Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5: 21-24
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
No cheese for me today! Not after yesterday's episode, anyway. I still have a bit of a stomache ache, so kept my breakfast to something easily digestible -- a couple scrambled eggs and some peach slices.
At our meeting, Dr. Ford explained that it was the milk solids in the soft cheese that upset my system, and recommended that I go more slowly with the cheese in the future, limiting myself to the parmesan, extra-sharp cheddar, and romano varieties.
Good advice.
Funny thing is, I'm really not much of a cheese eater anyway. A good salad doesn't need it to be complete. Scrambled eggs are fine without it. Steamed veggies are delicious on their own.
However, it's a key ingredient in a grilled cheese sandwich. But guess what? I can't eat that. It's a requirement for pizza...but I can't eat that either. It's necessary to use in macaroni and cheese too... but no mac and cheese for me.
And now I'm a bit more hesitant about adding new foods in. Will I have another reaction? Another disappointment? I surely don't want to undo all my hard work so far. I don't want to take any more backward steps. I only want to move forward, learn from my lessons, and learn what I can and cannot eat. For the time being, or for the rest of my life.
Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5: 13-14
After an intense morning conducting out-of-town interviews for some pending writing projects, I ran home for a late lunch. Three slices of bacon and an apricot-peach smoothie filled my noontime nutritional requirements.
I felt better by dinnertime, and enjoyed a tasty meal of chopped steak and caramelized red onions, served with fresh green beans which had been cooked down with bacon and onion.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Day 42 - Going for the Gold
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Galatians 5: 22-24
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
It was another day to try another new food. This time I was going for the gold -- cheesy gold, that is. I was meeting a friend for lunch at a local eatery, famous for cheese-laden dishes. I'd already pored over the menu online, so I knew what I could and could not have.
Breakfast was a fried egg, a couple crisp bacon slices, and half a fresh plum.
But lunch was another meal -- another adventure -- altogether. I figured the safest bet for me was a diner classic, the bacon cheeseburger -- no bun, no tomatoes, no pickles. I could have the red onion slices and lettuce. And I ordered a side salad with oil and vinegar to mix my own dressing.
I was immediately faced with a dilemma. No hard cheeses available. No extra-sharp cheddar. Not even sharp cheddar. Just a jack blend. But what's an adventure for? I went ahead and ordered, took my pulse, and set in to sample the delicious-looking bistro fare.
My pulse was fine, so I rested easy for the remainder of the afternoon. I was not allergic to cheese, and I was feeling victorious.
So Moses went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold." Exodus 32: 31
That sense of victory was hard-fought but easily lost after all. I may not have had an allergic reaction, but I did have a digestive one. So my pleasure faded into abdominal discomfort for the remainder of the afternoon.
I now understood Dr. Ford's caution about HARD cheese versus SOFT cheese. Yes, I understood full well, the wisdom of his words.
It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold. "Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air. Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.' God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. Job 28: 15-24
My appetite was a bit off, but I still enjoyed a delicious dinner of leftover chicken breast with a sprinkling of cheese, atop a salad of lettuce, green onions, avocado, chopped plum, snow peas, bacon and celery. If you've been reading along, then you know the dressing by now -- olive oil and red wine vinegar.
Su
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
It was another day to try another new food. This time I was going for the gold -- cheesy gold, that is. I was meeting a friend for lunch at a local eatery, famous for cheese-laden dishes. I'd already pored over the menu online, so I knew what I could and could not have.
Breakfast was a fried egg, a couple crisp bacon slices, and half a fresh plum.
But lunch was another meal -- another adventure -- altogether. I figured the safest bet for me was a diner classic, the bacon cheeseburger -- no bun, no tomatoes, no pickles. I could have the red onion slices and lettuce. And I ordered a side salad with oil and vinegar to mix my own dressing.
I was immediately faced with a dilemma. No hard cheeses available. No extra-sharp cheddar. Not even sharp cheddar. Just a jack blend. But what's an adventure for? I went ahead and ordered, took my pulse, and set in to sample the delicious-looking bistro fare.
My pulse was fine, so I rested easy for the remainder of the afternoon. I was not allergic to cheese, and I was feeling victorious.
So Moses went back to the LORD and said, "Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold." Exodus 32: 31
That sense of victory was hard-fought but easily lost after all. I may not have had an allergic reaction, but I did have a digestive one. So my pleasure faded into abdominal discomfort for the remainder of the afternoon.
I now understood Dr. Ford's caution about HARD cheese versus SOFT cheese. Yes, I understood full well, the wisdom of his words.
It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir, with precious onyx or sapphires. Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it, nor can it be had for jewels of gold. Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention; the price of wisdom is beyond rubies. The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it; it cannot be bought with pure gold. "Where then does wisdom come from? Where does understanding dwell? It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing, concealed even from the birds of the air. Destruction and Death say, 'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.' God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. Job 28: 15-24
My appetite was a bit off, but I still enjoyed a delicious dinner of leftover chicken breast with a sprinkling of cheese, atop a salad of lettuce, green onions, avocado, chopped plum, snow peas, bacon and celery. If you've been reading along, then you know the dressing by now -- olive oil and red wine vinegar.
Su
Day 41 - Say CHEESE! Please?
He asked for water, and she gave him milk; in a bowl fit for nobles she brought him curdled milk. Judges 5: 25
Monday, April 18, 2011
Eggs are in. Cheese was hopefully next. I needed to check with Dr. Ford at our appointment today though, so my breakfast is bacon and eggs.
I've finished the probiotics now, but Dr. Ford suggests I take a round of them once or twice a year to keep my digestive system functional. This has been part of the problem -- an impaired digestive system has kept my body from properly absorbing and utilizing the handful of vitamins and minerals I'd been swallowing each morning. It didn't matter how many I took, my body didn't process them, so they were doing me no good at all.
My immune system is still touchy, but the leg cramps continue to lessen. So the magnesium I've been taking for a while is being properly absorbed, now that my digestive system is healing.
Vitamins B12 and D should increase my energy level, so Dr. Ford has ordered those for me to start on next week.
After the vitamin therapy, he will begin the process of fixing my adrenal glands. But they're working quite a bit better than they were at the first, a great improvement within a little over a month's time. This will probably lead to further healing, including alleviation of long-term hormonal issues. "Most of the time they'll take care of themselves," Dr. Ford advised. That's terrific news for me. I hate taking pills, I hate the thought of adding unnecessary chemicals to my system.
He also shared that the healing is progressing well, that my body is doing what it's supposed to do, and will continue to improve, even a year from now. What a relief! But he stressed the importance of maintaining my health for the long term, truly accepting it as a new lifestyle.
I wonder, though. Will that lifestyle ever again include CHOCOLATE?
A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil. Proverbs 13: 19
OK, back to the cheese question. Yes, Dr. Ford gave his permission for me to try hard cheese -- parmesan, romano, or extra-sharp cheddar. Again, I have to do the pulse test to check for a reaction within a two-hour window.
Lunch was leftovers from last night, but for dinner I tiptoed into the cheese world, with a sprinkling of grated extra-sharp cheddar over some baked chicken breast, sided with steamed vegetables and a salad.
In spite of the fear of dashed hopes, all was good. My pulse rate was stable. Cheese passed the test.
Now, for the real test. Lunch tomorrow at a restaurant famous for the cheesy goodness of its menu options.
Su
Monday, April 18, 2011
Eggs are in. Cheese was hopefully next. I needed to check with Dr. Ford at our appointment today though, so my breakfast is bacon and eggs.
I've finished the probiotics now, but Dr. Ford suggests I take a round of them once or twice a year to keep my digestive system functional. This has been part of the problem -- an impaired digestive system has kept my body from properly absorbing and utilizing the handful of vitamins and minerals I'd been swallowing each morning. It didn't matter how many I took, my body didn't process them, so they were doing me no good at all.
My immune system is still touchy, but the leg cramps continue to lessen. So the magnesium I've been taking for a while is being properly absorbed, now that my digestive system is healing.
Vitamins B12 and D should increase my energy level, so Dr. Ford has ordered those for me to start on next week.
After the vitamin therapy, he will begin the process of fixing my adrenal glands. But they're working quite a bit better than they were at the first, a great improvement within a little over a month's time. This will probably lead to further healing, including alleviation of long-term hormonal issues. "Most of the time they'll take care of themselves," Dr. Ford advised. That's terrific news for me. I hate taking pills, I hate the thought of adding unnecessary chemicals to my system.
He also shared that the healing is progressing well, that my body is doing what it's supposed to do, and will continue to improve, even a year from now. What a relief! But he stressed the importance of maintaining my health for the long term, truly accepting it as a new lifestyle.
I wonder, though. Will that lifestyle ever again include CHOCOLATE?
A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil. Proverbs 13: 19
OK, back to the cheese question. Yes, Dr. Ford gave his permission for me to try hard cheese -- parmesan, romano, or extra-sharp cheddar. Again, I have to do the pulse test to check for a reaction within a two-hour window.
Lunch was leftovers from last night, but for dinner I tiptoed into the cheese world, with a sprinkling of grated extra-sharp cheddar over some baked chicken breast, sided with steamed vegetables and a salad.
In spite of the fear of dashed hopes, all was good. My pulse rate was stable. Cheese passed the test.
Now, for the real test. Lunch tomorrow at a restaurant famous for the cheesy goodness of its menu options.
Su
Day 40 - ZIPPETY-DOO-DAH!
This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118: 24
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Had a simple and quick breakfast of peach slices and a hard boiled egg -- yeah, eggs! -- before going to church. And when I came home I was inspired to try on some of the dresses hanging in my closet.
Some of these were purchased during my "make-over" period with the Greatest Loser, when we literally shed our old clothes and put on something new, something pretty, a tangible reminder of how far we'd already come. Some were purchased as incentives. None had ever been worn.
ZIPPETY-DOO-DAH! They zipped up! They fit! They looked good! And I felt great!
My body has definitely been changing. Though the pounds are still there, the inches are melting away. I am encouraged to continue on this journey, encouraged by visible results, and determined to make permanent lifestyle changes that will maintain my health and well being once the internal healing is accomplished.
I realize that I may have regained the weight once lost, but the experience of the Greatest Loser increased my confidence in setting and meeting goals. It enforced a self discipline that I now need. It put me on a track that ultimately led to this part of the journey. And it gave me a taste of what I could look like and how I could feel, how much I could accomplish with a defined plan, where I could ultimately end up in a life of health and happiness.
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. James 5: 13
It was truly a Sabbath day, a joyful day. I thanked God for His blessings, His continued healing, His hand upon my life in so many ways. It was a day of rest and relaxation, watching movies and taking a much-needed breather from the work week. No shopping, no chores, just an easy day at home.
I had scrambled eggs with bacon and a side salad for lunch. Dinner was stir-fried steak strips with lime juice, celery and onions, accompanied by a pot of fresh green beans cooked down with bacon and onions.
Tomorrow I see Dr. Ford again. I have proven that my system can handle eggs, and now I can choose the next ingredient in my still-limited diet.
What shall it be? I wonder...shall it be tomatoes? Brown rice? Maybe some cheese? Ah, yes. Cheese. That's what I'll choose next.
They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert." 2 Samuel 17: 28-29
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Had a simple and quick breakfast of peach slices and a hard boiled egg -- yeah, eggs! -- before going to church. And when I came home I was inspired to try on some of the dresses hanging in my closet.
Some of these were purchased during my "make-over" period with the Greatest Loser, when we literally shed our old clothes and put on something new, something pretty, a tangible reminder of how far we'd already come. Some were purchased as incentives. None had ever been worn.
ZIPPETY-DOO-DAH! They zipped up! They fit! They looked good! And I felt great!
My body has definitely been changing. Though the pounds are still there, the inches are melting away. I am encouraged to continue on this journey, encouraged by visible results, and determined to make permanent lifestyle changes that will maintain my health and well being once the internal healing is accomplished.
I realize that I may have regained the weight once lost, but the experience of the Greatest Loser increased my confidence in setting and meeting goals. It enforced a self discipline that I now need. It put me on a track that ultimately led to this part of the journey. And it gave me a taste of what I could look like and how I could feel, how much I could accomplish with a defined plan, where I could ultimately end up in a life of health and happiness.
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. James 5: 13
It was truly a Sabbath day, a joyful day. I thanked God for His blessings, His continued healing, His hand upon my life in so many ways. It was a day of rest and relaxation, watching movies and taking a much-needed breather from the work week. No shopping, no chores, just an easy day at home.
I had scrambled eggs with bacon and a side salad for lunch. Dinner was stir-fried steak strips with lime juice, celery and onions, accompanied by a pot of fresh green beans cooked down with bacon and onions.
Tomorrow I see Dr. Ford again. I have proven that my system can handle eggs, and now I can choose the next ingredient in my still-limited diet.
What shall it be? I wonder...shall it be tomatoes? Brown rice? Maybe some cheese? Ah, yes. Cheese. That's what I'll choose next.
They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils, honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert." 2 Samuel 17: 28-29
Monday, May 2, 2011
Day 39 - Incredible, Edible Eggs!
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Luke 11: 11-13
Saturday, April 16, 2011
It was a new day, a new phase within my 100-Day-Journey. It was a new stepping out.
So far, I have been adhering to the strict discipline of Dr. Ford's monthlong purification diet. So far, I have only had to obey, to follow orders, to do as I was told. So far, the only choice I've had is to follow or not follow, to adhere or break the rules.
But now I was faced with a choice.
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Psalm 34: 8-13
Today was the first day of reintroducing foods. And so I made my choice. And the winner was ... EGGS!
Although I didn't think of it earlier in the day, this was a fitting choice, with eggs representing new life.
"Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." Acts 5: 20
I also want to add cheese and dairy, but decided to wait until I consult with Dr. Ford on Monday. I have a lunch date on Tuesday and it would make meal choices much easier if I could have cheese at this particular restaurant.
In the meantime, I started the day with a leftover chicken breast and a fresh plum, postponing the potential negative reaction to this favorite and long-missed food until lunchtime.
So midday came, and I sat down to test my pulse. Then I dug into a plateful of scrambled eggs with bacon, and a salad on the side. 30 minutes later I took my pulse, and again at 60 and 90 minutes. There was no discernable difference.
It was a victory! I could eat eggs! I passed the test and I could eat eggs! Thank you Lord, I could eat eggs!
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4: 4
Saturday, April 16, 2011
It was a new day, a new phase within my 100-Day-Journey. It was a new stepping out.
So far, I have been adhering to the strict discipline of Dr. Ford's monthlong purification diet. So far, I have only had to obey, to follow orders, to do as I was told. So far, the only choice I've had is to follow or not follow, to adhere or break the rules.
But now I was faced with a choice.
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies. Psalm 34: 8-13
Today was the first day of reintroducing foods. And so I made my choice. And the winner was ... EGGS!
Although I didn't think of it earlier in the day, this was a fitting choice, with eggs representing new life.
"Go, stand in the temple courts," he said, "and tell the people the full message of this new life." Acts 5: 20
I also want to add cheese and dairy, but decided to wait until I consult with Dr. Ford on Monday. I have a lunch date on Tuesday and it would make meal choices much easier if I could have cheese at this particular restaurant.
In the meantime, I started the day with a leftover chicken breast and a fresh plum, postponing the potential negative reaction to this favorite and long-missed food until lunchtime.
So midday came, and I sat down to test my pulse. Then I dug into a plateful of scrambled eggs with bacon, and a salad on the side. 30 minutes later I took my pulse, and again at 60 and 90 minutes. There was no discernable difference.
It was a victory! I could eat eggs! I passed the test and I could eat eggs! Thank you Lord, I could eat eggs!
For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 1 Timothy 4: 4
Day 38 - Back to the Present
So this Sheshbazzar came and laid the foundations of the house of God in Jerusalem. From that day to the present it has been under construction but is not yet finished." Ezra 5: 16
Friday, April 15, 2011
Today is a day to make note of.
It's DAY 30 - the last day - of the initial purification diet. The pruning. The struggle to weed out and wean myself from all irritants to my system. And tomorrow I can start introducing selected foods back into the menu.
Every three or four days I can try another pre-approved item. I'll need to check my pulse before eating, then 30, 60 and 90 minutes after, to gauge if I have a reaction. An elevated pulse rate would be the first sign of an allergic response, so if my heart rate remains about the same through the two hours, I can add it into the menu mix, double checking with the pulse check each time I eat it in the next few days. Just to be on the safe side.
Tomorrow I will try something I have sorely missed. Surprisingly, it's not anything sweet and gooey, nor is it crunchy and crispy. It's not freshly baked or highly caloric. It's high in protein, and self-contained in its solitary shell. I shall celebrate the next stage of my journey by consuming an egg.
Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed. Nahum 1: 15
Two days ago I met with Dr. Ford, and he agreed that it was time to begin an exercise routine. First he explained what had gone wrong with my earlier venture, and I was amazed and enlighted at the same time.
It seems that I was actually harming myself by trying to better myself. My internal systems were overworked already, my metabolism was so impaired, that the extra strain of the intense exercise worked against me. With the proper nutritional training -- which I am now receiving from Dr. Ford -- I should be able to work out as little as 20 minutes a day, three times a week.
Forget my fancy-schmancy exercise bike. Put away my mini trampoline, my aerobic steps, my hand weights. Get rid of the yoga ball and pilates tapes.
Instead, he asked me to trade it all in for one piece of equipment approximately the size of my purse, although a bit heavier.
He introduced me to the kettle bell, a ball-shaped weight with a handle to grip. The exercise is simple. I only need to grasp the bell and swing it upward, pivoting from my hips with my legs spread, knees slightly bent. Besides trying to contain my laughter, the hardest part is the breathing.
It seems I don't know how to breathe. At least not properly. So begins a new phase of healing. But I'll share more about that tomorrow, as it's a topic to address on its own.
"How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe." Daniel 10: 17
In the meantime, Dr. Ford noted that my adrenal glands are still overworked, which may be contributing to my afternoon fatigue. I'm low in minerals, and he compared my sitting blood pressure (118/72) and standing (110/68), so we'll be working on regulating that as well.
I also filled out a new metabolic assessment form, which, when compared to the previous paperwork, was "one of the better ones I've seen in a while," Dr. Ford informed me. Physiologically, things are changing for the better.
That's definitely good news!
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Proverbs 15: 30
Friday, April 15, 2011
Today is a day to make note of.
It's DAY 30 - the last day - of the initial purification diet. The pruning. The struggle to weed out and wean myself from all irritants to my system. And tomorrow I can start introducing selected foods back into the menu.
Every three or four days I can try another pre-approved item. I'll need to check my pulse before eating, then 30, 60 and 90 minutes after, to gauge if I have a reaction. An elevated pulse rate would be the first sign of an allergic response, so if my heart rate remains about the same through the two hours, I can add it into the menu mix, double checking with the pulse check each time I eat it in the next few days. Just to be on the safe side.
Tomorrow I will try something I have sorely missed. Surprisingly, it's not anything sweet and gooey, nor is it crunchy and crispy. It's not freshly baked or highly caloric. It's high in protein, and self-contained in its solitary shell. I shall celebrate the next stage of my journey by consuming an egg.
Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed. Nahum 1: 15
Two days ago I met with Dr. Ford, and he agreed that it was time to begin an exercise routine. First he explained what had gone wrong with my earlier venture, and I was amazed and enlighted at the same time.
It seems that I was actually harming myself by trying to better myself. My internal systems were overworked already, my metabolism was so impaired, that the extra strain of the intense exercise worked against me. With the proper nutritional training -- which I am now receiving from Dr. Ford -- I should be able to work out as little as 20 minutes a day, three times a week.
Forget my fancy-schmancy exercise bike. Put away my mini trampoline, my aerobic steps, my hand weights. Get rid of the yoga ball and pilates tapes.
Instead, he asked me to trade it all in for one piece of equipment approximately the size of my purse, although a bit heavier.
He introduced me to the kettle bell, a ball-shaped weight with a handle to grip. The exercise is simple. I only need to grasp the bell and swing it upward, pivoting from my hips with my legs spread, knees slightly bent. Besides trying to contain my laughter, the hardest part is the breathing.
It seems I don't know how to breathe. At least not properly. So begins a new phase of healing. But I'll share more about that tomorrow, as it's a topic to address on its own.
"How can I, your servant, talk with you, my lord? My strength is gone and I can hardly breathe." Daniel 10: 17
In the meantime, Dr. Ford noted that my adrenal glands are still overworked, which may be contributing to my afternoon fatigue. I'm low in minerals, and he compared my sitting blood pressure (118/72) and standing (110/68), so we'll be working on regulating that as well.
I also filled out a new metabolic assessment form, which, when compared to the previous paperwork, was "one of the better ones I've seen in a while," Dr. Ford informed me. Physiologically, things are changing for the better.
That's definitely good news!
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones. Proverbs 15: 30
Day 37 - An Exercise in Futility
They are disheartened, troubled like the restless sea. Jeremiah 49: 23
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Here I was. After losing weight and winning the prize, I found myself quickly moving backward.
It was disheartening. I had done everything right. I had dieted and exercised. I had set goals, and followed through. I had exceeded my own expectations.
And I had given up.
The next couple years brought me back to the weight I was when I started the Greatest Loser program. I was still in better muscular health, and a smaller size, so not all was lost.
Unknowingly, though, God was preparing me for this new venture, this Journey of 100 Days. This healing.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14: 1-4
I shut down on the exercise, rationalizing that my body would react better at a later date if it had this chance to become unaccustomed to the routine. I tried to eat properly, and continued to take my vast array of vitamins and minerals. Everything everyone had recommended along the way, I swallowed it all. I kept my fancy home exercise equipment, for when I would need it again.
And I got worse and worse.
The symptoms started to emerge. Things like internal shakiness. Brain fog. Gastrointestinal upsets. Depression. Just not feeling right.
I sensed something was seriously wrong.
Woe to me because of my injury! My wound is incurable! Yet I said to myself, "This is my sickness, and I must endure it." Jeremiah 10:19
What was especially frustrating was knowing in my heart of hearts that God had work for me to do, and in my current condition, I was crippled. My health was impaired, and my future was paralyzed.
I continued in this stagnant condition, holding my head up and ignoring the alarm bells, for two years. Until I heard about Dr. Ford. Until God spoke to my heart and said, "I will heal you. I will make you well."
I needed that. I needed God to complete what He had started. I had proven that I could not do it alone. But if He wanted me healed, if He wanted to provide that for me, who am I to deny my Lord?
So began my 100-Day Journey to health and healing. So began this blog.
Su
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Here I was. After losing weight and winning the prize, I found myself quickly moving backward.
It was disheartening. I had done everything right. I had dieted and exercised. I had set goals, and followed through. I had exceeded my own expectations.
And I had given up.
The next couple years brought me back to the weight I was when I started the Greatest Loser program. I was still in better muscular health, and a smaller size, so not all was lost.
Unknowingly, though, God was preparing me for this new venture, this Journey of 100 Days. This healing.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." John 14: 1-4
I shut down on the exercise, rationalizing that my body would react better at a later date if it had this chance to become unaccustomed to the routine. I tried to eat properly, and continued to take my vast array of vitamins and minerals. Everything everyone had recommended along the way, I swallowed it all. I kept my fancy home exercise equipment, for when I would need it again.
And I got worse and worse.
The symptoms started to emerge. Things like internal shakiness. Brain fog. Gastrointestinal upsets. Depression. Just not feeling right.
I sensed something was seriously wrong.
Woe to me because of my injury! My wound is incurable! Yet I said to myself, "This is my sickness, and I must endure it." Jeremiah 10:19
What was especially frustrating was knowing in my heart of hearts that God had work for me to do, and in my current condition, I was crippled. My health was impaired, and my future was paralyzed.
I continued in this stagnant condition, holding my head up and ignoring the alarm bells, for two years. Until I heard about Dr. Ford. Until God spoke to my heart and said, "I will heal you. I will make you well."
I needed that. I needed God to complete what He had started. I had proven that I could not do it alone. But if He wanted me healed, if He wanted to provide that for me, who am I to deny my Lord?
So began my 100-Day Journey to health and healing. So began this blog.
Su
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)