Thin Within For Life

Scales as Idols?

2006-12-15T07:24:00.000-08:00

I know... I've not posted here in ages! But, I've been busy posting elsewhere. ;o)

Anyhoo. This morning, in the IE_Support group, they were, again, talking about scales --and our being a "slave" to them, and one of the ladies said "don't fear [it]...it's an inanimate object". This brought to mind a bit that I'd read in GS's book about Idolatry...

...and it made me think of how, maybe, our scales can be "idols" in our lives, if we give them too much "power". Our desperation to let the scale give us a "good day" is sort of "idolatry", in a way. We're relying on the scales instead of God.

Ephesians 5:5b says, "For the greedy person is really an idolater who worships the things of this world..."

We are greedy for the number on the scale to be less than it was the day before.... we "worship" the scale. So, technically, the scale is an Idol! :-O

Update... (10/22)

2006-10-22T13:33:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm still struggling. I am not following the TW principles; I am eating what I want when I want, whether hungry or not, and I am still gaining weight. But, I am making progress in other areas...

I am working on giving up caffinated drinks, and have had 50% success so far. :o) It was originally a plan to give up ALL caffeine (chocolate, pop, etc), but the chocolate part is too hard. And, it's too much to do all at once. So, I'm concentrating on the caffinated drinks for now, and will maybe try chocolate later. ;o)

I gave up having my French Vanilla "coffee" in the mornings, and have switched to decaf. tea. And, instead of Coca-Cola, I've been trying to choose rootbeer (no caffeine). I say "trying" because this is where I still struggle. I still opt for the Coke 50% of the time. But, at least that's better than the past, where I'd have opted for Coke 100% of the time! :o)

I started re-reading the TW book this weekend. I'm going to read the whole thing over again ... or, at least, that's the *plan*. ;o) I need to refresh my memory on the basics. I've not paid any attention to my body's signals in the last several months.

Something that's really helping is the Bible study that I'm doing with the ladies from church. We're going through Beth Moore's "Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy", and it's VERY good! Here are a couple of things she's said recently that I've adopted for my TW journey:

** STAND FIRM, even in the midst of fiery trials (like Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego).

** for people with TRUE CONVICTION, some decisions have already been made -- if we're not *truly convicted*, truly RESOLVED in our efforts, Satan knows we're weak and will attack. But, if he sees that we're firmly resolved in our path, he knows he can't touch us. :o)

And, in my Intuitive Eating support group recently, one of the ladies said something to the effect of: "Intuitive Eating isn't just about eating whatever we want... We need to honor our bodies by making wise choices."

I am pushing restart (though I've had to do this many, many times -- seems like I do it every 2 days!), and I'm leaning on several Scriptures to aid me....

Matthew 26:41 - "Keep alert & pray, otherwise temptation will overpower you. For, though the spirit is willing, the flesh is weak."

Zechariah 4:6 - "'Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the Lord."

John 15:5 - "For apart from Me you can do nothing."

2 Corinthians 12:9 - "My grace is sufficient, it's all you need; My strenth comes into its own in your weakness."

Philippians 4:13 - "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Proverbs 16:3 - "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and all your plans will succeed."

(NOTE: I am posting more often on my other blog, so click here to read more on my progress!)

New Plan!

2006-08-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

Now, before you get all freaked out, don't worry... I'm not going on some other "diet"... I'm happy to stay an INTUITIVE EATER for life! :o) But, I've had to come up with a new way of doing things 'cause what I was doing wasn't working for me.

So, to avoid repeating myself (and to save time), I'm just giving you a link to follow:

Mizbooks' New Plan

I started implementing this on August 21st, and have done good, so far. Still working on the *emotional* / *mental* side of things, though. ;o)

Deflated

2006-08-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling out-of-place in my TW Support group. :-(

I'm a big believer in the "take what you love & leave the rest" philosophy. So, I've been reading a lot of books on the subject of non-dieting, and have been putting together a generalized idea of what I believe in regards to my *personal* non-dieting journey/approach. I still hold to Thin Within as my mainstay. I KNOW I couldn't do this without God at the helm (John 15:5). But, I also like to embrace other approaches that compliment TW, such as the "Intuitive Eating" book by Evelyn Tribole & Elyse Resch. They have the same basic principles as ThinWithin (honor your hunger, feel your fullness, discover the satisfaction factor), but they are a little more practical in the application. TW is great for the Spiritual side of things, while IE is more in-depth at teaching you how to apply "waiting for 0", and "stopping at 5", and overcoming your "fat machinery" (and, yes, I'm aware that I'm mixing & matching the principles of both books). ;o)

In my TW Support group, though, I'm feeling condemned. I'm feeling like I'm the "bad guy" now because I keep quoting other books and methods that I've found intriguing or important or helpful, and others are jumping all over me for it. :-(

I know that "there is now NO CONDEMNATION for those that are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1), so it's probably the Enemy putting these thoughts & feelings in my head... trying to pull me from my mainstay, pull me away from the Truth. But, I don't feel "comfortable" at my "main group" any more. I feel more at home in my group (Intuitive Eating_Support) because I have the freedom to mention whatever I want and know that I'm not stepping on toes. Sure, there are some that still disagree with some aspects of my "method", but I don't feel condemned by them. Could it be an underlying bias against those "stuffy Christians" I'm so used to having grown up with? Maybe I feel that the Christians of the TW group are going to shun me for being different? (this is how it happened in real life for me ... I got "rejected" by my home church for acting in a way counter to what they saw as "acceptable").

Sheesh. I don't know how to deal with this. I don't know whether to stay with the TW_support group, or to leave. On one hand, I want to stay because I need the *Christian* support I get from them... I need to be continuously reminded of the spiritual side of this journey. I don't want to abandon that. But, on the other hand, I want to leave because I don't want to have to be careful about everything I want to post to my "friends" about what I'm learning.

Aha!

2006-07-23T09:07:00.000-07:00

This morning, thanks to reading posts on the DietSurvivors group, I had a little revelation / insight / "aha"-moment! :o)

I am still -even subconsciously- labelling my snack foods (chocolate, Coke, etc) "junk foods". And, if they're "junk foods" then they're "bad" or "forbidden".... the connotation is there. Therefore, I rebel against the "laws" that say I "shouldn't eat those foods" and proceed to eat it, eat it, eat it!

If I could just see chocolate, Coke, & snack foods as FOOD -- no labels attached! -- then perhaps they'd lose their appeal / intensity? I'd like for them to be equal, in my mind, to, say, fruit! LOL (even writing that, my brain is screaming, "You can't label fruit & junk foods EQUAL! One is good for you, and the other isn't!!!") But, see, that's just it! If one is "good" for me, then that makes the other one "bad", and so I think I "shouldn't" eat it, which makes me want it all the more!

How do I shut off that diet mentality? I already eat the "bad" (junk) foods, mostly between 0-5, so what else can I do to make them equal with "good" food in my brain?!

More to ponder....

Making healthier choices?

2006-07-19T09:43:00.000-07:00

Lately there's been some debate in my TW support group about whether or not you *need* to eat "healthy" foods more than junk food.

Half of the ladies agree that you can eat "whatever you want, so long as you stay within 0-5" (hunger/fullness). The other half say that it's good to stay in 0-5, but that you should also be choosing wisely with your food. They quote the Bible verse, "All things are permissible, but not everything is beneficial." (Romans??)

Now, I agree with BOTH sides! I have taken the freedom of TW (legalizing ALL foods -- nothing is "good" or "bad" or "forbidden") to the extreme, and have had ice cream for lunch (with raspberries), saying to myself & others, "I'm staying within 0-5, so ice cream is just FINE for lunch!" But, that might not be the wisest choice I could make. Sure, it tastes GREAT! And, it's awesome to have such freedom in my eating! BUT, overall, it's not going to be the greatest for my health, my endurance, etc. If I keep filling myself with "junk", I might still lose weight, but I won't feel the best that I *could*.

Today, for lunch, I chose to have Minestrone soup! And it tasted great! It tasted even better when I thought of how healthy it was for me! ;o)

And, afterward, I made myself a fruit smoothie! :o)

I have to share this recipe, too, 'cause it's something I just threw together, and it ended up tasting GREAT!

Orange-Cherry-Banana Smoothie

1 navel Orange
1 cup Sweet Cherries
1 frozen banana
5 heaping Tbsp. plain yogurt

* Blend all very well in a blender. Pour & enjoy!

This is delicious! And it gives me 2 fruit servings for the day! Best way I know to get more fruit incorporated into my diet!

(And the soup I had got in a ton of veggies for the day!)

So, I'm feeling pretty good today! I may have snacked too much (see my Food Log), but I also got in a lot of "good for me" stuff, too! (including a 1-mile walk, and water!)

Recommitting

2006-07-17T07:24:00.000-07:00

Today is a good day! I've not been giving my all to TW in the last 7 months (or more) -- maybe about 75%. So, today I recommit to following Thin Within's "8 Keys to Conscious Eating" 100%!

I am also starting (today) a "less Pop" challenge with my sister, Laurel. We drink way too much pop, so we've agreed that, starting today, we'd allow ourselves to have only 3 cans/glasses of Pop (Coke, etc) a month. That way we're not completely restricting it, but we're seriously cutting down on the intake.

And, lastly, my TW support group is starting, today, to re-read the TW book together for the next 30 weeks (a chapter a week). We wanted to get more focused, so this is what was voted in. Each person will read that week's chapter, then post their thoughts on it, or any new insights they gained.

Here's to fresh starts! :o) Cheers!

TW Book: Index

2006-07-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

Because the book didn't have one, I created an INDEX of "Thin Within" by Judy & Arthur Halliday. And, again to save from clogging up this Blog, I've posted it on another website...

"THIN WITHIN" Book: INDEX

Please Note: This index has not been authorized by the authors of "Thin Within". It is something I created because I kept getting frustrated when I couldn't find something I wanted in the book *quick enough*. So, any errors or omissions are my fault, and do not reflect on the authors. Thanks!

Eating (kinda) like a thin person!

2006-07-11T10:31:00.000-07:00

Last night, I went over to my sister's place for a "sisters night." She made homemade Panzerotti's (sp?) and we rented two movies....

Well, when the panzerotti's were ready, I took one look at the one she'd put on my plate and went, "Oiy! That's huge!" I immediately cut it in half, and left the one half on the kitchen counter!

I didn't think about it, then, but this morning I realized that that's "Thin Person" behavior! And, I hardly even thought about it! I just did it! Whoohooooooo! Praise God, I think I'm finally getting it! :-D

I had just the 1/2 of panzerotti, plus 3 small pieces of garlic bread stick, and some Coke, and I think I was at about a 5 or 6. I brought the rest (other half) of the panzerotti home to have for lunch today! :o)

And, come to think of it, I've been eating "0-5" or "0-7" for the last 3 weeks without much effort, really! Praise God! Whoohoo! Yippeee!!!!

After a year of doing this, I think I'm finally understanding what it is to be a natural eater! :o) This way IS doable!

But, the kicker? I think that it's a matter of "giving up". I was "striving" and "trying" to get it right, and it wasn't working. But, recently I decided to give up worrying whether or not I'd lose weight *this week*, and started just relaxing in knowing that God will get the weight off when HE wants to get it off of me, and I decided to focus on working on the "emotional side" of this all. And, since I stopped worrying about the weight loss and the eating, it's gotten THAT much easier!

I'm not saying it's "easy".... it's still something I have to CHOOSE to do. But, it's not as difficult to make those choices as it was before. I don't rebel *as much*. I still have my moments / days where I'm rebellious ... like the other day, with Chinese food for dinner ... I ate 0-9!!!! But, I don't like the feeling I get afterward, so I won't consciously do that again ... at least not for a while! LOL

So, an encouragement to all those just starting TW (or any other non-dieting program)... This CAN be done, and God DOES reward you when you just give it to Him! :o)

Accountability: Food Log

2006-07-09T09:41:00.000-07:00

Since I've found that posting my Food Log where others can read it helps me with accountability, I've created a new BLOG where I can post my Food Log daily.

Please feel to read it, subscribe to it (Bloglines), and comment on it! ;o)

Thin Within Accountability Blog

::

PS... I didn't want to post my Food Logs here, on this blog, because I didn't want to clog it up here... I would rather keep this blog for just posting updates & journal entries about how I'm doing... And, not everyone (apparently) likes reading my food logs. ;o)

Update (07/06)

2006-07-06T07:21:00.000-07:00

Well, thank the Lord, I can finally write that I'm doing MUCH better -- all thanks to God!

I am eating 0-5 (or even 4) at most of my meals, and I've had 2 bottles of water daily for the past 3 days!!!

People kept recommending those Crystal Light singles packs that you put into your water bottles ... so finally I gave in and bought some. Oh, yum! They're delicious ... especially the Raspberry Ice ones!!!

Anyhoo... Exercise has been lacking. Ever since the kids started summer holidays I've been making excuses for not exercising (they're here and watching TV, don't want to upset them, want to just relax after holidays....).

Since we're going camping for 3 days, starting tomorrow, I'll restart on exercising with Leslie & friends on Monday -- regardless of the fact that the kids are home on holidays. Can't go ALL summer without my Leslie!

;o)

Negative Beliefs REFUTED! (long)

2006-06-25T13:33:00.000-07:00

I got the idea from online that I should list my negative beliefs about weight-loss, etc. and then refute them --in writing-- with positives... So, here is my list:

NEGATIVES (N) = Pink

POSITIVES (P) = Purple

N: "I can't get back on track".

P: "I am getting back on track because I'm choosing to 1) focus on JESUS, and 2) be more diligent & aware."

N: "I'm rebellious & greedy".

P: "I can be rebellious & greedy, but if I'm focused on Jesus, I will give my excess food to Him ... give Him back what He has given to me."

N: "I can't stop at 5".

P: "I have stopped at 5 before... I've even stopped at '4' before, so I can do it! I just have to leave food on my plate, and picture a fist-sized portion!"

N: "I'm a sugar-holic, and I'm addicted to sugar/Coke/chocolate".

P: "I am not "addicted" to sugar/Coke/chocolate ... I am not a slave to my old nature... I am a "new creation". I can choose to have very small amounts of these things INSIDE the hunger/fullness boundaries and they aren't "bad" -- no food is "bad" or "forbidden"! EVERYTHING in moderation!"

N: "I can't stop eating __________, especially if it's a favorite food".

P: "I can stop eating at '5', even with my favorite foods because I am not in control... the Holy Spirit is and He provides a way out of the temptations to overeat ... All I have to do is ask Him for help!"

N: "If I reach my goal, I won't be able to maintain it, and I'll just gain the weight back".

P: "I will reach my goal and I can and WILL maintain it for a lifetime... Other people have done so, so I can, too. ALL things are possible WITH GOD, and 'I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength' (Phil. 4:13)"

N: "I'm not disciplined enough".

P: "I don't have to be disciplined... I just have to surrender to the Holy Spirit and let Him do the work through me."

N: "If I eat my 'trigger' foods, I won't be able to stop".

P: "I can stop eating my 'trigger' foods at the 'satisfied' point because I've done it (summer '05)! I can stop - pray - and then walk away!"

N: "I have to be a size 8 to be attractive".

P: "I do not have to be a size 8 to be 'attractive'... that's society & the media talking! I know many "bigger" women who are very attractive ... their beauty shines from the inside! (ie: Camryn Mannheim)"

N: "I won't be happy until I reach my goal weight".

P: "I can be happy, even if I never reach my goal, because I have 2 beautiful children, a husband who takes care of me, a roof over my head, an awesome God, and many other blessings. My size doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things."

N: "I'm too lazy to ever maintain a slimmer figure".

P: "I'm not lazy -- that's a lie that Satan is using to keep me where I'm at."

N: "I no longer have a good metabolism".

P: "My metabolism is right where it should be for right now, and it's not something I need to ever concern myself with. If I'm following h/f and being in a relationship with God, I never need to even think about my metabolism because my body is self-regulatory and it will take care of itself."

N: "Size 8 is beautiful, and size 12 is fat".

P: "Size 8 can be beautiful, but so can a size 12! God doesn't look at the outward appearance... He looks at the HEART.
And, size 12 isn't 'fat' ... it is the average size of the American woman!"

N: "I'll never be able to get to 122 lbs."

P: "I will get to my goal weight of 122 pounds if I eat when I'm hungry and stop when I've had just enough, consistently."

N: "If I don't follow 'Thin Within' perfectly, I'll never get to my goal."

P: "'Thin Within' doesn't have to be followed 'perfectly' for it to work, and I just have to go back and read my previous journal entries (from last year - 2005) to prove that!"

N: "I don't look good in a bathing suit right now (size 10)."

P: "I look better in a bathing suit at this size 10 than I did in my bathing suit when I was a size 18! I should be praising God for how far He's brought me!"

N: "I've got too much emotional 'baggage' and stress to ever maintain my goal if I reach it."

P: "I can reach and maintain my goal weight of 122 pounds DESPITE my emotional 'baggage' and stress because I can 'cast all of my cares' on God and He will give me rest; He will comfort me with Himself so that I don't have to 'comfort' myself with food."

N: "I can pray all I want, but it doesn't help."

P: "Praying always helps, even if it doesn't immediately change my circumstances. Just getting the focus off of myself and my problems --and ONTO Jesus, where my focus BELONGS!-- makes prayer completely worth it!"

N: "I'm depressed, so I'm having a harder time following the TW principles."

P: "I don't have to be depressed... I can let the 'joy of the Lord' give me strength, and I can 'always be joyful' (1 Thess. 5:16)! 'Rejoice in the Lord always!'"

N: "I'm not pretty unless I'm thin."

P: "God thinks I'm pretty, regardless of my weight/size. He made me, and I'm exactly what He wanted!"

N: "I don't look good 'dressed-up' unless I'm skinny."

P: "With the right clothes, I can look GREAT 'dressed-up' or otherwise, at any size!"

N: "Everyone else has an easier time losing weight than I do."

P: "Everyone is different, so I shouldn't be comparing my weight-releasing with anyone else's. Comparisons are 'foolish', the Bible says."

N: "I don't want my sister-in-law to be thinner than me."

P: "Who cares if my SiL gets to be thinner than me?! She and I are two different people, both created by God to be unique. Comparing myself to her (or anyone) will only bring me misery."

N: "I can eat all of the sweets I want and still lose weight."

P: "I might be 'allowed' to eat all of the sweets I want, but it's not necessarily 'beneficial' for me to do so. I don't want to fill God's temple (my body - 1 Cor.6:19,20) with junk... only edifying things. The occasional sweets are okay, though, if eaten within the hunger/fullness boundaries."

* New Weight-Release Ticker *

2006-06-21T14:02:00.000-07:00

(Starting from where I'm at now, instead of where I started last summer... Today's a new day!)

Awesome Inspiration!

2006-06-21T08:48:00.000-07:00

I really am tired of feeling ashamed over my looks, and hiding behind baggy, frumpy clothes. I'm tired of being tired all of the time, too.

Reading this guy, Fred's, website, has really inspired me! I mean, if he can go from 371 lbs. to under 200 lbs. just by changing his perceptions, and by Intuitive Eating, then why can't I do it, too? Sure, I've only got 15 lbs. that I'd like gone, but that should be even more encouraging!

My biggest issue to date has been my sweet-tooth. With THIN WITHIN, no food is "forbidden" or "bad" ~~ "everything in moderation". But, that's where I get tripped-up ... the "moderation" bit. Once I start munching on the sweets, I find it very difficult to stop at a reasonable point ... I just want more!

I like how Fred suggests to change how you look at it: You can have the sweets if you want to, but you CHOOSE not to have them because you know they won't do your body any good ... they'll harm you more than they'll help.

Now fruit, on the other hand, is sweet, but it will help you, not harm you! Instead of reaching for chocolate, I could CHOOSE to reach for watermelon ... I LOVE Watermelon! :-D And, I can eat all the watermelon I want, too! There's more FREEDOM in choosing the healthier snacks! If I want to binge on fruits and vegetables, I can, and I don't even have to feel guilty!

Fred says, "EACH MEAL IS A CHANCE TO TAKE ACTION!" He also says to ask yourself each time you go to eat: "Is this food going to HELP me, or is it going to HARM me?" If it'll help, I'm free to eat it! If it'll harm me, I'm also free to eat it ... but, do I want to? Which path do I want to choose? The one that leads me to my goal -- and all the pleasures that being there will bring me, or the path that leads me further away from my goal -- where I'll remain depressed, ashamed, and worn out? [scroll down for more -- I don't know why adding the table made this huge space here! LOL]

GOAL WEIGHT vs. OVERWEIGHT
PATH 1: GOAL / HEALTH	PATH 2: OVERWEIGHT / SICK
healthy glow	diabetes, heart disease
fun games with my kids	watching from the sidelines
exercise	couch potato
size: SMALL!	size: X-Large
plenty of clothes options	limited clothes selection
attractive	frumpy
eat just enough to refuel	overeat to point of discomfort
compliments	concerned questions

I don't want to be seen as a lazy, unproductive woman. Heck! I don't want to BE a lazy, unproductive woman! I want health, vitality, stamina...

I CHOOSE TO BE A NEW CREATION!

Thin Within - the Book!

2006-06-20T17:19:00.000-07:00

I am SO excited! After doing the Thin Within program for almost a year, I was finally able --today-- to order the book! Whoohoo! :-D

And, I got a Hardcover copy for only $18.75! Thank you, Chapters.ca! :-D

Unfortunately, I'll have to wait about 3-5 weeks, but that's okay ... at least I know it's mine! :-D

Motivation!

2006-06-12T07:43:00.001-07:00

Summer is basically here, and all of my striving has gotten me nowhere! Why? Because my FOCUS hasn't been on God ... my trust has been in my own efforts, and in what I could do to get back on track! But, it doesn't work that way.

Through reading the original posts at my Thin Within Support group page, I realized that I've still been trying to keep the control. But it's not mine... "I've been crucified with Christ, therefore I no longer live, but Jesus Christ now lives in me! Amen!

The TW_Support group owner had posted a great insight:

"...it's not TRYING harder that gets us back on track ~~ it's TRUSTING more!"

Another member gave this catchy slogan:

"STOP ~ PRAY ~ WALK AWAY!"
(for when you're tempted to eat outside of hunger/fullness)

And lastly, Jacki (group owner) also gave this great word picture:

Fixed
On
Christ in
U
S!

This is based on the Bible verse, Colossians 3:2 --> "Think about the things of Heaven, not the things of Earth."

A few more Bible verses:

* GALATIANS 5:16
"...let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves."

* DANIEL 9:9
"But the LORD, our God, is merciful & forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him."

* GALATIANS 3:3
"How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?"

These verses, especially the last one, are really potent to me right now! I needed them badly!

As of now, I'm recommitting my eating to the LORD!

Proverbs 16:3 --> "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and all your plans will succeed."

Proverbs 3:5,6 --> "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean NOT on your OWN understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your path straight."

Update (05/27)...

2006-05-27T18:56:00.000-07:00

My face-to-face TW support group is going well! We have 2 ladies (plus me), and we've had 3 meetings so far. The ladies are both learning quickly, and I'm thrilled to have the accountability!

As for my own "journey", I'm not doing wonderfully --still--, but I'm doing okay. Better than I was. I'm still snacking, but I'm getting in sporadic exercise sessions, and I'm getting in a little bit of water here and there.

My goals for the coming week...

Walk Away the Pounds 3x this week (Monday / Wednesday / Friday)

drink 2 bottles of water a day

eat "0" - "5" (don't eat 'til I'm hungry; stop before I'm full)

cut my portions in half --> put half back after filling my plate

do my Bible study & devotions

I tried the Stability Ball Workout for Dummies video on Wednesday -- I got it from the library. It's fairly easy to use, but --OH MY!-- am I ever in pain! LOL. I think the main reason is that I forgot to stretch / warm up beforehand. So, next time I try it I'll remember to do that. ;-)

Tip of the week: "Obedience to God brings FREEDOM!"

Face-to-Face Support!

2006-04-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, I handed out some brochures to the ladies in my Bible study group about a face-to-face THIN WITHIN support group that I'd like to start. The brochure invited them to an "information night" that I plan to hold at my house.

So far, I have one lady who's willing to come that night and find out all about Thin Within ... and I'm thrilled! Even if she is the only one, it will still be an answer to my prayers.

I've been praying for a while now that God will send me someone to do TW with. I hate going it alone. Sure, I have a wonderful online group of Christian ladies who are a HUGE encouragement and inspiration to me! But, it would help to have someone that I could meet with, face-to-face, and share the ups and downs of the weight-releasing journey with. :-?

So, I will keep you posted on how things work out!

****************

As for my own journey, I'm still struggling to "get back on track". I've had a lot of junk food in the house lately, and I've been going crazy eating it. It's not "bad" to have the junk food here, nor is it "bad" to eat it ... but I've been snacking outside of the boundaries of "hunger" and "fullness", and as a result, I've put back on another 5 lbs. SO, now I have a total of 15# to shed in order to reach my end-goal (Lord willing).

MY NEW GOALS:

** "Walk Away the Pounds" every Monday / Wednesday / Friday with my DVDs, and use weights.

** Drink 2 bottles of water (= 4 glasses) each day ... one in A.M., one in P.M.

** Eat "0" to "5" at each meal
--> don't eat until I'm hungry / stop eating before I'm full!

** Eat at least one fruit and one vegetable per day

** [Not a TW principle, but needed in my life...] NO SUGARY DRINKS for one month! *** (other foods with sugar are fine, but drinks canNOT have sugar in them at all!)

** try Yogurt, Oatmeal, and/or Fruit for breakfasts! :o)

*** PRAY, PRAY, PRAY -- KEEPS THE MUNCHIES AWAY!!! ***

Update 04/04

2006-04-04T06:42:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm almost hesitant to write this here, but here goes, anyway!

Yesterday I did good! Or, rather GOD helped me do good! :-P I didn't snack, and I ate 0-5 or maybe 0-6. But, certainly MUCH better than I have in a LONG time!

Also walked my 1-mile with Leslie & friends, and used my weights (despite being SUPER-fatigued from my not feeling well on Sunday)!

And, lastly, I got in my Bible study homework! :o)

So, praise the Lord, and with His help, I will continue to follow the principles of hunger & fullness, and I will get to my goal (another 15#) by July 1st! :-D

Yesterday (03/20)

2006-03-21T06:26:00.000-08:00

Well, I did REALLY well yesterday ... all the way
until just after dinner. :-?

I didn't snack at ALL yesterday, I got in a 1-mile
walk with Leslie & friends (with weights!), and I
walked uptown and back (which is about a 1/2 mile). I
also had a 2nd bottle of water in the afternoon!

I *also* did my Bible study homework, as I told God
I'd absolutely do the homework DAILY, instead of
cramming it all in on the day it's due! LOL

Then, at dinner, we had Foccacia Bread (homemade), and
I did good with stopping ... until I went for dessert.
I've gotten into a bad habit of reaching for desserts
after meals again, so I had a big bowl of ice cream,
and then I was at a "9" or so. :o(

BUT, today is a new day. And, we're gonna be on top of
things again. :o)

Weight-Loss Info Blog...

2006-03-05T05:20:00.000-08:00

I've been researching "intuitive eating" quite a lot lately, and I've decided to create a new blog for what I've found. I want as many people as possible to discover the FREEDOM that I've found through Thin Within.

So, if you want to check it out, it can be found at:
http://intuitive-eating.blogspot.com

Help spread the word! Why count calories & fat grams, or spend a ton of money to do something that you can do for FREE, without counting anything?!

Intuitive Eating: What is it? How does it work?

2006-02-28T13:37:00.000-08:00

Found this online, and thought I'd add it here in order to keep spreading the word! This is an awesome, easy way to release weight and keep it off for life!:

What is Intuitive Eating?
[source]
• It varies from person to person. Because our tastes, bodies, activities, emotions, and spiritual paths are different, what our bodies require in terms of nourishment also differs.
• It is cyclical. Weekly, monthly, and annual cycles, even life cycles, change our body's need for, and responses to, food.
• It is imperfect. Intuitive eating does not mean we'll always choose absolutely "healthy" or "pristine" foods. We won't always feel as if we've had a "perfect" balance.
• It is rhythmic. We feel pleasantly full (but not stuffed) after a meal and pleasantly hungry (but not starving) before the next.
• It includes a wide variety of foods. Cereals and grains, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meats, beans, nuts, and even fats play a role in normal, intuitive eating. Again, the exact balance and variety of foods must be individualized.
• It is free of obsession. It acknowledges that our compulsions are due to biochemical or emotional reasons and any over- or under-eating is a clue to begin looking further as an opportunity for learning.
• It is nourishing to the body and spirit.
• It feels good. Good food in the right amounts and at the right times excites the senses. It provides tactile and taste sensations as we eat, and a pleasurable "full" feeling afterward. When we finish a meal, we feel comforted and renewed - physically, emotionally, and even spiritually.
• It is an essential component of self care. What better way to nurture ourselves than with the foods we need and enjoy in the amounts we require?

Here are the facts:
[source]
• You don't need pills.
• You don't need pricey supplements.
• You don't have to count, or weigh, or measure anything.
• You don't have to exercise obsessively.
• You don't have to pay expensive ongoing fees.
• You don't have to leave your home and go to a meeting or a clinic.
• You don't have to suffer the humiliation of weigh-ins.
• You never have to starve yourself again.

You can start today, right now, in fact.
Everything is right here at your fingertips,
from the comfort of your own home.

Intuitive Eating
[source]
"Intuitive Eating" is the innate knowing of what, when and how much to eat for one's individual nutritional needs. Intuitive eating is free of obsession. It's the instinctive self-regulation of food intake that we are all born with.

With intuitive eating, there are no "good" or "bad" foods. There is no "on a diet" or "off a diet". There is nothing to feel guilty about. Our self-esteem can remain intact while we engage in the process of reconnecting with our innate wisdom—learning to honor our body signals.

Some of the key components of learning to eat intuitively are:
• Reject the diet mentality. There are no rules to break, no good foods and bad foods.
• Make friends with food. Food is an asset for recovery not something to battle against. Give yourself unconditional permission to eat and enjoy it.
• Keep the body well-fed so extreme hunger or lack of proper nutrition doesn't trigger overeating.
• Find constructive non-food-related ways to cope with the feelings and stressors that you tend to eat over.
• Practice honoring your health so you make primarily health promoting food choices.
• Practice mindful eating. Eat slow to allow time for your satiety signals to reach your brain. Pause throughout your meals and get in touch with your feelings.
• Incorporate gentle exercise into your lifestyle. Besides the obvious improvements in physical and mental health this brings, it also helps us get in touch with our bodies; how they feel and what they need.

When we give ourselves permission to stop dieting and focus instead on healthy behaviors, we can regain not only our physical health, but our self-esteem—our lives. By defining success in terms of increasing awareness, personal growth, and self-empowerment, a healthy weight can be achieved and maintained for a lifetime.

Comments on Joyce's Article

2006-02-28T13:24:00.000-08:00

Joyce said:
"I made a quality DECISION to lose the weight. Making a quality decision is the first step to walking in the fruit of self-control. Two days later when the hunger pangs hit me so hard that I thought I was going to fall out of my chair, I said to my body, "You are not getting anything to eat until lunch. I don't care how you feel or how big of a fit you throw." Almost immediately those feelings lightened up, and I got it off my mind. After a few weeks, I'd lost the weight I wanted to lose."

My Thoughts:
This is good advice. Since December 2005, I've fallen off the "Thin Within" wagon, and my scale is showing the not-so-pleasant results of said fall. :-?

I would *really* like to reach my end-weight goal of 122 pounds by JUNE 20th. Then I can feel good in the new swimsuit I hope to buy this spring! ;o)

But, I've been lazy, and I've been rebellious. I've heard the gentle nudging in my head when I've gone to grab a snack while not hungry, urging me to grab water and walk away from the "outside of hunger/fullness" snacking. But, I've ignored that little "voice", and I've done what I wanted, instead. :-?

I also need to return to the Word. I've slacked off on that, too. My whole "life" has been on the downhill slide lately -- not wanting to attend church, not reading my Bible, not doing devotions, and Bible study has been on hiatus for a month (until tonight!). So, I'm hanging on by threads. But, I'm still kicking! :-D

I'm hoping that, now that Bible study is starting back up, I'll go back uphill. I'm tired of seeing that stupid scale climb up after I reached my first goal of 127# in December. :-?

I just need to get firm with myself, and tell my body, 'NO!' when it wants to snack -- I need to do as Joyce did, and tell it that it's not getting anything to eat until it's actually hungry!

Reading, online, today about INTUITIVE EATING, a lot of people suggested keeping a food/eating diary -- record when you get the urges to eat outside the bounds of hunger/fullness, and your feelings at those times (are you eating due to stress? boredom? obligation?). This supposedly helps you get to the root of your overeating, so that you can rid yourself of those reactions permanently. I need this. If I don't do something of the sort, I'll just keep falling back to this every time I start to feel like I'm succeeding.... and I don't want that. I want this to be a permanent, lifetime change for me ... I never want to see the other side of 135# again! May the Lord grant me my request!

Article by Joyce Meyer: Self-Control & Discipline

2006-02-27T17:21:00.000-08:00

"EXERCISING DISCIPLINE & SELF-CONTROL" by Joyce Meyer

I believe in order to have anything worthwhile in life we need discipline and self-control to bring it about. From cleaning the house, losing weight, and spending money; to reading the Word, walking in love, and maintaining peace -- everything we do requires discipline and self-control. Discipline, according to one definition found in Webster's II New College Dictionary, is "controlled behaviour resulting from disciplinary training." The type of behaviour that God wants us to exhibit is Christ-like behaviour. We gain and maintain this discipline through the power of self-control.

Self control is the art of controlling oneself -- our thoughts, feelings, desires & actions. Where do we get this power? From God. As Christians, the fullness of the Godhead lives within us (see Colossians 2:10). That means that every quality of God is in you and me -- God Himself planted them in us in the form of a seed the day we accepted Christ. Over time and through life's experiences, the seeds of Christ's character begin to grow and produce the fruit of His Spirit -- one of which is self-control.

Second Timothy 1:7 says, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity [of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear], but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control." God gives us self-control, so we can discipline ourselves. Through this fruit of the Spirit, you and I can learn how to manage our emotions and take hold of God's great plan for our lives.

WHATEVER WE EXERCISE BECOMES THE STRONGEST

I have found that it is virtually impossible to operate in any of the other eight fruits of the Spirit talked about in Galatians 5:22,23 unless we are exercising self-control. For instance, how can you and I remain patient in the midst of an upsetting situation unless we exercise self-control? Or how can we walk in love and believe the best of someone after they have just repeatedly insulted us unless we use the fruit of self-control? Self-control allows us to be patient when we feel impatient, and it enables us to walk in love when we feel like getting even.

My husband, Dave, has lifted weights since he was a teenager. When he exercises his arms by doing curls, his biceps get bigger and grow stronger. The same thing is true when it comes to things of the soul and spirit. If we exercise our temper -- constantly exploding with angry words and actions when things don't go our way -- then our temper becomes stronger. If we exercise and vent impatience every time we feel impatient, then impatience grows stronger. Both of these are fruits of the flesh. But when we choose to exercise self-control -- even though we don't feel like it -- the fruit of self-control grows stronger. As a result, we develop discipline in that area, and the next time a similar situation arises, it is a little bit easier to do the right thing.

As Christians we have the fruit of the Spirit in us, but if we don't purposely choose to exercise them, all the other ungodly attitudes and actions will remain stronger. Not choosing to exercise the fruit of the Spirit is what produces carnal Christians -- those who are under the control of ordinary impulses and walk after the desires of the flesh (see 1 Corinthians 3:3). Again, whatever we exercise becomes the strongest.

CONTROLLING OUR MIND AND OUR MOUTH IS ESSENTIAL

Our thoughts and words are two areas where the Holy Spirit is constantly prompting us to exercise self-control. Our mouth and our mind work hand-in-hand. The Bible says that ...as [a man] thinks in his heart, so is he, and ...out of the abundance [overflow] of the heart, his mouth speaks (Proverbs 23:7; Luke 6:45). The devil is often trying to get us to accept wrong thoughts about ourselves and others because he knows that once we start accepting and believing his lies, it is just a matter of time until we begin to speak them out of our mouth. And, when we speak wrong things, we open the door for wrong things to come into our lives (see Proverbs 18:20,21).

Let me give you an example. I have battled with three to seven pounds of extra body weight for quite some time. Over the years, I have been caught in a cycle of losing it and then gaining it back. In the last three years, it seemed like it became more difficult to keep the weight off regardless of what I tried. In frustration, my mind began to make excuses for the problem. First I thought it was because of my slow metabolism. Then I thought it was because of my busy travel schedule not giving me enought time to eat properly. Once I believed these excuses, I began using my mouth to complain and feel sorry for myself. But complaining and feeling sorry for myself didn't help me lose the extra weight. What it did do was keep me bound to the extra pounds.

How did the situation change? After seeing myself in a suit that at one time looked real nice but now didn't look so nice, I made a quality DECISION to lose the weight. Making a quality decision is the first step to walking in the fruit of self-control. Two days later when the hunger pangs hit me so hard that I thought I was going to fall out of my chair, I said to my body, "You are not getting anything to eat until lunch. I don't care how you feel or how big of a fit you throw." Almost immediately those feelings lightened up, and I got it off my mind. After a few weeks, I'd lost the weight I wanted to lose.

Now I realize that there are some people with chemical imbalances, and it is impossible for them to lose weight until things are brought into balance in their bodies. I also know that the older we get the more our metabolism slows down and the more difficult it becomes to maintain the same weight. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, each person can find what works best for them (see: ThinWithin.org). Whatever that plan is, it will require self-control.

DEVELOPING A NEW MIND SET IS THE KEY TO DEVELOPING DISCIPLINE

It doesn't matter what kind of problem we have in our lives, we need self-control and discipline to gain and maintain victory. We have to discipline our mind, our mouth, our feelings, and our actions so that they are in agreement with what the Word of God says. Where does the power of self-control come from? It comes from the Holy Spirit Who has His permanent home in each believer. How is it released? By asking God for His grace in each difficult situation we face.

If you need self-control in any area of your life, don't put it off until another time. Now is the time to start dealing with it. By developing discipline in the practical areas of your life, you will become disciplined in the spiritual areas. Make decisions to do what you know is right and that will allow the fruit of self-control to grow stronger in your life.

Lastly, get your mind and mouth in line with the Word. Stop saying you don't have any self-control and start saying, "I do have the fruit of self-control. I am disciplined. I don't do what the devil or my flesh desires -- I only do what God tells me to do. I have a strong will, and my will is lined up with God's will." Declare as the Apostle Paul did: I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency] (Phillipians 4:13).

[**Article taken from the January 2003 "Life in the Word" magazine, pages 14 & 15.**]

Insights and update 01/19

2006-01-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

I weighed myself again this morning, and was bummed to find that I've gone UP, yet again. :o( But, that shouldn't be a surprise, for all the snacking I've been doing lately.

I had an insight this morning, too. Since back in September or October I've really slacked off in doing Bible reading and devotions and that sort of thing. God said, "Seek first My Kingdom and all these things shall be added unto you..." (Matthew 6:31?) So, if I'm not "seeking first" His kingdom (by staying in His Word), then why should I expect Him to help me in my desire to continue losing weight and getting to my goal?

When I started doing THIN WITHIN, I was doing Bible studies online at The Ranch.org, and I was attending church, and I was really focusing on God throughout my days. Lately my focus has, unfortunately, reverted back to me. And, it's NOT ABOUT ME. It's about God.

I'm going to work on getting back into doing studies and such -- putting God first. Then maybe I'll have more success in my weight-releasing efforts. All of my "trying" is pointless if I'm not focusing on the right thing! I'll let you know how it goes! ;o)