Made To Crave- Part 2

...So I was saying that I struggle with food cravings. Probably not the only one, I'm sure. I don't eat when I'm stressed, I eat when I'm happy. I love to have people over and cook yummy food for them. I grew up in a home with lots of great cooking. My mom was a caterer and made wedding cakes, birthday cakes... My grandma was a great cook too. Me and my 2 brothers caught their love for cooking and even though we aren't large people, I can clearly see how it is definitely become an idol in my life.

I mentioned in a few posts back that I was going to start working out with a trainer. It was an hour of intense circuit training, 3-4 times per week. He had me eating all protein for the first 2 weeks. This was suppose to be a cleanse to help me get rid of all the sugars. It's also suppose to help you lose weight.  Instead I gained a pound. I loved the workout, but I'd come home and feel like going to sleep for the rest of the day. After 6 weeks of that, I decided to pull back and regroup. I wasn't seeing ANY results. I know it wasn't his program. It was just ME. The other ladies in the group had lost a ton of weight. They all looked so amazing and a couple of them had started off at over 200 pounds when they first began last year. We decided to join the YMCA instead. It just makes more sense for our entire family and we can work out on our own schedules and at our own pace.

I started reading "Made To Crave" and realized that I was eating only the things that sounded good to me when I was hungry. I mostly shop the perimeter of the grocery store and buy organic when I can, but I still buy ice cream and brownie mixes and cookie dough on occasion. I love mashed potatoes, rice, couscous, bread... Basically all the things I love are carbs. UGH.

So, I decided to give them up. Just the bad ones though. I'm still eating fruits and vegetables...except for white potatoes. I'm doing it to lose the 10 pounds, but I am also giving it up as a scarifice to the Lord. I realize it has been an idol and I need to fulfill my cravings with more of Him, verses empty calories that are not good for me. It's not easy, but now I have a purpose. So when I feel those cravings come on, I replace the food with prayer and scripture. I am asking Him to be my portion.

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him." (Lamentations 3:22-24)

I have an end goal, but I'm thinking this will be a life change for me. Not that I'll never have carbs again, but I will definitely be more thoughtful of how I'm fulfilling my cravings.

Anyone want to join me? I love accountability!

As for Ashlyn...
We are so frustrated. We have contacted Kelly at Ladybugs N Love again and she was suppose to be checking on the status of our update again, but we still haven't heard anything again.
I've been reading the posts at "No Hands But Ours" and they are very helpful. I have a lot rolling around in my head right now. When I can collectively put my thoughts together I will share more about that and some of the things I feel the Lord has been preparing us for.

Blessings,
Rebecca