This blog will be reposted at both Transformed and Not By Bread Alone...
This diet that I have been on is both good for me and hard to do, hard to stick to and yet so necessary.
Over the Christmas holidays I ate more bread products and sugar than I should have, though I was still good on the dairy end. By the weekend between Chritmas and New Year's , nearly a week of not eating what I should, I felt it. My joints hurt and my belly revolted. While I could blame the joints on the snowstorm Saturday, there is no reason for my belly except I cheated.
And once again I acknowledged this truth and vowed to eat only what I need to in order to avoid this problem.
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My thought life and spiritual input have been less thans stellar lately. So much so that I am in the dark. I have immersed myself in the equivalent of marshmallows, and sometimes even the equivalent of antifreeze. When I stop long enough to think, I realize I am sad and lonely and unhappy. So I reach for more "marshmallows" to make me feel better, but the results are always the same.
Last night I realized this truth -- again; just as the bread makes my belly hurt, what I have been reading and thinking about is making my heart hurt. And it is a hurt that doesn't work itself out. It needs the grace and intervention of God.
Every time I go through this cycle (I am sooooo like the Israelites in the time of the Judges!), I return, eventually, to 2 Peter 1: 3-9. And it seems each time God emphasizes something different for me to learn.
This time it is verse 4:
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.
Why has He given me his precious promises? Such promises as "I will never leave you or forsake you" and "There is therefore now no condemnation" and "Come to me, all who are weary, and I will give you rest."
These promises are so that I can participate in his divine nature and ESCAPE THE CORRUPTION IN THE WORLD CAUSED BY EVIL DESIRES.
My problem is neither that I like bread, nor that I read what I shouldn't.
My problem -- my sin -- is that I am not fulfilling God's purpose for my life.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Thursday, December 6, 2012
progress
I have been on The Diet for more than 4 months now, though not always consistently. Yesterday morning, my wondeful friend April asked, as she was dropping off GAPS approved food for this week, how I was doing. I said, "Inside feels better [meaning my gut] but the joints are the same."
Later in the afternoon, however, one of my students said, "You're walking without your cane!" And she did a little happy dance. I was walking without it because I was carrying something, but it is true that I am able to do that more often.
Then last night as I was changing for bed, I realized my shoulder is more mobile. I have lost significant amounts of weight over the past year (long before this Diet), and I went from a 2x to a 1x, but I also have one polo that is XL. It fits, but I have trouble getting it off because of the loss of mobility in my shoulder. I use my right arm to pull it over my head until my arms come out of it.
Last night I pulled my arm out normally, and I stopped.
I just did that normally.
So there must be improved mobility in the shoulder and elbow.
And then this morning I left my apartment without my cane. I realized it as I was going up the steps, so I didn't get very far, but
WOOT!
That's progress!
Later in the afternoon, however, one of my students said, "You're walking without your cane!" And she did a little happy dance. I was walking without it because I was carrying something, but it is true that I am able to do that more often.
Then last night as I was changing for bed, I realized my shoulder is more mobile. I have lost significant amounts of weight over the past year (long before this Diet), and I went from a 2x to a 1x, but I also have one polo that is XL. It fits, but I have trouble getting it off because of the loss of mobility in my shoulder. I use my right arm to pull it over my head until my arms come out of it.
Last night I pulled my arm out normally, and I stopped.
I just did that normally.
So there must be improved mobility in the shoulder and elbow.
And then this morning I left my apartment without my cane. I realized it as I was going up the steps, so I didn't get very far, but
WOOT!
That's progress!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Week Number ?
How many weeks has it been? I could look at the first post and that would tell me, but I'm too lazy this morning to look.
I just wanted to share that I have noticed my tastebuds changing. I am eating a croissant this morning -- stopped at D&D -- and it doesn't taste as good as it used to.
I just wanted to share that I have noticed my tastebuds changing. I am eating a croissant this morning -- stopped at D&D -- and it doesn't taste as good as it used to.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
progress
I am still on The Diet, though I am not following it as strictly as I intended. My worst times are in the morning; I can't get going and it is just easier to stop at D&D for coffee and a croissant. Or a pumpkin muffin. I think I am addicted.
I went to the doctor yesterday -- the GP. I'd had blood drawn Friday, so we went over the results. Thyroid and glucose numbers are good, but I am severely anemic. He wants me to take an iron pill twice daily. I talked with him about The Diet; he says yes as long as my lab numbers look good. He also wants me to eat more red meat. He smiled when he said, "You can eat liver, too, but I wouldn't recommend it."
He recommended a rheumatologist, but this doc seems to think it is psoriatic arthritis rather than rheumatoid, because the rheumatoid test came back negative. We'll see what the rheum doc says!
He also had his nurse draw more blood, and he is going to check for celiac disease.
I went to the doctor yesterday -- the GP. I'd had blood drawn Friday, so we went over the results. Thyroid and glucose numbers are good, but I am severely anemic. He wants me to take an iron pill twice daily. I talked with him about The Diet; he says yes as long as my lab numbers look good. He also wants me to eat more red meat. He smiled when he said, "You can eat liver, too, but I wouldn't recommend it."
He recommended a rheumatologist, but this doc seems to think it is psoriatic arthritis rather than rheumatoid, because the rheumatoid test came back negative. We'll see what the rheum doc says!
He also had his nurse draw more blood, and he is going to check for celiac disease.
Friday, October 5, 2012
Blood work
I had blood drawn this morning, for the first time in probably 10 years. The doctor is checking for thyroid, which runs in the family, diabetes, and whatever numbers he looks at for rheumatoid arthritis. My appointment with him is Tuesday. I am eager to talk to him about The Diet. I'll keep you posted!
Monday, October 1, 2012
2 weeks
On The Diet for two weeks -- and not even consistently!
Saturday night I was at a party and walked back and forth without my cane! I have witnesses to back me up!
Alas, today it is gray and rainy and cold. I'm not walking without my cane today. But I'll keep walking!
Saturday night I was at a party and walked back and forth without my cane! I have witnesses to back me up!
Alas, today it is gray and rainy and cold. I'm not walking without my cane today. But I'll keep walking!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Cheating
Today, for the second day in a row, I have cheated on The Diet. I feel slightly guilty. I know what I need to eat and I know why. Of course I have my reasons, but I'm not sure they truly justify my behavior.
But it just underscores my lack of self-discipline and selfishness. My sin. In my mind, because I have made this commitment, my doing-whatever-pleases-me-right-now is sin. I knew this would be hard. No one forced me to this decision. I chose this.
And yet I choose the other. What I know in my head will make me sick. What keeps me from getting better.
It is a metaphor for sin in general. I know my sin is wrong -- any sin: gossip, pride, lying, etc. I know I shouldn't do it, and I know it disconnects me from intimacy with God.
And yet I choose the other. What I know in my head will make me sick. What keeps me from getting better.
Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh. Romans 7:24-8:3
God has given me what I need to stick to The Diet, and He has given me what I need to not sin:
seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1: 3-8
I CAN DO THIS! FOR GOD'S GLORY, for it is not by bread alone that I live.
But it just underscores my lack of self-discipline and selfishness. My sin. In my mind, because I have made this commitment, my doing-whatever-pleases-me-right-now is sin. I knew this would be hard. No one forced me to this decision. I chose this.
And yet I choose the other. What I know in my head will make me sick. What keeps me from getting better.
It is a metaphor for sin in general. I know my sin is wrong -- any sin: gossip, pride, lying, etc. I know I shouldn't do it, and I know it disconnects me from intimacy with God.
And yet I choose the other. What I know in my head will make me sick. What keeps me from getting better.
Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh. Romans 7:24-8:3
God has given me what I need to stick to The Diet, and He has given me what I need to not sin:
seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1: 3-8
I CAN DO THIS! FOR GOD'S GLORY, for it is not by bread alone that I live.
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