A third of the way through this juice fast...time is going by pretty fast, I have to say!
Andrew has lost 31 pounds, and I have lost 25. We are having BBQ and Chipotle as our latest cravings, but they're less powerful than the cravings were when we first started.
I have stolen an idea from a friend of mine (it wasn't hers originally, either, so I don't feel too bad, haha) and decided that to better aide Andrew and I in grocery shopping once we are ready to start eating healthy foods, we should start having meal themes during the week. That way we go knowing we buy certain things for our meal on Monday, Tuesday, etc. This will prevent a lot of "let's grab this and this and this and maybe we'll make something with it" which is what we used to do. We are actually really excited about them! We will have:
Meatless Monday: this is pretty self-explanatory. This will be a night for a big salad, a vegetable soup, etc.
Taco Tuesday: this is also self-explanatory. We can make veggie tacos, grilled chicken tacos (also with veggies), and fish tacos (still more veggies).
Whatsacomeandago Wednesday: I know..."what the heck is that?" As many of you know, we are HUGE fans of Craig Ferguson's late night talk show on CBS. Well, he curses a lot on the air, and they of course bleep him. When they do, they put up random flags from around the world over his mouth, and he has a word or thing from that country dubbed over it. Like the French flag popping up may come with a "Croissant!" or "Ooh-La-La!". The Swedish flag comes with "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo!". Australia's goes "Crikey Dingo!" But by far my favorite is the Italian flag, where it goes, "Whats-a-come-and-a-go!" in his horrible Italian accent, haha. So we took that "phrase" and it's now our Wednesday theme, healthy Italian food! We can make veggie lasagna, healthy pizza, and "pasta" using spaghetti squash or these Shiritaki (spelling?) "noodles" that are like 40 calories for the whole bag.
That's a Crock Thursday: Crockpot recipes!!! Easy, deliscious, and tons of way to do it up healthy.
For the Love of Cod Friday: seafood!! And veggies go PERFECTLY with seafood, so it's another way to get them in during the week.
Saturdays and Sunday will be either leftover healthy stuff from the previous week or soup/salad, something easy.
I'm on the hunt for the perfect recipe book with blank recipe cards, we are going to fill it with the stuff we come across on the Internet (I look obsessively on my break to find creative ways to use veggies in otherwise unhealthy dishes), our favorite recipes from the books we have, and things to make on each of our theme nights. I want to have it separated into sections for the different themes and fill it with tons of options to last for a long time, plus on each recipe I want to have suggestions for substitutions to make the same dish in a completely different way.
It's been a great (and tough!!) 20 days. Only 40 more to go, and I think we are past the worst of it. We're seeing new things daily, I LITERALLY am finding areas where the fat's just disappearing and my body looks SO DIFFERENT. Shape is slowly starting to return, and it just makes me cry sometimes. I'm so happy we did this. I only wish we had found this before our wedding, but the Lord knew what He was doing and did this for us at this point in our lives for a reason. I am so thankful!!
Juice on!
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
Day 18
Well it's been a few days! It was just a busy weekend, and we were running around the whole time. I want to take a second to praise the Lord for the work He is doing in my brother Daniel! Daniel went with us to church again and wants to start going every week. We also bought him a very handsome student study Bible to begin reading. It is an answered prayer that he is interested in church!
So, back to the juicing: it's still the same. Although there are some changes: our new craving is Chipotle, haha. We've also been talking about ways to make the things we love most in healthy ways, and Chipotle (other than portion size) isn't going to be horrible to have as a treat every now and then. The other big change is the weight we've lost: Andrew is at 30 pounds lost as of this morning, I'm 23 pounds down! We are seeing the difference in each other, in the way clothes fit, and some people are telling us they can see it. My new discovery is I can see one side of my collarbone: we have clavical, people! Stoked!!
Energy is still there when we're up and moving, but we just have been so tired and can't seem to get caught up on sleep. So when we sit down, we kind of wilt, haha.
But we are hanging on. The changes we see spur us on and make resisting tempation much easier. I realized this weekend I can't wait for the 60 days to be over, not only to be able to eat...but to be able to eat all of the healthy recipes we're finding. We are so stoked about salads! We've got a whole cookbook on salads and homemade dressings, and we are so anxious to start our life after juicing 24/7!
Our brother, Zach, bought a juicer and made his first juice this weekend. It sounded like he needed to tweak it a bit, he didn't care for the bitter kale. We gave him some tips to make it slightly sweeter, and I'm so proud of him for making the decision to put such good nutrients in his body!!
I'm really excited, I go back to my doctor that diagnosed me with PCOS next week. I know he will be SO HAPPY to see what I've accomplished so far! He gave the go-ahead for me to do this, but I don't think he's prepared for these results! I'd love to be down an even 30 pounds (if not more) by the time I see him.
I read an interesting article recently in response to someone telling me that "animal protein" was better and you got more protein from meat than vegetables. I was going to talk about it here, but I'd end up plagiarizing the whole thing, hahaha. So I'm going to put the link. It's set up weird at first, with there being "blanks" for you to think of answers to the questions. But after that, it gets back to the nitty-gritty of the article. And I did a LOT of fact-checking when I was done: and everything I looked up was true. So I highly recommend you look at this when you have a few minutes, it's not horribly long. Unfortunately, the guy is trying to make money off of his program, but he gives you basics (vegetarian is much healthier than you think!) and that's enough to get a good idea. So please, please, please check it out!
http://thmastery.com/_blog/Protein/post/Can_I_Get_Enough_Protein_From_Just_Fruits_and_Vegetables/
Andrew and I are also planning a vacation this autumn to see his parents, and we are going to make a day trip to Chicago! I'M SO EXCITED!!! I've never been, and they apparently have pizza and deli sandwiches that are some of the best in the country.
I know what you're thinking, "Um, aren't you eating healthier? No pizza?" Yes and no. We plan on adopting a healthy lifestyle, but there's no way I can go to Chicago and not try a food they are "famous" for! We actually plan on taking our juicer with us on vacation, haha. We want to do a nice balance of juicing and relaxing the diet for a few days. Besides: there will be Rally's up there. Anyone that knows me knows that I have a love for Rally's that cannot be denied, and there will be no resisting that temptation, hahaha! (Zach and Holly are probably shaking their heads going, "Oh Lord..." at that!) ;)
So that's really about it for now! We had a wonderful, busy last couple of days, we're STILL going strong and loving the results from juicing, and the continued love and support is such a wonderful thing! Thanks, everyone! Hope you are having a great start to your week.
As Joe Cross says: Juice on!! =)
So, back to the juicing: it's still the same. Although there are some changes: our new craving is Chipotle, haha. We've also been talking about ways to make the things we love most in healthy ways, and Chipotle (other than portion size) isn't going to be horrible to have as a treat every now and then. The other big change is the weight we've lost: Andrew is at 30 pounds lost as of this morning, I'm 23 pounds down! We are seeing the difference in each other, in the way clothes fit, and some people are telling us they can see it. My new discovery is I can see one side of my collarbone: we have clavical, people! Stoked!!
Energy is still there when we're up and moving, but we just have been so tired and can't seem to get caught up on sleep. So when we sit down, we kind of wilt, haha.
But we are hanging on. The changes we see spur us on and make resisting tempation much easier. I realized this weekend I can't wait for the 60 days to be over, not only to be able to eat...but to be able to eat all of the healthy recipes we're finding. We are so stoked about salads! We've got a whole cookbook on salads and homemade dressings, and we are so anxious to start our life after juicing 24/7!
Our brother, Zach, bought a juicer and made his first juice this weekend. It sounded like he needed to tweak it a bit, he didn't care for the bitter kale. We gave him some tips to make it slightly sweeter, and I'm so proud of him for making the decision to put such good nutrients in his body!!
I'm really excited, I go back to my doctor that diagnosed me with PCOS next week. I know he will be SO HAPPY to see what I've accomplished so far! He gave the go-ahead for me to do this, but I don't think he's prepared for these results! I'd love to be down an even 30 pounds (if not more) by the time I see him.
I read an interesting article recently in response to someone telling me that "animal protein" was better and you got more protein from meat than vegetables. I was going to talk about it here, but I'd end up plagiarizing the whole thing, hahaha. So I'm going to put the link. It's set up weird at first, with there being "blanks" for you to think of answers to the questions. But after that, it gets back to the nitty-gritty of the article. And I did a LOT of fact-checking when I was done: and everything I looked up was true. So I highly recommend you look at this when you have a few minutes, it's not horribly long. Unfortunately, the guy is trying to make money off of his program, but he gives you basics (vegetarian is much healthier than you think!) and that's enough to get a good idea. So please, please, please check it out!
http://thmastery.com/_blog/Protein/post/Can_I_Get_Enough_Protein_From_Just_Fruits_and_Vegetables/
Andrew and I are also planning a vacation this autumn to see his parents, and we are going to make a day trip to Chicago! I'M SO EXCITED!!! I've never been, and they apparently have pizza and deli sandwiches that are some of the best in the country.
I know what you're thinking, "Um, aren't you eating healthier? No pizza?" Yes and no. We plan on adopting a healthy lifestyle, but there's no way I can go to Chicago and not try a food they are "famous" for! We actually plan on taking our juicer with us on vacation, haha. We want to do a nice balance of juicing and relaxing the diet for a few days. Besides: there will be Rally's up there. Anyone that knows me knows that I have a love for Rally's that cannot be denied, and there will be no resisting that temptation, hahaha! (Zach and Holly are probably shaking their heads going, "Oh Lord..." at that!) ;)
So that's really about it for now! We had a wonderful, busy last couple of days, we're STILL going strong and loving the results from juicing, and the continued love and support is such a wonderful thing! Thanks, everyone! Hope you are having a great start to your week.
As Joe Cross says: Juice on!! =)
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Day 12
Not much to report in the way of our juicing journey. Cravings have died back down for me, they reared their ugly head this weekend and it was really hard. It wasn't hard to resist eating them, I know I won't do that. It was hard to resist WANTING them.
But I'm back down to normal craving levels. Andrew and I are going strong, and we are so excited about our journey. We notice small things all the time, and it's great. I noticed slight definition on my face the other day, and this morning I noticed that I could better feel my collar bone (although still can't see it defined under my neck: hopefully soon!). Little things like that are great.
Even the lady who has been thinking I'm not smart for doing this started to come around a little bit this morning, haha. But she had cookies for breakfast the other day, so I'm not inclined to take her eating habit advice. ;)
Andrew doesn't weigh himself nearly as often as me, so I just know he was at 23 pounds a few days ago. I had been hovering at 16 pounds for a few days, but I was busy over the weekend and I have found on days when I'm busier I don't lose. It's VERY weird. Yesterday was relaxing, I sat around a lot after work: and I lost a pound. So I'm at 17 pounds lost, which just feels awesome. Doesn't look too shabby either, if I do say so myself. ;)
I have heard that our journey is inspiring a number of other people to try a similar version of our lifestyle change for themselves, and I am SO EXCITED. Changing our diet really IS going to change our lives, make it better because we'll be healthier than we were and more energetic. I of course want that for other people, so I'm so proud of anyone brave enough (or crazy enough, haha) to do this to reclaim their life. It's the easiest, and most difficult, thing I've ever done in my life. So many things I miss! Sweets, pizza, burgers, dairy, BREAD AND PASTA!!! Chicken and beef and seafood and salad and fruit and crackers and chips/salsa and Mexican food...everything. I realized today that 12 days means I'm 20% of the way through the 60 days (that sounds so much better than "12 days down, 60 to go"...haha), and soon enough I will be able to incorporate the healthy stuff back in, and find healthy ways to make the rest of it. I went shopping with my friend Sara this weekend, and got a few vegetarian cookbooks to use for inspiration in our future cooking habits. I even found a whole book on salads/dressings, and there are so many ways to change up the ones in there to make even MORE salads.
A recipe we saw that we were excited about was a veggie shepherd's pie. For those that don't know, shepherd's pie is ground beef (or lamb sometimes) with veggies in a pie plate-type dish, covered in mashed potatoes and baked. It's a British dish. The veggie one has just a ton of veggies in it, and the mash on top is cauliflower (which gourmet places use all the time in place of mashed potatoes: and if Gordon Ramsey likes it, it's okay in our book, hahaha). It looks - and SOUNDS - delicious. Things like that, we are anxious to have a healthier option for.
I realized that one of my favorite dishes, chicken pot pie, will still be relatively acceptable. At least once or twice a year, haha. Just load up on even more veggies, maybe even leave the meat out altogether. The veggies are the best part anyways. =)
For anyone that has been referred to this blog by someone we know, if you are considering doing this juicing thing and have ANY questions for us (we had lots before we got started), please leave a comment and I will gladly reply and help anyway I can. I'm certainly no expert, but we've gotten advice from our friend that did this, from Joe Cross's interviews on the subject, and we just have learned little things along the way that help.
To those that keep encouraging us (especially Zach and Andrea, who tell us almost daily, haha): your words do a lot to keep us going. Hearing you guys say how proud you are of us really makes this journey easier. It makes pizza look less and less like something I just HAVE to have.
I can't imagine doing this by myself: Andrew, I'm so thankful you are doing this with me. I am watching you change before my eyes, and it's such a wonderful thing!! I know there are hard days, but you and I supporting each other is the main reason why we're still doing this, and I am so thankful the Lord turned both our hearts towards this. I LOVE YOU.
I also can't imagine doing this without the support I mentioned above. Thank you, everyone, from the bottom of my ever-healthier heart. You make this easier, even if you don't think you do by just saying a few words. Telling me changes you see and saying how proud you are does a world of good for my resistance to temptations. =)
That's it for now! Check back in a few days for another update!
But I'm back down to normal craving levels. Andrew and I are going strong, and we are so excited about our journey. We notice small things all the time, and it's great. I noticed slight definition on my face the other day, and this morning I noticed that I could better feel my collar bone (although still can't see it defined under my neck: hopefully soon!). Little things like that are great.
Even the lady who has been thinking I'm not smart for doing this started to come around a little bit this morning, haha. But she had cookies for breakfast the other day, so I'm not inclined to take her eating habit advice. ;)
Andrew doesn't weigh himself nearly as often as me, so I just know he was at 23 pounds a few days ago. I had been hovering at 16 pounds for a few days, but I was busy over the weekend and I have found on days when I'm busier I don't lose. It's VERY weird. Yesterday was relaxing, I sat around a lot after work: and I lost a pound. So I'm at 17 pounds lost, which just feels awesome. Doesn't look too shabby either, if I do say so myself. ;)
I have heard that our journey is inspiring a number of other people to try a similar version of our lifestyle change for themselves, and I am SO EXCITED. Changing our diet really IS going to change our lives, make it better because we'll be healthier than we were and more energetic. I of course want that for other people, so I'm so proud of anyone brave enough (or crazy enough, haha) to do this to reclaim their life. It's the easiest, and most difficult, thing I've ever done in my life. So many things I miss! Sweets, pizza, burgers, dairy, BREAD AND PASTA!!! Chicken and beef and seafood and salad and fruit and crackers and chips/salsa and Mexican food...everything. I realized today that 12 days means I'm 20% of the way through the 60 days (that sounds so much better than "12 days down, 60 to go"...haha), and soon enough I will be able to incorporate the healthy stuff back in, and find healthy ways to make the rest of it. I went shopping with my friend Sara this weekend, and got a few vegetarian cookbooks to use for inspiration in our future cooking habits. I even found a whole book on salads/dressings, and there are so many ways to change up the ones in there to make even MORE salads.
A recipe we saw that we were excited about was a veggie shepherd's pie. For those that don't know, shepherd's pie is ground beef (or lamb sometimes) with veggies in a pie plate-type dish, covered in mashed potatoes and baked. It's a British dish. The veggie one has just a ton of veggies in it, and the mash on top is cauliflower (which gourmet places use all the time in place of mashed potatoes: and if Gordon Ramsey likes it, it's okay in our book, hahaha). It looks - and SOUNDS - delicious. Things like that, we are anxious to have a healthier option for.
I realized that one of my favorite dishes, chicken pot pie, will still be relatively acceptable. At least once or twice a year, haha. Just load up on even more veggies, maybe even leave the meat out altogether. The veggies are the best part anyways. =)
For anyone that has been referred to this blog by someone we know, if you are considering doing this juicing thing and have ANY questions for us (we had lots before we got started), please leave a comment and I will gladly reply and help anyway I can. I'm certainly no expert, but we've gotten advice from our friend that did this, from Joe Cross's interviews on the subject, and we just have learned little things along the way that help.
To those that keep encouraging us (especially Zach and Andrea, who tell us almost daily, haha): your words do a lot to keep us going. Hearing you guys say how proud you are of us really makes this journey easier. It makes pizza look less and less like something I just HAVE to have.
I can't imagine doing this by myself: Andrew, I'm so thankful you are doing this with me. I am watching you change before my eyes, and it's such a wonderful thing!! I know there are hard days, but you and I supporting each other is the main reason why we're still doing this, and I am so thankful the Lord turned both our hearts towards this. I LOVE YOU.
I also can't imagine doing this without the support I mentioned above. Thank you, everyone, from the bottom of my ever-healthier heart. You make this easier, even if you don't think you do by just saying a few words. Telling me changes you see and saying how proud you are does a world of good for my resistance to temptations. =)
That's it for now! Check back in a few days for another update!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Day 10
So those of you following this will be going, "She didn't do day 8 and day 9." And you are obviously right, hahaha. But I decided that at this point, doing it everyday would be more of the same "I feel great!" kind of stuff. So I'm going to check in every couple of days from now on.
So days 8 and 9 were tough for me, I'm not going to lie. Andrew had the day off with me on Friday, and we took that opportunity to get his truck worked on. We ended up going to my parents' house for several hours to visit, and then we brought the boys back to our house to spend the night. We stayed up late playing Clue, and if you saw my Facebook you know that we were awake when a drunk motorcycle rider had a very bad accident in front of our house. Andrew was so calm and wonderful during that, he ran outside to help and called 911. I stayed in the house with the boys, we could hear the woman that he apparently knew that was driving in the car behind him crying and screaming and knew that he wasn't conscious. I didn't want them (or myself) to go out and have him end up being dead.
He did wake up eventually, all we know for sure was that he was bleeding from his head and that his ankle was broken. I'm sure there were other injuries, he was not wearing a helmet. It was horrible.
Saturday morning, we got up and took the boys to get their hair cut, and then we just hung out around the house for a few hours. We made them lunch, some fish sticks we had in the freezer. Oh. My. GOSH!! They smelled so good, and it was so hard to have that smell in the house, haha. It was a tough weekend of cravings for me, it literally felt like it was day one again and all I could think about was food. Andrew didn't have any major issues with cravings, but I was really struggling.
Little victories were noticed this weekend that made me remember why I was doing this in the middle of those cravings: my watch and rings are looser. When I crossed my legs at one point, it felt different, like there wasn't as much fat in the way. Having more flexibility when propping my leg up on the dashboard in the passenger seat of the car. And I can feel part of my jawbone without having to push in through face fat.
Small things, I know, but it's those little things where I'm not even thinking about it and they pop up and it makes me so excited!
All-in-all, it was a great weekend. Hopefully the cravings aren't going to rear their ugly head like that again, that was really tough. I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!!
So days 8 and 9 were tough for me, I'm not going to lie. Andrew had the day off with me on Friday, and we took that opportunity to get his truck worked on. We ended up going to my parents' house for several hours to visit, and then we brought the boys back to our house to spend the night. We stayed up late playing Clue, and if you saw my Facebook you know that we were awake when a drunk motorcycle rider had a very bad accident in front of our house. Andrew was so calm and wonderful during that, he ran outside to help and called 911. I stayed in the house with the boys, we could hear the woman that he apparently knew that was driving in the car behind him crying and screaming and knew that he wasn't conscious. I didn't want them (or myself) to go out and have him end up being dead.
He did wake up eventually, all we know for sure was that he was bleeding from his head and that his ankle was broken. I'm sure there were other injuries, he was not wearing a helmet. It was horrible.
Saturday morning, we got up and took the boys to get their hair cut, and then we just hung out around the house for a few hours. We made them lunch, some fish sticks we had in the freezer. Oh. My. GOSH!! They smelled so good, and it was so hard to have that smell in the house, haha. It was a tough weekend of cravings for me, it literally felt like it was day one again and all I could think about was food. Andrew didn't have any major issues with cravings, but I was really struggling.
Little victories were noticed this weekend that made me remember why I was doing this in the middle of those cravings: my watch and rings are looser. When I crossed my legs at one point, it felt different, like there wasn't as much fat in the way. Having more flexibility when propping my leg up on the dashboard in the passenger seat of the car. And I can feel part of my jawbone without having to push in through face fat.
Small things, I know, but it's those little things where I'm not even thinking about it and they pop up and it makes me so excited!
All-in-all, it was a great weekend. Hopefully the cravings aren't going to rear their ugly head like that again, that was really tough. I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Day 7
We are one week into the 60 day juice fast: and we are actually doing pretty good! Andrew is down 23 pounds, and I'm down 16. We have figured out that 60 ounces of juice and a LOT of water is the best thing for us, and we're still not hungry by eliminating a 30 ounce juice at night.
We both actually had some cravings today. I wanted Taco Bell, and Andrew wanted popcorn or anything salty.
So it's definitely still tough with cravings at this point, but we're mostly good with that. We feel really great each day, we're SO EXCITED to be doing this.
We did a lot of talking about the kinds of things we are going to eat at the end of 60 days. Joe Cross ate nothing but fruit, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds for 5 months afterwards. We don't want to do 5 months, but we aren't putting a time limit on that. We decided we would do that diet for "awhile" and see how long we were able to go. Then we are incorporating fish and some chicken/turkey and all that other good-for-you normal stuff.
We are excited to start eating, haha, but we are actually excited to start eating veggie-heavy salads and finding ways to eat our favorite foods made with healthy ingredients.
The first week has been a lot of ups and downs, but mostly ups. And we are pleasantly surprised at how this has been for us, it's EXACTLY like we hoped it would be. Keep the support coming, though, because we got a long way to go still! =)
We both actually had some cravings today. I wanted Taco Bell, and Andrew wanted popcorn or anything salty.
So it's definitely still tough with cravings at this point, but we're mostly good with that. We feel really great each day, we're SO EXCITED to be doing this.
We did a lot of talking about the kinds of things we are going to eat at the end of 60 days. Joe Cross ate nothing but fruit, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds for 5 months afterwards. We don't want to do 5 months, but we aren't putting a time limit on that. We decided we would do that diet for "awhile" and see how long we were able to go. Then we are incorporating fish and some chicken/turkey and all that other good-for-you normal stuff.
We are excited to start eating, haha, but we are actually excited to start eating veggie-heavy salads and finding ways to eat our favorite foods made with healthy ingredients.
The first week has been a lot of ups and downs, but mostly ups. And we are pleasantly surprised at how this has been for us, it's EXACTLY like we hoped it would be. Keep the support coming, though, because we got a long way to go still! =)
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
A difficult post...
I was really touched by something Matt Chandler said at The Village a couple of weeks ago. I saw that the transcripts were online, and I wanted to post some parts that really spoke to me. In my home group this past week, I mentioned my current struggle was really how/when to talk to most other people in my life about Jesus without crossing a line in their mind. I am not perfect by ANY means, but being where I am now and looking back to my former life I see some others in my life doing things that I was doing then, making me want to ask them if they have been saved. I have a feeling a lot of people would say yes: maybe because they think that they are, or maybe they just wouldn't want to have that conversation with me. But I don't see the evidence that they have been. They don't seem to want to talk about anything with me, about the things I'm learning and want to share and talk about. When I bring it up, it's glossed over and not acknowledged. In my mind, how can they truly be saved if they don't want to talk about the Lord?
Mark 16:15-17 says "And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;'"
I need to get over my fear of talking about my faith with others. My hope is that I can take this babystep, to use Matt Chandler's words that made me think of several people in my life, to plant a seed in their mind that might one day blossom and lead them to the gospel and to the Lord. So here are some snippets that I wanted to share...
"You've got this call to not take your eyes off of Jesus, not to take your eyes off of His life, His death, His resurrection; that we should meditate on those things; that we should surround our lives with those things; that we should sit under teaching that points towards those things; that we should listen to music and books that make much of those things...
...the argument goes that if you preach the gospel as the Bible outlines the gospel, then people will use the gospel as an excuse to walk in unrepentant sin. So look right at me: that is absolutely true. But insomuch as people do that, they simply reveal that they do not understand nor do they believe the gospel. How do we know that? Because there is a way to walk in step with the gospel. So what does this mean? I want to show you how the purpose of the law shifts for those of us who are in Christ Jesus. The law is a diagnostic, it shows us that we have a disease; Christ becomes the healer of that disease; and upon our healing from what the law reveals is broken in us, the law then becomes a wooing into the fullness of life and joy that God has invited us into in Christ Jesus.
So let me walk you through how it should work. It will vary in our lives, but at some point these steps are in the heart and mind of all believers. The law begins to bear weight on my rebellion. The law reveals that I am a liar - I don't just lie, I'm a liar: that's why I lie - that I'm a thief; that I tend to covet; that I have a tendency to love other things more than I love God; that I am in stark rebellion against the God of the universe...
...so here's what I want you to consider: for some of us, the diagnostic of the law will show us today to be terminal. You have not put your faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You have put your faith in something else. You have put your faith ultimately in you in one of two directions. You have put your faith in you that you're just going to live life to the fullest, and you know what's best for you, and you know what's going to bring you the greatest amount of joy and God should obviously be cool with you because you're not as much a bum as other people you know. Or you have put your confidence in you under the cloak of outward religion and church activity. So you don't really have a relationship with the Lord, you just do what you think the Lord says so that you can avoid Him and create your own righteousness for you to glory in.
For some of you, that's exactly where you are, and I need to herald to you today that the offer of a former life, the offer of a new birth, new life and legitimate righteousness is offered to those of you who would put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. But there are others of you today for whom the diagnostic would read that you are pure and spotless and blameless, but for whatever reason, you are digging your heels in and fighting against your own fullness of life and your own joy: because you view the law of God as a weight to judge you rather than a light to lead you into life. The thing I can point out about this text (Galatians 2:11-14) is it appears that Peter hears Paul and repents. So it's my hope coming in today that you might be able to hear...
...but you don't want to: you're digging in your heels and God's wooing you into greater joy, but you're just refusing to go. You just can't have that: YOU know better, YOU'RE smarter than God. I'm telling you: you're out of step with the gospel. You're not believing the gospel enough. May the Holy Spirit, in His mercy, dial you back into the only hope you have - Christ and Him crucified."
I love you all, and more importantly: JESUS LOVES YOU. I pray every night with Andrew, our loud, for all of the people in my life to be believers and walk in step with the gospel, as Matt said. My intent is not to push anyone away with this, but it's just been heavy on my heart and I really felt the Lord pushing me to share it.
Have a blessed day!!
Mark 16:15-17 says "And he said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;'"
I need to get over my fear of talking about my faith with others. My hope is that I can take this babystep, to use Matt Chandler's words that made me think of several people in my life, to plant a seed in their mind that might one day blossom and lead them to the gospel and to the Lord. So here are some snippets that I wanted to share...
"You've got this call to not take your eyes off of Jesus, not to take your eyes off of His life, His death, His resurrection; that we should meditate on those things; that we should surround our lives with those things; that we should sit under teaching that points towards those things; that we should listen to music and books that make much of those things...
...the argument goes that if you preach the gospel as the Bible outlines the gospel, then people will use the gospel as an excuse to walk in unrepentant sin. So look right at me: that is absolutely true. But insomuch as people do that, they simply reveal that they do not understand nor do they believe the gospel. How do we know that? Because there is a way to walk in step with the gospel. So what does this mean? I want to show you how the purpose of the law shifts for those of us who are in Christ Jesus. The law is a diagnostic, it shows us that we have a disease; Christ becomes the healer of that disease; and upon our healing from what the law reveals is broken in us, the law then becomes a wooing into the fullness of life and joy that God has invited us into in Christ Jesus.
So let me walk you through how it should work. It will vary in our lives, but at some point these steps are in the heart and mind of all believers. The law begins to bear weight on my rebellion. The law reveals that I am a liar - I don't just lie, I'm a liar: that's why I lie - that I'm a thief; that I tend to covet; that I have a tendency to love other things more than I love God; that I am in stark rebellion against the God of the universe...
...so here's what I want you to consider: for some of us, the diagnostic of the law will show us today to be terminal. You have not put your faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You have put your faith in something else. You have put your faith ultimately in you in one of two directions. You have put your faith in you that you're just going to live life to the fullest, and you know what's best for you, and you know what's going to bring you the greatest amount of joy and God should obviously be cool with you because you're not as much a bum as other people you know. Or you have put your confidence in you under the cloak of outward religion and church activity. So you don't really have a relationship with the Lord, you just do what you think the Lord says so that you can avoid Him and create your own righteousness for you to glory in.
For some of you, that's exactly where you are, and I need to herald to you today that the offer of a former life, the offer of a new birth, new life and legitimate righteousness is offered to those of you who would put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. But there are others of you today for whom the diagnostic would read that you are pure and spotless and blameless, but for whatever reason, you are digging your heels in and fighting against your own fullness of life and your own joy: because you view the law of God as a weight to judge you rather than a light to lead you into life. The thing I can point out about this text (Galatians 2:11-14) is it appears that Peter hears Paul and repents. So it's my hope coming in today that you might be able to hear...
...but you don't want to: you're digging in your heels and God's wooing you into greater joy, but you're just refusing to go. You just can't have that: YOU know better, YOU'RE smarter than God. I'm telling you: you're out of step with the gospel. You're not believing the gospel enough. May the Holy Spirit, in His mercy, dial you back into the only hope you have - Christ and Him crucified."
I love you all, and more importantly: JESUS LOVES YOU. I pray every night with Andrew, our loud, for all of the people in my life to be believers and walk in step with the gospel, as Matt said. My intent is not to push anyone away with this, but it's just been heavy on my heart and I really felt the Lord pushing me to share it.
Have a blessed day!!
Day 6
It's been an interesting day! Andrew and I really struggled last night, because we weren't hungry at dinner time and so we didn't really want to juice. But we figured we should still give our bodies the fuel to burn. Andrew just halved the recipe, but I went the full 30 ounces.
Today Andrew and I did some research online and discovered we might actually be drinking too MUCH juice. Found all this stuff saying about 60 ounces of juice a day is great, with a TON of water in there, too. And that makes sense, because after two of the 30 ounce drinks in a day we are often not hungry for the third 30 ounce drink. So we're going to cut out a juice, and just drink those two 30 ounce drinks all throughout the day, with plenty of water in between. Andrew weighed himself and still hadn't lost more than the 19 pounds in a few days, so we figured we're getting too full on juice. So we're going to trim it back a little and see how we feel.
Today was much better for both of us. I had a huge potluck at work that smelled SO GOOD!!!! And everyone was like, "I couldn't do that, how are you able to be here and not eat????" and I just felt so proud of myself that I looked at that food and the heaping, overflowing plates people were eating and thought, "Ew." Not for the taste, but for how much food was being consumed. Some people were going back for seconds and thirds. And I just sat there going, "No wonder I gained weight, I used to pile my plate and go back for seconds on certain things." So I was able to answer them that I was actually doing just fine, that everything smelled and looked fantastic, but that I was okay.
And on the way home, I found myself really wanting to eat apples. APPLES. This was after looking over at a guy eating Jack in the Box curly fries while he was driving. I thought, "Those look good...I want an apple." My drinks taste predominantly apple, and so I really want one, hahaha.
I'm still not weighing myself until tomorrow. But I just am so happy at what this process is doing for my MIND, just as much as what it will do for my body. Looking around now, almost everyone I see makes me cringe at the things they are putting into their bodies. And they don't have medical issues and are thin a lot of the times and think that it's all good. But the amount of processed, unhealthy food they are taking in...knowing what I PHYSICALLY know now about how that stuff affects the body, it makes me wish more people had the willpower to eat more fruits and veggies. We all "know" that it's "good for you", but I just never knew the extent to which that was true until now.
After some other research, we discovered that Joe Cross (the guy from "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead") ate nothing but fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds for FIVE MONTHS when he came off of his 60 day juice thing. I don't think we'll be that extreme, but I think that would be a great way to wean back into food, by starting off eating foods that are rich in micronutrients for a couple of weeks, and then bringing in other things (fish, chicken, etc) sparingly at first. Joe says he himself doesn't eat a lot of chicken, or even fish as much. He likes tuna and shrimp. I may try tuna again, see if my taste has changed for it. If not, then I'm eating fish and chicken, hahaha. We found a local vendor at the Dallas Farmer's Market that sells chicken so we don't have to eat the cruddy grocery store processed stuff. I plan on eating a lot of veggie-packed salads and fruits. And I will probably always juice for breakfast, moving onto fruit ones and all sorts of different recipes once the 60 days are over. I love the energy it gives me early on in the day.
The fact that I'd probably pick an apple over pizza today is astounding, and SO encouraging, to me. Andrew had food in at his work, and he had similar thoughts of "it isn't even worth what that would do to my body". The fact that our brains were that influenced by the foods we were eating really is a weird and powerful thing. Our pizza in the future will probably almost always be homemade by Andrew so we know what is going into it and can control the calories and ingredients. Luckily Andrew is a good cook and likes it, because I have a feeling he will be making healthy versions of all of our favorite foods from now on, hahaha.
Several people have told me and Andrew that they are inspired and want to do a version of this themselves. Juicers have already been ordered. It just amazes me to think of the chain this has gone through. Juicing has obviously been around for awhile, but Joe Cross's documentary specifically has affected so many lives, of people who had never even thought of the concept much, other than knowing it used to be that infomercial with Jack Lalane (and no one takes those seriously). But I think Joe put it in simple terms, showed his journey from beginning to end, and he feels passionately about helping people. I found out today through watching interviews that he PAID for Phil to do this with him. Paid for the cabin by the lake for ten days, and for people to follow Phil around and for the juicer he used. There was no big production company footing the bill. Joe had to stop paying after Phil did 60 days because he couldn't afford it anymore. But he was so glad to have helped, he gave people his personal number on the journey and said: "Call me, if you want some help on it, I'm there!" And he said only Phil called him. The Lord has worked through Joe to heal and help SO MANY people out there, and it's truly amazing to think of the chain of events, of how many people are connected between me and Joe. Joe started and just a few people had heard of this at first. Then by word of mouth (and a whole lot of people) it reached Troy in Indiana, who posted on Facebook at just the right time in Andrew's and my life to do this. And we have people taking it for themselves and passing it onto others. It's just a beautiful thing, and it makes me realize that doing this isn't isn't just about me and Andrew, it's knowing that we might inspire someone to make a life-saving change. I am just so thankful the Lord brought us to this, and is bringing others to it through us.
I came across Proverbs 3:5-6 recently and I've just been reflecting on it a LOT lately:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths."
**Sidenote, I found this verse on a day when I was sad and had been looking up verses suggested to me by a girl in my home group to reflect on. I closed the Bible, and thought I was still needing more words. So I took the advice my Uncle Scott gave my dad once, to just open the Bible to a random page and begin reading. Sure enough, this was exactly what I needed to be reminded of on that day, and it's been in my mind since.**
He made my path straight, and I don't yet know all of the blessings that it will bring, that HE will bring. I am trusting in Him and going where He guides me. He's not going to lead me down the wrong path, and ALL I HAVE TO DO is have faith and trust and love our Father. I've been fighting that, thinking I need to control what happens to me: how foolish that is!! Letting go and trusting Him to lay out His plans for me feels so much better than "being in control" did.
My head is so much clearer than it was. I just wish you all could do a Freaky Friday thing for a few minutes and feel how WONDERFUL I feel. You'll just have to take my word for it!! =)
Tomorrow is day seven: a whole week. I'm anxious to keep going, I am LOVING this!!!
Today Andrew and I did some research online and discovered we might actually be drinking too MUCH juice. Found all this stuff saying about 60 ounces of juice a day is great, with a TON of water in there, too. And that makes sense, because after two of the 30 ounce drinks in a day we are often not hungry for the third 30 ounce drink. So we're going to cut out a juice, and just drink those two 30 ounce drinks all throughout the day, with plenty of water in between. Andrew weighed himself and still hadn't lost more than the 19 pounds in a few days, so we figured we're getting too full on juice. So we're going to trim it back a little and see how we feel.
Today was much better for both of us. I had a huge potluck at work that smelled SO GOOD!!!! And everyone was like, "I couldn't do that, how are you able to be here and not eat????" and I just felt so proud of myself that I looked at that food and the heaping, overflowing plates people were eating and thought, "Ew." Not for the taste, but for how much food was being consumed. Some people were going back for seconds and thirds. And I just sat there going, "No wonder I gained weight, I used to pile my plate and go back for seconds on certain things." So I was able to answer them that I was actually doing just fine, that everything smelled and looked fantastic, but that I was okay.
And on the way home, I found myself really wanting to eat apples. APPLES. This was after looking over at a guy eating Jack in the Box curly fries while he was driving. I thought, "Those look good...I want an apple." My drinks taste predominantly apple, and so I really want one, hahaha.
I'm still not weighing myself until tomorrow. But I just am so happy at what this process is doing for my MIND, just as much as what it will do for my body. Looking around now, almost everyone I see makes me cringe at the things they are putting into their bodies. And they don't have medical issues and are thin a lot of the times and think that it's all good. But the amount of processed, unhealthy food they are taking in...knowing what I PHYSICALLY know now about how that stuff affects the body, it makes me wish more people had the willpower to eat more fruits and veggies. We all "know" that it's "good for you", but I just never knew the extent to which that was true until now.
After some other research, we discovered that Joe Cross (the guy from "Fat Sick and Nearly Dead") ate nothing but fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts, and seeds for FIVE MONTHS when he came off of his 60 day juice thing. I don't think we'll be that extreme, but I think that would be a great way to wean back into food, by starting off eating foods that are rich in micronutrients for a couple of weeks, and then bringing in other things (fish, chicken, etc) sparingly at first. Joe says he himself doesn't eat a lot of chicken, or even fish as much. He likes tuna and shrimp. I may try tuna again, see if my taste has changed for it. If not, then I'm eating fish and chicken, hahaha. We found a local vendor at the Dallas Farmer's Market that sells chicken so we don't have to eat the cruddy grocery store processed stuff. I plan on eating a lot of veggie-packed salads and fruits. And I will probably always juice for breakfast, moving onto fruit ones and all sorts of different recipes once the 60 days are over. I love the energy it gives me early on in the day.
The fact that I'd probably pick an apple over pizza today is astounding, and SO encouraging, to me. Andrew had food in at his work, and he had similar thoughts of "it isn't even worth what that would do to my body". The fact that our brains were that influenced by the foods we were eating really is a weird and powerful thing. Our pizza in the future will probably almost always be homemade by Andrew so we know what is going into it and can control the calories and ingredients. Luckily Andrew is a good cook and likes it, because I have a feeling he will be making healthy versions of all of our favorite foods from now on, hahaha.
Several people have told me and Andrew that they are inspired and want to do a version of this themselves. Juicers have already been ordered. It just amazes me to think of the chain this has gone through. Juicing has obviously been around for awhile, but Joe Cross's documentary specifically has affected so many lives, of people who had never even thought of the concept much, other than knowing it used to be that infomercial with Jack Lalane (and no one takes those seriously). But I think Joe put it in simple terms, showed his journey from beginning to end, and he feels passionately about helping people. I found out today through watching interviews that he PAID for Phil to do this with him. Paid for the cabin by the lake for ten days, and for people to follow Phil around and for the juicer he used. There was no big production company footing the bill. Joe had to stop paying after Phil did 60 days because he couldn't afford it anymore. But he was so glad to have helped, he gave people his personal number on the journey and said: "Call me, if you want some help on it, I'm there!" And he said only Phil called him. The Lord has worked through Joe to heal and help SO MANY people out there, and it's truly amazing to think of the chain of events, of how many people are connected between me and Joe. Joe started and just a few people had heard of this at first. Then by word of mouth (and a whole lot of people) it reached Troy in Indiana, who posted on Facebook at just the right time in Andrew's and my life to do this. And we have people taking it for themselves and passing it onto others. It's just a beautiful thing, and it makes me realize that doing this isn't isn't just about me and Andrew, it's knowing that we might inspire someone to make a life-saving change. I am just so thankful the Lord brought us to this, and is bringing others to it through us.
I came across Proverbs 3:5-6 recently and I've just been reflecting on it a LOT lately:
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths."
**Sidenote, I found this verse on a day when I was sad and had been looking up verses suggested to me by a girl in my home group to reflect on. I closed the Bible, and thought I was still needing more words. So I took the advice my Uncle Scott gave my dad once, to just open the Bible to a random page and begin reading. Sure enough, this was exactly what I needed to be reminded of on that day, and it's been in my mind since.**
He made my path straight, and I don't yet know all of the blessings that it will bring, that HE will bring. I am trusting in Him and going where He guides me. He's not going to lead me down the wrong path, and ALL I HAVE TO DO is have faith and trust and love our Father. I've been fighting that, thinking I need to control what happens to me: how foolish that is!! Letting go and trusting Him to lay out His plans for me feels so much better than "being in control" did.
My head is so much clearer than it was. I just wish you all could do a Freaky Friday thing for a few minutes and feel how WONDERFUL I feel. You'll just have to take my word for it!! =)
Tomorrow is day seven: a whole week. I'm anxious to keep going, I am LOVING this!!!
Day 5
Five days in...one-twelfth of the way through this 60-day fasting part. It was a good day, I noticed the clothes I was wearing fitting slightly differently. Probably not enough for anyone else to notice, but I noticed some small changes.
I didn't weigh myself, I want to give it until the morning of day seven to do that again, to see what I'm at for the week.
Andrew and I are feeling great, though. Cravings are CONSIDERABLY less persistent. Andrew even had to endure his work ordering more lunch (Domino's pizza, one of our faves!), but his willpower is incredible and he made it through!
Between daylight savings time, getting up earlier every morning to make juice, and us staying up later than we've meant to a couple of nights, I have lost SERIOUS sleep this week, and it finally started catching up to me yesterday. I wasn't sluggish, but I was just can't-keep-my-eyes-open at the end of my workday. I tried to take a nap when I got home, but I just couldn't fall asleep. Hoping I'm not too tired for day six, haha. I just need the weekend to get here so I can get a nice long sleep time!
I got to talk to my oldest younger brother, Robert. He was interested in what I was doing and was telling me how proud he was of me. I don't know when he's ever said that to me before, so it was really nice to hear. He will be in town next week, and he wants me to make him a week's worth of juice meals to do. He just wants to do it for a week, but that's still so awesome and I'm glad to help him out!
Andrew and I both weren't hungry at dinnertime and easily could've skipped that night time juice. But we figured that probably wasn't smart, that our bodies needed the juice, so we made a drink. Everyone's been asking if I ever get hungry, and I keep telling them no. I didn't really believe that three 30 ounce servings of juice a day, plus some water in between juices, would fill me up completely: BUT IT DOES. Everyone else seems skeptical, but it's just the truth. =)
Day six will be my first BIG temptation, we're doing a Green Potluck at work for our St. Patrick's Day party. So at least I'll have my OWN green "food", but still...the stuff is going to be a big temptation. I have to stay strong!
So other than sheer exhaustion from lack of sleep here and there throughout the week, I still felt great today! Can't wait to get through tomorrow and have the first week pretty much behind me. =)
I didn't weigh myself, I want to give it until the morning of day seven to do that again, to see what I'm at for the week.
Andrew and I are feeling great, though. Cravings are CONSIDERABLY less persistent. Andrew even had to endure his work ordering more lunch (Domino's pizza, one of our faves!), but his willpower is incredible and he made it through!
Between daylight savings time, getting up earlier every morning to make juice, and us staying up later than we've meant to a couple of nights, I have lost SERIOUS sleep this week, and it finally started catching up to me yesterday. I wasn't sluggish, but I was just can't-keep-my-eyes-open at the end of my workday. I tried to take a nap when I got home, but I just couldn't fall asleep. Hoping I'm not too tired for day six, haha. I just need the weekend to get here so I can get a nice long sleep time!
I got to talk to my oldest younger brother, Robert. He was interested in what I was doing and was telling me how proud he was of me. I don't know when he's ever said that to me before, so it was really nice to hear. He will be in town next week, and he wants me to make him a week's worth of juice meals to do. He just wants to do it for a week, but that's still so awesome and I'm glad to help him out!
Andrew and I both weren't hungry at dinnertime and easily could've skipped that night time juice. But we figured that probably wasn't smart, that our bodies needed the juice, so we made a drink. Everyone's been asking if I ever get hungry, and I keep telling them no. I didn't really believe that three 30 ounce servings of juice a day, plus some water in between juices, would fill me up completely: BUT IT DOES. Everyone else seems skeptical, but it's just the truth. =)
Day six will be my first BIG temptation, we're doing a Green Potluck at work for our St. Patrick's Day party. So at least I'll have my OWN green "food", but still...the stuff is going to be a big temptation. I have to stay strong!
So other than sheer exhaustion from lack of sleep here and there throughout the week, I still felt great today! Can't wait to get through tomorrow and have the first week pretty much behind me. =)
Monday, March 12, 2012
Day 4
Wow...this day has TRULY been spectacular!!!
So, yesterday I weighed myself. Still too self conscious to put the ACTUAL number up here, haha, but it was a lot. However: it was 9 pounds less than it was when I was weighed at the doctor's office on Monday, March 5th (less than a week at that point). I was floored. I figured the scales were probably off and I'd only lost a couple of pounds (still big YAY!).
Well, this morning, after going to the bathroom I weighed myself again. 2 pounds less than I was 24 hours before!! I was like, "Holy schnikey!" Then I had a thought...why don't I put on those pants I haven't fit into properly in MONTHS instead of the super baggy ones I've BEEN wearing that I can pull up without having to undo the button or zipper? "Probably won't fit," I thought, "but at least I'll see how much progress I am making..."
Wouldn't you know it? THEY FIT!!!!!! I woke Andrew up to tell him and show him, haha. There's still room to fit into them better, but I wore them comfortably ALL DAY and was told by a few people I looked thinner (probably just saying it, but hey: I'll take it!!).
Energy levels all day were great. I had a couple of projects I really had to focus on today, and I found time was FLYING because I was engrossed in what I was doing and I wasn't looking at the clock. I took a juiced lunch in with me and refrigerated it during the morning. It was still yummy and I drank it all, but it didn't taste quite the same as the fresh juice. Having it there was much more helpful than trying to make it eight hours on just ice water.
End of the day comes, and I had two errands to run. Ask Andrew how much I love errands...I can't stand them and avoid them at ALL costs, haha. But I had plenty of energy and it felt good to walk around the store for awhile.
Came home, talked to my mom and my sister for awhile, and then got ready to walk on the treadmill after a weekend off from working out. On a whim, I decided to weigh myself again. So I went to the bathroom, fully expecting to see a bigger number (since everyone "knows" you weigh less first thing in the morning).
I didn't see a bigger number. I hadn't lost a pound. Or even two pounds.
THREE POUNDS, people. Weighed myself just now, after working out, still right there. I just am in awe.
Andrew's felt great today, too, he said this is the best day so far. He faced SERIOUS temptation today at work: breakfast taquitos and Einstein Bros. bagels in the morning, and Chinese food in the afternoon. He resisted: he's so good!!! His headaches are pretty much gone and all in all is just feeling really great.
It's weird that three 30 ounce juices and some ice water are enough to fill us up during the day. But it does. People keep asking me, "Aren't you hungry, though????" and I keep GENUINELY saying that I'm not. One lady even said, "This can't be good for you, you NEED all those other things, you're going to pass out!"
It's amazing how people think you have to have all the sorts of food people eat on a daily basis, that you have to CHEW to be able to survive. I read that there wouldn't be hunger, and had my doubts, but I jumped in with both feet. And everything I've read from other people who have done this is true, and we are just SO THANKFUL that we are doing this.
Andrew is down 19 pounds since he was weighed on March 2nd (10 days ago). I am down 14 in a week. And we are 4 days into this "60 day" (really, it's kinda a lifestyle change that's forever) thing. So happy, SO EXCITED to be seeing results and feeling this good. Others have told us they are proud of us and they are happy for us, and they're telling others who are getting inspired. And it's just great, the Lord used others for us to start this journey, and so in turn we are being used to help others. It's just such a great feeling and this is just the beginning of our lives, the way they are SUPPOSED to be. I haven't seen the girl that I feel like I am, inside, looking back at me from the mirror in so long...and I miss her. She's in there. She's just been in a fat suit for awhile, haha. I'm finally mentally ready to take it off. I don't know what I was scared of. I watch Biggest Loser and see people using food to suppress all these dark things. I have never felt like I had that reason. I just liked to eat. I could never stick with anything for very long, I never saw results and I would just quit. The results from this spur me on more and I today found my cravings a lot less than they have been (not gone, but less).
So for those of you that have known me, you know this statement is true: if I can stick with this (that really should be "when", but that isn't how it's usually worded, haha)...ANYONE can do it. I told a few people today, I have all this energy, and I don't know where it's coming from. Processed foods and my obsession with them really have suppressed me into someone I didn't recognize anymore. I'm SO GLAD to be shedding that old self. Long way to go still, but I'm ready.
I am ready.
So, yesterday I weighed myself. Still too self conscious to put the ACTUAL number up here, haha, but it was a lot. However: it was 9 pounds less than it was when I was weighed at the doctor's office on Monday, March 5th (less than a week at that point). I was floored. I figured the scales were probably off and I'd only lost a couple of pounds (still big YAY!).
Well, this morning, after going to the bathroom I weighed myself again. 2 pounds less than I was 24 hours before!! I was like, "Holy schnikey!" Then I had a thought...why don't I put on those pants I haven't fit into properly in MONTHS instead of the super baggy ones I've BEEN wearing that I can pull up without having to undo the button or zipper? "Probably won't fit," I thought, "but at least I'll see how much progress I am making..."
Wouldn't you know it? THEY FIT!!!!!! I woke Andrew up to tell him and show him, haha. There's still room to fit into them better, but I wore them comfortably ALL DAY and was told by a few people I looked thinner (probably just saying it, but hey: I'll take it!!).
Energy levels all day were great. I had a couple of projects I really had to focus on today, and I found time was FLYING because I was engrossed in what I was doing and I wasn't looking at the clock. I took a juiced lunch in with me and refrigerated it during the morning. It was still yummy and I drank it all, but it didn't taste quite the same as the fresh juice. Having it there was much more helpful than trying to make it eight hours on just ice water.
End of the day comes, and I had two errands to run. Ask Andrew how much I love errands...I can't stand them and avoid them at ALL costs, haha. But I had plenty of energy and it felt good to walk around the store for awhile.
Came home, talked to my mom and my sister for awhile, and then got ready to walk on the treadmill after a weekend off from working out. On a whim, I decided to weigh myself again. So I went to the bathroom, fully expecting to see a bigger number (since everyone "knows" you weigh less first thing in the morning).
I didn't see a bigger number. I hadn't lost a pound. Or even two pounds.
THREE POUNDS, people. Weighed myself just now, after working out, still right there. I just am in awe.
Andrew's felt great today, too, he said this is the best day so far. He faced SERIOUS temptation today at work: breakfast taquitos and Einstein Bros. bagels in the morning, and Chinese food in the afternoon. He resisted: he's so good!!! His headaches are pretty much gone and all in all is just feeling really great.
It's weird that three 30 ounce juices and some ice water are enough to fill us up during the day. But it does. People keep asking me, "Aren't you hungry, though????" and I keep GENUINELY saying that I'm not. One lady even said, "This can't be good for you, you NEED all those other things, you're going to pass out!"
It's amazing how people think you have to have all the sorts of food people eat on a daily basis, that you have to CHEW to be able to survive. I read that there wouldn't be hunger, and had my doubts, but I jumped in with both feet. And everything I've read from other people who have done this is true, and we are just SO THANKFUL that we are doing this.
Andrew is down 19 pounds since he was weighed on March 2nd (10 days ago). I am down 14 in a week. And we are 4 days into this "60 day" (really, it's kinda a lifestyle change that's forever) thing. So happy, SO EXCITED to be seeing results and feeling this good. Others have told us they are proud of us and they are happy for us, and they're telling others who are getting inspired. And it's just great, the Lord used others for us to start this journey, and so in turn we are being used to help others. It's just such a great feeling and this is just the beginning of our lives, the way they are SUPPOSED to be. I haven't seen the girl that I feel like I am, inside, looking back at me from the mirror in so long...and I miss her. She's in there. She's just been in a fat suit for awhile, haha. I'm finally mentally ready to take it off. I don't know what I was scared of. I watch Biggest Loser and see people using food to suppress all these dark things. I have never felt like I had that reason. I just liked to eat. I could never stick with anything for very long, I never saw results and I would just quit. The results from this spur me on more and I today found my cravings a lot less than they have been (not gone, but less).
So for those of you that have known me, you know this statement is true: if I can stick with this (that really should be "when", but that isn't how it's usually worded, haha)...ANYONE can do it. I told a few people today, I have all this energy, and I don't know where it's coming from. Processed foods and my obsession with them really have suppressed me into someone I didn't recognize anymore. I'm SO GLAD to be shedding that old self. Long way to go still, but I'm ready.
I am ready.
Day 3
Day three was SUCH a great day!! I got up at 3:30am for my work day, and I was out of bed, energetic, and ready to go right away! I made my breakfast juice, and off to work I went. I was feeling REALLY great.
I decided to try something: juice at home for breakfast, drink water all day long at work, and do my lunch juice when I got home around 2:00pm. I made it until about 12:45-ish before I started getting hungry, so I did pretty good. But I will take a lunch juice with me from now on, that will just make it easier.
So, once at work, I was a working machine! My concentration was drastically improved, and I had energy to spare. My legs were constantly going underneath my desk, keeping time to whatever song I was listening to, to help get out some pent up energy. I drank probably 8 glasses of water (at least) and definitely got my work out going to and from the bathroom all day. It was kinda funny, haha.
Headed home, drank my lunch juice with Andrew, and chilled for a couple of hours. Then I had home group...there was a table full of sweets!!! Pound cake, chocolate chocolate-chip cookies, strawberries and homemade whipped cream, and about four other plates of goodies! I was able to resist pretty darn well, though! I told them how it would've been REALLY tough if there had been pizza, haha (that pizza and cheeseburger craving is actually lessening, but it's still there).
They couldn't have been more supportive and encouraging! One of the girls who has been a huge mentor to me already was saying they had a juicer, too, and wanted to have us over for a juice dinner sometime! I was like, "No one else is ever going to offer to do that, that is so sweet!" The other girls were like, "Yeah, that would be fun, we should do that!!" We are just SO BLESSED, I just CANNOT say it enough, that the Lord brought us to this group of people. I had over 2 hours of raw, emotional sharing with the ladies...and I just always come away praising the Lord for answering that prayer of finding fellowship in our church the way He did. They show me new things about myself and my faith, and I've even been able to help some of them out in small ways: but all the credit goes to the Lord, He brought together a group of women that can help each other in times of need. So thankful!!!!
Then I came home, Andrew and I did a dinner juice and talked and played with Dewey and watched a standup comedy special before bedtime. I am anxious to get home today and see what this energy does for me on the treadmill!!
I did get a bit of a headache driving home from work and from home group yesterday, but felt better pretty quickly after drinking my juice meals. Andrew seemed to feel a bit better in the headache department, but his stomach was pretty upset for most of the day. He worked out, though, and had plenty of energy to do so.
All in all...we're so happy we're doing this. The support from our home group, our coworkers, and our family and friends has been overwhelming! Today has brought about some AWESOME changes (that I will share on the next blog, so stay tuned!!), so we are just so thankful that the Lord put us on this path, it's been exactly what we needed to get our LIVES back. =)
I decided to try something: juice at home for breakfast, drink water all day long at work, and do my lunch juice when I got home around 2:00pm. I made it until about 12:45-ish before I started getting hungry, so I did pretty good. But I will take a lunch juice with me from now on, that will just make it easier.
So, once at work, I was a working machine! My concentration was drastically improved, and I had energy to spare. My legs were constantly going underneath my desk, keeping time to whatever song I was listening to, to help get out some pent up energy. I drank probably 8 glasses of water (at least) and definitely got my work out going to and from the bathroom all day. It was kinda funny, haha.
Headed home, drank my lunch juice with Andrew, and chilled for a couple of hours. Then I had home group...there was a table full of sweets!!! Pound cake, chocolate chocolate-chip cookies, strawberries and homemade whipped cream, and about four other plates of goodies! I was able to resist pretty darn well, though! I told them how it would've been REALLY tough if there had been pizza, haha (that pizza and cheeseburger craving is actually lessening, but it's still there).
They couldn't have been more supportive and encouraging! One of the girls who has been a huge mentor to me already was saying they had a juicer, too, and wanted to have us over for a juice dinner sometime! I was like, "No one else is ever going to offer to do that, that is so sweet!" The other girls were like, "Yeah, that would be fun, we should do that!!" We are just SO BLESSED, I just CANNOT say it enough, that the Lord brought us to this group of people. I had over 2 hours of raw, emotional sharing with the ladies...and I just always come away praising the Lord for answering that prayer of finding fellowship in our church the way He did. They show me new things about myself and my faith, and I've even been able to help some of them out in small ways: but all the credit goes to the Lord, He brought together a group of women that can help each other in times of need. So thankful!!!!
Then I came home, Andrew and I did a dinner juice and talked and played with Dewey and watched a standup comedy special before bedtime. I am anxious to get home today and see what this energy does for me on the treadmill!!
I did get a bit of a headache driving home from work and from home group yesterday, but felt better pretty quickly after drinking my juice meals. Andrew seemed to feel a bit better in the headache department, but his stomach was pretty upset for most of the day. He worked out, though, and had plenty of energy to do so.
All in all...we're so happy we're doing this. The support from our home group, our coworkers, and our family and friends has been overwhelming! Today has brought about some AWESOME changes (that I will share on the next blog, so stay tuned!!), so we are just so thankful that the Lord put us on this path, it's been exactly what we needed to get our LIVES back. =)
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Day 2
Alright, today was MUCH BETTER than yesterday, haha!
Got up early, and we did our morning juice. I tried mine with a bit more kale since Andrew recommended it, and left out the lemon since yesterday it was slightly puckering to drink. Well. Let me tell you: IT WAS GROSS!! I finished almost a whole glass of it, but that's all I could manage. It was NOT the way I liked it from yesterday. Lesson learned.
We went down to the Farmer's Market early and picked up stuff to last us two weeks (for most of the ingredients). We literally packed our refrigerator full from top to bottom with fresh produce. Once we got home, we spent the day at home. We washed a lot of the stuff so it would be ready to go, we got caught up on some TV we needed to get off our DVR (3 Amazing Race episodes, 2 Whitney episodes, House Crashers, Jersey Shore...WOO HOO!). We did our juice lunch, and dinner, and we have both felt pretty good all day. No headaches for me. Andrew's just now getting one as I type this. We both did spend a good amount of time in the bathroom today, too. We skipped church so we could stay close to home.
I feel really, really great. My head is really clear and I found myself bouncing around the house a little bit today. I'm excited to go to work tomorrow and see if this clear head allows me to become even more focused at work.
So, today was even better than yesterday, although we DID see some amazing food pics/commercials on TV, Hulu.com, Facebook, and texts from some people. I seriously want pizza AND a cheeseburger right now, hahaha!
Also had a nice chat with a lady from my office today, who was inspired to do the juicing thing after I sent her the link for it. We talked about going to the Farmer's Market on the weekends together and her neighbors are doing it, too, so we may be all going in on some bulk stuff together if that ends up working out better for some of the ingredients!
So many of you have reached out and been super supportive, we appreciate it so much! This is super hard with the cravings we're going through, even Andrew said his cravings were bad today. The encouraging words help SO MUCH, so thank you to everyone who has been reaching out and telling us they are proud of us. We are pretty proud of us, too, haha!!
Tomorrow is day three, and it's back to work for me. It's also daylight savings time, so I am going to go to bed since I'm losing an hour of sleep tonight. Don't forget to turn your clocks forward, people!
Got up early, and we did our morning juice. I tried mine with a bit more kale since Andrew recommended it, and left out the lemon since yesterday it was slightly puckering to drink. Well. Let me tell you: IT WAS GROSS!! I finished almost a whole glass of it, but that's all I could manage. It was NOT the way I liked it from yesterday. Lesson learned.
We went down to the Farmer's Market early and picked up stuff to last us two weeks (for most of the ingredients). We literally packed our refrigerator full from top to bottom with fresh produce. Once we got home, we spent the day at home. We washed a lot of the stuff so it would be ready to go, we got caught up on some TV we needed to get off our DVR (3 Amazing Race episodes, 2 Whitney episodes, House Crashers, Jersey Shore...WOO HOO!). We did our juice lunch, and dinner, and we have both felt pretty good all day. No headaches for me. Andrew's just now getting one as I type this. We both did spend a good amount of time in the bathroom today, too. We skipped church so we could stay close to home.
I feel really, really great. My head is really clear and I found myself bouncing around the house a little bit today. I'm excited to go to work tomorrow and see if this clear head allows me to become even more focused at work.
So, today was even better than yesterday, although we DID see some amazing food pics/commercials on TV, Hulu.com, Facebook, and texts from some people. I seriously want pizza AND a cheeseburger right now, hahaha!
Also had a nice chat with a lady from my office today, who was inspired to do the juicing thing after I sent her the link for it. We talked about going to the Farmer's Market on the weekends together and her neighbors are doing it, too, so we may be all going in on some bulk stuff together if that ends up working out better for some of the ingredients!
So many of you have reached out and been super supportive, we appreciate it so much! This is super hard with the cravings we're going through, even Andrew said his cravings were bad today. The encouraging words help SO MUCH, so thank you to everyone who has been reaching out and telling us they are proud of us. We are pretty proud of us, too, haha!!
Tomorrow is day three, and it's back to work for me. It's also daylight savings time, so I am going to go to bed since I'm losing an hour of sleep tonight. Don't forget to turn your clocks forward, people!
Day 1
We started juicing! Our Breville juicer is BEAUTIFUL (see Facebook for pics, I haven't been using my camera). It's loud, too, haha. Scared Dewey to death the first few times we used it.
It makes a LOT OF JUICE, too. 30 ounces per person per meal. That's a LOT of juice. Andrew made it according to the recipe first (6 kale, 4 celery, 2 apples, 1 cucumber, 1/2 lemon, thumb-size piece of fresh ginger), and it tasted okay, just SUPER blah. So I amped it up for mine with an extra apple and a bigger piece of ginger. That was SO GOOD! Genuinely enjoyed it. So that's my recipe. Andrew likes it just the way it is, with a touch of extra kale.
Andrew and I got up at 5:30am yesterday (he still had to go to work), and we made our first juice meal. He made enough to take with him for lunch, and off he went. I settled down with my 30 ounces of juice and watched some DVR'ed Craig Ferguson episodes for a few hours. I felt great in the morning. I had worried I would spend a lot of time in the bathroom, but I was pleasantly surprised that I just had an increase in how often I had to pee (easily had to go 6 or 7 times in a few hours).
I made my juice at lunch, thinking "I feel really good, I am going to work out after my lunch!" But it wasn't long after that when I started feeling really funky. Headache, slight nausea, sloshy-feeling stomach. So I just sipped ice water and chilled on our big comfy chair all day, with Dewey randomly checking on me (sidenote, he jumped up on the arm of the chair to smell what I was drinking for lunch, and when I held my cup out to him, he sniffed, and JUMPED BACKWARDS and fell off of the chair. He then sat there all squinty-eyed like, "UGH! WHAT was THAT?!?!?!" So funny!!).
Even though I was fast-forwarding through commercials on the DVR, I still was catching glimpses of food I would never, ever, ever eat: a reuben from Arby's, spicy chorizo pizza from Papa John's...and I was literally salivating, haha. I'm really craving pizza. Pizza and a cheeseburger from Jake's. I know I can resist the temptation, but it is much more of a reaction than I thought it would be, to crave food and not eat something processed and FEEL that affect my body. I can't wait until it passes. It's scary how physical my love of food is. I'd actually been BRAINWASHED, when you think about it. My brain thinks I "need" this food. So. The cravings encourage me to keep going even more so.
Andrew said his day at work was a bit overwhelming. They were short-handed and busy, so they catered in pizza from his favorite place (i Fratelli's). It was their monthly birthday celebration, also, so there were brownies, cheesecakes, cookies, flan, and SO MANY other temptations. I feel SO BAD that he had to sit there and watch everyone eat in front of him. He resisted, though. He was hungry when he smelled the food at lunch, but he drank his juice and he felt fine after that. Several people have been interested in what he's doing and wanted to try his juice, so he let them. They are all very supportive of him, and have been all-too-happy to help him eat the snacks and treats we have been trying to get rid of from our pantry and such. Popcorn is one of Andrew's all-time favorite snacks, and they apparently pop it a LOT at work for snacking, and that is something that is going to be the hardest for him in the coming days.
Physically, he had a slight headache and had a little trouble focusing at times. Other than that, he felt better than he expected to.
I fell asleep around dinner time and was not hungry at all, so I didn't drink a dinner juice. I should have, but I was feeling grumpy and had a headache. Andrew did notice that he was really craving a snack when he got home from work. He also will not be able to eat ice cream on this 60-day fast, which is something that makes him sad, haha. But we both have our unique temptations and cravings that we have to deal with, and at the moment it's a struggle.
Day one, though...went a lot better than I thought it would. And between juice and water, yesterday, I was NOT hungry. And no unpleasant bathroom trips (thank you, Lord!). So I consider it a great success!! Very happy so far.
It makes a LOT OF JUICE, too. 30 ounces per person per meal. That's a LOT of juice. Andrew made it according to the recipe first (6 kale, 4 celery, 2 apples, 1 cucumber, 1/2 lemon, thumb-size piece of fresh ginger), and it tasted okay, just SUPER blah. So I amped it up for mine with an extra apple and a bigger piece of ginger. That was SO GOOD! Genuinely enjoyed it. So that's my recipe. Andrew likes it just the way it is, with a touch of extra kale.
Andrew and I got up at 5:30am yesterday (he still had to go to work), and we made our first juice meal. He made enough to take with him for lunch, and off he went. I settled down with my 30 ounces of juice and watched some DVR'ed Craig Ferguson episodes for a few hours. I felt great in the morning. I had worried I would spend a lot of time in the bathroom, but I was pleasantly surprised that I just had an increase in how often I had to pee (easily had to go 6 or 7 times in a few hours).
I made my juice at lunch, thinking "I feel really good, I am going to work out after my lunch!" But it wasn't long after that when I started feeling really funky. Headache, slight nausea, sloshy-feeling stomach. So I just sipped ice water and chilled on our big comfy chair all day, with Dewey randomly checking on me (sidenote, he jumped up on the arm of the chair to smell what I was drinking for lunch, and when I held my cup out to him, he sniffed, and JUMPED BACKWARDS and fell off of the chair. He then sat there all squinty-eyed like, "UGH! WHAT was THAT?!?!?!" So funny!!).
Even though I was fast-forwarding through commercials on the DVR, I still was catching glimpses of food I would never, ever, ever eat: a reuben from Arby's, spicy chorizo pizza from Papa John's...and I was literally salivating, haha. I'm really craving pizza. Pizza and a cheeseburger from Jake's. I know I can resist the temptation, but it is much more of a reaction than I thought it would be, to crave food and not eat something processed and FEEL that affect my body. I can't wait until it passes. It's scary how physical my love of food is. I'd actually been BRAINWASHED, when you think about it. My brain thinks I "need" this food. So. The cravings encourage me to keep going even more so.
Andrew said his day at work was a bit overwhelming. They were short-handed and busy, so they catered in pizza from his favorite place (i Fratelli's). It was their monthly birthday celebration, also, so there were brownies, cheesecakes, cookies, flan, and SO MANY other temptations. I feel SO BAD that he had to sit there and watch everyone eat in front of him. He resisted, though. He was hungry when he smelled the food at lunch, but he drank his juice and he felt fine after that. Several people have been interested in what he's doing and wanted to try his juice, so he let them. They are all very supportive of him, and have been all-too-happy to help him eat the snacks and treats we have been trying to get rid of from our pantry and such. Popcorn is one of Andrew's all-time favorite snacks, and they apparently pop it a LOT at work for snacking, and that is something that is going to be the hardest for him in the coming days.
Physically, he had a slight headache and had a little trouble focusing at times. Other than that, he felt better than he expected to.
I fell asleep around dinner time and was not hungry at all, so I didn't drink a dinner juice. I should have, but I was feeling grumpy and had a headache. Andrew did notice that he was really craving a snack when he got home from work. He also will not be able to eat ice cream on this 60-day fast, which is something that makes him sad, haha. But we both have our unique temptations and cravings that we have to deal with, and at the moment it's a struggle.
Day one, though...went a lot better than I thought it would. And between juice and water, yesterday, I was NOT hungry. And no unpleasant bathroom trips (thank you, Lord!). So I consider it a great success!! Very happy so far.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
"If you take that first step into the unknown, He won't let you go..."
My name is Jamie, and I'm a food addict. This probably isn't a surprise to a lot of you: you've seen me, you've been out to eat with me, you see all the yummy things I post on Facebook about food. I love good food, I always have. And for many years, there, I'd finally settled into a decently curvy figure that I was HAPPY with. Then not long after meeting Andrew, I started to gain weight. I blamed the birth control and the fact that I was happy. Then it got much worse, and I finally asked my doctor after realizing I was about 80 pounds higher than I was when I met Andrew. As you all know, I was told I had PCOS, and that was the root of the dramatic weight gain. But the PCOS wouldn't really go away unless I started losing weight and taking medicine for it. The only problem was: the medicine I need to treat it makes me SUPER hungry or I get SUPER nauseous and sick. I've lost 5 pounds doing absolutely no dieting or working out, but that is over a few months time.
I've been praying about it. A lot. And we decided to get a treadmill, and now there's a cute little TV attached to the wall so I can get through my workouts without feeling like they are taking QUITE so long.
But that didn't seem like enough. I've "dieted" before, but I wanted to do something more serious and permanent.
The Lord heard, and He answered my prayers for help through a friend of Andrew's in Indianapolis. I was browsing through Facebook after working out last week, and I came across a picture of him, with his little blurb about how he'd lost 40 pounds in 38 days and had energy and felt great and all this good stuff. My first thought was "fad diet." Then I read on to see that he had done "juicing" for that whole time. He also provided a link to a documentary he'd watched. I watched the trailer for it, and was interested to do some research. So I spent the rest of the time until Andrew got home looking up story after story after story, and looking up what different juicers had to offer.
When Andrew got home, we sat together and watched "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead". A man named Joe in Australia came to America and fasted for 60 days total, drinking only vegetable and fruit juices (freshly made with his Breville juicer) at meal times. He inspired others to do it, including a 429 pound man (who ended up losing 202 pounds in less than a year and got his life back). Doctors monitored them as they went through this, and were stunned by the medical conditions that this change helped to cure. Nutritionists were interviewed.
It seems like a no-brainer, right? Fruits + veggies = GOOD FOR YOU!! Fast food + processed foods = BAD FOR YOU!!
I knew that. But this documentary just made something click. Andrew and I both immediately wanted to do this. We have ordered a really nice juicer, and we went down to the Farmer's Market this weekend to find a wholesale vendor who can sell us organic products cheaper than we can buy the "cheap" (and less nutritious) grocery store stuff.
I realized also this week, that I have been a food addict. I drive home, I crave something, I stop and get that something. Andrew and I eat out many, many times in a month because it's just easier. When we do cook at home, often times it's a Hamburger Helper pasta dish because of how easy it is.
I crave certain foods big time, and I do satisfy those cravings with horrible-for-me foods. And I've been dragging Andrew down with me. =(
The Lord has shown me what I'm supposed to do, though. It's going to be SO DIFFICULT, it's basically quitting cold turkey. From what the documentary showed, it will be 2-4 days of feeling icky, as your body releases all of the toxins you have, from the processed foods you've been eating, into your bloodstream. It's basically cleansing your body (which also means a few days of staying close to home, haha). But after those first days, EVERY SINGLE STORY I read just kept talking about the energy they had, that they had no idea where it came from! And the weight loss was an average of about a pound a day for most people, sometimes more. And while that is great, and losing weight faster definitely allows me to stand a better chance of getting pregnant faster (very important to us after a year and a half of not being able to get pregnant)...I am so excited about the healthier lifestyle part.
The Lord is turning my heart to finally, truly want to take part in getting my life back. I've always "wanted" to do something, but never had the drive or the will to stick with it. This time feels different, and it's amazing that Andrew is ready to do the same drastic change as me.
We want to do this like in the documentary: for at least 30 days. If we are able to make it 60, then that would be great! Even after we're "done" fasting, our diet will be considerably different afterwards. We plan to eliminate as much of the processed foods from our diet as we possibly can, eating mostly fruits, vegetable, and protein when we go back to food. We will probably incorporate juicing as meals, like for breakfast, at times. We will allow ourself two "treats" per month; and every other or every two months, we will do another week or two of straight juicing again. Just to keep us on that right track, to keep our body continually getting nutritious food and seriously cut down and mostly eliminate all of that unhealthy stuff.
So as soon as the juicer arrives, our new life begins! My top New Year's resolution is to get my LIFE back physically, and this is how it's going to happen. I'm so excited, Andrew's so excited! I will probably periodically blog about the journey to share with you all what is going on with it.
This song is called "Walk On the Water" by Britt Nicole. I heard it a few years back on an episode of Biggest Loser, and it's been a song I've loved ever since. And it came to mind today as I started this blog post, so I thought I'd share it with you guys...
"You look around, staring back at you
Another wave of doubt, will it pull you under? You wonder
What if I'm overtaken? What if I never make it?
What if no one's there? Will You hear my prayer?
When you take that first step into the unknown
You know that He won't let you go
So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities, they try to hold to you
But you know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water, too
So get out, and let your fear fall to the ground
No time to waste, don't wait, and don't you turn around and miss out
Everything you were made for, I know you're not sure
So you play it safe, you try to run away
If you take that first step into the unknown
He won't let you go
So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities, they try to hold to you
But you know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water, too
Step out, even when it's storming
Step out, even when you're broken
Step out, even when your heart is telling you
Telling you to give up
Step out, when your hope is stolen
Step out, you can't see where you're going
You don't have to be afraid
So what are you waiting, what are you waiting for?
So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to hold to you
You know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water
Walk on the water, too"
I've been praying about it. A lot. And we decided to get a treadmill, and now there's a cute little TV attached to the wall so I can get through my workouts without feeling like they are taking QUITE so long.
But that didn't seem like enough. I've "dieted" before, but I wanted to do something more serious and permanent.
The Lord heard, and He answered my prayers for help through a friend of Andrew's in Indianapolis. I was browsing through Facebook after working out last week, and I came across a picture of him, with his little blurb about how he'd lost 40 pounds in 38 days and had energy and felt great and all this good stuff. My first thought was "fad diet." Then I read on to see that he had done "juicing" for that whole time. He also provided a link to a documentary he'd watched. I watched the trailer for it, and was interested to do some research. So I spent the rest of the time until Andrew got home looking up story after story after story, and looking up what different juicers had to offer.
When Andrew got home, we sat together and watched "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead". A man named Joe in Australia came to America and fasted for 60 days total, drinking only vegetable and fruit juices (freshly made with his Breville juicer) at meal times. He inspired others to do it, including a 429 pound man (who ended up losing 202 pounds in less than a year and got his life back). Doctors monitored them as they went through this, and were stunned by the medical conditions that this change helped to cure. Nutritionists were interviewed.
It seems like a no-brainer, right? Fruits + veggies = GOOD FOR YOU!! Fast food + processed foods = BAD FOR YOU!!
I knew that. But this documentary just made something click. Andrew and I both immediately wanted to do this. We have ordered a really nice juicer, and we went down to the Farmer's Market this weekend to find a wholesale vendor who can sell us organic products cheaper than we can buy the "cheap" (and less nutritious) grocery store stuff.
I realized also this week, that I have been a food addict. I drive home, I crave something, I stop and get that something. Andrew and I eat out many, many times in a month because it's just easier. When we do cook at home, often times it's a Hamburger Helper pasta dish because of how easy it is.
I crave certain foods big time, and I do satisfy those cravings with horrible-for-me foods. And I've been dragging Andrew down with me. =(
The Lord has shown me what I'm supposed to do, though. It's going to be SO DIFFICULT, it's basically quitting cold turkey. From what the documentary showed, it will be 2-4 days of feeling icky, as your body releases all of the toxins you have, from the processed foods you've been eating, into your bloodstream. It's basically cleansing your body (which also means a few days of staying close to home, haha). But after those first days, EVERY SINGLE STORY I read just kept talking about the energy they had, that they had no idea where it came from! And the weight loss was an average of about a pound a day for most people, sometimes more. And while that is great, and losing weight faster definitely allows me to stand a better chance of getting pregnant faster (very important to us after a year and a half of not being able to get pregnant)...I am so excited about the healthier lifestyle part.
The Lord is turning my heart to finally, truly want to take part in getting my life back. I've always "wanted" to do something, but never had the drive or the will to stick with it. This time feels different, and it's amazing that Andrew is ready to do the same drastic change as me.
We want to do this like in the documentary: for at least 30 days. If we are able to make it 60, then that would be great! Even after we're "done" fasting, our diet will be considerably different afterwards. We plan to eliminate as much of the processed foods from our diet as we possibly can, eating mostly fruits, vegetable, and protein when we go back to food. We will probably incorporate juicing as meals, like for breakfast, at times. We will allow ourself two "treats" per month; and every other or every two months, we will do another week or two of straight juicing again. Just to keep us on that right track, to keep our body continually getting nutritious food and seriously cut down and mostly eliminate all of that unhealthy stuff.
So as soon as the juicer arrives, our new life begins! My top New Year's resolution is to get my LIFE back physically, and this is how it's going to happen. I'm so excited, Andrew's so excited! I will probably periodically blog about the journey to share with you all what is going on with it.
This song is called "Walk On the Water" by Britt Nicole. I heard it a few years back on an episode of Biggest Loser, and it's been a song I've loved ever since. And it came to mind today as I started this blog post, so I thought I'd share it with you guys...
"You look around, staring back at you
Another wave of doubt, will it pull you under? You wonder
What if I'm overtaken? What if I never make it?
What if no one's there? Will You hear my prayer?
When you take that first step into the unknown
You know that He won't let you go
So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities, they try to hold to you
But you know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water, too
So get out, and let your fear fall to the ground
No time to waste, don't wait, and don't you turn around and miss out
Everything you were made for, I know you're not sure
So you play it safe, you try to run away
If you take that first step into the unknown
He won't let you go
So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities, they try to hold to you
But you know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water, too
Step out, even when it's storming
Step out, even when you're broken
Step out, even when your heart is telling you
Telling you to give up
Step out, when your hope is stolen
Step out, you can't see where you're going
You don't have to be afraid
So what are you waiting, what are you waiting for?
So what are you waiting for? What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to hold to you
You know you're made for more, so don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all it takes, and you can walk on the water
Walk on the water, too"
Lent: Week 2
One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner." And Jesus answering said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he answered, "Say it, Teacher."
"A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
**Luke 7:36-50
I'm a week behind on this, haha. It's been a busy week.
So this week we were supposed to be fasting from television and movies. We DID fast from movies, no problem. TV was a LOT harder. We didn't really follow that this week, sadly. BUT!! We DID have more discussions about the Psalm we are memorizing, and we definitely had more gospel-centered dialogues. And there were several days where we waited a bit to turn on the TV in the evenings.
This next week (starting today) is no social media/Internet: which means no Facebook! I already know I'm going to struggle massively with this, so please pray for us. We have to use the Internet for our jobs, but hopefully that will be really the only thing we do with it. No online shopping, no reading the news, etc.
At the end of this next week, Andrew and I will be embarking on a huge lifestyle change, and it will be helpful to talk about it on the blog and on Facebook, so I'm hoping the Lord understands on those days, haha. I will be doing another blog post at some point today about it, so stay tuned...
"A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?" Simon answered, "The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt." And he said to him, "You have judged rightly." Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven--for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little." And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?" And he said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
**Luke 7:36-50
I'm a week behind on this, haha. It's been a busy week.
So this week we were supposed to be fasting from television and movies. We DID fast from movies, no problem. TV was a LOT harder. We didn't really follow that this week, sadly. BUT!! We DID have more discussions about the Psalm we are memorizing, and we definitely had more gospel-centered dialogues. And there were several days where we waited a bit to turn on the TV in the evenings.
This next week (starting today) is no social media/Internet: which means no Facebook! I already know I'm going to struggle massively with this, so please pray for us. We have to use the Internet for our jobs, but hopefully that will be really the only thing we do with it. No online shopping, no reading the news, etc.
At the end of this next week, Andrew and I will be embarking on a huge lifestyle change, and it will be helpful to talk about it on the blog and on Facebook, so I'm hoping the Lord understands on those days, haha. I will be doing another blog post at some point today about it, so stay tuned...
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