Healthy eating, Healthy reading

This week has been rough. My eating hasn't been the best but I did go to the gym with Amanda three days straight. Thursday and Friday had me at work until late because of a staff meeting and volunteering for a Down Syndrome Guild event that NEEC was hosting. I don't say it enough, I love where I work.
Today the plan is to have a much needed date night and some grocery shopping. I have to thank Hayley Woods for the wonderful Chicken Enchilada recipe, we're taking it for a second spin this week (it was on week one but we were on the fast so I made it this past week). I am also re-visiting the tex-mex chili recipe I got from the Daniel Fast book. Its full of veggies and I put it over brown rice.
With the month of January half way over, I am looking forward to February and the a couple of events in that month. First, a Teghtmeyer family date at Oklahoma Joe's BBQ and then a Super Bowl party with some great friends that we don't get to spend much time with. I really missed being at the first week of 40 days in the word, but I am really looking forward to week 2. I have been keeping up with the devotional this week and really felt God speaking to me about His plan for our diet.
My weight hasn't changed, but I have a new reason to keep up the work. Jon and I are planning a vacation with my parents. We are either going to Tennessee or Pagosa Springs, CO. Either way there will be hiking, and I love hiking in the mountains! This would be the first trip to the mountains with my SLR camera, so expect lots of pictures.
Speaking of pictures, I have a few progress pics to post.
The first two are from the summer, the other two I took last week.

Using God's Word as a Guide

I found a devotional on my Bible app on my phone that is geared towards food. I knew that there have been several books out there that give insight into what scripture says about eating, but I never picked one up. I have learned so far that food can be an idol in our lives. Food can be enjoyed but the primary purpose for food is fuel for our bodies.
As one that has struggled with over eating, emotional eating and even just eating when I'm bored God is really speaking to me about my health and weight through these scriptures. Adding this to what I learned while on the Daniel Fast, I feel like I have a whole new approach to eating. What I eat and how I eat affects my body and how I feel through the day.
I have cut pop down to one serving a day (soda stream has less calories and sugar than regular pop), increased the amount of fruit, veggies and while grains in my diet and decreased the amount of sugar and fatty foods. I am also going to the gym in my complex's club house with my friend/co-worker, Amanda. We are going to start a devotional time with each other while we are stretching after our workout.
No change in my weight, but I am feeling great.

What I've Learned

as far as eating healthy from the Daniel Fast-

1. How to incorporate more veggies and fruits into my daily diet- small snacks, side dishes, in the main dish
2. Cutting out bread and sugar is not as hard as I thought- whole wheat tortillas make a great substitution for bread in sandwiches. Lots of things have sugar in them, even many corn tortillas have dextrose (sugar).
3. hunger pains can be a need for water- while on the fast there were times that I was hungry or though I was hungry. Instead of eating I drank water (this happened at work a lot) and  drinking water seemed to help stave off the hunger pain. (they were minor pains and NOT accompanied by a headache)
4. I don't need pop or other similar drinks to help me get through the day- I had my first diet coke last night, and it tasted good, but I think I am going to stick to water and an occasional pop made from our Soda stream machine (less sugar, less calories)

eating healthy is easier than you may think. check out my friend's Let's Eat Healthy Blog, its complete with recipes and grocery lists.
http://thewackywoods.blogspot.com/

Thank you everyone for your prayers and support while Jon and I have been on this fast. We have made a commitment to each other to continue eating a somewhat Daniel Fast diet, as we enter into the 40 Days in the Word study with our church and small group.

Days 8, 9, 10

Well, Wednesday night was rough but I was glad to be able to see friends and Andrea's family and remember her. I was so grateful to all the people who stood in line for an hour or more to give them support. Yesterday was even worse, but grieving is something we need to do. I felt so blessed that Andrea's Noni (her grandma), mother-in-law and step-dad all invited Jon and I to stay and eat with them. I knew that there would not be any Daniel Fast approved foods there but I felt lead to break our fast out of respect for the family and for Andrea. I was careful of what I ate, and how much. I am not sure what to do now. I thank all of you for your advice when I posted Tuesday. I felt so blessed to have so much support.
I weighed myself yesterday morning and found that my long awaited goal had been reached. I am now at 259 lbs. 50 lbs lost in a little over a year.
I have learned so much while being on this fast, not just growing spiritually but about eating more healthy foods and how abstaining from certain things (ie processed food, sugar) can help with energy and weight loss.

Day Seven- Late Again

Well, I never said this was going to be perfect. I am really struggling with temptation in the form of food. No, I have not cheated and neither has Jon. We are in need of some prayer though because both of us are experiencing some issues as far as health. Jon is having trouble focusing at work, which isn't like him. I am having some dizzy spells and major aches when I normally have no problem. We have been eating plenty of protein between beans and natural peanut butter. We are praying about cutting our 21 days to 10 days if these problems continue. (advice?)
Yesterday I went to the gym with Amanda (having someone to go with really helps!). We are still eating on the veggie tex mex chili I made the other day, over brown rice it is super yummy. Send me a message if you would like the recipe. I think this experience has given me a different outlook on healthy eating. Its not just about how much you eat but what you eat and using your food for energy during the day. I have found that even after I get home I still have the energy to go workout and even after that I am able to stay up and get things done (not that it actually happens).

Day Six (a little late)

This one is late, but I was busy yesterday! Between volunteering in the nursery and a wonderful message at church, then a quick lunch (Chipotle), and a GREAT evening with the Teghtmeyers I was pooped when we got home.
Chipotle is really the only cheaper place that Jon and I can get something to eat that is on the Daniel Fast (if anyone else knows of somewhere reasonable please let me know!) With the brown rice, black beans, mild salsa, corn salsa, guacamole and lettuce all on three corn tortillas (not fried), it fills us up quickly. We also had mexican for dinner, with the Teghtmeyers.
I have to admit, all of the goodies were very tempting, especially Aunt Melinda's Red Velvet Cake Trifle. Red Velvet is my favorite, and instead of breaking the fast and eating some, my Dad graciously let me sniff his. Don't you want to eat it now? I was asked.  No, that's all I needed, and it smelled wonderful.
Other than food, I really enjoyed catching up with my aunts, uncles and cousins, and of course playing with the little ones! (some of whom aren't very little anymore)

Day Five

Two more days until the one week mark, and 1/3 done. Last night I had a really hard time battling temptation, but I made it through thanks to some prayer and my wonderful husband not letting me give in. yay for natural peanut butter, a banana and whole wheat tortillas. That cured my sweet tooth, but not my meat craving. by meat I mean pizza with everything.
This morning, I went to the movies and with my $4.50 bottle of water (I know its really stupid buying a bottle of water at the movies) I resisted popcorn and soda. I decided not to go back to the movies until after the fast, even though I REALLY want to see Le Miz.
I haven't gone back to the gym since Wednesday, no excuses. I need to get back in the habit but its the getting back and staying back that's the hard part.

Day Four

Well, I didn't go to the gym last night but I did go grocery shopping with Jon. Walking around the grocery store counts for something doesn't it? I am doing better than I was yesterday as far as sadness, but I know Andrea is in heaven and with her creator and that makes me feel all the better. Something I have discovered in prayer is that I have a hard time giving things over completely to God. I initially had a really hard time understanding why this happened to such a wonderful person, but God brings good out of everything and i know He will use Andrea's death to His glory in some way.
I also found a new love in breakfast. Muesli. Specifically Bob's Red Mill Country Style Muesli. The whole grains, walnuts, almonds, dates, raisins and other yummy things make it taste like there's a ton of sugar in it...but there is not.
More good news, I have lost the weight that I gained over the holidays. I am now back to 260lbs. I had gone up to 265 at one point over the holidays between the rich food and not being active, but I am now rid of that and cannot wait to be able to say that my total is 50lbs. I have one lb left to go for that goal!

Day Three

I don't even know to begin. My oldest, dearest friend passed away yesterday. She was 27 years old, and was on the same journey I am for as long as we've been friends. In memory of her I am continuing my journey, she always supported me. I know she is in heaven with our savior.
My memories of her will keep me going, especially the one when I saw her in the hospital after she had her precious baby girl. The beaming joy on her face when she held that little bundle was unlike anything I had ever seen on her before. She was a great mommy, wife, sister, daughter and friend.
I have kept myself busy today, at work and now here at home. Jon and I are going grocery shopping and after we get home I'm going straight to the gym with Amanda.

Day Two.

So far so good! Last night we went to Granny and Pa's house to visit and play cards, Jon and I both resisted the goodies temptation. However, I did bring home some of my cousin Robin's yummy fudge to have after our fast. I have to admit that I really wanted one of those sugar cookies in the break room today, but after a co-worker gave me a sniff of her cookie (like its a drug or something) I was fine.
I went to the gym with Amanda this evening, 20 minutes on the treadmill and weight work on my arms. my legs were screaming at me after 10 minutes but I knew that was because I hadn't been in a long time. I am hoping to keep it up 4 days each week and jump-starting my weight loss again.

Day One.

Today is the first day of our 21 day fast. So far so good, apple pie oatmeal with unsweetened almond milk for breakfast two bananas and 1/2 cup brown rice with probably a cup of salsa (I didn't measure) for lunch. In the book, Daniel Fast, there is a devotional at the end of the book one for each day of the fast. I read it and found myself in deep thought about my goals for my fast.
The hardest part is going to be abstaining from the yummy foods at the Teghtmeyer family gathering this coming weekend. I think what will help is going to be focusing on being with my family and holding my cousin Cassy's new baby girl. These are the times I wish I lived closer! Something I didn't anticipate during the fast was the cost of the food. I am going to really have to buckle down and do some major meal planning during these 21 days.
One of my goals today was to not sit in front of the tv all day. That I can honestly say has been successful. Between cooking, cleaning up my mess in the kitchen and starting my first sewing project, I watched maybe an hour in total and that was mostly the rose bowl.
So far so good, please keep us in your prayers as we go through this spiritual journey.