jesus.. leaving the 'fruit of the Spirit' up to Him to produce.

As I began to seek the Lord, that was one of the first things the Lord gave me strength to do--work.  There are so many emotional reasons, needs and struggles that contribute to not being able to do something now.. or to do something we aren't in the mood for. Yet I can now work all day long.. I mean.. all day.. till I can't walk another step, and be happy.  This is another miracle--only one in a long train of miracles.

Food is just like so many other 'ammoral activities.'  When we use food for the wrong reasons, it becomes an idol in our lives.

The reason I'm telling you this is that I want you to know that the power to stop overeating is there... if we recognize overeating as 'sin' and repent. It is sin of course, and our conscience knows it doesn't it?  The guilt is legitimate and the shame is real. Yes God loves us anyway, but He doesn't approve of sin.. however minor it seems to our eyes.

And the way to stop over-eating permanently (the bible word for that is gluttony), is to get the Lord's strength to say no. 

But that comes from the Lord.. and abiding in Him.  We will never have enough self-control to say no to our flesh apart from Him.

 For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever. Romans 8:13

Isn't our flesh just like a spoiled child.. dictating to us what it wants.. and oh boy-- if we say No--it throws a fit!  But if we keep giving in, how miserable we will be! 

If we seek the Lord, spending time with Him in the word and prayer, and ask for his help, he will help us. As we stay close to Him and agree with Him about our sin and repent, his Holy Spirit will give us the power to choose to eat right instead of doing what our flesh wants.

 When the Holy Spirit prompts you to not eat that, or that you are done and should push away the plate--we need to obey! If we know a food is especially tempting, and we feel it's bad for our health or too dangerous to eat, then we need to not eat it. Our conscience is  the best guide we can have to what we should eat.. much better than a list of rules.

I'm not saying a diet, counting calories, waiting on hunger and stopping when full, or any other weight-loss method will not help.

Any weight loss method that's healthy can be incredibly helpful. But they are all useless unless you follow them and don't cheat.  Therein lies the real heart of our problem. 

We cheat, lie, steal, and indulge... about food and our weight and our problem. This is the proof that our weight and our eating are a spiritual issue.

We eat for all the wrong reasons. We turn to food for something only God can give us.. comfort, love, happiness, peace.  

We often diet for all the wrong reasons too--pride being the biggest one.  Then too, diets are a fast way to 'fix' the evidence of our late night forays into the fridge, or the sneaky bites we take all throughout the day. I think diets often set us up to fail.
 
So for some reason, after all the struggles and sin habits the Lord has freed me from, over-eating is still an issue for me. It's the last hold out of my flesh I guess. One reason I believe the Lord has not just wiped this away, besides my own selfish love of food, is that he wants to help others.

This is one area where I'd like to experience victory.. with others, who are also trying to obey the Lord in the area of eating and lose weight too. It's better to do this sort of thing together isn't it? I want our success to be all to God's glory and I know He does too.

For a couple of weeks now, or maybe longer, I've been feeling a conviction that I should publicly challenge myself and anyone else who wants to try it to lose weight with the Lord's power and help as we seek Him and give our love to Him not to food.

 I want to try to lose weight a new way--by simply obeying my conscience.. and the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

I have a feeling the weight loss will be slow. But I think that's a good thing. Everything I've read says that when you lose weight over a period of a year or more, the weight loss tends to be permanent.

Oddly enough, if we ate only the calories we needed to support our ideal body weight, we'd guaranteed lose weight.. eventually.

The feeling of deprivation would be eliminated to a great degree.  Counting calories might help tremendously,  so we at least know how much food is proper and how much is not 'ok'. But waiting on hunger and stopping when full is also a great plan.

A better way to lose weight--in the long run- may be  to simply eat right and stop over-eating.

Any plan, again, is useless without the Lord's help. Self-determination just doesn't work does it? How many of us have tried again and again to lose weight?  We need to quit being the 'Lord' of what we eat, and let Him decide what is ok and what isn't.  When He says stop.. we need to stop.

Really, if you'd like to try this approach to weight loss, then I would challenge you to just go with what you have always felt in your heart was the right one, but this time, listen when your conscience says no. If you think you need to eat 1400 calories and stop. Then ask the Lord--is that what he's saying? And follow through from that point. If you think you need to avoid junk food--I sure do--then do so.

If and when you fail, just repent, tell the Lord you're sorry, and keep going.  It doesn't matter how many times a day--don't give up. Keep praying, reading the word, and repenting. He will help.

Remember, the Lord does not condemn us for being prone to sin and if we fail, he will forgive us if we ask him to.   If you don't think overeating is sin, then you're on your own. Me--I need help. lol

So I'm gonna try to lose weight on God's time table.. by nothing more than not indulging in the sin of gluttony.  He is the only one that can help.  My plan is to post my weight and challenges and even failures daily.

I've not been doing great yet.. but I know for a fact that because I have repented and am not going to argue about this any more, the Lord will help me. I can't lose weight and keep it off.. but the Lord can help me and you too.

Praying this was not too hard to read and that the Lord will help you in your weight-loss journey as I am fully expecting him to help me in mine.

Blessings,
Donna

It Pays to Follow the 'Rules' When Playing the "Lose Weight" game

Oh my goodness! Who would have thought that following a few simple rules for eating could speed my weight loss progress! Thank you Bob Greene from "My Best Life Ever"!


Here are the rules for losing weight that he suggests we abide by.  I dropped another pound in two days following these rules. (Total weight loss of 13.5 since Sept. 5).

•  Rule 1: Don't eat after 7:30pm.
•  Rule 2: Exercise 30 min. a day. 
•  Rule 3: Drink lots of water. 
•  Rule 4: Switch to Low-fat Dairy, 
•  Rule 5: No EMOTIONAL EATING. 
•  Rule 6: Ask Am I REALLY HUNGRY? 
•  Rule 7: No Soda,
•  Rule 8: No Alcohol. 
•  Rule 9: No fried foods. 
•  Rule 10. No trans fats. 

And I thought I was 'stuck'. These rules are great!  Visit him at The Best Life Blog.

What I love best is that he addresses the heart of why we are overweight--over eating and emotional eating and challenges us to really focus on this. Why do we eat more than we should? My solution is simple...take all of that stress, discouragement, or even the desire to 'reward' myself with food..to the Lord. Eating is a bad way to comfort myself! What do you think?


xo
Donna

Fasting for a Re-boot to Clean Eating

Hey friends, Long time no chat! I've been busy teaching school and getting our bathroom re-done, plus tons of paperwork, but I wanted to send out a quick update.

I am coming off of a 'controlled' fast..basically it's a 'colon cleanse'. I have to say I feel like a million dollars--lots of energy and the whole family says that even my skin looks better. I lost a few pounds but that is probably mostly water.

Still, the best part is it has gotten rid of a lot of cravings and given me the self-discipline to start eating well again.   Funny how junk food makes you crave...junk food! Have you noticed?

Is it true that French women don't get fat?

I'm sure you are wondering, why in the world I would bring up this topic. Is it true? I don't know that for certain, but I've always thought so. No doubt I'm not the only one who has had this impression.


One of the few French women I've ever gotten to know on a very 'small' scale, Diamond Berger, was a quilter from France. I met her at a talk at the Houston Quilt guild on French quilting or 'boutis'. She certainly was NOT fat. Neither were any of the young women with her who showed off their pieces of fabric art. She was in her 50's and looked lovely...just as lovely as her younger students.


Funny how a post is born.

Six pounds lost from my Juicing Fast...and Feeling Great!

Hey friends.  I'm working on my Tuesday Tea post for Comin' Home on Setting Boundaries but wanted to share a quick update on my juice fast. I've got great news! I've lost six pounds in the last week and a half and most of it was due to juicing. Finally...some progress!

I feel so energetic too..not like the first few days. LoL! The decaffeinating process is not fun.  The first few days were (especially the first two) were pretty bad. I started on a Friday thank goodness! That gave me time to lay on the couch ad 'detox'. If you aren't addicted to caffeine it won't be so bad.

Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead!

Bet that scared you..Huh?  Tee-hee!   Don't worry, I don't feel THAT desperate...but maybe getting closer... Desperate enough to drink THIS....  Actually, it tastes better than it looks. :o)

I know it's been a little while since I posted but I've been on bloggy vacation and am surrounded at this very moment by tax papers. Sigh.. Not the most fun..but it sure will be great when I'm done! :o) I didn't do very well on my eating over the last week or so. It sure doesn't pay to not pay attention! I'm vacillating back and forth in a three pound range.

My Fitness Pal and Other Helpful WeightLoss Tools

 

Twenty Two years ago..after a year long weight loss journey of 66 pounds.

Well ladies...How's it going? I had one of those busy weeks where you have company and can't pay as close of attention to the eating as you would like. It was non-stop! Dropping people off at the airport..kids coming and going..Mom visiting for several days..and now today I'm picking up two family members-one from the airport and another from friends about 30 minutes away.

I went to write in my food journal and it was dated EXACTLY one week ago. Wow--a whole week and I hardly noticed.  I kept trying to keep track of my calories and food 'in my head'. Result? Gained a pound. Sigh.. But I suppose it could have been worse. :o)

Created by MyFitnessPal - Free Weight Loss Tools

I really love this website, My Fitness Pal, because it has so many helpful tools, one of which is this weight tracker which I plan to put on the sidebar. If you would like to add yours, just set it up, get the code, and email it to me and I'll copy and paste it in. It will keep track automatically, if you are signed up with them.

Mom and I were having a chat this week about the time I lost 57 pounds and kept it off for many years..through three pregnancies. I weighed exactly what I weigh now. How did I lose all that weight?

 

Before my diet 22 years ago.  (Took eight months to lose the weight.)

It was simple..I counted calories...and I wrote down and added in all my 'mistakes'. Seeing it on paper made me careful..every day. I usually ate between 1200 and 1500 calories. I didn't eat healthy food either. I didn't want to have to 'cook twice' so I just ate less of what the family ate.  Eventually, I learned to just stay hungry and I'd stay thin.

Not very exciting, I know..but it did work.  The accountability worked wonders. I also had devotions every day and wrote down what the Lord was showing me on the other side of the notebook. The Lord taught me so much about discipline through that weightloss journey.

 

Now, here I am again...twenty two  years later. It hit me just how 'fail safe' this process was. I still have the chart of my weight loss in my scrapbook. I decided to scan it in and share it with you. You can see that I had plenty of ups and downs over the eight months of my diet.


Mom emailed me this article and it's very   The Truth About Calories. It's something I plan to keep in mind while I track my calories this time around. Guess it's time to make a new chart!  How are you all doing? I hope very much that you didn't gain like me..but the important thing is to keep working at it and keep praying.

  Donna from Comin' Home

June Healthy Eating Challenge at Josie's Finding It

Just wanted to post a cheery update! Thanks everyone for the great posts this last week and the encouraging comments. I do hope we can all keep up a little better this time. It certainly helps to have buddies when you are trying to lose weight.


Your ideas have been so great!  Thanks Jaime, Bee, and Deb for weighing in..and thanks so much Keelie and Josie for dropping by.  Your ideas and example have been a great encouragement to all of us.


One especially helpful thing I learned about was Josie at Finding It's Healthy Eating Challenge for June. Keelie posted all about it on her weightloss blog REAL FAT.  I decided to join in by keeping a food diary and it sure seems to be helping.

At first, it seemed that nothing I did was helping as I mentioned last week, but it did work! I've lost 2 pounds this week and lost 2 pounds in the two weeks prior to that. I got off to such a slow start that I almost lost hope. I don't feel 'on top' of this...or on a roll or anything...

BUT--somehow..the myriad of choices to eat something good versus junky...the choices to not eat when I'm not really that hungry...or to pass up a dessert...all those many many choices of whether to take that next bite or not, seem to have added up.

So I am feeling  very encouraged.  I'm literally living from bite to bite. Each time choosing whether or not to eat well..or give in to temptation. If I blow it though, I don't fret. I just get up and face the next bite..with more prayer...and more conscious attention to what is going in my mouth.

Recent successes...driving home at 8:00pm after buying groceries, I put a bag of chips in the front seat to eat on the way home because I was hungry. I started to get in the car...looked at the bag of chips..and thought, "No way.!"  I dug around in the back, pulled out the cherries and replaced the chip bag with them....and smiled! Thank you Lord!

 Oops!!

I had a brownie with whipped cream last night with our visitors while playing Canasta with the kids...but ONLY one!  I also left half my cream of broccoli soup in the bowl because I was full. I even went to bed hungry. My daughter was so proud of me and mentioned it the next morning.

So even though I've eaten some things that weren't healthy...and yes I had some chips this week...I didn't let my 'oops!' derail me. And this morning, the weight loss totally surprised me. The scales haven't moved all week.  I love fast results..but I'm happy to get slow ones. At least it's progress!

 Trudy....46..pregnant with No. 6..and hooping! You Go Girl!

Today I'm working on making hula hoops just as my friend, Trudy from Sewing with Trudy, instructed me. What a woman! She so inspires me!! This summer..the heat is NOT going to keep me from exercising!

Jaime, you are such an inspiration to get moving and get serious about losing weight. Thanks! And Bee..thanks for being real and sharing your ups and downs. Together..I'm sure we can do this!  And Deb is such an inspiration too!
                                               Healthy Eating Tracker from the US Food Pyramid Site

Food Tracker from First Place 4 Health

(Suggested by Keelie)

Prayerfully..we will all get thin...together! :o)

How's your week going?

xo

Donna @ Comin' Home

Unslumping One's Self...

As Dr. Seuss puts it so very well, "Unslumping One's self is not easily done."  

Of all the books that describe life's ups and downs best, "Oh the Places You'll Go" has got to be the best! ($1.33 used at Amazon.) Tim and I used to sit and ponder and even feel hopeful after reading this book, when we were in one of those 'terrible' times in our lives as a young couple. Those times when everything seems to go wrong. :o) (Like cancer, only car broken down, job going down the tubes) You don't feel so alone when you realize everyone has ups and downs.

For me, this last week has been a process of 'Unslumping' myself from my weightloss journey. Are you in a slump? Then you know just how I feel! It's nice to have company. LoL!

Really, the only solution I know that I haven't tried yet..is to just keep going through the motions even when I'm NOT inspired. It's how you get through life..and that interminable 'To Do List' so why wouldn't it work for weightloss?  

Really, it's just simple faith and obedience. Doing what you know is right..regardless of the results. (Thanks Elisabeth Elliott!) 

What are those 'things' that we have to keep doing regardless of the results?

It's pursuing whatever weightloss methods you feel you should pursue--especially things that have worked in the past i.e....

• waiting on hunger, stopping when full
• food journals or diaries
• counting calories
• exercise--especially fun kinds like walking, hooping, swimming, square dancing or aerobics..
• avoiding junkfood, eating healthy
• bible study (great spiritual food!!)
• Prayer (we need all the help we can get!)
• weighing in daily, weekly..etc.
• posting on this or some other weightloss website..like spark people (accountability!)
• drinking more water
• gyms
• smaller plates..smaller portions
• healthier recipes

I don't know about you, but I don't think HOW to lose weight  is our problem. I think it's the DOING part that escapes us! :o)

I think that at least for my part, when I don't see quick results...or any results..or I get busy and can't focus on what's going in my mouth, I get discouraged or distracted and stop.  If I fail, even for one day....it makes me feel hopeless.

One thing I've learned from Keelie of Real Fat...is that you just have to keep going. If you look at her sidebar, you see her weight posting. One month..losing 2.5 pounds...another gaining .5...That's monthly progress, mind you,  not daily or even weekly. That's called perseverance.  

Perseverance and commitment is the heart of the problem. We have to quit quitting. Period. So what if you don't see much result? 

I'm convinced that if we keep doing the right things long enough..we'll see permanent weightloss. 

So even though I'm not in the mood...I'm gonna do all the 'right things' anyway.   I kept a food journal this week..though I must admit I didn't always take the time to write things down until noon sometimes!! Or I left off the evening..(subliminal excuse for avoiding the stuff that doesn't look so good on a food journal.)

Three of the days look pretty good..here they are!  Guess what I ate on Thursday...

• 3 cups of popcorn
• a bowl of macaroni and cheese
• three pieces of toast
• 2 tacos
• and finally 6 strawberries

Gee..wonder why I didn't want to write in my food journal on Thursday??Take a BIG guess....

But am I going to give up..NO way!! I got out my Thin Within devotional this morning...wrote down my food for today...watermelon, milk w/ coffee, 2 eggs....weighed myself (groan!) and I'm going to just DO IT! 

I may not feel like dieting..but I can write down what I eat, weigh, read my bible and pray, exercise..etc. I can do SOMETHING. 

  So what if I'm in  a slump...and don't feel motivated. Like Keelie..I'm just going to keep going anyway.   What have we got to lose?...maybe a few pounds!! :o)

I have this feeling that if I just keep moving in the right direction..at some point along the way..I'll get out of the slump.  It works for housework and life in general, and I have a feeling it will work for weightloss too.

Let's just all make a pact that we will not give up..no matter what! What do you think?

BTW, I'm linking to Deb's Fantastic Friday linky party! It's a lot of fun. Do drop by!

xo
Donna

What did you eat for Memorial Day?

 

Aren't special occasions so tough?!!  I got my plate out determined not to 'crater' at the picnic. Of course, I brought my family's favorite potato salad...not at all healthy but a favorite of some of my friends' too. 

Since I made it, I felt obligated to eat some of it. How silly is that? But it was a VERY small dollup...teeny-weeny!   I must say, in my defense, that I have made many a cake for baby showers and wedding showers and had nary a bite..not even of the icing! So I'm not that hopeless of a case LoL!

Let's see...I skipped the hot dog..those things are just nothing but chemicals...but I did have a scoop of someone's homemade chili with beans. This was very good! And I had watermelon..always a safe choice. And I scooped up a big helping of coleslaw. Before you croak..just know that it was FANTASTIC! It had a basalmic vinagrette dressing and olives in it for some extra 'pizzazz'.    (I tried a piece of sausage but it was too spicy--so I skipped it thank goodness!)  That was it! Another picnic safely navigated. :o)

  I didn't have the desserts at all because I'd rather talk than eat..thank goodness!  I kept seeing it go by on people's plates and forgetting to go get some. (Thanks for the distraction Lord!)

But when we got home..late at night..sigh..I had a leftover hamburger patty..but I did eat it on a tortilla rather than on a bun. I was so hungry!  Thank goodness the fridge was stocked with sliced cantaloupe which was a great snack for our movie night. 

What are your strategies for avoiding excess calories on the holidays?  I do know that I went armed with a 'mindset' of not feeling obligated to 'eat' just because it was there. (all except for that potato salad--yipes!!) 

Happy Picnic-ing!

xo

Donna

Trying Again... With Thin Within

Soooo...guess what? Yep, you guessed it... I gained my weight back....after a year of traveling and managing my father's estate. I'd rather say so here than anywhere else! Who else would understand? 

But the great thing is that I'm still counting my blessings and I've learned to eat WAY healthier than I used to. And I'm exercising using a hula hoop..and doing yardwork. (Talk about exhausting!) And I lost four pounds already since I 'got back on track'. 

I've started losing weight again and this book, Thin Within, has been the biggest help. It's just waiting on hunger and stopping when you are full. Simple? Not really, because obedience is never easy.

The fact is that I know in my heart that overeating which the bible talks about in many places is just another sin. Not 'just'..but IS.  As the Lord has been renewing my mind with his word, I've been much more careful about what goes in my mouth.

It's a little harder this week to eat right..and temptations abound when you are eating out..cooking special meals for family...and not paying attention... but I know the Lord will get me through.

I'm starting my food journal again so I can pay better attention to WHEN I eat and WHAT I eat.

How about you? Are you guys still doing well? I know Deb is for sure. :o) She's a real inspiration.

And my dear friend Jaime of Life and Love in the Country is doing great! She posts recipes and her exercise routine regularly! If you want to get inspired..be sure to check out her weight loss journey. :o)

And so is Kylie of REAL FAT! She's so inspiring that my daughter-in-law is following her weight loss program which is similar in that it is based on devotions and scripture too.

What all are you doing to get thin..or stay thin..?  I'd love to hear what you are up to.

Blessings,
Donna @ Comin' Home

"Healthier" Dessert Recipes for the Holidays and a Substitute for Mashed Potatoes

Hi Ladies,

Long time no post! I know!  I'm afraid that since my father passed away, I've been really swamped, so I just haven't had the energy to manage more than one blog..and I have several. But I love this idea of Jaime's. With the holidays coming upon us, I know I've been more tempted than usual. I don't want to eat junk so how great it would be to bring something with me that I know I can eat!  We don't want to eat this stuff every day, but for those times when we might be tempted..it's great to have a way to plan ahead.

I've been winging it for quite some time, but was recently encouraged to try South Beach's cookbook as they have put together some great recipes that are 'OK' for me to eat. Low carb and low fat--perfect!

I went through the cookbook and these are some  recipes I plan to try this week.

First, the easiest healthy snack which can be taken to parties, is Chocolate dipped strawberries. South Beach recommends this dessert (four strawberries only--just a little chocolate).  It's a painless splurge that can get you past the unhealthy snacks. Delicious! You can see how to make these here.

Mocha Ricotta Creme

1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

1/2 t. unsweetened cocoa powder

1/4 t. vanilla extract

1 package sugar substitute

Dash espresso powder

5 mini chocolate chips 

Mix together the ricotta, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and surgar substitute in a dessert bowl. Serve chilled with a dusting of espresso powder and sprinkled with the mini chocolate chips.

261 calories, 15 g. protein, 17 g. carbs, 14 g. fat, 9 g. saturated fats

If you are going to indulge, and just can't help it...this is much better than most desserts...low carbish, low fat-ish, and enough protein to keep your blood sugar level stable.  This would be great to make on the night the rest of the family is having pie, or to take to a party (x 4 or 5)

 credit

Strawberries (or berries) with Vanilla Yogurt Parfait

4 ounces non-fat, sugar -free vanilla yogurt

1/2 cup chopped strawberries.
South beach suggests 'Uncle Sam's Cereal' as a layer too. It's just a high fiber cereal, so probably any high fiber cereal would be good. or even toasted oats. Yummy!

Spoon the yogurt into a parfait glass then add the strawberries. Serve immediately.

Grandma's Pineapple Cucumber Lime Jello Salad Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 6oz package of Jell-O Lime gelatin
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups hot water
• 2 cups cold water
• 1 1/2 cups peeled, diced cucumbers
• 3 Tbsp horseradish (or more if you want it spicier)
• 1/2 teaspoon grated onion
• 2 Tbsp vinegar
• 1 1/2 cup of diced or crushed drained canned pineapple (you cannot use fresh pineapple with gelatins. The bromelaine enzyme in fresh pineapple will keep the gelatin from bonding.)

Method

1 In a bowl, dissolve lime jello and salt in 2 cups of hot water (don't use boiling water, just regular hot water). Add 2 cups cold water. Chill until slightly thickened - the consistency of egg whites, about 30 minutes.
2 In a separate bowl mix cucumber, horseradish, grated onion, and vinegar. Fold pineapple and cucumber mixture into jello. Pour into a jello mold and chill for several hours (about 6) until gelatin sets.
3 To remove jello from its mold, fill up a basin half-way with hot water. Lower the jello mold into the hot water, metal side down, until the water comes up almost to the edge of the mold. Keep it there 5 seconds and remove. Place a plate on top of the jello mold and turn upside down. The jello salad should just slide out.
Serves 6-8.

Surprise South Beach Mashed "Potatoes"  
photo from Tracey's Culinary Adventures..worth a visit!

This is one recipe that my friend, Shona, uses and I have wanted to try. I really need this one in my repertoire. 

4 cups cauliflower florets

1 ounce I can't Believe it's not butter! spray

1 ounce Land O Lakes Gourmet Fat-free half & half

pinch salt

pinch freshly ground pepper

Steam or microwave the cauliflower until soft. Puree in a food processor, adding the butter spray and half-and half to taste. Season with salt and pepper.

Three Steps Forward..One tiny step back.. Not giving up!

Dear friends,

I have some Bad News and some Good News.

First the Bad News: I just have to tell you that it's time for 'true confessions'. Sigh..  I was doing so well and have only gained back three pounds, but it's been a bumpy road on the weight loss journey the last few weeks.It all started when I accidentally bought the wrong protein powder for breakfast. I couldn't tell that it had more carbs than protein (and that was pretty low) by taste and hadn't read the fine print. For 3 weeks I drank that stuff and started finding myself thinking about food again.

You know..the good stuff like pizza, french fries, and cookies.  I would only eat a little..here and there..but it started adding up. To tell you the truth I was getting tired of healthy food. with no treats. Lesson learned. (Some of you have already said this before. :o).  All or nothing will get to you eventually!

credit

Then I  got a urinary tract infection. The problem..not enough water drinking  and having too much protein with not enough carb to balance it out.  I was getting lazy about my veges and skimpy on the fruit. Not a good combination!

So I took a  sabbatical from the protein powder and started working more on getting more veges back into the diet along with a small extra helping of whole grain something each day. I feel like I'm back on track and am so glad.

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I have to say the occasional indulgences didn't hurt me too much, but being too tired to weigh was a BAD thing..for me. I needed the accountability!!  So now I'm weighing again and focusing on healthy food. It really would help if the kids would quit baking cookies all the time and bringing home pizza. :o) (Can I blame it on them?! Tee.hee!

Oh well...now for the Good News!  After years of living on junk food, and then spending such a long time learning to change my habits by eating healthy food...some of the new habits have STUCK! That's why I didn't gain too much! To really have learned to eat better and not overindulge is wonderful!

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Here are the habits that have stuck:

• If I want some french fries or other bad carb, I just have a few--at the most, one or two fries. It's enough! I'm happy to have had the taste.  (Homemade fries at Aunt Joan's...that's another story. I ate a whole cupful!)
• When we eat out and we had to do that a  lot over the last two weeks, I almost always buy a salad with meat. And if I get a sandwich, I always throw away half or all of the bun. (On the road, I have to use half the bun to leave the meat and veges on.)  This is so important! It really limited the 'damage'.
• Keep nuts and/or fruit with you on the road. I just don't eat chips  like I used two.(except one or two)  I keep nuts and fruit stocked up and I buy it on the road at convenience stores if necessary. And we keep fruit on hand for easing snacking.  Even when Tim and I were at a hotel for the weekend, we bought a roasted chicken and a bag of oranges and nuts rather than go out for lunch each day. It helped so much--It's a habit!

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• If you are going to indulge on sweets...make it very small!  I've had icecream, cake etc...but only in very small doses.
• Starting out breakfast with protein and fruit is a habit I just don't break.
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These are the main ones and I know there are others. I cook differently now and it helps so much. I make salads for lunch almost every day.  These things have kept me from falling completely off track.

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How are you all doing? Have you been struggling like I was?  What good things have you learned about weight loss this summer?

Love,
Donna @ Comin' Home

I"m Still Here...I was on vacation!

Hi Country Momma...I"m still here of course. :o)

I've been on vacation and it's the first time I've taken a vacation from blogging for the first time ever since I started in November. I was so nervous to do it to!. Even then I published a couple of posts that I just couldn't keep to myself.

How am I doing..well? I discovered two weeks ago, that I had been accidentally eating sugar in my protein powder. Guess what, after two weeks of that, I started having cravings again. I had sent dear hubby to pick up the whey free powder and this was the result. It never occurred to me to read the label--like a dummy! It had half the protein and tons of carbs. Oops!

Anyway, I have the right stuff now and am doing fine. I lost a pound or so over the last two weeks, but not like I had been.  I'm back on track but am now going to take off dieting for a month (since I've been hard at it for three months. My nutritionist said to take a break so my body doesn't think I'm starving it.  Debra told me to focus on healthy eating for one month. I may lose weight anyway, but the point is to give my body a break.

Today, the day you posted, was our 23rd anniversary and I was determined not to post anything or even look at the computer when dear hubby was wanting my attention.  I know that blogging has to be secondary to life and it's been a hard lesson learned. Yipes!

As it is, I've had nine teenagers at the house all day yesterday and today-(18th birthday bash). The boys all spent the night so I spent the morning cooking a huge breakfast. They are now all at the movies but will be back for 18 hamburgers (grilled by me) at 4pm. Then we are ALL getting dressed up and headed out to go square dancing. Tuesdays are our dance and this is the last chance we have to get new students to sign up. If it doesn't work, we have to cancel our club for the summer and no one wants to do that.  I did post a couple of times on my home blog because that is what was going on in my life at the moment.

I had my first ever piece of pizza and cup of icecream since this blog started. I guess I needed the break -Ha!

But I do hope all is well. I've got an awful lot of clothes to alter--I can say that much. :o) It's a great problem! I've officially lost a total of 20 pounds as of the start of this blog and I am so grateful to all of you for helping us get started.

Love,
Donna @ Comin' Home

Great Article from Spark People-- Stop Dieting and Start Living!

 Hi friends,  I recently got this in my email box and am so glad I read it! What a great source of encouragement!  It's so easy for me to get into the 'diet' mentality..and then slip right back out of it again when I've 'lost the weight'.  

I really don't want to go through that this time around!  I've been so wanting to eat stuff that I haven't eaten in two months! Yipes! I'm afraid it's partly because I've been going through a certain time of the month and when I get the 'blahs' I want to eat.   

Rather than get off the band wagon completely--I just ate one bite of what ever it was.  It worked! I got to 'taste' the forbidden food but I didn't eat a bunch...just one bite. 

How about you guys? Anyone having trouble with getting tired of eating 'healthy food'? How do you handle it?  

 Here's the article that encouraged me this week with a link below to read the rest of it. Thanks, Spark People!!

Blessings,

Donna

 

 

Stop Dieting and Start Living!

Have You Made the Change?

-- By Dean Anderson, Behavioral Psychology Expert

You’ve heard it so many times that you probably say it in your sleep. "Diets don’t work; if you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to make a lifestyle change."

But what does a lifestyle change look or feel like, and how do you know when you’ve made one? The way some people talk about it, you’d think there’s some sort of mystical wisdom you get when you “make the change” that tells you when and what to eat, and how to stop worrying about the number on the scale. Does this mean you’ll finally stop craving chocolate and start liking tofu?

You’ve heard it so many times that you probably say it in your sleep. "Diets don’t work; if you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to make a lifestyle change."

But what does a lifestyle change look or feel like, and how do you know when you’ve made one? The way some people talk about it, you’d think there’s some sort of mystical wisdom you get when you “make the change” that tells you when and what to eat, and how to stop worrying about the number on the scale. Does this mean you’ll finally stop craving chocolate and start liking tofu?

The basic difference between a diet mentality and a lifestyle mentality is simply a matter of perspective. Having the right perspective may not make tofu taste better than chocolate, but it can make all the difference in the world when it comes to achieving your goals, avoiding unnecessary suffering along the way, and hanging onto your achievements over the long haul.

Trust me on this. I’ve lost well over 350 pounds in my life—I know how to do that. But I also put 200 of those back on again, getting bigger each time. The 150 pounds I lost a few years ago is staying off, because I’ve changed my perspective.

The basic difference between a diet mentality and a lifestyle mentality is simply a matter of perspective. Having the right perspective may not make tofu taste better than chocolate, but it can make all the difference in the world when it comes to achieving your goals, avoiding unnecessary suffering along the way, and hanging onto your achievements over the long haul.

Trust me on this. I’ve lost well over 350 pounds in my life—I know how to do that. But I also put 200 of those back on again, getting bigger each time. The 150 pounds I lost a few years ago is staying off, because I’ve changed my perspective.

Here are the main ways a diet differs from a lifestyle:

1. A diet is all about numbers—the number on the scale and the number of calories you eat and burn. Success is defined in terms of how well you stick to your numbers.
   
   A lifestyle change is all about you. It’s about lining up your eating and physical activity with your real goals and desires. Success is defined in terms of how these changes make you feel about yourself.
    
2. The diet mentality assumes that reaching a certain weight is the key to finding happiness and solving other problems. That’s why messing up the numbers on any given day can be so upsetting—it means you’ve messed up on just about everything that really matters.
   
   The lifestyle approach assumes that being overweight is usually the result of other problems, not the cause. Addressing these problems directly is the best way to solve both the problems themselves and your weight issues. This means focusing on many things, not just the numbers on the scale or the Nutrition Tracker. Numbers only tell a small part of the story, and “bad” numbers often provide good clues into areas that need attention.
    
3. Going on a diet involves an external and temporary change in eating technique. You start counting and measuring, and you stop eating some foods and substitute others, based on the rules of whatever diet plan you are using. Maybe you throw in some exercise to burn a few extra calories. You assume that it’s the technique that produces the results, not you. The results of a diet are external; if you’re lucky, you may change on the outside—but not on the inside. Once you reach your goal weight, you don’t need the technique anymore, and things gradually go back to “normal.” So does your weight—and then some. And, of course, all the problems you hoped the weight loss would solve are still there. 

Read the Rest of the Article at Spark People--a great website for people trying to lose weight!

Still losing..slowly but surely...

I am so glad that this healthy eating is not only helping me feel better but also lose weight slowly but surely. I haven't had any real battles with temptation. And I look better every day.  Sometimes I see my face in the bathroom mirror at Krogers or Jack in the Box...and I do a double take because I don't even recognize myself. 

Trying on Clothes is Fun Now!   Is there anything more fun than trying on everything in your closet because it all looks so much better and fits better now?  I'm in heaven!..all except the hanging the clothes back up part which I really hate!  It seems like a miracle that I fit back into my size 16 black jeans from seven years ago! God is so good!
It's great to to have so much energy..especially for the grandkids. Not as much energy as the grandkids of course..but a lot more than I used to have!

Well..and hubby..well he's just getting to be a pest. Silly guy! I guess that's the best proof of all. He just grins at me now and it's really so embarrassing! The teens are like.."Aww Come on Dad! Grow up!"

I'm praying that all of you are staying the course too and experiencing victories of one kind or another. How are you all doing? I'd love to hear from you.  Having some struggles? Let us know so we can encourage you and pray for you.  I haven't lost any weight this week..but I've lost more inches and I'm having to pin my clothes on to hold them up!  I've gone down four sizes this month!

Something to consider  My successful weightloss and improvement in my overall health is proof of what happens when you are finally willing to 'die' to the junk food.  It doesn't take lots of self-control...but rather more of a willingness to give up some of the intense pleasures of treats..for food our bodies love and can process in a normal way and use to the best efficiency. I know we all 'LOVE' to eat and to eat certain foods...but is that really the best?

The results...no bloating...ugly bumps...fatigue...allergies...looking and feeling the very best that you can possibly feel...even if you still have a lot to lose.  If you are still struggling with temptation...and haven't tried giving up white flour products and junk food....just remember..It might work for you to!  What can it hurt to give up the 'yummy stuff' for just one little ole' week?  If you find yourself being able to say No to temptation and looking and feeling better than you have in years, wouldn't it be worth it?  It's just a thought... :o)

Would you let your children eat...what you let yourself eat?  For years, I've given myself permission to indulge in ways that I never would have let my children do.  The result? They are thin...I am not. What do I tell them? Too much sweets is bad for you. Veges and lean meat are good for you. You need to eat more fruit. No more soda...Water is better!   Candy and dessert are treats..not to be eaten on a regular basis.  If all of this is true for my kids...how much more so is it not true for us adults?  It's something to think about.

Have a great week!

Donna @ Comin' Home

www.thehomemakingarts.blogspot.com

PS. I'm posting the linky list for this week. Sorry I've been off schedule. Can I plead three grandchildren as my excuse?

Why Am I Doing This? (Losing weight) By Keelie at Real Fat

Dear Friends at Gettin' Thin Together,

If you have not yet visited Keelie of REAL FAT, you have missed a huge source of encouragment and inspiration. She's so sweet and funny! She talks very matter of factly about how it feels to struggle with your weight...how hard it is to give up the foods we love, and how easy it is to feel bad about your self when you are overweight. She's so REAL and so funny!!  This post just about made me die with laughter!

You gotta give her a visit at REAL FAT.  Her post today about having a "Mental Health" Day...spa, nails etc 
was very inspiring...think I'll go paint my toenails too!


Meet Kylee.....

I have been overweight forever. This is a struggle that weighs most heavily on the soul. I am finally looking to God for help in becoming the woman He created me to be, inside and out. This blog is the brutally honest account of my pursuit to lose 100 lbs. It may be silly, it may be sad; perhaps even strange at times, but one thing it will always be is real.

My Stats

Height: 5'4"
Starting Weight: 229
Current Weight: 178
Pounds Lost: 51
Inches lost: 27
Goal Weight: 129
Starting Size: 22
Current Size: 14
Goal Size: 6  was so good!!

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Why I am Doing this? Read on...

P.S. A heartfelt thank you to Jack for his special brand of motivation and humor. You have kept me going more than once, my friend.

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Hope everyone enjoyed this...it sure made me laugh!

Donna at Comin' Home