Yesterday

Yesterday was a delightful one! 

 Since I don't have food on my mind 24/7

 (thanks to the 5 hour "window" concept), 

I am finding so much more to think about, 

so many more people to enjoy,

 and so much more to do that FILL my days with delight

and spill over into TODAY!  

It's ALL good.

He Said it So Well

“Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?  Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute?  Never!  Or do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her?  For, as it is written, ‘The two will become one flesh.’  But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.  Flee from sexual immorality.” I Corinthians 6:15-18.

"Your body matters.  Your body belongs to Christ.  Not to you, to follow your impulses, but to Christ, to exalt His glory.  Not just your soul, but also your body.  It is the humblest part of you, but Christ says it matters to Him.

Epictetus taught that the mind and soul of man had divinity, but man’s body was something in common with the animals below.  Paul taught that both soul and body belong to Christ above.  He is present as our Lord and Savior in the whole of what we are, including our sexuality."

...so wrote Ray Ortlund in a recent post.   I found the last paragraph especially interesting.  I, along with many other Christians, would not dispute its truth.  If we "stumble" at it, I think it's because we limit its implications to sexuality.

There certainly are other ways to abuse one's body.  For me, one area was in overeating, eating food  that had no nutritional value, and eating food that was downright harmful to my body and its various systems!  

Clearly there are distinctive and unique physical ramifications of sexual immorality or else God wouldn't have been so specific about it.  But the principle of our bodies belonging to Jesus applies to my food choices and eating habits  (and many OTHER issues related to my physical body). 

He (Ray Ortlund) said it SO well.  

"(My) body belongs to Christ.  

Not to (me), to follow (my) impulses, 

but to Christ,  to exalt His glory."

Starting Today

Finally.  A measurable result!  Just in time, too.  I was beginning to wonder if/when I would ever see a drop on the scales.  I'm glad I didn't give up.  Following the Fast-5 plan has definitely helped me establish control over my eating habits and appetite.

I haven't started a formal exercise program but have "moved" a little more than usual working in the yard, cleaning flower beds and positioning lawn furniture throughout our yard.  I know that I need to continue "moving"--probably more systematically and regularly.

In two weeks, we will be on a vacation that will include some hiking.  I will do the best I can in the time I have to be prepared.  Starting today.

My Current State

Yoda said, "There is only do or do not, there is no try".

(You need to read Myra's WHOLE post in which she quoted Yoda...

it's a good one!) 

Her thoughts stimulated this comment from me:

"I HAVE been "DO-ing" since February 6.

 I'm determined not to give up 

 though the immediate result (weight loss) is not being realized as fast as I want.

 DO-ing is its own reward. The result is on its way!"

That pretty well sums up My Current State.

Clearing the Debris

 Exercise yesterday involved clearing away winter debris.

It felt good to work in the sunshine.

The experience reminded me of the beauty 

that lies hidden 

under the weight of bad habits,

discouragement,

and procrastination...

With God's help and by His grace,

I'm chipping away at the debris.

Decisions, Decisions!

 Enjoyed THIS^

not THIS^

while looking out at THIS^.
I REALLY like salmon.
I have never fixed a salmon fillet at home.
If it's on the menu when I eat out, I almost ALWAYS order it.

Self-Talk

It's a good thing I go back to read my own posts!

I see that yesterday I ENDED my writing by saying,

"I am so lazy."

WhatEVER was I thinking?

Did you ever hear of (or remember when) teachers used to have students

write out a sentence 100 times on a sheet of paper

or on the blackboard?

I need to correct my "self-talk", and maybe that's the way to do it!

Do you have any other suggestions for changing negative self-talk?

I am active and energetic!

I am active and energetic!

I am active and energetic!

I am....

One Thing Left to Do

That "coming week" I posted about in my last post?  

Well, it'll be ended on Tuesday...

and I've still not seen the significant drop in weight that I anticipated.  

I've taken a close look at my caloric intake and really don't want to go much lower.

That leaves only ONE thing for me to do. 
(And it's not to go thrift store shopping!  I did that yesterday.

I am SO lazy.

1 Month Update

After window shopping in a quaint town nearby, a friend and I ate a buffet luncheon in a corner of a large bulk food store. I had greens & veggies from the salad bar with a little poppy seed dressing, a chicken breast (didn't eat the battered skin), and a small piece of apple pie. 

I ate WHAT I wanted and ALL that I wanted.  I like the 19-5 Intermittent Fast plan of eating.  The 5 hour "window" in which I eat allows me a little flexibility.  The "open/closed window" concept  give me the inner strength to resist temptation outside the window somehow.  I can't really explain its psychological value.  Maybe SOMEday I will be able to verbalize it.

Meanwhile, I haven't lost a pound the last week or so. I'm expecting to see a significant loss in the coming week.  I have no intention of changing my current habit.

Baked Oatmeal

My brother and sister-in-law arrived last night for an overnight visit before going on to see our parents this morning. We sipped tea (see previous post's comments) as we chatted. I selected chamomile. I slept well.

Yesterday I prepared some baked oatmeal to serve with raisins and almonds for breakfast this morning. I LOVE baked oatmeal. However, our breakfast hour does not fall into my "window", and I think I need to wait until later to "open" the window.

That's the nice thing about this style of eating. I WILL have my baked oatmeal. Just not when everyone else does. I can live with that!

Eating before Bedtime

Determined not to eat last night, I finally went to bed early. It was the only way I could master the urge. Unfortunately, that meant I'm awake at 2:30 a.m. and unable to go back to sleep... I'm open to suggestions about managing before-bedtime-eating.