M2C Monday

AHHH! I am back with a Made to Crave Monday!

This is something i have not done for too long. This won't necessarily be about something specific from the book, as my copy is loaned out right now, but i do want to share about the lifestyle changes i have made, which were inspired by M2C.

I like to shop. We don't have extra money. THIS can be a PROBLEM. Especially when i have an Old Navy card (keep it for stuff 'n save deals, etc.). As i went through M2C again, i realized that i had to stop going to Old Navy. It has now been months since i darkened their door <sigh>.

no clearance racks.
no newest styles.
no crazy-colored shoes.
no kids clothes.

It is a place that i can go in and think i am just gonna get __________, and walk out with half the clearance rack! :-/

Made to Crave is not just about food. It is about ANYTHING that we turn to, instead of God, to fulfill our craving. Is shopping bad, in and of itself? no. Is food bad, in and of itself? no. When it becomes bad, or sinful, is when we forsake God and think a shopping bag or the pleasure of food is more important.

Real life example:
I have a bad day. I am emotional over something, and instead of turning to God FIRST, i go to Old Navy, because i think that THAT will put me in a better mood. What did i really need? I needed to go to God FIRST, and pray and spend time with Him. I need to get HIS perspective on the situation. When i do this, i find myself comforted far more than a shopping trip can comfort me... and without the GUILT, shame, condemnation! 

With FOOD, sometimes we just eat because we really love the food. We enjoy the simple act of sitting and savoring a snack. For me, even if it is a healthy snack, and i am NOT hungry, i am putting food above God. There are times that i "budget" food. Like dinner. If i have a glass of wine with dinner (yes, i do enjoy a glass), i will usually choose to NOT have dessert, due to the high sugar levels in wine. I will eat a small breakfast, usually not even feeling satisfied, if i know that i am going somewhere that brunch is being served... THEN, i only eat until i am satisfied..... NOT FULL.

 One area that is particularly tough for me is church get-together's. They almost always involve food of some sort (or sorts) and it all looks so good! Those are moments that i really have to walk in self-control.

That is what it seems to boil down to in many ways, isn't it? Self-Control.

Let us focus this week on turning to God to meet our needs, instead of food or shopping or_________.
Let us have HIS strength be our strength this week.

M2C Monday & More

Dear Friends,

Today is supposed to be my Made to Crave Monday. I just don't have it in me to write much about it. So many other things are going on, that it is difficult to have a post about "my" progress. seems so shallow, compared to everything else.

I have continued to seek the Lord, instead of food, which is very important right now (although i CAN admit i ate a few too many mashed potatoes on Sunday). Had i been turning to food or shopping for comfort these past weeks, i would have missed precious times with my Lord. I would have missed the clarity that He has brought. i would have missed the comfort that only He can give. i would have missed diving deep in to the Word of God, which reveals His will for us.

God has been faithful. So much more faithful to me than food or shopping ever have been.

As the next days unfold, i am certain what is going on internally will make its way here, to the cyberworld. Right now, though, i cannot.

One verse He has been speaking to us, as a couple is Jeremiah 6:16:

Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see,

and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, 

and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. (KJV)

~or~

Thus says the LORD:

Stand in the ways and see,

And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, 

and walk in it;

Then you will find rest for your souls." (NKJV)

M2C Monday

It has been a busy 2 weeks here. Not just with things to do, but with things to think about. I am sure over the next month, what has been going on upstairs (in my brain) will make its way out here. Just not yet. Things are still too fresh, and are still a little tender.

All that to say that i have NOT been working through the Made To Crave book the way that i want to, though I am applying the truths from it, and it has made such a difference. I haven't weighed myself since my last weigh-in (which you can now follow on the sidebar). My clothes are feeling looser (tops especially!) and my body feels healthier. Making better food choices, and eating until satisfied has made a big difference for me.

Evaluating my relationship with food has caused me to realize so many things about my own eating patterns. I saw that i eat often when i am bored...UH-OH! and when i am stressed. Now, i find something to clean, or go read a book with one of the kids. We have been playing some more games too.

The changes i have been making regarding food have not been easy, but they are SO worth it!

M2C Monday

this is short and sweet..

Over a year ago i met with my doctor, and i was at 196 pounds then. Slowly i made some changes, but my relationship with food was still pretty binding. i guess if we count way back then, i am already down 20 pounds :). Since January, i have been much more intentional. Working through M2C has made me realize that God must be the One who fulfills my cravings.

i have had a lot going on, but the lifestyle changes i have made are staying put, Praise the Lord!!

weighed-in at the doctor's office on the 15th, Thursday.....

Ready??

on February 17th i was at 179.1.
On March 15th i was at 176.6!!
 (and i have not shopped at Old Navy for months!)

YAY!!!

So, so thankful that God is working so much change in my heart regarding my relationship with food and shopping at Old Navy!

Made to Crave Monday (M2C Monday)

179.1 on February 17

Here we are... i missed last week of blogging, as i had sick kids. Friday i took Jey to the doc, since he was complaining of an earache. Yep, ear infection. While there, i took the opportunity to weigh myself on the scale at my doctor's (upstairs from Pediatrics).

i had no expectations, as it had only been 17 days since i had last weighed-in.

coat and shoes off.

step on scale....

179.1!! WOW! i was down from 181.4 on January 31st.

so, so thankful for all the changes that God has wrought in my heart these past months. He is all to me. I am able to see food as fuel, and NOT as my comforter.

Blessed be the name of the Lord!

I did have an interesting moment a week ago...
i have been eating smaller portions since i have been listening to my body to see when i am satisfied. One evening, i served myself dinner, and was already planning seconds while my first portion was still on my plate. I didn't quite finish my 1st serving, when i realized i was more than satisfied.. i was  FULL! I couldn't have eaten another bite! There went my big plans for seconds :)  This was interesting to me because it seemed like in just one day my stomach shrank!!

i am grateful.

Next week, more from the book :)

M2C Monday

pic from HERE

okay, i have had a WEEK! i am sorry to say i will not have a M2C post today! BUT....

i am going to my doctor as another step in the "getting healthy physically" side of thing. Hoping to have my cholesterol & iron profiles done. then to talk about a healthy goal weight (which he told me before was 150, but i was not ready to accept that and we compromised at 165). I am ready to go "there" now.

I am also going to get a solid weight! my scale gets switched as it is analog, and my kids like to play with it. So, i will get a good weigh-in tomorrow. ACK!!!!

i have been turning to God more and more over food or other things... Glory to His name!!

How was your week? If you are reading this, i would love to hear from you :)

M2C Monday

I am late on this today! Read chapter one and am processing quite a bit, actually.

The biggest thing? Choosing healthier foods when i do eat.

Why was this a big deal? It is a big deal because, although i have chosen to eat only when i am hungry, i haven't always chosen the best food to eat. Here is what i wrote in my notebook last night:

pg. 19 ~ Newsflash for me... when i am eating when i feel hungry, these need to be times when i am choosing healthy foods. It's not like i am eating a bag of chips, but i do tend to choose an unhealthy lunch (pizza left-overs instad of turkey sandwich). 

So ~ it's not just NOT eating unless i feel hungry. It's making healthier choices for meals when i AM hungry. Add much more fruit & veggies; less carbs (whites). When i have a snack, be intentional with what i am choosing. Am i choosing something that will temporarily satisfy me, but give me a sugar high/crash? (And yes, even the "healthy" granola bars can do this! What is the first ingredient????) 

There you have it! Then i read this quote by Lysa on page 20: "Just feeling full isn't the answer to sticking with a healthy eating plan."  TRUE STORY!

I do believe i have some healthier choices to look forward to in the near future!

There has also been MUCH progress in the area of turning to God alone to satisfy my cravings. This week was one.emotional.week!  God gave me plenty of opportunities to turn to Him to fulfill my needs. And you know what? He did. every.time. Praise His name!

I forgot to weigh myself this morning, so i will have to do that in ONE WEEK :-)

How was YOUR week? What is ONE change you have made to be healthier?

M2C Monday

Good Day, Fellow Cravers!!

cuz that is what we are. whether or not you are working the book by Lysa or not, we are ALL cravers. We all crave something: food, clothes, sex, money.... on and on it can go.

The goal? to CRAVE God, alone! When i am feeling like i want to go shopping (b/c i have had a bad day, 1/2 day, hour) it is because i am trying to satisfy my craving for peace, happiness, belonging. When i turn to the kitchen and i am NOT hungry, i am trying to satisfy a craving. Maybe it is even because i am bored. So in that moment, what am i craving? meaning, activity, purpose? Where can i go for that, instead of to food? I can go to GOD, in His Word.... and there are no regrets. no guilt. no fear when i am turning to my Lord to satisfy my cravings.

I worked on the introduction more this past week. We may have M2C Mondays for a LONG time!!! Here is a quote from page 16 in the intro:

"God made us capable of craving so we'd have an unquenchable desire for more of Him, and Him alone. Nothing changes until we make the choice to redirect our misguided cravings to the only one capable of satisfying them.   Getting healthy insn't just about losing weight. It's not limited to adjusting our diet and hoping for good physical results. It's about recalibrating our souls, so that we want to change--spiritually, physically, and mentally. And the battle really is in all three areas."  ~Lysa TerKeurst, Made to Crave, pg. 16

So, i have been asking God to give me the "want to" to make the changes that are needed. The power of the Holy Spirit is available to all of us to make the changes we need/want to make. Spiritual changes.. Going to God first, not food or shopping, or other people.

I have been eating less (eating til i am satisfied, not overly-full), and choosing more healthy foods. Simple changes, really... like adding a banana in the morning. Adding fruits/veggies definitely helps! There are practical things i am doing, so that changes are being made in the physical areas.

Making changes in my thinking (mentally) has been the most exhausting, to be honest! I am constantly thinking about WHY am i wanting to eat! I want my reasons to be right. And until it becomes second nature, i am going to have to ask myself the "why" questions. i am standing on the promises of God...they are for me, and for you!  We were not made to be in bondage to food (or whatever else we turn to). We were made for FREEDOM in Christ!!

ok... here is my Monday weigh in: 184 (This is my week...and i literally gain about 2-4 lbs. in water weight!)   the scale cannot reflect the changes inside me, and to be honest i was a bit disappointed (even though i know where i am in my cycle). I can't pay too much attention to the numbers :)  The numbers are not what matters....
my jeans are roomier (a little!). sometimes our weight may remain the same, but we are losing!
My husband and a couple other people have noticed a change in my body size!! And it DOES feel good to hear "wow... have you been losing weight?" But that is my opportunity to say "Yes, because i am turning to God, and not food." AND I DO SAY THAT!!!!

To GOD alone be the GLORY, for GREAT things He has DONE!

How was your week? 

Made to Crave Monday (M2C Monday)

WELCOME to Made to Crave Monday!!  This is where i commit to posting about my journey through Lysa TerKeurst's book, Made to Crave. From now on, look for M2C, as that is what i am calling it for short :-)

i read the introduction last night. i am good. could sit on that for a week!

i may have a friend join in on the journey through the book, which is pretty exciting, since everything is better when you can have accountability :)

Okay... here are my stats... and YOU can keep me accountable as well!

Height: 5feet 6 1/2inches

Weight: 182 lbs. this morning

Goal: Healthy!! According to my doctor, I should shoot for about 155-160 lbs. I have moderately-high cholesterol, and I DO NOT want to take medication for it. Losing excess weight will help. Also, my biggest goal is to turn to Jesus for my needs, instead of to food, shopping, other people, music, or whatever else i may look to for comfort. 

M2C is NOT a weight-loss program. I want to be VERY clear about that. It is a lifestyle change...acknowledging that i have allowed OTHER THINGS to fill me, outside of God. From what i understand, if i am turning to food, shopping, music, etc. instead of turning to God and His Word, i have made those things idols.

TIME TO DETHRONE those things and ENTHRONE the King of kings!!!

pic from here

In the introduction to her book, Lysa shares how there are things that she knew needed changing, but that it was easier to rationalize all the reasons to NOT change. This resonated with me, for sure! My big excuses have been:

* i deserve this BIG bowl of ice-cream. Do you know what the kids were like today????

* my metabolism is just low.

* it really isn't THAT big of a deal, is it?

* i sorta eat healthy

* i don't turn to food ALL the time, just some of the time

Now you know what my excuses/rationalizations have been! it is all out there :) 

it is a little frightening to hit "publish post" now!

What are the biggest excuses you use to keep from making needed changes (not just with food! i had to go a number of months NOT shopping at Old Navy, as it was my "happy place")?