My Bowl Full of Chili Experiance!
 

Hello My Sisters!:hug:
Today I want to tell you about my "Bowl full of Chili":stir: experience.
It was way back in 1981 shortly after I was Born Again. I knew the Lord had been dealing with me about my over eating. About always running to food for emotional comfort instead of Him.
I felt His heart strongly!http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05e82/14 I knew that I knew I was hurting Himhttp://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05e82/14, by choosing food for comfort, over Him.
One late night long after my husband and baby were asleep. I went to the kitchen to fill a large and I mean large, like super size bowl full of chili to chow down on. But I kept sensing that Jesus wanted me to come to Him instead and let Him fill the emptiness I felt inside.http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05e82/13 As I was filling the bowl full of Chili, I felt Him pleading with mehttp://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05e82/14 to stop and come to Him. I actually became angryhttp://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05e82/07 with Him and said, If that is you God then take it out of my hands and turn it over on the floor! GUESS WHAT????
That is exactly what happened! It was just as if a set of invisible hands lifted the Big Bowl of Chili out of my hands turned it over in mid air and let it drop to the ground. There was the whole bowl of chili on the floor!
What a mess!!!! Then I was really mad!!! I cleaned up the mess and (stupidly got another bowl of chili and in anger ate the whole thing! Plus more! What did I learn from that lesson so long ago??? Nothing then, but volumes now!!!! God wants me to come to Him for all my needs, with all my pain, with all my feelings, with all my sin, He has everything that I ever needed.
Well that act of willful defiance and stubbornness caused me to go through many, many years of bondage to Gluttony! All the way up to 501 pounds!!!!!!!! It was a shameful thing that I didhttp://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05e82/11, but God has used it to teach me to trust Him and Obey Him at all times. To bad it took 26 long years for me to let it sink into to my thick skull! I can be so stubborn!!! My Aunt's used to call me the "Red Bull!" because of my hard headedness! This is sad but true! Yet, God has turned that hard headedness to Him and so now I am still hard headed, but to do good and not evil! Stubborn now after the things of God and not my own selfish will and ways! To walk after His ways and in the paths that He has chosen for me. Not my own! I tell you, if I were left to my own devices and never repented, I believe I would be DEAD! I was BENT ON DESTROYING THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT! I was sick in my heart and sick in my mind! HIS MERCY!, I THANK GOD FOR HIS LOVE, I THANK GOD FOR HIS STUBBORN LOVE FOR ME!!!!!
Yet I know some friends who are just a "little fat" who still are in those same stinking chains and shackles that dominated me for so many years. Anything that I put before God is an idol and must be cut down, dumped over and wasted! Just like that bowl of Chili.
Well I am still doing good. I am going on with God and not looking back! I am still in shock that I have lost 89 pounds. I am praying that God will shrink my skin as I lose so that I will not have to look at having surgery to remove all the tons of loose skin. He said, Ask and Believe and it shall be done. So I am asking and believing and He will get all the GLORY:carrot: ALL THE HONOR:carrot: AND ALL THE PRAISE!:carrot:
Well have a wonderful and blessed Day!
Love in Christ, Your friend Gwyn:hug:

Thanks for the chili story -- I can do that so often -- I'll here the little prompts to not eat something and just do it anyway -- and then hate myself for it later!!

Dana -- Ya know after I posted to you -- I remembered that the first days or week or two of TLT really do stay on the same theme -- I didn't think to mention it until after I posted. . . .you're right - it does get better.

Didn't get to my TLT lesson this morning and should probably be doing it now -- just don't feel like it. My baby should be getting up from her nap and I don't want to start it. Tomorrow's my weigh-in day. I always do Tuesdays -- 'cause TLT only asks every seven lessons and I'm always off on my lessons a little. I just end up sending my mentor a "scale-day" email. I hope it's not up -- this is the lowest weight I've been and every time I get low -- I bump back up -- it sucks -- to put it bluntly. You get tired of the scale not moving!!! I tempted to try something else!

Have you guys noticed that "my alli?" In fact, I'm going to check out the website now -- as long as my baby is still sleeping!

My Alli
 

Here's a quote from their site --

"The active ingredient in alli attaches to some of the natural enzymes in the digestive system, preventing them from breaking down about a quarter of the fat you eat. Undigested fat cannot be absorbed and passes through the body naturally. The excess fat is not harmful. In fact, you may recognize it in the toilet as something that looks like the oil on top of a pizza. "

UMM - ok -- maybe not a good idea! I don't TLT would advise me to do it either!

Well Flower Warrior,:flow1:
I hear a lot of frustration:stress: and even a hint of anger?:mad:
Please be patient and wait on the Lord. If you are diligent and obedient to the Lord and submit to him in and through the Lord's Table you will be successful!:^: Please don't get discouraged and jump ship and swim back to Egypt!!!:no: There is nothing there except the task master:devil: who gladly awaits your arrival with a whip in one hand, chains and shackles in the other and a whole trough of foods, diet plans, potions, pills, even surgeries!
But with out the true heart:val1: changes you may lose weight but you know it is true, when you wake up from the daze:?: and brain washing of the evil one, you will find yourself right back from whence you came.:( I know this is true for a 100% FACT! I have done it over and over and over all through my life! Go on a diet lose 100 pounds or more, get mad because things are not progressing the way I like or think they should and WHAM!:boxing:
I get hit with discontentment , discouragement and defeat:faint: and " Hey how did this happen:?:?????" "How did I regain all that weight so fast:?:????"
You my sister are a Child of THE MOST HIGH GOD! That makes you a princess in His kingdom!:belly:
So since it is He who gives you strength and He who says when you are weak I am strong! Then Sister when the times get rough...the tough get going!
Sister, don't listen to the devil:devil:, he will give you a million and one excuses why you can't do the daily course lesson! And His favorite is to put a spirit of:kickcan: heaviness:( on you, so you "DON"T FEEL LIKE IT!":devil:
If you act and live by your feelings, then he got's ya!
:high:We must, must, must live by faith! :cheer:FAITH THAT JESUS CHRIST WILL GIVE US WHAT WE NEED IN THE TIMES THAT WE NEED IT!:coach: That does not always mean he will give us what we want, when we want it.
:cheer:So stay the course!:book2::cheer: Keep going:yes: in the Mighty Name of Jesus! Amen!
Love in Christ, your friend and sister, Gwyn:hug:

Ah- thanks Gwyn- you always hit the spot! Just what I needed -- so thankful God has brought me here -- you are so right about the spirit of heaviness - it was with me all day and even in the middle of the night I awoke and told my husband about it!

My lesson was great today - (Day 30) - about contentment. I pray that we all find true contentment in HIM, THIS day! Lord pour out a fresh annointing on all of those who read this. . . . . .forgive me for being discontent with you - for I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory (ps 63) Lord, I know you are able - teach me to find your power and glory in my life everyday, that I would be content with you and let you "satisfy me more than the richest of foods!" I pray this for all of you and hope that you will pray it for me too!!

Have a good day!

Hi ladies! I just started TLT this morning. I had bought the book from Amazon not knowing that I could do the course free online. But I thought I could use the book as a guide along with my Bible to look up scriptures and meditate and then fill in my answers online. I've already been assigned a mentor that is fantastic from her email. I have been so much in prayer today I feel that the Lord is right alongside me and feel that there is no way that I can fail at this because the Lord is my strength!

I've felt for a long time that Christ should be the center of my weight loss but didn't know how to structure my eating. TLT seems to be the answer for me!

So glad I found this support group also.

Welcome Loralynn -- you sound like you're on a spiritual high -- I know when I introduced my sister to TLT, she thanked me for like two weeks straight. It's so wonderful to start and realize everything that you finally need to know to be successsful with your weight! The food plan can be a little difficult in the beginning -- but I learned to realize how little food we actaully need to sustain us -- for years my body (and heart) has been telling me to eat more, eat more!

I feel it's definetly the answer and definetly changes your perspective on food and weight loss!

Welcome!

Flowerwarrior: What day of the program are you on?

I just finished Day 32 this morning. . . . .

Hey Ladies,

It's good to see that everyone is doing so well. A big welcome to all the newcomers it's great to have you!

Gwyn congrats on losing more weight and the new car. That is such an awesome testimony. I can't wait for people to start noticing my weight coming off so I can give them my testimony.

PRAISE REPORT!!!!!! For those of you that don't know I went throught my
4th miscarriage and ended up in the hospital hemorrhaging and had to have a transfusion. This happened in April. Praise God we went into the hospital yesterday to talk about our bill. I didn't have insurance at the time so we were looking for some kind of discount or something. It ended up that the guy took off $3400 off of our bill. I couldn't believe it. It also ends up this guy is going to be moving to town and will be going to our church. God was in it all.

I am now on Day 35. It was a good lesson. I have been on a plateau for that past 4 weeks. I have continued to do well but it is discouraging. I think I will start weighing myself once a week instead of everyday. Maybe that will help.

Anyway, I love you all and pray that God will continue to give us his strength.

Blessings to you!
Amy
280/248

Hello all you young chicks out there!
 

I've been gone for awhile but I'm back for now.
The first week I lost 8 pounds :carrot: and I just finished day 14 and lost 5 pounds!!:goodscale
I can hardly believe it!!
I was having a hard time the first week, too. But things are better now.
I'm feeling the best I have in a long time and have much more energy.
I enjoy reading the encouraging words and the support you offer each other and I keep you all in my prayers. It really helps when we can walk this same path together.
Next Tuesday,I am going in for eye surgery so please keep me in your prayers.
Blessings,
Janet

Hello!
This is the first post that I have made to the forum. Please bear with me! I am on Day 10 of TLT. I am curious to know if you all are doing Option 1 or Option 2 for the eating plan. I am doing Option 2, but I am thinking that I should be doing Option 1. My mentor said I should do Option 1. I know this sounds awful, but I looked at Option 1 and was scared I couldn't do that right off the bat!
I am interested to know what the rest of you all are doing. Congrats on your wt. loss GrannyJanet!
Blessings,
Liz

Newbie on day 1 of TLT....
 

Hi everyone,

I logged on to 3FC for the first time last night, and noticed this board for faith-based groups. Not sure how I stumbled across this SCF/TLT subgroup, but I am glad I did. Last night, I read quite a lot about TLT and it sounds like what I've been looking for. I am thrilled that there is such a big support group for the program here.

So far, so good today. I'm doing the Option 1 eating program, and have not found it hard to eat halfs. Tomorrow might be a challenge with liquids, but frankly...I think in a way it would be a relief to have a set time frame where I don't have to think about actual food. I might be singing a different tune about this time tomorrow night, but for now, it sounds like a good option for me. ;)

I didn't realize until I read today's lesson how self-focused I have been lately. I know I've been really distant from God, and I hope this program will be what I need to bring me back to Him, and finally help rid myself of my weight issues.

Thanks for listening! I look forward to getting to know you all better, especially over the next 60 days!

Welcome Loralynn, Liz and Kari!!! So nice to have new members to add to the discussion.
I have just finished day 15-accountability time. I have had different people in this role and truthfully they were not the right people to have so I hope my new choice is better! I think when I weighed yesterday I was actually up a pound but that's Ok cause I know I should be frinking more water than I did at the end of the week.
Have a great day ladies-continued success with TLT and keep posting!
Love and prayers to all of you!
Tracy

Hey Girls,

Thanks so much for the welcome! I, too, bought the manual and it is good for me so I can have all those scriptures at my fingertips. I need to add that I don't think it is an absolute necessity as everything is already in our lessons.

Anyhoo, I have been a Christian for many years, but I have not experienced something like TLT. I love it!! If any of you have done the lesson on The Living Water, it is awesome!

O.K. I am going to look into the Option 1 eating plan...:) Thanks for the info on that.

How do y'all get those little icons into your message? I don't see anything where I can add them...
Have a blessed day! I'm off to Curves to exercise!

Liz

WELCOME Loralynn, Liz and Kari! It is so great to have newbies!

I just want to let the newbies know that the eating plan might be different for each person. A couple of weeks before I started TLT God told me to start eating 'whole foods' or foods that he created. That doesn't mean I can't make a casserole or use a can of soup. But the majority of the time I do eat more fruits, vegetable and lots of salads. My energy level has gone way up and God has blessed me and continues to bless me for obeying him. I have also added some fasting time. I think it is important to seek God and to humble our flesh. My suggestion is to pray about it. God will let you know what you should do.

Praying that God rains down his blessing on everyone of you!

Amy
280/250

Wow! We have been in quite a storm here.http://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05e82/13 On Wednesday morning, First my husband became very ill and had to be hospitalized. Then the very day he got out of the hospital, that Thursday night I went to bed at 11:45 pm and woke up at 2:30 am with terrible cramps in my feet and legs. And also chills. I could not get warm. Robert and Adam checked my temperature and it was 102.2 . I was to go and work for my Mother this last weekend and when I arrived there I was still chilling and my temp was still rising, it was 103.6.
Obviously I was unable to work. Well today is Tuesday and I am just now looking at my emails for the 1st time in days!
Robert is fine now and I am too. I still have a very sore throat although. But the worst of it is over. Praise God.
So if you have written to me and I haven't replied this is what is going on. My prayer request now is for my Children. For their salvation, sanctification and in filling with the precious Holy Spirit. This will always be my hearts cry to Our Father. I want to go heaven and have all my children be there with me.
Well I guess that is all the news I have for now. My throat is aching right nowhttp://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05e82/03 so I think I will go back to bed for a while.
Love in Christ, Gwyn L. Ditmarshttp://cdn-cf.aol.com/se/smi/0201e05e82/01

Great to see newbies -- I'm still a newbie to the forum -- but not to TLT -- I'm on my second run through of the 60 days -- I'm getting anxious to start TLT Course II.

I love to read through and the see the prayers for each other -- it's great support. May this day be the Lord's day and may we commit all that we do and EAT (drink or fast) to him and our plans will be sucuessful! (Proverbs 16:3)

Said a quickie for GrannyJanet -- I hope that eye surgery goes well this morning.

hi, i'd lost track of this thread but am still plugging away
 

pugsmama! I was right there with you. I looked at option 1 and went no honking hairy way! I did seriously follow option 2 for a while and it really helped me learn true hunger signals. I was so afraid of option 1, afraid I would fail and it would feel like I was failing the Lord, not just myself...I was still trying to keep my diet in this separate little compartment. I was afraid that I would be eating too little and my body would go into starvation mode and I wouldn't lose anything and mess up my metabolism, yada yada yada...
I sent a bunch of emails to my mentor and to tlt site itself and got the same response. Try option 1. It has been a real learning process for me. I gave in and decided to give it a go for one week to see how I did, if it was something I could live with long term or even short term. I'm on my 3rd week and so far I am ok with it. I've really found that the cravings I have for food very often are not physical but 'all in my head'. In fact, the worse day for me is 1/2 day. I find myself second guessing constantly, am I really eating 1/2? Am I making this portion bigger than I normally would have just so my 1/2 is bigger? I do way better with liquid and fast day, normal is usually ok too, but 1/2 day is a killer for me. Of course I've never been one of those who was able to have 'one piece' of chocolate or be satisfied with one chocolate kiss...

hth a little.

I know someone said they were struggling with plateau, ugh! that is sooo hard, especially when you feel like you are doing all the right things. I have discovered or guessed that now that I am 'older', I have never been so faithful with a diet for so long, and lost sooo little in such a long amount of time. I am finding that I will lose 1 pound or 1/2 a pound and stay there for weeks, with no more progress. It is coming off soooo slowly it is not even funny. I used to go on a diet and easily drop 10, 20 lbs in a couple months. I have been dieting for going on four months, pretty faithfully, very few slip ups, and I have lost 17lbs.....sigh.....it is sooooo frustrating, but you have to perservere! good luck!

hugs
tracyg

Ahoy!
 

Hey Y'all,

Just thought I would stop in and give my two cents worth.:carrot: Well, I did fast until 1:00 yesterday. Needless to say, I did not do that well. I asked God to forgive me and now am carrying on with a normal day via Option 1. I have felt the Lord help me several times when I go to the fridge and stand there. What are you looking for??? I saw the grandkids' goldfish crackers, and then I just felt I didn't really want them, nor did I need them. I KNOW it isn't by my willpower that things are changing a little at a time! God receives the glory!!:angel:
Tracyg40, I lol when I read "no honking hairy way!" That sounds exactly like something I would say, and that was just about what I was thinking when I saw it!! 17 lbs. is awesome! I do know what you are talking about though with the wt. loss not being as easy as it used to be. Now that I am in my 40s, things are a changin' fast! It does take a lot longer to lose wt.

Well, Girls, I must close for now. I did go to Curves today. I was a member when I lived in another state over a year ago, and I really am glad I rejoined.

Blessings to all,
Liz

Oh Tracy -- you said:

"I was still trying to keep my diet in this separate little compartment. I was afraid that I would be eating too little and my body would go into starvation mode and I wouldn't lose anything and mess up my metabolism, yada yada yada..."

It's funny how we all rationalize to the same excuses -- I said the same very things!!!! I did start on Opt 2 and then also switched to Opt 1 -- been doing it for months, was hard in the beginning, but now it's second nature! I always do the same thing on the same days. I worked it so that I could "eat" on the weekend without being questioned -- we are more likely to be with family or church friends or whatever on the weekends. (Most of my family now knows about these days and don't bother me -- but I hate having to explain. Heck, plus it's nice to eat normally when were at a restaurant!! Please note - "normally" - it's still very hard to be discplined when out and about) So, here's what I do:

Saturday- Normal
sunday - half
Monday - liquid
Tuesday - Normal
Wednesday - Half
thursday - liquid
Friday - Fast

I 've only switched days like once -- it works really well -- when I follow it totally -- but that's my thing right now --> totally committing this plan to the lord and following it 100%. When I do, I have a weekly loss. . . . .

Have a good day all!

I'm supposed to be fasting...
 

I'm in my first week of TLT. So far, so good...except I've decided to do liquids today insted of a full water fast. I have LOTS of cleaning and work to do today, and my kids already started the day off wrong (the oldest one got grounded for the day...guess who else will be cleaning??? LOL :devil:). I just didn't think I could handle a fast, and I knew it was not a good day for the amount of prayer and meditation it would take to make it through.

So I figured the next best thing, calorie-wise, would be to do liquids. I found my first liquids day to be surprisingly easy...and that my appetite was less at dinner, maybe because my stomach had shrunk a bit from no solids all day??? (just a theory!)

Anyway, Liz, WTG on ignoring the Goldfish crackers! And FlowerWarrior, I think I'm going to look at my schedule and do what you did. It would be much easier for me to just have set days for doing things.

Keep up the good work, everyone!

Question about liquid days
 

It mentions soup and milk as options on liquid days.

I know we're not supposed to be legalistic about this...but I'm just looking for feedback as to what others do.

Do you think it's acceptable to have anything in the soup, or do you stick to plain broth? Like today, I had a Liptons chicken noodle cup-of-soup, with extra water added because it's always too salty for me. It had tiny noodles, but the whole thing was so low in calories...I didn't see what would be the difference between having that and something like tomato soup, where there aren't any solids, but the calorie level is even higher.

Also, I added some instant coffee powder, crushed ice and stevia (a natural no-cal sweetener) to 1 cup of milk and blended it into an iced coffee drink for breakfast.

I figure I'm still "on program" if I'm only consuming the liquids when feeling true hunger...and if the point is to cut calories and practice self-denial. (Because I really wanted some of the kids' mac&cheese for lunch! LOL)

Just thought I'd ask what the rest of you do.

Hi Gals, :wave:

FlowerWarrior- :thanks: for your prayers. My eye surgery went well.
I am restricted from reading and exercising for a couple weeks.
I hope to keep up with my lessons, little by little.

Gwen- :getwell: I love reading the encouraging words that you post. So sorry to hear you & your husband were so sick. I've been praying for you and that your prodigal children will come home to the Lord. I still have one son that I am praying for. He has always been facinated with the occult. I can see changes in him for the better, though. A woman's group I was in, put a basket with all the names of our family who needed to be saved in the middle of a circle. We then did a Jericho March around them. We were silent as we went around 7 times. Then we gave a loud shout. We are seeing victory!! One of the lady's husband just went forward to accept Jesus last Sunday!!

Mamamuse: I think it needs to be between you and the Lord about juice days and if you put anything in the soup. The scales will tell in the end :flow2:

Pugsmama: I see you found the smilies.

On my juice days, I have been drinking V-8, that way I still get my veggies and besides that, I like it. :carrot: Sometimes I heat up the V-8 and eat it like soup. I also drink bouillion and tea and small servings of cranberry juice or orange juice, but I have been trying to stay away from high calorie juices.

Hello Ladies:

Just to add my two cents worth-when I did the liquid days I had decaf coffee and V8-no soup only because I didn't have any. I don't really think a few noodles would hurt because God knows where yourheart is.

I just finished day 18 and it was a good lesson. Eventhough it's my second time through-it feels like I'm hearing some of it for the first time so maybe I wasn't listening the first time around.

Have a great day! Love hugs and prayers for you all!

Tracy

Hey all -- while on the subject of liquid days -- TODAY is my liquid day. My mentor tipped me off to smoothies -- they're great and satisifying. I found a smoothie maker on clearance at Wal-Mart and have been using it since. With fresh fruit around, I usually do strawberries with a little sugar, fat-free milk and vanilla yogurt. I like the yogurt in it 'cause it makes it a little creamier and gives a little protein.

I think the plan said to stay away from shakes -- but I do the carnation instant breakfast in the morning. It's supposed to have the protein of 2 eggs. . . . .frankly, I need the energy boost. By the time I take care of my house, my baby, exercise while she's napping -- I need the extra umph of a smoothie -- I could never do just broth or V8!

I just finished the lesson on perserverance -- it was a great to hear the lesson talk about plateaus and gaining weight on scale days! I know we've all been there!!!

Janet -- love the Jericho March -- might have to do that when our woman's group starts back up this fall -- I think they would love it too.

Also -- my name is Heather -- my maiden name is Heather Kelley - which just about literally means "flower warrior." Married a man whose last name means "bull" -- so now I'm flower warrior bull -- go figure!

Praying for us all -- in perserverance and hope -- may He give the strength we need today! And no matter what liquids we do -- Lord, may we do it in a way that honors you!

Thanks for all the good info...
 

Hey Y'all,

I appreciate you all posting how you are actually doing Option 1. I am continuing to pray about Option 1, but I switched back to Option 2 for right now until I'm not so much of a scaredy-pants!:D I am doing o.k. (with God's help, of course!) with the eating, and much more aware of what is going into my mouth. I do feel very strongly the need to fast one day a week though.

I liked that marching around seven times (the basket idea). I will mention this at our Ladies' Bible Study. Gwen, hope you are feeling much better now.

I love to come in here and see what everyone has written! It is such an encouragement to me!

Y'all have a blessed day!
Liz

Thanks so much for sharing what you all do on liquid days. I keep forgetting about V8...duh...because that's one of the things specifically mentioned! LOL

I was elated when I weighed in this morning and saw a 1.5 lb. loss from yesterday! Woo hoo! I know it's a small victory, but it's been so long since the scale moved in THAT direction! Thank you, Lord!

Weigh to go, Kari!! :cheer: You go girl!! :cheer2:

Just a little tip about V-8. I stopped a Wal-Mart's on the way home from working at the church a couple weeks ago. I went to get some V-8 but all they had was one can of their store brand. So I thought I would try it. It tastes just a great as the regular V-8 and costs less.

I always use it as a base for vegetable soup. Works well for cabbage soup, too.

My son works at WalMart and said a lot of the store brands come in on the same truck as the Brand name products.

Another tip that I do- When I feel hungry, I drink a big glass of water first. :hat: Sometimes our body is just thirsty. Most people don't drink enough water, (including me). That is what flushes out the toxins in the body.

Thanks, Janet!
 

Another pound gone this morning! :cool:

I am surprised, and pleased. I don't think I've ever lost four pounds in my first week of any diet before.

Could it be that I'm actually getting to the root of the problem? It's very exciting to think so!

I know that fast weight loss isn't likely to last for the long haul, but for now, I'll take it! LOL

Pray Please! Just a quick note. I live in SE Kansas and we are in a flood warning. We already had the river out and flooding and for the past hour we have gotten 3-4 inches. We live in the country and can't get to town with a regular vehicle. My Dad has gone to help my brother evacuate his house and help save some of his things. They have to get there by boat, he lives by the river. My husband has been called out to take his fire truck into town (rural fireman) and help rescue floating vehicles with people inside. I'm a little worried and the rain is not letting up. Please pray for safety for my family and the other people in town. Thanks! -Amy

Praying for safety, Amy. Please let us know how you're doing!

Hey Girls,
Way to go, Kari!!! I am so proud for you on your wt. loss! Amy, hope all is well...praying for you and your family (as well as your community). It seems to be getting a little easier to not eat as much. Thank the Lord!!!
I ran into somebody at Curves that does a lot of smoothies and it has helped her in her wt. loss...I had read FlowerWarrior's post (thanks!) and was mulling it over in my mind. Now, I am going to try some smoothies.
Have a blessed day!
Liz

I am praying for you
 

Amy- I am praying for you, your family and all the people affected by the flood in your area :rain: "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown” (Isaiah 43:2) God will put his angels in charge of you to protect you wherever you go (Psa 91:11) . :angel:

Keep us posted so we know how to pray for you.

When I woke up this morning, my former taskmaster (my stomach) was demanding food. :hun: I decided to fast today instead, and feast on the Lamb. I have been going strong so far and don't want to back to Egypt. This is the first time I have struggled since starting the program. I guess I am getting tested. I also can't get out to walk much for a couple weeks. I have to wear a shield over my eye to protect it.

Pugsmama- Let me know how the smoothies work and what you put in them.

I am researching smoothie recipes. I went to Dottie's Weight Loss Zone, then into message boards, scrolled further to the bottom and looked under beverages. There were lots of different recipes. I need to look in the recipes here, though.
FlowerWarrior, you listed vanilla yogurt in your smoothie. Is that like the Yoplait vanilla yogurt or is that the frozen yogurt? I just need to get this right. :)
Blessings to all of you,
Liz

I miss reading a few days and sooo much happens - praying for all, especially Amy - and that flooding, Janet that her eyes heal quickly. . . .and that we all stay disciplined today. A verse from my TLT lesson today the Lord said - "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work." Umph. May that be our prayer today!

Liz - as far as smoothies go -- I wish I had more recipes -- but I haven't tried anything else! I really enjoy the strawberries -- once I used frozen berries -- not bad, but not as good as fresh. Here's what I do exactly:

SMOOTHIE RECIPE
(This is a quess-timate)
About half a package of strawberries -(mine come in 16 oz packs) maybe a little less,

Then I pour milk in just to cover the fruit - add about 4 spoons of sugar (probably don't need the sugar -- but it makes it yummy!) I just use a regular spoon from my silverware drawer -- I don't use the measuring spoons! Or add sugar at the end to-taste.

I usually give it a blend to get the berries blended and then add a 6oz yoplait vanilla yogurt (I buy the pink one -- the blue one has that aspartame -- and I've never liked the taste -- plus my 1 1/2 year old daughter loves them and I'd rather not give her the aspartame.) Since my daughter may only eat half a container -- I sometimes only get half of a 6 oz in the smoothie.

Makes a really TALL glass -- or two glasses - great for all day. Adjust milk to get desired thickness -- I like mine a little thicker, so I use a little less milk -- I used whole milk once 'cause I was out of skim. That was great, but I wouldn't advise the extra calories/fat!
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Janet -- mentioned that Jericho march to my mom -- she has done it "in the day" and has a friend who regularly attends our church's prayer meeting and they've done it -- and things DO begin happening! It's got me intrigued and fired-up -- I need to read that old testament passage again. . . .

Hi! I'm very interested in this Faith Based approach to weight loss. I hope you all won't mind me sitting in here. Thanks.

Stopping in...
 

Hi Girls,
Thanks so much for the recipe, FlowerWarrior! I am going to try and get the stuff tomorrow. I have found tons of smoothie recipes online, but I want to try to make some that are low in calories...I can't wait to try the strawberry one though!
Welcome, Just Carla!! I am pretty new here myself. Everyone has been very welcoming!:) You look like you have had a great wt. loss so far. What are you doing?
I just finished Day 16 of TLT. That lesson was awesome. Truly. I am so thankful the Lord let me stumble over the link that Gwen had posted on her post.
I best close for now.
Blessings to all,
Liz

I haven't really been following a diet system. Started out at 2000 calories, am now at 1500 calories or less per day. Five small meals a day, no cokes, limiting sugar, no processed foods, cheese or fried stuff. Walking twice a day and every other day working with the weights and barbells and using a stationary bike once a day. Haven't had time the past twenty years to exercise, am laid off work now, so have a lot of time on my hands.

I go to a support group for my alcoholism, and something that helped me from the very beginning, was asking God to remove the urge to drink, from me. I did ask Him and He's been helping me for over six years with that particular problem. I was stuck at 200 pounds, couldn't lose pounds, even though I was still losing inches. One night, I asked Him to help me melt the pounds away. That was a little over a week ago, and the scales have begun to move again. I'm not affiliated with any organized religion, but I have a very deep belief in God. I have no doubt that He will help me again. I'm learning to recognize the little miracles in my life, and sometimes they only come in one ounce increments. I guess I'm learning to "Let go, and let God do his thing."