Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food." Genesis 1:29

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Conquer Cravings? Redirect them to God.

I have started going over the book "Made To Crave" by Lysa Terkeurst for the women's Bible study at my church.  This past week was our first study and it was great!  Even though each one of us may be on completely different paths in regards to our food journeys, losing weight and getting healthier - it is so comforting and reassuring knowing that we all have the same connection through Christ and can be there for each other no matter where we are at personally. 
This week we discussed the introduction and chapters 1 and 2.  I love how Lysa writes about our "want to" in her introduction:  "It's not the 'how to' I'm missing.  It's the 'want to' ...really wanting to make changes and deciding that the results of those changes are worth the sacrifice."  I struggle with this all the time.  I do feel like I know what I should do, what I need to do, but I just am lacking the biggest part - the 'want to'.  And really I do 'want to', but is the 'want to' a deep enough 'want to', if that makes sense.  A lot of people have things that they 'want to' do, but is it enough of a priority to actually do something about it.  I know I'm on my path of changing my 'want to' to a 'I'm doing it - now!'
Made To Crave is an amazing book that really challenges you to put God into your food struggles and to realize that overeating and not taking care of your body does really matter to God!  He made you and loves you and does care if you are over doing it with food!  Sometimes I feel like I have "spiritual malnutrition".  Lysa talks about this, where you are physically overweight, but spiritually underweight.  She also writes,  "I am made for more than a vicious cycle of eating, gaining, stressing -- eating, gaining, stressing... I am made to rise up, do battle with my issues and, using the Lord's strength in me, defeat them - spiritually, physically, and mentally - to the glory of God." 
Satan intentionally chooses things that he knows will make us fall, he knows where we are weak and he will use that for all it's worth!  I know that when I'm battling in my mind whether I should eat more food or a certain sweet thing that I'm so engulfed with the obsession that it doesn't matter if I try walking away or talking to God because my mind is already on the "sin" and I can't get it off my mind.  Of course I know that God is right there for me to run to, but I don't want to pray for help because I want that piece of food more - my mind is focused on nothing else!  I hate that - because I truely do want to pray and run to God, but in that moment of weakness, I fail!  This is what I'm learning - I have to have things set up before hand - a plan that I can follow for when the thoughts start coming, because they will - especially for a while.  Satan is going to push and push you to see if you are serious about this new way of life.  I need to redirect it all to God - give it to God.  One way that I'm working on doing this is whenever I think of wanting to over do it and get off my plan, I open the Bible and just start reading.  You can't go wrong there, either your craving will pass or you just may feel guilty enough about reading the Bible and God talking to you that you won't continue to "sin".  This has been really good for me and God has shown me a number of verses to help me along my journey. When Satan was trying to tempt God, God quoted Scripture and so can we!  It is important to keep the verses that are speaking to you close to you - whether on a piece of paper or in your mind - memorization would be an amazing help! 
I know for me that my journey of changing my lifestyle to a healthy one and losing weight, the correct way is a spiritual issue for me.  I did not think that way all along.  God has really revealed to me that I am focusing too much on food and not on Him!  I felt like Lysa took these words out of my mouth when I read them in her book, "it was about this battle that raged in my heart.  I thought about, craved, and arranged my life too much around food.  So much so, I knew it was something God was challenging me to surrender to His control.  Really surrender."  My journey is about something more than just me and my physical looks and fitness, it is about my walk with God and making sure that He is the sole focus of my life!
I John 2:15-16  Do not love the world or anything in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For everything in the world - the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does - comes not from the Father but from the world."
From the book Lysa gives the definition for CRAVING (from Dictionary.com):  "something you long for, want greatly, desire greatly, and beg for."  She goes on to write, "Now consider this expression of craving: 'How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God' (Psalm 84:1-2).  We are made to crave - long for, want greatly, desire eagerly, and beg for --- God.  Only God."  ONLY GOD!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

My First Triathlon.

About a year and a half ago Jason did his first triathlon.  I really wanted to be happy for him, I tried to be, but I was so sad that I couldn't do it, that I had let myself go so far that I could not have finished the race or if I could have finished it would have probably not been very enjoyable. 
At that time I was kind of starting my journey that I'm still on today, and not being able to do the triathlon really got me to start working harder at what I was trying to accomplish.  About 1 year ago we got new neighbors and God answered my prayers with my friend now, Sheila.  She's a personal trainer and took me under her wing and helped me get back into working out.  I had been praying that God would just bring someone into my life to really be able to help me, get me going.  At just the right times God has brought people into my life to help and encourage me.  So much has happened, has changed since that first early (!) morning run with her.  I have completed a 1/2 marathon and now the triathlon!!
I did a sprint triathlon sponsored by the YMCA.  It was a 350 yd swim, 13 mile bike and a 5k (3.1 mile) run.  I had SO much fun and am really glad that I did not attempt the triathlon a year ago, I think it would have been very discouraging to me. 
Jason was such a huge part in getting me ready.  It was great that he has done the triathlons because he told me what to expect and got me to unload some training items (socks/gloves) so I could get a better transition time.  I felt so comfortable the morning of the race, half the battle was knowing all the stuff Jason had told me about.  (Thanks, Jas!!)
First was the swim.  I really was quite comfortable swimming (I'm sure I didn't look the greatest though, gotta work on that stroke), I just looked down at the lane line and focused on my strokes.  I would get a little look around at each breath, but overall I could not really see all the flailing bodies around me.  I taught myself how to do the flip turns (which I'm sure the life guards got a good laugh from) :) and I'm so glad that I did, I didn't have to stop and see the chaos, but was able to keep a good motion and keep my head down.  It kind of got hectic at the end of the swim, everyone speeding up in the last two lanes, but overall it went so much better than I thought and I did it a minute faster than my training swims have been!!
The bike, ahhhhh... my favorite and strongest section.  I went ALL out.  During the ride I would see people coasting down the hills and be like "thank you", "thank you" - I was able to pass people that way because I used the hill to my advantage by pedaling and keeping a good pace down the hills and not coasting.  I was excited because only a few people passed me and I passed more people then the number of people that passed me (if that makes sense).  My legs were toast for the run, but I knew that I could push harder on the bike and get a better time than I could on the run.  My bike time was great for me and my run time actually ended up being right where I normally am.  I was not able to race at a faster pace, but was happy that I was not slower than my training pace. 
I won't get into all the times for the swim, bike, run and transitions, but just my overall time.  I wanted to finish in under 2 hrs and did it in 1.33.25!!! 
I had a "list" of things I wanted to do before we had kids:  Skydive - done.  Hike the Grand Canyon - done.  Run a marathon - done.  Triathlon - did not do.  At first I was thinking how I could have done so much better if I had done a triathlon before I had kids and that's probably true, I may have been faster, but it was so great having all 3 kids screaming at the top of their little lungs for me and ringing the cow bell!!  I loved it and what a great thing for them to be able to see - people coming together and working their hardest racing, seeing all the benefits from their training.  I love that Jason and I are examples to the kids of trying to be healthy and exercising.  Even if they don't race, that's not what is important.  I just want them to know the importance of taking care of the bodies that God gave them and if racing is a part of that, then great and if not, then great too!
I would love to do more triathlons, but now is not my season to pursue more triathlons.  I have the kids to focus on and I am happy to train for just running events - next big race - Governor's Cup 1/2 marathon in November.  Anyone want to join me?

Thursday, July 14, 2011

Love To Eat, Hate To Eat.

Wow, it's been a little bit since I last wrote anything!  I was in Michigan enjoying my sister's wedding!  I thought I would have some extra time to get an entry written, but that didn't happen.  Before I get into writing about the book "Love To Eat, Hate To Eat", I wanted to share a little "note"/game from one of my sister's wedding showers.  I thought this was great because it used only fruits and veggies to fill in the blanks.  My aunt or cousin got it from on-line, but it is supposed to be a note from Sean (groom) to Mandie (my sister the bride):

Dear SWEET PEA,
I want you to know my heart BEETS for you!  I hope our relationship will SPROUT into something special.  If you CARROT all for me, why not ask your parents if they'll LETTUCE get married?  Since we CANTELOUPE I suppose you will want a big wedding.
Everyone knows I'm PLUM crazy about you!  You would be a PEACH of a wife; and I'm sure we would make a happy PEAR!  Although my CELERY isn't the greatest, I'll do my best to provide for your comfort.
Please do not SQUASH my hopes because it's a love like I have for you that could make a MANGO crazy!  You've been the APPLE of my eye so long; and my love for you is as strong as an ONION.  I trust you will never TURNIP your nose to me; I'll go to the river ENDIVE in.
Please reply BERRY soon I YAM truly yours.   Sean.      Thought that was cute!!  :)

Now onto the book that first convicted and changed me (well, really the Holy Spirit changed me, but the book was an avenue He used to help me see my downfalls!).  Pretty much what I'm writing today is coming right from the book.  Phrases, etc. that really stuck out to me.  There is sooo much I could write on, but I'm just focusing on a few areas and if you like it, I'd really recommend reading the whole book!  "Love To Eat, Hate To Eat" by Elyse Fitzpatrick.

"Tyranny is just the right word to use when it comes to the way many of us think about food, dieting, and our weight.  Tyranny is oppression.  It is enslavement.  It means that we're dominated by thoughts and habits that torment and overpower.  What will I eat next?  How much do I weigh today?  What do others think of me?  Why can't I get free of this?  Why can't I be like others?  The same questions fill our thoughts over and over as we agonize day after day, looking for answers.  Sometimes we try again; other times we just give up in frustration and discouragement.  What's more, we feel constant confusion because we're unsure of how our eating habits relate to our Christian faith, if at all.  We wonder about God's role in our lives and our response to Him.  Where is He?  What are His answers?  It seems as though He should be able to help, but why isn't He answering our prayers?  Why do we still struggle so?"
"Does God really care about how much we eat?  Yes, God really cares.  He cares because He loves you and me, and He cares because He created us to sparkle and shine with His light for others."
"You should be concerned about caring for your body for two reasons: first, because it is the creation of God.  And second, if you are a Christian, God purchased your body."
"Because Jesus paid such a price, not only for our bodies but also for our souls, we should seek to exalt Him in everything.  We should not allow any sin to defile the sanctuary where He has chosen, by His Spirit, to reside.  Let us remember 'the sighs, and tears, and groans that brought us...the agonies of the cross, the bitter pains of the death of God's own Son.  If we do so, we know that we must live for God, and for Him alone'.  When we are tempted to sin, let us think of the cross.  When Satan spreads out his allurements, let us recall the remembrance of the sufferings of Calvary, and remember that all these sorrows were endured so that we might be pure.  O how would sin appear were we beneath the cross, and did we feel the warm blood from the Saviour's open veins trickle upon us?  Who would dare indulge in sin there?  Who could do otherwise than devote himself, body, and soul. and spirit, unto God?  When you are thinking about stuffing down those extra slices of pizza, in defiance of His desire for you to be temperate in all things, think about Jesus on the cross.  Let that terribly beautiful vision of His love control you." 
"It is only as we interact with the Word of God that we find ourselves growing in our ability to judge our own thoughts and intentions."
"It is wrong to eat only when the purpose of that eating is simply to experience the pleasure of the crunch or the sweetness or the temperature in spite of God's good provision.  It is the heart that says, 'I know this is more than I need, and that I'm harming myself by having it, but I love the pleasure of this experience more than I love the pleasure of doing what pleases the Lord, so I'm just going to go ahead and satiate myself'."
"Gluttony is a sin, just as surely as drunkenness or adultery.  We must be convinced of the truth of this statement or we will never hate our sin enough to leave it.  If we don't see it as sin, we will try to keep it around (tame, on a leash) and bring it out when no one will be offended."
"As long as what you eat dominates your affections, thoughts, and behavior - even if you are eating small portions, starving yourself, or insisting on eating only "healthy" foods - your eating is gluttonous because your life is focused on food.  We can learn to judge if we are being gluttonous by the way that we respond to others when we don't get what we want to eat."
There are 4 steps that Elyse gives that I will just list and then she also goes through an acrostic "DISCIPLINED Eating" that I will also just list.  If you are interested in reading more about any of this, check out the book - like I said, there is so much to write about!
"Step 1 - Become convinced that your present method of eating is sinful and cease from it."
"Step 2 - Become convinced that God's methods for disciplined eating are right and begin practicing them."
"Step 3 - Seek diligently to change your mind and become conformed to God's thinking, especially in the area of your eating habits."
"Step 4 - Continue to practice these new thoughts and behaviors, even when the struggle gets hard."
"DISCIPLINED Eating - Doubt, Idolatry, Stumble, Coveting, Inroad, Praise, Life, Illustrate, No, Emotions, Distract, Enslaved."  She writes about each one of these in more detail. 

I Corinthians 10:31 "Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."

This book was the starting point of God convicting me to change my heart and mind about the way I was eating and treating my body!  I am not just trying to lose weight, but learning to be healthy by eating whole, natural and living foods.  I truly do love to eat and hate to eat, and I'm on a great journey of learning to love God more than food!