Hello Everyone!
I too stayed away from TLT for about 2 weeks-I was feeling worse than when I wasn't doing the course-I had not been seeing any movement on the scales and was generally frustrated. Even the advice from my mentor was not that helpful. Having said that I felt called to return to it and this morning finished Day 29 so I guess I'm back. I happen to believe that there is an element of addiction here working against me and I am reading a great book right now that speaks to this so I will keep plugging away and checking in here too.

Welcome to all the newcomers!

Gwyn-you are such an inpiration to everyone! I wish I had the kind of faith you do.

Have a great day everyone. Blessings and prayers.
Tracy37

Tracy, good for you, returning to the TLT course. Although I'm just starting day 3 of it, I can see how powerful it will be in magnifying God and diminishing ourselves. I truly believe this is a spiritual battle (compulsive eating), and it's amazing how strongly we're opposed when we draw closer to God. And yep, I totally agree that it's an addiction! What book are you reading? I have one at home by Gerald May called "Addition and Grace", which is highly recommended by my pastor & others I trust, but I haven't started it yet.

Gwyn, I have prayed for your dear daughter, Sheila, for Gabriel and his adoptive parents, and for Alvaro, Brandy, and their innocent baby. What a tragic and painful situation, but God is bigger. Nothing is beyond His redeeming grace and mercy.

Okay, time to get going on my day. On to TLT Lesson #3, then attempt something productive on my day (week) off. OH how tempting to just lounge, read & watch old movies, but I allowed that this weekend, so... Sigh. I'm sure I was meant to be independently wealthy. What happened?

Blessings, everyone!

I have just started on this study. Gwen is the one who gave me the link and I signed up. I am on lesson two and I love it! It has been such a blessing doing this study. Today is day 3 and I am so excited. I havnt really had a problem over eating since I have started this study 4 days ago.

Dana K- the book I am currently reading (among others) is The Sugar Addict's Total Recovery Program by Kathleen DesMaisons. I have read it before and many others but at this point it is also making a lot of sense to me. I am addicted to sugar and seriously cannot let go without serious withdrawl symptoms. This worries me because I am also heading towards being diabetic and this I am sure is not a good combination. I am enjoying the Lord's Table course but at times it does feel it's hitting very close to home.
I hope everyone is learning lots about themselves and their relationship with God.
Blessings and prayers
Tracy37

Dana K: You said, "Gwyn, I have prayed for your dear daughter, Sheila, for Gabriel and his adoptive parents, and for Alvaro, Brandy, and their innocent baby. What a tragic and painful situation, but God is bigger. Nothing is beyond His redeeming grace and mercy.'
I Just wanted to thank you from the bottom, middle and top of my heart! I am so glad you are here! God Bless you for your loveing kindness!
I love you in Jesus

Gonnabehealthy: I am so proud of you!
You go girl and keep on keeping on! Even in the rough and hard times. I love you in Jesus!

Tracy: TO GOD BE THE GLORY YOU CAME BACK AND NEVER GAVE UP AND NEVER QUIT!
I am so happy that you are back!
Tracy I AM PROUD OF YOU!!!!!

A kind hello to everyone else I love you ALL!
I wanted to share something with you that I learned from Dr.Frank he is a coach from Weight Loss Gods Way .com I love it! He says...
The question is this: If Jesus Himself were to knock on your front door tomorrow morning and present you with the keys to a brand new Mercedes, would you take good care of it?
A dumb question, right? Of course you would!
Anybody in their right mind, and especially any Christian, would be absolutely overwhelmed to receive such a wonderful gift -- and
from Jesus Himself!
Now of course, many of us would be wondering if we were even WORTHY of such a gift. You might even question Jesus' sanity or judgment for giving it to you -- to YOU, of all people!
But at some point, you'd probably get past that. Then you'd take care of that Mercedes like it was the only car in the world. Am I right?
Well God has ALREADY given you an infinitely more precious vehicle than any car ever made. And this vehicle can take you anywhere on
the planet! It's called your "body."
Your body is more complex, more wondrous, and more unique than any mere machine could ever be. And there is absolutely no question that it is God's own creation, and God's personal gift to you. So what kind of care are you taking
of THIS vehicle?
You knew that question was coming, too. So what's your answer? What kind of care are you taking of the most precious and unique
physical possession you will ever have?
And when I say "have," I do not mean "own." As we are clearly told in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20,
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." So we should think of ourselves more as custodians -- as caretakers
of our bodies -- than as "owners" per se. Because, when God tells us that we are not our own, what He is clearly telling us is that
we are HIS!
Of course, maybe that's why so many of us are neglecting our bodies.
We either don't feel responsible for them, or we don't think we will ever have to answer for the way we take care of them -- or fail to.
Love you all your friend and sister in Christ, Gwyn

Gwyn, what a wonderful analogy that is; our bodies as "vehicles". I certainly have taken mine for granted. It's funny how we don't appreciate health until it's been compromised in some way. Let's work today to honor the great gift of our bodies and preserve what we can!

Tracy, that book sounds interesting. If you're pre-diabetic, I'll bet kicking the sugar habit will be a huge benefit to your health. I've been following a South Beach eating style (using those foods, anyway), and I feel much better than when I was eating so many simple carbohydrates. My skin has cleared up (I suffer from acne and eczema), I'm much less gassy (I know, too much info) and no longer retain water.

GonnaBeHealthy, it's great to have you here! I'm loving the study, too. I just finished Day 4. I'm tempted to do more than one lesson a day, but I'm sure it's not designed that way, so I've been good.

Like many of you, I wasn't going to follow their suggested eating plans. I've had disordered eating almost all my life, and I felt it would enforce those behaviors. But this morning God kept bringing to mind my favorite verse, Proverbs 3:5-6 (see my signature for the words). If I'm doing this course to listen for Him and truly trust his leading, I need to let go of the control I try to keep on my eating. Obviously I don't have control anyway, and I truly don't know how to eat. So I'm going to try it as the TLT people suggest. Good grief, what have I got to lose? I've tried everything else!

Blessings to you all -

I just finished Day 31 and right now I'm not sure I will go back. I feel as if my faith is not strong enough to carry me through this because I have not been able to stay away from the sweet stuff-mostly in the last couple of weeks. I am praying that God will give me answers and change my heart but right now I am wondering how 60 days with someone telling me how eating relates to the bible when he doesn't know our particular situation is right. (Hope that makes sense!) Overeating and the reasons for it are so complex. My father is/was an alcoholic his whole life I think-I don't drink but I recognize I may have replaced that with an addiction to sugar. I have gone through serious withdrawl before when I have attempted to cut it out of my life. In the lat month or so I have had a lot of personal stress and this is not helping things. I do feel however that eventhough I can't break through the eating plan on TLT I am closer to God than I have ever been because I am going to the course daily to learn.

Any feed back or prayers would be welcome. I know I need to do this just not sure how to proceed I guess or if I should stick with the course when I'm feeling this way.

Hope everyone else is successful and learning lots about themselves and their relationship with food and God.

Blessings and prayers for you all.

Tracy

Tracy, {{{hugs}}}. You're so much further along on TLT, that I can't really comment on what you're learning. But I do know that the evil one hits harder whenever we draw closer to God. You're a perfect target right now. The Accuser & Deceiver knows exactly where we're vulnerable, and those are the areas he hits us. It's wonderful that you're being spiritually blessed by this course. You're over halfway through! Is there a reason not to finish it out? It's free, and you have nothing to lose.

It's true that compulsive eating is way complicated, and no one will ever understand our unique situations. I, too, had alcoholic parents. They were also drug addicted, and growing up I saw divorce, neglect, extreme poverty, sexual abuse and constant moves to new homes & new schools. I've dealt with body image & food addiction issues since my early teen years. I've also been addicted to drugs, smoking, alcohol, casual sex, and extreme exercise (sometimes alone & sometimes simultaneously)... Each and any of these becomes a "drug of choice"; a way to manage emotions that, as a child and later an adult, we don't know how to manage. Frankly, I find most emotions simply too intense, and I escape them however I can.

Even though each situation is different, Tracy, I think the common thread is that God can provide relief if we turn to him instead of whatever we believe we have no control over. I'm not saying I know how to do that. But I sure want to learn how, and I've exhausted every other avenue (believe me, I've tried them all!). Maybe TLT will be different.

It's not just a matter of not eating, of losing weight. We've all done that. We don't need another diet. It's getting rid of the whole mindset that food (or any other substance or behavior) should make our hearts go pitter-patter! It's the attitudes and lifestyle of hiding, binge eating, depression, self-hatred, excuse-making, procrastination, shame, yada yada yada. God is good, and he is the great physician. He can make us whole, even if we don't understand how. It's time to kill this Goliath and live.

Blessings to you Tracy, and to us all!

I just started Day One of The Lords Table. You all are very inspiring. I hope to be successful and to stay on God's path.

Dear Tracy Daughter of the MOST HIGH GOD,
Yes, I agree the guy doesn't know your particular situation. BUT GOD KNOWS! And He is not a man that He would lie! In Jesus' Prayer He said, to the Father: 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. Tracy Please Let God be true, and every man a liar. God is faithful, I know you know that Jesus said, Heaven and earth will pass away but my Word will never pass away!
Tracy my Father was a full fledged alcoholic, His Father was a full fledged alcoholic, and my Grandmother told me that His Father was also a full fledged alcoholic. My Brother is an alcoholic and I used alcohol intensly! So much as a 24 case per day all by myself after work! right up to becoming born again! I was also a huge drug abuser (cocain, angel dust, pcp, pot, acid in all forms, lsd and a whole slew of depressents, not to mention speed in all forms plus any thing to get me high and mask the internal pain! I was a rage-aholic and was OUT OF CONTROL IN JUST ABOUT EVERY AREA THAT GOD'S WORD CALLS SIN! I even was heavily into bi-sexualism and other sexual addictions. When I was 5 years old I remember believing in my heart that I was supposed to be a boy! I always except when I was high on speed or stimulents, using food for comfort! and lastly smoking 2 packs of cigs a day! I started at 10! All this was going on since early childhood, right up to my real birthday, the Day the Lord wrote my name down in the Lambs book of life! I gave him everything! except one thing! guess?
I was saved at the age of 19, and over and over and over God would speak to me about my addiction to foods, sugars, and high carbs. I refused
I refused to be obediant, I refused to submit!
I refused to give it up! I wanted Him to have everything but GOD DON'T TOUCH MY FOOD!
THAT IS ALL I HAVE LEFT! Well just as TLT teaches, the Lord left me to my own devices, even though he tried over and over and over to woo me to come to Him instead of the food. So Now I am 45 years old and I have spent the last 27 years of my life and tons of money on therapy of every sort, countless Counsolers, psychiatrist after psychiatrist, session upon session, even weeks and months of hypnosis! Oh Lord I have and read so many self help books I could start up my own public library! I went though all kinds of treatments, treatment centers and acupuncture! Can't forget the acupuncture! All was in vain! Not to mention the Doctors and all the diet pills, plans, you know what I have been on so many diets since I was a child I can't even begin to count them all!
Also my Mother was a cross between anorexia/ bulimic! She would go for eons not eating because she thought she was too fat and then when she ate she would she would run to the bathroom and puke it all up! Or take antire packages of laxitives so much that she permanetly damaged her liver for LIFE! Mean while she would put me on a very, very strick diet, like one thin lettuce wege with no dressing, one half apple for lunch, supper would be about the same. I ALWAYS FELT LIKE I WAS STARVING!!!! Then not to mention the prescription diet pills she would make me take!
Then later that night I would come down and see her bingeing on a gallon of ice cream with some frozen daiquiris to top it all off! Then go barf it all up, then have some more to drink. I watched this behavor all my life up to just recently.
I could go on and on and on with all the child hood crap I went through with all it's horrors and nightmares. I could name all the everythings I have tried to deal! Bottom line I was willing to do anything and everything except be a living sacrifice! I DID NOT WANT GOD TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO! at least with my food!
So Age 45 and weighing in at a WHOPPING 500 pounds, I finally reached the end of myself and admitted the truth and that is I wanted God but I also wanted food more. He showed me the awful truth about me, I loved food more then I loved him and it hurt me so much I wept for WEEKS AND WEEKS! Remember what Jesus said when He said you can't serve two masters, for you will love the one and hate the other, you can not serve God and money. Well I believe that can also apply to anything we put before God! ANYTHING! Tracy I love you and you can do all things through CHRIST it is His Word and God is not a man that He can lie! As i write this too you I have a non-believing son SCREAMING at me, cursing me and God! Threating to off himself! Cussing! That is stress to the X! And yet I know who I am in Christ! I know whose I am in Christ!
I know I have prayed and God has heard my prayers and crys! I know my redeemer lives!
Don't give up! Keep on you are on the right course!
God's arm is not to weak or to short to help you!
If he could save me and bring me though it all, if he could help Dana K and help her though it all! He can do it for you!
Love In Christ, your friend and loving sister,
Gwyn

Ephesians 6:17
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
John 1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning.

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Dana K and Gwyn-Thank you both! I just needed someone who understands to help me think this through. I will carry on with the study and finish it and let God guide me from there. Thanks for your kind words and support. It means a lot to me as I don't have many close friends and none certainly that understand the weight struggles. Anyways, God Bless you both richly.

Tracy

Hi Tracyg40 - Yes, I have some advice. Perhaps it would help to change your eating plan the the second option... the Growly Belly plan. Check it out!

Tracy37, I'm only on day 5 of The Lord's Table and I love it! Now that I have a baby and toddler, it's so difficult to fit in time with God, so this study has drawn me closer to Him and it's wonderful. The side effect of aligning myself with His will... I've lost 5 lbs in 5 days... on the Growly Belly plan. I actually went out to Friendly's (a restaurant known for ice cream) and only had the child-sized portion. My 2 1/2 year old didn't finish her ice cream (can she really be related to me?!) and I didn't even eat hers (as I normally would have in an instant). God has granted me victory!

About the sugar addiction... I can totally relate. I'm reading "Ultra Metabolism" and it seems to make a lot of sense in regards to this issue. Our bodies are conditioned to respond in certain ways, so it's not all our fault. Once we know why our bodies are craving sugar or simple carbs, then we have the knowledge to make a change.

So I have decided that I am addicted to this study. I absolutly love it. It has made my life so much easier. The fat is just pouring off of me. It was so simple. I wish I had realized this earlier. Its all in the glory of God. Once you turn it towards Him everything falls into place.