***Week 1 Vlog, has not been posted yet. Technical difficulties and life interfered. Will post sometime this week! Thanks for understanding!
With Week 1 of the study behind us, do you still believe that this time will be different?
Hopefully you believe it now more than ever!! Or even if you aren’t there yet, you at least think that maybe just maybe this time will be different! Wherever you are or however you are feeling, stay committed and let’s get ready to dig into Week 2 of our Made to Crave Online Bible Study!
Quick explanation: I’m not sure what you envisioned the Online Bible Study to be like, but you will not be spoon-fed here. You will do the work on your own, at any time of day, and at your own intensity. I will be your guide and serve as a resource, encourager, and sometimes teacher, but the workload is all yours. (and mine too, because I’ll be doing the study with you!) I’M SO EXCITED!!!!
Visit the Made to Crave website to download and print the Fridge sign for week 2. This week’s word is:
DETERMINATION
Now is not the time to quit. Be determined to make it! We are going for life long changes, not a quick fix. There is no end date or goal weight that we are striving for. Healthy eating and activity will get us where we want to be. But it will take determination. This week’s reading assignments, Chapters 4, 5, and 6 will help you stay determined. Romans 8:37 reminds us that we are more than conquerers.“Marinate” on that and be determined! Determined to do whatever it takes to satisfy our deepest desires with God and NOT food!
You May Want to Copy and Print the Rest of This Post
Reading and Homework Assignments for Week 2:
Sunday-Spend some time in prayer for yourself and your study sisters about Week 2. Share in the comment section of this blog or on the Online Bible Studies Facebook Page where discussions and prayer requests about Made to Crave are ongoing 24/7.
Monday-Read Chapter 4. Highlight and take notes as you read. When you get to a Bible verse that Lysa mentions, take our your Bible. Look up the verse for yourself. Underline it and write “MTC” beside it. Think on the verse or passage a moment. Journal or make a few index cards with Scripture or quotes that will keep you grounded and give you the determination to stay strong. Begin sending Melissa questions for the Friday (or Saturday) Vlog. Email them to Melissa@MelissaTaylor.org.
Tuesday-Complete Chapter 4 Reflection Questions. Read the questions and record your answers in a journal or notebook. Be honest. These are just for your eyes or whoever you choose to share them with. Share as much or as little as you like in the comments section of my blog or on the Online Bible Studies Facebook page.
Tuesday Conference Call- Tonight we will be talking with co-author of the Made to Crave Action Plan, Dr. Ski Chilton. He will be answering our questions on health and giving us the low down on what we need to do to live healthy lives! So honored to have him. If you want to sign up for the calls, it’s not too late! And even if you can’t be on them live, they are recorded for later listening! Sign up here.
Wednesday-Read Chapter 5. This is my VERY FAVORITE chapter in the whole book! Follow the same directions as on Monday. Check Melissa’s blog for an encouraging mid-week message! Post a comment to encourage others.
Thursday-Complete Chapter 5 Reflection Questions. Follow the same directions as on Tuesday. Share as much or as little as you like in the comments section of my blog or on the Online Bible Studies Facebook page.
Friday-Read Chapter 6. Follow the same instructions as Monday and Wednesday. Happy Birthday to me! Feel free to send me a happy birthday message 
(haha just kidding you don’t have to, but it really is my birthday. I’m 45!)
Friday Vlog!!! Log on to this blog, www.MelissaTaylor.org. Watch a short video of me answering some of your questions from the week. (Sometimes this post may be on Saturday)
Friday Option: If you want to have all your work done before the weekend, go ahead and complete the Chapter 6 Reflection Questions. Follow the same instructions as Monday and Wednesday.
Saturday Option-If you didn’t do the Chapter 6 Reflection Questions on Friday, do them today.
Okay, that’s it! Print or “favorite” this page so you can keep up with this week’s study. I won’t be posting the schedule daily, so hold on to this!
Determine now that Week 2 is going to be a great week for us! I think you will absolutely fall in love with God all over again after the material you cover in this week’s assignments! We were made for more! Rock on Sistas!
Sponsor a Child
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it’s a big step for me to write this…but I’m asking for prayer…I so struggle in this area. Food has a great bondage on me and I keep sinking. A few days of great then over eating/ etc. I was excited to start and had an awesome start then sunk!
For the last 7 or so years of my life this has been a hard issue. (I’m not very old) I lost a bunch of weight then went through a life crisis and gained it back. I know this is an area that Satan has stronghold and has really used this area to back me in a hole.
I believe there is victory in Christ and know that it takes discipline to get there. But it seems so far away…to get my focus off of food, looks, weight, what I eat. I need to change or my weight is going to be a big problem… pray that I can stand strong to hold to Jesus this week…pray for the faith to cry to God and believe He cares…faith to trust that this is His plan for me…faith to obey Jesus and root out the lies of Satan that have wrapped my life in bonds…another new beginning… ~a girl who longs to love Jesus and live life fully for Him~
I will be honored to pray for you.
I’ll pray for you too, just as I pray for me. I too struggle with the food, cravings, and overeating. But let me encourage you with Matthew 6:33-34 “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
One day at a time, let’s not think so much about food and how we struggle, but let’s think about God, His kingdom, His Word, His promises. Pray, pray, pray, and let God take care of the rest. Many hugs.
I will be praying for you, too. Thanks Sanda for posting this verse. I have chosen Matthew 6:24-34 for my verses to concentrate on for 2012. They keep popping up all over the place
I so know how you feel. Started of well and empowered but by Saturday I was tired and stressed and frustrated and turned to food instead of to God. The pattern of my life – decide to change, get on a programme, start of well, then life gets a bit too hectic – and I find myself right back at the beginning of the vicious cycle, shunning God, eating up a storm. But one thing I did do different this time (and I believe it was the prayers of my group) I spoke to God and poured out my frustration about how I have been so good this week why can’t I have a break. Then I asked for forgiveness because I realised just how important food was in my life. And as hard as it was I woke up on Sunday I walked in the opposite direction of the cycle. A small step in the right direction. And even though this day screams that I deserve a food treat I know it won’t fill my deepest desire, only God’s love can. So I will pray for you that you stay determined this week. That if you fall, God will empower you to stand up straight away and speak to Him and walk with Him.
You can do this! why? Because you are not alone. Believe this time will be different. God is bigger than our issues and girl, you were made for more! Believe that. I’m praying for you!
Matthew 9:2 says, “Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.” We as ladies with similar issues have the faith for you, to know God cares and hears your cry for strength and longing for Him. Know that you are prayed for daily. God Bless
In the Cross Lisa
I too will pray for you. This is a hard battle and His mercies are new every day. take heart, He has given you the power through Him to do anything and everything. i love you sweet sister in Christ.
Prayed for you.
Will be praying for you, I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND!!!
Prayed for you!!
I too can relate with your situation……This is very hard but, remember what Job went through in the bible..That is what has kept me functioning no matter how low in the valley I was….Keep your head up sister!!
I will pray for you a ton! I will share with you that over the past year of my life I’ve let Satan have a stronghold on me too. I have been battling some major anxiety. I feel like I’ve now come full circle since the day that I realized something was wrong. Your story speaks to me because I truly feel your pain and your need for God’s help. Trust me when I say that if you just keep going, it will get better. A year later, my life is no longer as dark as it was before. It gets scary, letting the enemy speak to you and listening to his lies…but remember you are NEVER alone!! We are all here with you now, and trust that God will see you through this to the end. One day you will be able to look back and smile because you’ve come so far. Prayers for you! My favorite Bible verse, and the one that has consistently gotten me through a rough day is the very verse that Melissa has posted at the top of her blog, Jeremiah 29:11. God has bigger plans for you than this and He is standing next to you waiting for you to see the beauty that He sees in you!
Your situation could fit me and probably thousands of other Christians to a tee. I think that Satan knows us better than we know ourselves and is pleased each time we fall. However, Christ has already won the battle for us and will help us through. Sometimes I think that the greater the struggle, the more glory we will give to God. Looking forward to that day when we all give God the glory he deserves.
Like I said in my zillion page novel a couple days ago, I have never used food to satisfy my deep craving instead of turning to God to fill the huge, empty hole in my heart and soul. But, like almost every other Christian, I do have a craving that I have spent most of my 48 years trying to fill and satisfy the constant demands of my little monster instead of going to God and allowing Him to fill that huge, empty hole in my heart and soul and I felt that the lessons in this book would be beneficial to me also. My craving is approval from others. Which, when I think about it, really makes me feel ashamed, like I am a complete idiot and failure since I first asked Jesus into my heart at the age of 7, spent several years in a good, Bible based Christian school learning all about God’s love for me, all of His many promises to me and the stamp of approval He placed on me when I asked His precious son into my heart. Ever since I pinned down that my craving is people’s approval on Wednesday, I keep asking myself how can I possibly need people’s approval when I know, deep in my heart that God’s approval of me is the only approval that counts. It is only through His approval of me that I will some day enter heaven and there is not a person on the face of this earth whose disapproval of me can ever send me to hell. So, why do I need approval from others? And, more importantly, now that I have figured out what my deep craving is, why can’t I just let go of it when I know all of God’s truths?
Well, Ladies, I am looking forward to starting week 2 with all of you. I will be praying for all of you as we go through this journey together.
God Bless Each You,
Juli aka Sassy
I will be praying for you also.
I struggle with those same feelings too.
There is also another Proverbs 31 Bible Study going on by Renee Swope…called a Confident Heart…it is just in week 2, only have done one chapter so you could easily catch up…I think it will also address the struggles you mentioned. I am doing both studies and boy can they complement each other.
So, just a thought!
Juli I am also a people pleaser. For me it comes from my childhood and not being accepted. All the time I was growing up I wondered if I was likeable to I busied myself getting others to like me. It has placed me here where I am now trying to clear all that away and get to know the two most important people I know- God and myself.
I will be praying for you.
I know I’ve read it before. I’ve heard it before. But, Melissa, when you said today that I should be believing things are going to be different, I realized that before that moment, I didn’t believe they could be. I’m going to spend lots of time in prayer, asking God to remind me that really, with Him in the equation, that really…THIS TIME COULD BE DIFFERENT. (whew! It scared me even writing that.) I know that my health, my weight, my lifestyle…everything demands it needs to be different…but really, this could be it. Maybe, with the POWAH of Christ working through me, I can actually lose the 220 lbs I need to in order to even be classified as “normal” weight. That’s a daunting task…but the Bible does say that “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” It doesn’t give a limit to only losing 20 lbs. Or 50. Or 100. I could really conquer this. (I must admit the “MAYBE” keeps popping in my head.) But, really, for the first time, my head is kinda sorta wrapping around the idea that through Christ I could accomplish getting to a healthy weight, for the first time in my life. God is that powerful, isn’t He? I guess it will take a LOT of DETERMINATION to live day by day with that goal in mind…
Let’s put Him to the test!
Yes, believe this time will be different!!!!
Sarah, I am praying that every maybe will be banished for you and that this time, you see the possibility of today. Today, make good choices, today follow your plan, today get your study in. Most of all, I am praying that today you will see that Jesus is for you and that He (and we) are walking with you.
Well, I have read MTC Chapters 1-3 twice in 1 1/2 years of owning the book and I am DETERMINED to continue reading. With my accountability in place, my eatting plan in place and my excercise plan happening, I know that this time things WILL be different.
My verse for this week is all about DETERMINATION
1 Peter 1:13:
“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (NIV)
Last week it was 2 Peter 1:3, about POWER
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. ” (NIV)
Thanks for sharing these verses. I feel as though they will help me, not only in week 2, but hoepfully the long term!
Love the verses too! Copying them now!
Great verses to hold onto Abigail! I am posting it on my determination sign for this week! Thanks!
I love those verses. Definitely going to put those where I can see them!
I so want this time to be different. I have struggled this week with something Lysa refers to on page 23 “We consume what we think about. And what we think about can consume us if we’re not careful.” I have to reach my healthy weight. I cannot continue to live in the fear of gaining weight. I am an anorexic who was once morbidly obese with binge eating. I lost weight by turning my food over to God everyday, all day. . .then I took control when I got to my goal weight and just kept losing. I have to give this to God. My health is now in jeopardy. I just can’t seem to keep the obsessive thoughts out of my mind. Everyone who posts here helps give me the encouragement to continue and now I am ready to take the DETERMINATION necessary to fight this battle but only by turning to God. I have to do this and NOW.
It’s wonderful how honest you are being. And YES, give it to God. He wants all of us to overweight, underweight, food idolizers, gluttons, addicts, obese or anorexic to have a healthy relationship with Him, and the food he created for us to noursih our bodies.
Blessings to you!
I think the word for this week is perfect. I want determination to begin a workout routine. My husband is seeking to get fit as well and although he is not doing this study, I think he will be a great partner in this journey for me. I am DETERMINED.
My heart also breaks for all those women struggling. We are all in this together. I am encouraged and blessed to have your prayers and I will be praying for YOU as well. This ain’t easy but God is stronger then anything we come against. Claim it, believe in you, you really are wonderful.
I love the way that Jesus like to keep things so simple. He’s says simply “Come follow me” – no frills and no fuss. In my past attempts to lose weight , I seem to complicate the journey and add lots of dollops of worry, frustration, fear, perfectionism and emotion. So this time, I am taking Jesus with me on my simple journey ,where I learn to carve God, not food. And this time, yes it is already different. Thank you to Melissa and all the other women who have joined me on this biblestudy. Vicky – South Africa
Praying for all of my sisters in Christ as I read through all the posts…
Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-15 (NIV)
As I spent time in the Word this weekend, I asked God to open my heart and my mind to hear His message so that I may apply it to my life and so that I can use it to help others. God shed His light to me through this verse from Psalms 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and shield; I trust Him and He helps me. I am very happy and I praise Him with my song.” This verse has provided me with a simple reminder that my strength to fight this battle/addiction to food comes from Him. He gives me a shield as my cravings try to take control of my life. All I have to do is to TRUST in him. I need to trust my loving Father. I have “slipped up” several times this week, but I feel that I am starting to “get the picture.” I am longing, or craving, a deeper relationship with God. I want Him more than that pan of brownies. God bless you all on this journey with Him who gives us strength and guidance. And THANK YOU, Melissa, for this opportunity to share in God’s work. God bless all that you do!
hi ladies
l like to sit in my comfy chair and read thru all these comments we share together. God always gives me verses from the bible from all of you or just some encouragement to get me through to the next meal. l check online every few hours and l seem to need that. l know it doesnt matter where we all live but it is nice to see where we all are such as vicki from south africa. So neat to see how far away from each other we are in distance but how close we all are on-line in this new endeavour. l know our size will not matter in heaven and even on earth a person 270 pounds such as myself doesnt have a bigger soul than say a 120 pound lady. When l look at people l dont see weight particularly l see more of the person inside. This is how l believe our father in heaven sees us. l know its no excuse to not take care of this body he gives us but it is the reality.
l know somewhere in the bible it says “his blessings are new every morning” and when l wake up each morning l do ask for his blessing on this new adventure and to give me the power to stay the course, which he has done for me this week. One thing different as we all want this time to be different is l started to go back to church. I went today to the Baptist church in our town thinking oh there will be a great message just for me. Well the preacher announced he had lost his notes, then he said the worship team couldnt be there today and that his wife would lead the music but was sick with the flu so be patient with her. I thought to myself oh brother why does this happen the day l decide to go to church for the first time in a very long time. I then heard a small voice say to me Brennie not eveything is perfect as you are not either humble yourself. Well he was winging his sermon and asked us to turn in our bible well l didnt have one and one lady jumped up and gave me hers. There was lots in his sermon about Gods Grace and we sang Amazing Grace, one of my favorites. So God did speak to me today and l left there knowing l need to trust in the Lord with my whole heart and he will provide what we need when we need it at his perfect time. I trust this will be enough to get me throught this next week in a more determined way.
so lets go ladies together with the armor of God thru week 2.
brennie from alberta,canada
Lamentations 3:22-24
22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
23 they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“therefore I will hope in him.”
Good job on going back to church. The fellowship of believers is so encouraging. I will pray that the church will make you feel welcomed and loved. Keep going!
It is 430 in the morning, I am sitting here in the dark consumed with worry, praying for God to take it away knowing he can but not letting go. I decided to check out the blog since I had not, I am reading the book but have not participated in the blog. I am so happy that I decided to do this. Thank you thank you thank you for all the bible verses and the prayers, I feel so encouraged. To know you are not alone brings so much peace. This time will be different!!! Different for each and everyone of us!
How great is our God! His mercies never come to an end they are new every morning.this is his promise no matter what we did of ATE yesterday .His love NEVER ceases . Even when we stumble and fall ..even when we think we are not worthy…. still he loves us
Let us put all our Hope in him! That is what gives us the DA powah
Thak you so much ladies ! Your words and prayers have blessed me and will get me through this day!
I will be praying for you!
lisa
Yes! I have been thinking on this verse so much this week — not just that God never runs out of mercy for me (or you!), but who knows what mercies lie ahead of you each day? Who knows what God is going to do for you or keep you from or lead you into today? What an exciting thought!
EM,
Thank you for pointing that out! I needed to read that this morning!
(BTW- how did you get your picture in your response??)
I am praying for everyone~!!
XoXo
Amen, that God led you to a Church where the message was moving to you. our Pastor teaches several times a week and lately he has been teaching- “not purposely” on worshiping the preacher more then God. Your message reminds me we are all human and no one except God should be worshiped. Hope you keep going back.
Today we were asked in our assignments to pray for our selves and our MTC brothers and sisters and their week ahead. As I worshiped in church this morning, we sang a song that will be my prayer for myself and all of you walking through this journey:
“Holy Fire, burn away
My desire for ANYTHING
That is not of You, but is of me
I want more of You, and less of me
Empty me
Won’t You empty me
Fill me with You
With You.
May God truly become ALL we crave!
Amen, Kristy!!
Thanks so much for that Kristy, I so need to read that, being this is the first time I have written anything down in the comments. I have been reading my book and I’m excited about week 2 and as I pray for myself and all of you that is on this journey…I must admit that I’m not someone that over eats I don’t eat breakfast or lunch, but I eat dinner because I’m hungry by then and I take alot of medicine. But I tend to want too eat things that are unhealthy because it’s quick and easy. I love to cook, but when my Fibromyalgia and Rheumatoid Arthritis is bothering me, I don’t want to cook, I want something that is easy and quick. In February of last year I was diagnosed as a pre-diabetic and I take Metformin as a precaution. You would think that with all the meds I take and now being told i’m on the border of diabetes which runs in my family on both sides, That i want the change that I get up and cook healthy all the time, I sometimes get the notion of cooking healthy and then the weekend comes and I say ahhh one day won’t hurt if i eat quick and easy(What i call unhealthy eating, fast food). but it turns out to be the whole weekend of unhealthy eating. So I pray that God helps me to cook the whole week and weekend of healthy eating, right choices and that my Fibro and RA don’t get in the way and stop me, and that he gives me the strength to begin to exercise even when i feel completely drained like i do today(Fibro is kicking my body)! I will continue too Lift you up in prayer, Please lift me up as well. Determination!!! We can do it!! I’m Determined!!
Love in Christ
kimmee
Kimmee, You can do this. Keep up your determination. You are empowered by the almighty God. You are worth the healthy changes. Praying for you girl!
Kimmee, I pray that you will continue with your determination. You have most definitely encouraged me.
Blessings, Stephanie
Jeremy Camp-Carried Me, The Worship Project.
I have it on repeat now and listening to it over & over.
Thank you for sharing!
I struggle with faith in myself and in God. I see my church leaders struggling and no one I know seems to have any victory in their lives. How do we get God’s life and power and victory? I know God is real, he has spoken to me in the times when I was overwhelmed by pain, but what I know of him has not given me joy or victory. It’s hard to find empowerment and determination when you keep failing at life.
Hannah, I’m so sorry you’re feeling that way. I will pray for you! I know Beth Moore talks about a very powerful tool in our spiritual lives and that is praying God’s Word (she wrote a book about it). It’s using verses of Scripture in your prayers. She says it’s like 2 sticks of dynamite and it destroys strongholds over time. You keep praying them repeatedly, as necessary. If your stronghold is food, then look up verses concerning food (there’s lots in the MTC book) and pray them back to the One who will carry you through this.
Also, look at this moment by moment; choice by choice instead of the whole big picture. Focus on making the right next choice. Your victories will build upon one another. You will feel empowered and be more determined each day. Then others will start seeing what’s happening with you and asking you what you’re doing differently. That’s when you can brag on God BIG TIME:) To Him be the Glory…you can do it!
Hannah,
Your comment touched my heart. I’m praying for you. You are not a failure and do not let the enemy convince you of that. You are alive today and that means God still has plans for you. You are God’s daughter and He loves you. Believe that. I do.
Hang on! You are worth it!
Love,
Melissa
Hannah,
You are right, God is very real! You get God’s life and power and victory when you are in Christ. When you know Him as Savior the very power that raised Him from the dead is yours through His Holy Spirit. There is nothing that brings more joy and peace in life than belonging to Jesus.
My prayer for you is this:
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
Julia
Thanks to all of you for the prayers and encouragement.
Ladies,
Thanks so much for your comments! You are all such a blessing to me! I am praying for all of us! Today in church we sang the chorus “In His Time”. I thought of all of us as I was singing. God will make it all okay “In His Time”! We all want success now, but God is taking us on a journey & the success comes “in His Time” as He leads each of us. The verse I want to leave us thinking of is found in the 4th. chapter of the book of Philippians. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8)
Let’s all think of God’s goodness, & loveliness this week. I am guessing as we think about the goodness our physical cravings whatever they are will not seem as big & overwhelming. Have a great week everyone!
God Bless,
Julie Triplett Richmond, VA
I like the thought that we are on God’s journey and we will have success in “His Time”. That is an awesome thought!
Let me preface today’s comment by saying that I had a friend decide that they want nothing more to do with me (for the second time).
That said, I found today that I’ve been craving and wanting to eat more than I should. But other than some nibbling, I kept myself from giving in to the greater cravings of trying to fill my emptiness with food. I just got my full psychological evaluation results this week, and it has been a struggle not to give into the food this week, and bury my frustrations, confusion, and the just overall mind-boggling part of trying to accept it all.
I knew that I had Major Depressive Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder (struggled with both for years), but this week I was also told that I have Borderline Personality Disorder, and traits of dependent personality disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Personality Disorder (which is not the same as OCD).
I’ve renewed my commitment to see this through and count calories (as part of my plan), however now I am lacking my, in real life, accountability partner. So again I ask anyone who dares to hold me accountable to visit my blog and let me know that you are there. I know that I need some encouragement to continue to make better choices and try to live better and lose weight, and that I can’t do it on my own. I also want to learn to give the problems to God, and then LEAVE THEM THERE, and not turn to food for comfort.
That said I want to thank each of you in this bible study for being there and helping me to see the error of my ways in turning to food instead of God, and to encourage each of you to continue in your personal journey towards a better life.
Deanna, I left you a note on your blog. I am in need of an accountability partner as well. Have a blessed Monday.
Thanks Pat. I would love to help to keep you accountable. I will try to post on my blog soon. Feeling a little under the weather this week.
I am looking forward to learning to make healthier choices and to slowly be able to take some of the weight off.
I am a bit behind but this study has been eye opening. I am kinda taking it slow so I don’t miss anything, an this time is different. I AM determined not to quit and give in. I AM determined not to overlook something because it is to uncomfortable. I AM determined to give God the Glory because He wants me to be the best I AM supposed to be . I AM HIS CHILD.
God is good! And He answered my prayer for an accountability partner today. So pumped to have another person to keep me on track! I am empowered & now determined! Have a blessed week!
As I read all of the comments from my sisters in Christ I am reminded that we are a family….meant to love and encourage each other. I have recently left an abusive and dangerous marriage and have literally fled my home with my two young children. I have the support of my family but still feel alone and try to fill the loneliness with food, shopping, attention….. I am finding as I read MTC that I have craved a lot of different things for a long time. Not just food. And as I look at the relatively small amount of weight that I have to lose I am also reminded that it’s not the number that I’m giving up… It’s my stubborn will. I have quite a road ahead of me and a huge amount of fear, both for my safety and the thought of giving up my “comforts”. But I am so grateful that I’m not taking this journey alone!
Hi Carrie,
I’ll be praying for you as you go through this difficult transition in your life and that you are able to find comfort and protection in God’s arms.
“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.” Deuteronomy 7:6 (NIV)
Remember that you are TREASURED by God!
Thank you Shiela.
He has put a protective hedge around me and my precious babies for the last 6 years while we have dodged the ugliness and danger of addiction. We have escaped with our lives and our Lord. Now we press on… I know I can battle the food fight cause I’ve felt Jesus by my side through the other battles as well.
So encourages as I read the comments. Having an accountability partner has been hard for me but this time, the Lord provided one before I started! I keep 2 children for extra income and one just came to me two weeks ago. This sweet little boy’s mama has been known to me for a while…she was my daughter’s home room teacher in high school. She is ready to lose weight after her baby and we are accountable together. She is not reading MTC but I keep dropping tidbits in there. She will say I love that! Seeking to spend time thanking God for His provision, not focusing on what I think I lack.
Reading the posts here, I found I wasn’t alone with “falling” this weekend. I was doing great until yesterday. A few handfuls of my husbands cashews and then a few graham crackers that I did NOT need. I didn’t crave these; they were just out.
I pray with a coworker on Mondays, and our devotional today is about getting help from God. I NEED to cast aside my pride of wanting to do this in my own, and ALLOW Him to help me. Psalms 18:6 In my distress I called to the LORD; I cried to my God for help. From His temple He heard my voice; my cry came before Him, into His ears.
Father God, You are our Helper. You give us help, even when we don’t know it and sometimes don’t want it. I thank You for Your help, Your comfort and the sweet fellowship we have in You. Father, I lift up each sister and brother in Christ who is doing this MTC study, and humbly ask that You give each one of us the desire to come to You before we put a single thing in our mouths. May You be glorified by our actions today. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
I didnt learn about this study until Friday so I am just a little behind but I am excited about this study! I am trying to lose some weight, but am more interested in making better food choices. My new years resolution is to be closer to God in 2012 and I think this study is a fantastic way to start off
I look forward to doing this study with sisters in Christ!
As I am looking ahead, after finishing my ch 3 questions…I am pondering what choices regarding food I can make. I’d like to see a nutritionist, but we have very limited insurance…won’t pay. Any ideas?
I also get frustrated with the cost of making healthy eating choices. I am making wise purchases in regards to food, but it is costing more. WE have a large family and at this time a limited budget. I have heard people say that it’s no less to buy ‘bad’ foods rather than ‘good’ foods…but I disagree. Fiberful foods are pricey…carbs are cheap, fruits and veggies go back and forth. One grilled chicken sandwich (minus the bun that I throw away) from McD’s is like $4 but a cheeseburger is $1. Not that I want to be eating fast foods…but sometimes that’s what you have to choose when traveling for extended times. It is frustrating…no wonder so many of us choose poorly. I am not blaming McD’s…but when you have $1…you get the point.
We just spent a weekend away from home and I feel good about the choices I made.I packed tons of healthy choices and other than a couple measl I ate what I brought and the other times I ate appropriate portions, limited carbs, and *once* took a small bite of a cookie and didn’t go back for more. So this is moving me forward…that is huge progress for me.
I relate to your comments about the costs of eating healthy. I live with my daughter and 2 teenage granddaughters. Even though my daughter works, I am a senior on a fixed income. With the rising food costs (and everything else from laundry soap to toilet tissue) it IS a struggle to provide the healthy choices on a limited budget. More healthy choices such as the whole wheat or lo carb tortillas, whole grain breads, etc. etc. make it difficult but not impossible. I am finding that portion discipline is essential for us as a family. God does promise us that He will provide for all our needs, and for those of us desiring to honor Him with our shopping and our choices, I believe He will. I pray when making out my shopping list, and before entering the grocery store. I will pray for all my brothers as sisters who are struggling with this as well.
After my daughter was born, I went to a registered dietitian. She told me to write down EVERYTHING I ate in a week. EVERYTHING…every little bite, every stick of gum, etc. Then we went over it together. You can do the same thing, and then go online to see what you’re eating and look at areas where you might be able change your eating habits.
Instead of cookies, I went to graham crackers for a snack. Although fresh vegetables can be expensive, frozen is not and is a healthy option. Look at the pastas you’re eating; can you change some to whole wheat or higher protein? Throwing in some frozen spinach or broccoli to a pasta dish adds fiber and nutrition.
Do you have an Aldi store by you, or maybe a Wonder Bread discount store? We buy our breads at Aldi because the higher fiber breads ARE more expensive and are half the price at Aldi.
use your library as a source for nutrition, look at Weight Watcher cookbooks and the like. I agree to keep a food log and to drink lots of water.
I am struggling ladies. The first week Sunday – Thursday was great. Then Friday hit as well as a marriage healing class we are taking and that was the end. No the complete end, I didn’t over do but I did eat a couple of cookies over the weekend. I am healing my marriage from an affair and it is very emotional. I turned to food to medicate as soon as the marriage weekend was over. We have 6 weeks to go. My plan is to continue to count calories, keep in God’s work for both healing and weight control, exercise, and if I medicate every now and then I will forgive myself. At least I’m not medicating each and every meal of the day as I was before.
Praying for everyone!
Angel, you were honest about it and that is being accountable. Praying for you, been in your shoes.
I am DETERMINED to workout this week and enjoy it. I am DETERMINED to make a lifestyle change, not a short-term, means-to-an-end change. I am EMPOWERED to remove these unhealthy obstacles that distract me from my relationship with God and His purpose for me. Seek Ye first His kingdom…
Plan ahead and be prepared for any possible sidetracks BUT get back up and keep moving forward. Never give up! Empowered. Determined. In Jesus Name! Amen!
I am frustrated right now. I hate to be that person who only asks for encouragement and hasn’t really been part of the “discussion”. but if you happen to read this and don’t mind praying for me and perhaps encouraging me that would be great. Please know that I am doing the bible study and have been working really hard on making sure I work out 5x a week (half hour each time) and sticking diligently with my eating plan. I can’t stand chapter 4 of MTC. At this time in my life, I do not have any close friends. I only see the people from church when I am at church. Outside of church I don’t see or talk to or hang out with anyone. Same goes for my co-workers. So I don’t have anyone to walk through this journey with me and right now I could sure use someone. I have been busting my tale, working out at 5:15 4x a week plus Saturday’s. I had hoped that after three weeks, the last time I weighed on my doctor’s scale, I would have seen some progress. My scale says I’ve lost 6 lbs in three week’s. But today, at my follow up appointment, my doctors scale hasn’t moved in 3 weeks! So incredibly discouraging. I am already dreading getting up at 4:45 to workout at 5:15 tomorrow. I am fighting a huge urge to run downstairs to the CVS and raid the candy bar isle.
I so wish I had someone here to go through this with. I’ve ready MTC twice and both times I read chapter 4 I cried through that entier thing. I have tried. I go to every women’s event, I am a leader in a ministry group at church, I have invited people over, made sure I go to group activities. I’ve asked ladies to hang out for shopping, movies, tea, and even for walks. I can’t tell you how many times I invited people over to have them turn me down. I’ve invited my ministry group over several times – only to have them all cancel or decline for other things. I used to go to gym classes, hopeing to meet someone there who I can sort of buddy up with and know that they are expecting to see me at class. After 4 months of going to this same gym class 3 times a week I still didn’t know anyone’s name and they didn’t know me.
I am whining. I know. But right now I am very discourged. I’ll be fine tomorrow. I am trying to be fine by tomorrow without cheating on my eating plan today and without crying my eyes out about it all. My little pity party will be over soon and prayerfully without the added guilt of cheating. hahaha.
I just need to quit feeling sorry for myself and get on with it. I should read chapter 5 now. I’ll do that on my lunch break. Talk to you later.
Robin,
You can do this. Start your day out in prayer and just say the words, Lord I’m giving this battle to you. When you mess up and give into your cravings, confess it and give it to God immediatley and move on. You can try again next time. I wish I’d have given this to God a long time ago. I gave me Son’s to God and it was like Poof all the stress and mess was gone within months and they are all doing great without me interfering with God’s plans for them. This is what gives me the strength to do this. I know for a fact that God is faithful and he will come through.
Try to ignore the scale for a while especially your first month or so. My body has always put on 5 to 10 lbs before I start losing its devasting to see the scale go up when you are sacrificing all the goodies and being good. Try hard to cut out processed carbs out of your diet. Cut way back on sugars, pasta and breads. This way when you go to the gym you dont have to burn through excess carbs before you start to burn fat. You should see a big difference. Maybe you already know this. But remember and I’m sure you know this that your fat turns to muscle and muscle is heavier than fat thats why the scale goes up for some of us. Try the spin classes they are very effective. Even if you can’t keep up with the class for the first several months while you build up your endurance. People in my class have lost from 60 to over a hundred pounds. It’s amazing if they can we can too. I’m trying to lost 40 lbs. I want to be able to keep up with my grand kids if my sons ever get married. They are all in their early 20s so I have a ways to go. I don’t want to be bogged down with heart diseases and Diabetes when they grandbabies arrive. My kids have always been my motivation! My prayer for you is this:
Heavely father I lift up my sister Robin to you, I pray that you would fill her with your power and strength and help her to realize that she doesn’t need to fight this batter on her own. Fill her with your presence and speak to her spirit and fill her with your peace that surpasses understanding. I pray that you would send sisters into her life to fellowship with her and form friendships that will last a lifetime. In Jesus name, we pray and we wait in faithful expectation of your deliverance. Amen!
Kat, you’ve inspired me to put my scale away in the closet for the rest of this study!!
Thank you, Kat. And thank you Pat, Dottie, Sarah, Debi and any others. I am so thankful and blessed that you replied to my post with so much love and encouragment. I am ready to tackle this day and the rest of this week.
I survived yesterday wihtout cheating and I got up this morning to workout. So the Lord’s strength prevailed. I am glad I reached out for help.
God bless!
Robin,
I totally understand where you are coming from! Chapter 4 was hard for me to! I have ladies at church that I see there but not outside church. I work in a very small office and have one friend there but she doesnt go to church, etc so while she would help me with the diet part, she couldnt with the spiritual part. Know that I will be praying for you as we make this journey together!
Robin and Dottie, I don’t like Chapter 4 either. I’ve had to turn to the Internet for relationships and that is sad, sad, sad. It’s showing what’s happened in God’s churches…we’ve become too busy for relationships. We moved to a small town 12 years ago, and that’s when my weight really went up…I did the same as you, Dottie…opened my home, etc. No friends, so I turned to food instead of God. I honestly thought it was just me (lies from satan), but two years ago I visited a Christian chatroom and found this is going on all throughout the country. My work day is busy as well, and everyone is busy with their own lives, so no friends there either. Just keep praying, and we’ll be each other’s support for the next 5 weeks. I’m praying in agreement with Kat that God shows you someone to reach out to, because there are others within your church who feel the same way you do. The LORD has provided my a Christian friend to work out with now, and a coworker to pray with, so He can do the same for you!!
Robin you aren’t alone. I am the same way, I belong to a church and am a Sunday school teacher but outside of church I’m on my own. I don’t have close friends to just hang out with. You have one up on me , you are getting up and exercising. I still need to work on that. I need to be limber to go up and down the stairs to teach and the more I don’t exercise the harder it gets, mainly because I have arthritis in my knee and it gets worse it seems every day I don’t do anything. I will be doing ch 4 today ( as well as the other chapters ) So don’t give up you can do this!
Thank you, Debi.
Robin, I totally agree. I only have a few people that I consider my friends and none of them are actually in the church (sad, huh?). And, I am very reticent to get close to any of the women in the church because there has been so much drama in our church over the past few years. Finding an accountability partner is VERY hard. I’ve been looking for a spiritual mentor to meet with regularly for over a year now.
That being said. I know it is hard, but I have started reaching out to others in my exercise class, thinking maybe they need encouragement and friendship and I can be the person who initiates it. I just start by asking if they’ve taken the class before and what it is like, or what equipment we might need for the class. Slow, but it’s a start.
Here’s a silly thought. I’m allowing my dogs to encourage me as well. My dog needs to lose weight as well as she is recovering from a spinal cord injury. So, I’m trying to walk them daily and their brown eyes help as an inspiration!
Thank you all so much! I just now had time to check to see if anyone had responded and am blown away by so many of you supporting me and encouraging me. I am so thankful for you all! What an encouragment!
I will be praying for each one of you and look foward to staying in touch through this bible study. Thank you!!! My cup runneth over.
WOW! Thank you for your post! Thank you for having the courage to speak up and share your opinion of Chapter 4. I felt very discouraged after reading Chapter 4 because I thought I was the only one who felt uncomfortable finding an accountability partner. I have a couple friends, but I feel that I am alone in the spiritual aspect of our friendship. I’m afraid they think I’m a little “radical.” I’m pretty apprehensive in sharing my struggles with food I guess. I shouldn’t be ashamed, should I? Again, thank you Robin. I pray that you will use the amazing courage that you used to post this comment to continue to reach out to others. God has a plan for you! God bless you, my sister!
Hi Everyone,
I love Chapter six, Pillipians 3:19 really stood out to me. Their stomach is their God” really poked at me. Being ruled is not how I want to live my life. I don’t want anything to “Rule” my life. Since beginning this book I’ve turned around how I eat. I feel great already. Just the sense of empowerment I have over my food choices. I really feel like this is God’s battle and he’s equipped me with his will power. If you are still struggling, what has helped me are the six small meals. Choose your meals wisely, choose foods that are filling and healthy. I’ve given up pasta, bread, sugar and starches. I’ve used weight watchers in the past and it taught me about portion control and how to choose foods wisely. So i basically following what I learned from WW. God bless you all and remember to let God intervene on your behalf and let Him fight this battle for you. Eat good carbs and leave the bad carbs alone. This way when you excercise your workout is more effective and gets to burning fat more quickly.
God bless till next time
The fresh look at Esau’s story was great in Chpt 3 – He got to a point of desperation and trading it all for FOOD! A temporary filling of his stomach. Craziness and such a good example of why we need to PLAN and stay aware. So, a new aspect of my plan is to mentally plan out my meals before the day begins. Even just a rough sketch if necessary. I don’t have a Christian friend to do be my accountability partner, but I do have a girl friend that I lost weight with last year and am going to be turning to her. We’ll email each other our eating plan every morning, and report on the previous day as well as weigh in weekly. I’m really excited about it.
One part of my week that I’m already freaking out a bit about is that I have a birthday coming up this week… and I’ve planned on having cake, but am afraid that once I have some I won’t be able to stop. Praying about whether I shouldn’t find an alternative to cake to celebrate with… any suggestions?! I’ve got young kids in the house and they totally expect cake too
Preplan how much cake you think would be ok to have and before you eat ANY of it…serve it to the kids and guests, then PUT IT AWAY. Or buy a cake just big enough that there aren’t any servings left over. My daughter had a bday the first week I was trying to cut out carbs and sweets…She wanted chocolate chip pancakes, bacon, chocolate ilk and eggs for dinner…then chocolate fudge ice cream cake for dessert. (Ugh, overload) I called my accountability partner and told her the evenings menu. We discussed what to eat…not excli=uding anything, but thinking it through. Pancakes (minus choc chips for me-yuck) or dessert was what we came up with since they are both full of carbs. I preplanned two small pancakes with minimal syrup. Then allowed myself ONE BITE of her cake from someone elses plate. IT WORKED. I took the one bite and honestly it didn’t even taste good. But it felt good to watch them all enjoy this crazy meal and I felt good knowing I didn’t do anything I would regret the next day. I did feel EMPOWERED…week one’s WORD!
So have a happy birthday…hoping you find peace with how to celebrate!
Thanks, kmommy! Great ideas! I think I’m going to go with one small dessert or large cupcake for the four of us to share – my kids and hubby can polish that off with me just taking a bit or two and not feeling horrid about it Saturday morning.
And now for a quick moment of venting…and revelation.
My mom just posted the fattest picture of me I have ever seen and she did it on Facebook!
Anger came first. So I removed the picture from my wall so I can’t see it. (but I know others still can)
Hurt and retaliation came next. Wrote a status update on the problem with social media…anyone can post anything about you they want and you’re helpless to stop them.
Regret. Removed previous status update as I really don’t want to hurt my mom’s feelings (she was just posting Christmas pictures).
Sadness has moved in. Why would she put that out there? Why would she not consider my feelings? Why do I even need to worry about this? How did I ever let myself get to this point?
I know it’s my problem not hers. Although she may have layed some of the ground work for where I am, I am a grown woman and the choices have been mine.
I’m pretty crushed right now. It’s awful coming face to face with the reality of your appearance, especially when countless others are getting to see as well.
Ok, so here’s the good news.
I haven’t gone to the kitchen seeking comfort. Yeah!
I will be heading upstairs to cry a bit and cry out to the Lord a lot.
I’m feeling better already.
Proud of you, Trish, for NOT seeking comfort in food!!
I posted this as a response to the blog linked at the top of this comments page… http://simplymemywalk.wordpress.com/2012/01/23/made-to-crave-chapter-4/
then realized I wanted to share it hear as well.
Your statement, “I have spent a lot of my life fighting what I need to do and what I want to do. Let me tell you it’s exhausting – I feel defeated before I even begin” really stands out to me. I am learning that I do not have a healthy set of boundaries and that what I feel is a “need” to do, is not always accurate and what I “want” to do is rarely acknowledged. The inverse of what is the norm for most people. I live in extremes ~ all or nothing. Give all, take nothing. And then I turn to food to fill me up with what I don’t let in from others. I struggle with what “balance” is. I’m asking God to show me what the need really is that He wants me to fill. I’m asking Him to reveal what the want is that I’m not listening to which is causing me pain.
I think my “talent” is working with and helping others. But I have let that area become extreme as well. Somewhere it went from helping to pleasing. I end each day depleted and food is the available outlet for frustrations that I hadn’t recognized, which I have because I didn’t voice my feelings, needs, or expectations… in order to make someone else happy.
I also need to “Think it over”. I just signed up for extra hours at work because they desperately need help even though I desperately need the time off. Now, I will suffer the consequence for making that choice and it will probably lead me to food. I am asking God to forgive me for not setting a boundary for myself that I needed to, I thank Him for revealing it to me, and I ask Him for the strength to handle the consequence in a healthy and loving manner. I don’t want to turn to food. I don’t want to feel resentful toward my co-workers for a choice that I made. I am trusting in His mercy and grace.
I need accountability in setting positive boundaries. I don’t want to be afraid that I might upset someone, hurt their feelings, or feel guilty for making a choice that I need make. I want to live my life. I want to meet my needs, I need to learn how to invite others to help me, and I want to get back to helping (not pleasing) the people in my life. Balance. With God, I know it’s possible.
Thank you for sharing your post… and presenting an opportunity for me to share this. I didn’t realize how badly I needed to put this to words. It really makes it tangible, real, and accessible to change.
I crave my husband more than I crave God. Does anyone else have this issue? I am on a journey to find the balance that I’m supposed to have between the love of my life here on earth, and the love of my eternal life, God. And I don’t know what that looks like. Melissa, if you have any insights that would speak wisdom in this area of my life, I would really apprecitate hearing from you too! Thanks so much ladies for being a safe haven to come and talk to openly and honestly so that we can be set free….to VICTORY! I love you all!
I also have that problem. I have been married for a little over a year and I crave my husband instead of God. I haven’t figured out how to find a balance either.
I have been married 5 years in March, and the Lord just spoke to my heart about this at the beginning of this bible study. I never knew that was a problem for me until I read Made to Crave, and then I was convicted. I always thought that was the way it was supposed to be…to love my husband…REALLY love my husband. But I think that the Lord is showing me this is an area where I have replaced God. Not meaning to, but out of ignorance I have.
Love you too girl-you are such a joy to watch!
Praying for all of us to “find what we are yearning for”
OK, I was not going to write anything, but if I am going to be serious about this then i should be honest and upfront, at least to my self. I read ch.4 today about accountability, and to had a friend as a accountability partner, I already did the reflection questions and even though I did not want to I was honest with myself. I will not have an accountability partner or a prayer partner, because I do not have a friend close enough. I have several aquintances but no true friend. Since reading the chapter and doing the questions I have been humming “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” he will be my accountability partner. As I was driving home I was thinking to myself that is just sad that I can say I have a true girlfriend I can cinfide in, share my uos and downs with…….. Yes I am married and my husband is my best friend but there are some things you just want to share with a girlfriend. Don’t get me wrong I do not mean to saound Whitney or complaining. I am thankful that in read I f this book I can be open and honest with myself. I think that when I am alone and lonely for that friendship I think I turn to food, as I have thought about this today I can recall the times that I eat the wrong foods or even eat when I am not even hungry is when I am alone. Now I know where part of my oriblem is and can work towards a solution.
Hi, Justine,
Your post really caught my attention. I moved across the country 2yrs ago and I feel very alone here sometimes. Acquaintances, yes, but it’s hard to trust.
Lysa says she will be our go before us friend who encourages us to keep going cuz she’s made it thru and Melissa is that kind of friend, too, but you’re right about Jesus being our closest friend. He sits at the right hand of God, but he’s ready to stand in our defense at a moment’s notice!
I will be praying for you especially, Justine. I would like to know if you have a plan yet?
My plan is to take baby steps. I’m 48 so I’ve probably got 45 yrs of bad habits to undo. It’s not going to happen in 1 month.
So, step number 1- eliminate sugar for 21 days starting today.
I hope you’ll accept my offer to be accountability/prayer partners, but if not, I will still be praying for you.
God bless,
Sandra
Sandra,
You are a sweetheart! Thank you for praying, you just don’t know how much that means to me.
My plan is that I am also taking baby steps. My first step is to monitor what I eat. I know this will not be a quick fix, I think I really need to keep track of what I eat. I have noticed that I eat sometimes without thinking.
I will be 53 a week from today, so I know I really need to start eating more healthy.
I will definately accept your offer, and it will be an honor to pray for you.
Justine,
Hope you’ve been doing well. I’ve prayed for you daily and its helping to remind me to be a little more conscious of what I’m putting into my mouth! Thank you for praying for me, too. I have to confess a few grams of sugar have made it past the gates, but I repeat, a few. So overall I consider that a victory. I have really craved chocolate (its a late night thing for me), but I haven’t caved.
I have come to realize this week that I have been hating my body for a really long time now. Even though I know I have, when I say it out it just sounds so stupid. Admitting this has empowered me to take better care of myself without obsessing. To take care of myself if for no other reason than because God made me. It must make him sad when we treat ourselves like garbage dumps. And I’m so glad that we decided to take these baby steps to a bigger reality because its so much easier to be determined when there’s just one thing at a time. And the reading/ questions are taking me on a journey of their own. I know this time that things are different. I’m praying this for you too.
<Sandra
Hi Justine! I know sandra already replied but I’d love to help keep you accountable as well…my email address is on here if you’d like to get in touch. how is your plan going? Just said a special prayer for you! Have a great rest of your week!
Praying for you and your continued struggles. You can do it. I prayed and cried 4 times today over chocolate! I am on a MD diet preparing for surgery and can not have any sweets at all. This is a struggle for me also. You are a blessing and God will see you through.
Praying for your surgery, Laura, keep us posted.
-Sandra
hey all, I just wanted to say hi and my prayers are with us all! Food has been an enemy of mine since I was a teenager a very long time ago! It has been devistating over the years! It is so much easier when things are tough or emotions are out of control to turn to that “best friend” I have found in food! When I have tried to change my ways of eating I seem to be an outraged craving maniac! No kidding, if its chocolatey sweet, I could smell it miles away and do everything in my power to get to it. I have to say this bible study is fantastic! I have found a new percpective and the Holy Spirit really has gotten a hold of me. Loosing wieght and eating right is now not a thing of vanity, or wanting my husband to be proud of who i am, or that I fit in those skinny jeans, but it is now about honoring God with my body! Yes I most certainly have struggles and the one thing that is sure fire way to overcome is the question I ask myself when I find myself craving something, or thinking its not fair I cant eat this or what have you…I ask myself do I really love this food more than I love God? If I eat this and revert back to my old ways am I honoring God with my body, I do choose to love God more than the food, and thank God for reminding me of this and the struggle seams to be lifted! We have an awesome God and I am thankful! God bless!
Just something I’ve found helpful this week—things I’ve added to my car….a big bag of Pink Lady apples, a big box of Fiber One granola bars and a water bottle. These are just instant snacks to help avoid fast food until I can get a healthy full meal.
That is a really good idea Sarah! I have upped my water intake since i started fasting (no beverages except water and milk) but the granola bar would certainly help
I like it Sarah! I grabbed a box of Kashi go lean and divided it up into proper portions (I used those snack size ziploc bags) and then stuck them all back in the box! Now I can’t accidentally over-eat my cereal and then have protein and fiber and CRUNCH so I can just pop one in my bag as I leave.
Today has been a little rough. I am making a wedding cake and creating new flavors at request of the bride… the taste testing is in two weeks so I spend all morning baking different wedding cake flavors. EGAD. I took about 1/2 tsp tastes just to check flavoring and that’s it. HUGE for me! But it definitely started a hungry monster – I’ve made good choices, apples, salad, plain acorn squash, yogurt, but probably too much of them. Gotta SLOW IT DOWN for the rest of the day. VERY excited about the conference call tonight!
I really blew it on Sunday. Was home alone and lonely… I made brownies and ate a lot of them…. I ate chips….. I felt bad. Yesterday and today Jesus told me it’s okay and He loves me just the way I am and He is rooting for me in this battle!!! Thank you, Jesus!!! <3
After reading Chapter 4 the things that really stick out to me are that Esau sacrificed what was good in the long term for what felt good in the short term (I know I do this with unhealthy eating way too often), and to love the Lord who wants you to honor Him in the way you treat your body (p45).
I am thankful that a dear friend agreed to join me on this journey and we are keeping each other accountable the best we can . . . it is hard to know how much contact we need and how much to share . . . any thoughts?
I am trying to celebrate the small victories and not dwell on the failures . . . progress is progress and God is glorified when my heart seeks Him in gratitude for good choices and in sorrow for my poor choices. Praise be to Him!
Wow , can someone pass the bandage, at first I tried to read ch 4 , but couldn’t either get into it or at certain spots stopped and could go no farther. I stepped away and went to take a nap when I came back and re read it here’s what came to me- on page 42 I can identify with “my angry little self demanding I give my body sugar”- but for me its not just sugar its anything with Gluten or msg. As I sat there it hit me. Being Gluten intolerant is F A T A L. I will die. No more Debi, Bu Bye aint coming back for another curtain call. Thats it. But my body fights it and demands I stay the same because it doesnt like change, or alteration. This just isnt about losing weight this is about my life. AS for who I am accountable to right now is the woman in the mirror and God. And God is not one who you exaggerate or embellish a story to.
Now I can move on to the next section
Emily – it’s so great you have a partner. My partner and I check email each other every morning (or the night before) letting each other know how the day before when and what are eating plan is for the next day. We touch base with each other whenever we need encouragement too.
I didn’t come on the blog last week. Did my study all by myself. Boy was that a mistake! There is strength and hope to be found here in all your posts. Maybe reading your posts, knowing I am not alone (in my struggle to believe this can be different, in my temptations, in my battle to eat right), I can borrow on your strength and hope. Bless you sisters!!
So after rereading chapter 4, today and answering the questions. I find that the chapter itself points out my lack of real life friendships and people I can turn to for accountability.
I did recently manage to get back in church (have been out for about a year). But I still don’t really have any friends there, except for my supervisor, and I’m not comfortable asking her to hold me accountable, she is great and I might be able to get her to pray, but I will feel strange asking her about that before church on Sunday.
I do have a therapist, she might hold me accountable if I ask her to, maybe we could take the last few minutes of each session to discuss how I am doing with it. She is a christian therapist, so she would pray for me. But I hate that their is no one in real life that I can get to count calories and make healthier choices with me. I had a friend who I started it with but that friendship recently ended. Don’t really have any other friends close by to do it with.
Deanna,
As I reread through these posts this morning, my heart aches because there’s so many women here who do NOT have close friends, myself included. I, too, recently had a friendship end…and although I do have someone to walk with at at YMCA, I have no one close enough to keep me accountable with the food that I am putting in my mouth.
Chapter 5 is AWESOME!! We WERE made for more!! I would love to email you and keep you accountable (put a message on your blog, but I don’t see it there yet). The Holy Spirit IS keeping me accountable, and I’m thankful my Friend is always there…He has always BEEN there….I’ve just chosen food over Him and I will NOT do that anymore. Praying Ephesians 1:17-19 for you and everyone doing this study.
You should see it there now. I am glad that you want to keep me accountable. I will probably post my results for the week on Saturday, as well as some goals for the coming week.
I had an ultrasound today, was scared, and while driving to the appointment l was thinking about a big fat chocolate bar(stress induced) but fortunately l had to be fasting. While the technologist performed the ultrasound l was praying to God that it would be ok and if it was l would stay on track with this made to crave, l guess l was bargaining with God, not a good thing to do. When l came out there was my best friend waiting for me, not a big chocolate bar. God does provide and instead of chocolate l had Judy. The technologist really isnt allowed to say anything but she did say she didnt see any difference from the last one 5 years ago. Another blessing from God. I asked Judy to be my acountability partner and she accepted. So now l have to do my part as God has placed all this in front of me today. Thankyou Lord for this day and my best friend Judy…and of course good results.
l love you Lord
Amen, Brennie!! Thankful this morning for God’s provision for you yesterday…your ultrasound and your friend Judy. God is SO good in His provision!!
Thank you to everyone for their posts and scriptures. They are all very encouraging. I am in the hoping this will be the time the change happens, not completely convinced but I know my God is bigger than any of my issues and I am holding to that truth. The prayers that I know are going up from the members of this site are also very encouraging and uplifting. As I decide who to ask to be my accountability partners, I ask for your prayers to find someone that will be encouraging and uplifting as well and be honest with me and help talk me down off those ledges where I find myself. Let’s keep the faith sisters & brothers! Love in Christ! We were Made to Crave Him!!
I NEED ADVICE:
My very new accountability partner has just shared with me that she told another person about our partnership & accountability to one other. We did agree beforehand to that this is between her and I and set the boundaries for not disclosing information. Now, I’m uncomfortable & don’t trust her anymore. This is a sensitive topic that trust needs to be in place. Can you believe that I felt like going to Mcdonalds just to “medicate” my disappointment. But I didn’t and I will not. I’m praying on what to do. She expressed that she won’t do it again but it sounds like gossip is her weakness. Does anyone have any advice? Suggestions? Please share wisdom! Thank you!
Kina,
I have to say, though, that i would think twice about sharing anything else with that person….it certainly sounds like she can’t keep confidences to herself sadly. I am praying for you!
Let me start by saying that my heart is aching for you right now! ~~HUGS~~ I am proud of you for not letting McD’s help you through the disappointment!!!! You go girl!
Appreciate your comments. Thank you! Blessings!
kina everyone makes mistakes, l would tell her how it may you feel and of course forgive her. everyone deserves a second chance though, but a second time l would say bye bye
Just wondering if there is anyone out there who is doing MTC in conjunction with, or instead of, a 12-step food addiction/compulsion recovery program (ie having been in one ,and now feeling led towards MTC)? I would be interested in connecting with you via e-mail or phone and discussing our recovery journey ,and incorporating MTC with hte 12-steps..
I will pray for all of you today, and ask God to help us and relieve us of this painful bondage.
Maureen
Hello,
I want to brutally truthful with those who are reading these posts. I have signed for this on-line session, but I have not yet done the lessons, even tho I have the materials. I am procrastinating, because the journey seems so long and I am rebellious, because I know I will have to make hard changes. It is not a serious matter of my weight, as I am very close to a healthy weight, but it is a serious matter of my heart and my mind. Have any of you ever been in that desperate place, where you can feel your mind racing from one thought to the next trying to make sense of why you can’t have victory, and why you don’t change, and what can you do to change….? I am there. I want victory, but for most of the past 25 years, I have struggled with my self destructive habits and thoughts. All this to say…..can I ask you to pray for me? Perhaps I need some tough accountability, or just a good talking to, but I know I need to make a move to get started to victory, I feel stuck. I pray that I am not alone, altho I feel like it, I guess I just felt led to speak out here in the hopes that somebody else has been where I am. Thank you for listening.
Robin, my heart goes out to you. I will keep you in prayer. And yes I have been there, a lot. Just to look at the book and opening it tell you that inside are things that will change your life. Things you will have to look at and resolve and face. It is hard. but what has helped me is prayer. Take God inside those pages with you and ask for strength to face what ever comes your way. You may have to read and re read several times. You can do this.
I too am so rebellious and that is my problem. I know that God wants me to be healthy and at a healthy weight, but I have been fighting giving Him control for years. I pray for help but then take back control. God is more faithful than I; giving me hope to keep trying.
Today was the day that I had a chance to sit down and say a prayer for all of you who are doing the study. While I was praying God was helping me through some of my own problems as I prayed for each of you that you would not have to suffer through some of the same problems as I am. I hope that this study is blessing everyone. I am beginning to read chapter 4 today and do the Reflection questions. I was planning on going out and going shopping today so I could get some candy while I was out, but after praying and going down and having a healthy bowl of oatmeal, I was sitting at the island and saw an ad for our local health food market and got out a pen and paper and started writing down all the deals on produce that they are having, today is double ad Wednesdays and it just happens to be the day I have off during the week. I think I will use Wednesdays to continue to stock up on all the healthy foods I should be eating.
wow thats great tiffany. oatmeal is so satisfying and fills you up and thats one thing that helps, when you feel full you dont reach for something else. l think we should all have a bowl of oatmeal or oatbran to start the day and it seems so old fashionned and comforting too.
I hope wednesdays become a special day for you with your healthy food shopping.
Last night after my husband went to bed I spent some time reading ch 4-5 and had such an AHA! moment. It was so profound and simple to me why I hadn’t seen it before I don’t know. It was that simple little phrase- “Deny yourself”. As I was sharing with my accountability partner- my brother in Christ – it hit me. Denying myself didn’t have to mean big things, car boat house job but for me it was the little things, having water instead of a soda, piece of fruit instead of cookies, a plain bowl of ice cream instead of one drenched with chocolate. And a lot of the things I crave /ed had lots of gluten and calories. I was making it to complicated until last night.
Thank you Debi! I appreciate your words of encouragement and your prayers. I am in a battle, we are in a battle……thank you for letting me know I am not alone.
Now that week 2 is almost over, I felt we all needed to laugh a little. My mom emailed this link to me. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=FrTbnczYAd4&feature=player_embedded