Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinks within himself, so is he....." NASB.
I've been challenged lately to change how I view food and weigh out those thoughts according to the scriptures. The Made to Crave DVD's have been such a blessing to me. I though am on a tight budget as I'm sure many of you are, which means I cannot rush out and buy every GREAT resource I find. I was blessed to find on their website a 21 days challenge:
http://madetocrave.org/21-day-challenge/
This is a free service offered by MtC which I'm sure you would receive a blessing from.
If you want a more in-depth free bible study to do that will help to re-shape your food thoughts would recommend that you visit:
http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/courses/lords-table/
I did this 60 day study years ago and want to re-visit it when I'm dong with the MtC study.
I hope you have a blessed day that is victorious not only in the choices you make regarding food, but in your daily walk with Christ.
Friday, May 4, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
High Protein Granola Bars
I make these bars for my children to take to school in their lunches. There are many variations you can try.. my favorite is with chocolate chips and raisins but would you believe that NONE of my children like raisins. So sad!
High Protein Granola Bars
6 cups thick or old fashioned oats
3 cups milk ( or 2 1/2 cups milk and 1/2 cup kefir)
1/2 - 1 cup honey
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup whey vanilla protein powder (plain may be used too)
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)
1. The night before soak the oats in the milk/kefir mixture. If you do not have kefir, use a total of 3 cups of milk and add 2 tbsp of yogurt to the milk.
2. The next day, combine all the ingredients. If you want to withhold the chocolate chips and use them as an "icing". My children like them better with a thin layer of chocolate on top rather than chocolate chips inside.
3. Spread in a stoneware bar pan or cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until lightly golden and set. If desired sprinkle chocolate chips over the hot bars. When the chip are melted spread over the bars. Allow bars to cool completely before cutting into bars. Store individually wrapped in the refrigerator. They last around 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
I make these bars for my children to take to school in their lunches. There are many variations you can try.. my favorite is with chocolate chips and raisins but would you believe that NONE of my children like raisins. So sad!
High Protein Granola Bars
6 cups thick or old fashioned oats
3 cups milk ( or 2 1/2 cups milk and 1/2 cup kefir)
1/2 - 1 cup honey
1/2 cup melted coconut oil
2 eggs
1/2 cup whey vanilla protein powder (plain may be used too)
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries (optional)
1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)
1. The night before soak the oats in the milk/kefir mixture. If you do not have kefir, use a total of 3 cups of milk and add 2 tbsp of yogurt to the milk.
2. The next day, combine all the ingredients. If you want to withhold the chocolate chips and use them as an "icing". My children like them better with a thin layer of chocolate on top rather than chocolate chips inside.
3. Spread in a stoneware bar pan or cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until lightly golden and set. If desired sprinkle chocolate chips over the hot bars. When the chip are melted spread over the bars. Allow bars to cool completely before cutting into bars. Store individually wrapped in the refrigerator. They last around 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
It has been a while since I posted. I mentioned a while ago that I was doing something off protocol. What I did was a short 21 day VLCD/hcg round. The reason it was considered off protocol was that I only did 3 weeks of phase 3 and 1 1/2 weeks of phase 4 before I chose to cycle back into phase 2. I chose to continue my exercise routine throughout this short round and did struggle to each strict protocol foods, but I went from 165 back down to 154. Not earth shattering losses, however, my body shape is more like it was when I hit 146 my last round. I believe that is because I chose to maintain my exercise routine.
Now, the really cool thing is, that since entering phase 3 my weight has stayed within .6 of my LDW. This is the first time my weight has been so stable since round 1. I really struggled with portion control and binging after round 2 & 3. In my mind I felt so extremely deprived that I just attacked food... which is REALLY bad!
I had a couple different friends mention the bible study book called: Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst. I was able to find it at my library along with the DVD. It has been a huge blessing to me. It is helping me to view food and my food struggles from a biblical perspective. I've found it both convicting and encouraging. Lately I've been watching 2 segments of the DVD while doing my 45 minutes of walk aerobics. The children get really confused because the lady on the TV is not doing the exercises that mommy is! LOL! I'd highly recommend this book/bible study to any of you that find you are an emotional or stress eater and have a desire to get the stronghold of food under control in your life.
Currently hubby and I are using the JUDDD way of eating for our maintenance diet. We are not holding to the strict 500 calorie down day because we are not looking to lose more weight. Hubby is at his ideal weight but wants a WOE (way of eating) that will allow him to maintain with ease. I want to stabilize here for a while, then I plan to tweak my down day amounts lower so that I can eventually lose a little more weight, if my body allows. I believe that the benefits of keeping the SIRT1 Gene active will help us to maintain our weight loss along with giving us more added health benefits.
I'm still doing weights/lifting with the total gym for 30-40 minutes 3 days a week followed by 3-4 miles of walk aerobics and on the off days I do 3-5 miles of walk aerobics. Sunday is my day of rest. My body is toning up and I'm starting to enjoy the workout routine. I've never really liked exercise, however, this time I really would like to see if the exercise helps to tone up all the jiggle spots left behind from all the fat loss. Plus, I'm hoping it will be part of a health routine that will support not only my weight loss but my struggles with high blood pressure and my endocrine system.
I saw both my doctors last week: my cardiologist Dr. William Davis, author of Wheat Belly, and my Naturalpathic Doctor, Dr. Michelle Nickels. Both were thrilled with the 80 pounds I've lost over the past year. Dr. Davis was particularly surprised to see that my cholesterol levels were perfect. He said, as Dr. Simeons states too, that cholesterol usually is high during weight loss, and that the HDL & LDL are usually way off. My labs revealed that my body is adjusting well to the weight loss and my numbers are absolutely perfect. I had 2 appointments with Dr. Nickels where my blood pressure was 128/82 the first visit and 120/76 the second visit. Then when I saw Dr. Davis it was 140/100. He is still not concerned with my bp readings and is convinced that with the weight loss my body will adjust to that lower number more consistently. My t3 & reverse t3 are perfect now along with my TSH. All of these were high back in August. I'm still having low progesterone symptoms so we are treating that and will re-test in about 3 months to see what my levels are then. I'm very blessed to have a team of physicians that have a desire for full body healing through the use of whole foods and supplements. Neither of them have pushed me to use drugs, though I am on a bio-available progesterone for the time being.
So, that is my LONG update! I hope those of you who are in the midst of your weight loss journey will continue forward. Do not become discouraged by the bumps along the way, learn from each victory and each challenge so that in the end you will reach your desired levels of health and wellness.
Now, the really cool thing is, that since entering phase 3 my weight has stayed within .6 of my LDW. This is the first time my weight has been so stable since round 1. I really struggled with portion control and binging after round 2 & 3. In my mind I felt so extremely deprived that I just attacked food... which is REALLY bad!
I had a couple different friends mention the bible study book called: Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst. I was able to find it at my library along with the DVD. It has been a huge blessing to me. It is helping me to view food and my food struggles from a biblical perspective. I've found it both convicting and encouraging. Lately I've been watching 2 segments of the DVD while doing my 45 minutes of walk aerobics. The children get really confused because the lady on the TV is not doing the exercises that mommy is! LOL! I'd highly recommend this book/bible study to any of you that find you are an emotional or stress eater and have a desire to get the stronghold of food under control in your life.
Currently hubby and I are using the JUDDD way of eating for our maintenance diet. We are not holding to the strict 500 calorie down day because we are not looking to lose more weight. Hubby is at his ideal weight but wants a WOE (way of eating) that will allow him to maintain with ease. I want to stabilize here for a while, then I plan to tweak my down day amounts lower so that I can eventually lose a little more weight, if my body allows. I believe that the benefits of keeping the SIRT1 Gene active will help us to maintain our weight loss along with giving us more added health benefits.
I'm still doing weights/lifting with the total gym for 30-40 minutes 3 days a week followed by 3-4 miles of walk aerobics and on the off days I do 3-5 miles of walk aerobics. Sunday is my day of rest. My body is toning up and I'm starting to enjoy the workout routine. I've never really liked exercise, however, this time I really would like to see if the exercise helps to tone up all the jiggle spots left behind from all the fat loss. Plus, I'm hoping it will be part of a health routine that will support not only my weight loss but my struggles with high blood pressure and my endocrine system.
I saw both my doctors last week: my cardiologist Dr. William Davis, author of Wheat Belly, and my Naturalpathic Doctor, Dr. Michelle Nickels. Both were thrilled with the 80 pounds I've lost over the past year. Dr. Davis was particularly surprised to see that my cholesterol levels were perfect. He said, as Dr. Simeons states too, that cholesterol usually is high during weight loss, and that the HDL & LDL are usually way off. My labs revealed that my body is adjusting well to the weight loss and my numbers are absolutely perfect. I had 2 appointments with Dr. Nickels where my blood pressure was 128/82 the first visit and 120/76 the second visit. Then when I saw Dr. Davis it was 140/100. He is still not concerned with my bp readings and is convinced that with the weight loss my body will adjust to that lower number more consistently. My t3 & reverse t3 are perfect now along with my TSH. All of these were high back in August. I'm still having low progesterone symptoms so we are treating that and will re-test in about 3 months to see what my levels are then. I'm very blessed to have a team of physicians that have a desire for full body healing through the use of whole foods and supplements. Neither of them have pushed me to use drugs, though I am on a bio-available progesterone for the time being.
So, that is my LONG update! I hope those of you who are in the midst of your weight loss journey will continue forward. Do not become discouraged by the bumps along the way, learn from each victory and each challenge so that in the end you will reach your desired levels of health and wellness.
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