Following the Leader

In reading my new book, "The Eden Diet", and Dr. Rita's blog posts about her plan, I've been remembering so many aspects of the hunger-fullness (h/f) method that I'd forgotten over the last 5 years.

I love how Dr. Rita has reminded me that God has designed my body to KNOW...

- when to eat
- what to eat
- and how much to eat

We have an Internal God-Given Weight-Control Program... It's been built right in since the very beginning, before we were born! We just have to be alert, and pay attention, in order to access it.

By refocusing, I'm remembering that my body will tell me what foods I am craving, and that by eating chocolate when I'm hungry, I'm not going to gain weight -- I may even lose it!

I don't have to make a bunch of "rules" for myself to follow (which is one of the mistakes I've been making in the past 5 years), including cutting out certain foods, or eating at certain times. I just have to relax and trust my internal cues to let me know what I need and when.

My problem is that I've been allowing the "dieting dogma" to invade my mind, and convince me that my internal cues are misleading. The worldly knowledge had me believing that I couldn't wait for hunger pangs, or I'd get a headache, or I'd get too shaky, and that that would be "terrible"... I wouldn't be able to handle it. And, it convinced me that I had to eat only x-number of times per day or else I'd be gaining weight instead of losing it. I kept thinking that I needed to stay away from chocolate and other treats because they were my "downfall".

Meanwhile, back when I was following my internal system in 2005, I was eating chocolate and cheeseburgers and ice cream, and I was losing 2-4 pounds per week! And, I was eating as many times per day as I got truly hungry. And, waiting for my hunger pangs didn't kill me -- I could handle the mild headaches or shakiness... I would eat, and those symptoms would go away!

It's so freeing to go back to what I know works for me... to just let go, and trust in the way God designed my body to work.

Thank you, Lord, for leading me back to the TRUTH! ;)

A New Find!

Just within the last week or two, I found out about this book called "The Eden Diet", written by Rita Hancock, M.D. It's a Christian weight loss program based on the principles of hunger-fullness. And, if you know me, you know that I'm a BIG fan of those principles! ;)

I first learned about this method for weight loss (via a different Christian program) in 2005, and I had great success with following it! Just by waiting until I was hungry to eat, eating the foods I wanted, and then stopping at "satisfied" (instead of "stuffed"), I lost 25 lbs in just 6 months! It's the only thing that's ever truly worked for me.

But, when I stopped following my internal cues at Christmas-time, that year, I ended up slowly putting the weight back on. And, that made me upset with myself, which caused me to eat more, and gain more. Of course, I ended up right back where I started, with about 20 lbs more that I now need to lose. :-?

Over the last 5 years, I've been reading and reading, trying to find a way to get the weight back off. While I know --and believe -- that the hunger-fullness method is the way to go, I guess I still hoped to find that "magic cure" (you know, the one we ALL know does NOT exist?), and nothing ever helped. I couldn't get back to following my cues, no matter how desperately I wanted to, and no matter how many times I tried.

Then, just recently, I got frustrated and fed up, and I asked God, "Am I still supposed to follow my hunger-fullness cues, or do you want me to try something else?" I also asked Him, "If you DO want me to continue to follow my cues (h/f), please lead me to a new Christian book that has the principles in it so that I can have renewed motivation, and please show me why what I've been doing isn't working -- why I can't seem to get back to it".

And, since He's awesome like that, God answered both of my questions! :D

The first, He answered in a 'round-about way. I'd been planning, for months before asking Him these questions, to go see Beth Moore at a Living Proof Live event. And, while at the event, the topic was "God is Doing a New Thing". This led me to keep thinking about my friend, Heidi, and her blog, aptly named "God is Doing a New Thing". ;) I hadn't been to visit her blog in a long time, so when I got home from the event, I couldn't help but go over to read a few posts. And, when I did, I found out about "The Eden Diet"! :D There's answer #1 (yes, I'm still supposed to follow my hunger cues)!

I got myself a copy of the book (it just showed up in the mail, yesterday), and I started reading. And, last night, I got answer #2: the reason why I haven't been able to get back to following my h/f cues... it came in the form of something Dr. Rita wrote in the book:

"If you continue to micromanage your eating based on your worldly knowledge rather than submit to your God-given hunger pangs, you won't be able to relax and unwind toward your cure." (p.95)

"Aha!," I thought. The reason why I haven't been able to get back to following my internal cues is that I've been too busy filling my head with "worldly knowledge" (about other diets and plans), and getting so frustrated (unable to "relax") that I can't lose the weight. Hmmm...

And, proof of this is that I've literally felt so much more R-E-L-A-X-E-D this past week, as I've begun to remember how to follow my internal cues, and as I've been waiting for true hunger -- not panicking that things aren't going to work, or that I'm not going to be able to lose the weight.

I feel like my eyes are being reopened, and that all of the worldly stuff that has been "cluttering" my brain is falling to the side. I feel FREE! :D

So, I'm hoping to chronicle this new journey of a "renewed mind" here on this blog. I found this old blog to be a fitting place for these new "chronicles", as the book frequently mentions Romans 12:1-2, and the "renewing of our minds".

Stay tuned for more! ;)

Simplifying

I am tired.

I am constantly overextending myself, taking on too many projects or challenges or goals, and then I'm never completing anything because there's just too much.

I have too much stuff.

I join too many challenges.

I start too many blogs.

I sign up for too many programs.

And, the root problem underneath it all? I'm searching, I think, for satisfaction. Something that will fulfill me in a complete way. And, when I don't find what I'm looking for, I give up on the thing.

Obviously, TRUE satisfaction can only be found in an intimate relationship with our Creator. So, why do I feel like that's out of reach? Why do I feel that's hard to obtain? What's holding me back?

The only thing that could possibly be holding me back is me. My own fears, laziness, complacency, and / or insecurities.

I'm reading a fantastic book right now, and it deals with "closing the gaps" in your career / finances / relationships / health / spiritual life... wherever you might find them. And, it's made me realize that I have a lot of "gaps". Out of a quiz of 100 questions (20 from each of the 5 areas listed above), I scored only 25%. :-(

So, God and I have some work to do. I need my life simplified. I can't keep going the way I am, because it's raising my stress level, which was already high to begin with. Something's gotta give, or I'm not gonna make it. :-?

ONLY GOD by Winsome Smith

[This was posted to a group I'm in, and I really thought it was powerful, so I'm sharing it here... it was supposedly taken from this website.]
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"The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth." (Psalm 145:18)

We like to feel that we're capable, in control. We know our goals, our resources, and our limitations. We expect minor obstacles on the path, of course, but most of us face times in life when we feel quite self-sufficient.

Dare we name that self-sufficiency for what it is? When we attempt to live our lives on our own terms, we fall victim to some of the oldest lies. They go back to the Garden. We think God has withheld something that would make life more fulfilling, that our way is better, and that we can do life on our own. Pride tells us that we can live life on our own terms and in our own power.

Eventually we face problems and challenges that introduce a note of frustration into our lives. We are faced with a relationship gone sour, a loved one who is suffering, a need that is bigger than we can handle. We may enlist the help or concern of friends or family. Then we realize that they too are unable to make the problem go away. "It's impossible," we say, and we turn away in discouragement.

Is it possible, dear one, that the challenge you face is the key to a deep, profound joy, one rooted in intimacy with God Almighty? An overwhelming task, a difficult relationship, the burden on your heart can drive you to a deeper dependence on God Himself. Is there some impossibility facing you that you cannot manage on your own? Have you become tired of trying? Invite the God of the impossible into that place.

God alone can change hearts, renew minds, and restore relationships so that they mirror the Father's relationship with His Son. God alone can bring an abiding peace in hearts that have been set in opposition to Him and to one another. God alone can take unspeakable pain and turn it into a place of blessing. God alone can turn mourning to joy and desperation to a rock-solid hope. God alone can make us new.

Only God specializes in the impossible. Will you join with me today in asking God for what only He can do? Take time to talk to Him today about the impossibilities in your life and the lives of those you love.

Motivated ...by Grace?

I've often heard it say that being forgiven by God, and washed anew in His mercies, should prompt us to act out of gratitude toward Him... leaning on Him, trusting Him, obeying Him because of what He's done for us.

Well, why is it, then, that I can be overwhelmingly grateful for what God's done for me -- for ALL He's done for me -- and yet I still don't act out of that gratitude? I still don't trust, don't obey, and don't lean on Him. :-(

I want to! Believe me, I want to! I don't get it.

I don't want to have to go through even MORE than I have in order to get to the point where I act out of gratitude ... what I've been through hurt enough, thank you very much! :-?

"For I am His, and He is mine
bought with the precious blood
of Christ"
(from a song we sing in church)

I just want to have that close, trusting relationship with my Lord, but for whatever reason - despite that He's been ever-faithful to me - I still have difficulty in trusting Him. How do you just "let go"?

Prayers Needed...

Yesterday, Heather had surgery for the tumor in her brain....


Please pray that she will have a quick recovery, and that the surgery was successful. :-?

You can also sign up for the Prayer Chain that's been started on Heather's behalf.

MIA

Sorry that I've been missing in action (MIA), lately. I've been working through some really great books, but they're deep... I won't be able to articulate my thoughts until after I've finished them.

Just know that God is doing a mighty work in and through me. I'm learning a TON, and growing so much! I'm feeling so blessed!

I will post more when I feel ready... hang in there. ;o)