Tool, Not a Trigger

 This week I was watching a random youtube video and I heard some great advice that I would like to share with you. The lady said: 

Use the scales as a tool, not a trigger. 

What great advice!! In the past I allowed the scales to be a trigger. A trigger as permission to eat more or a trigger to give up altogether. This week has been a week in which it could have been very easy to allow the scales to trigger me to give up. But thankfully I am a different person now. I don't allow set backs to deter me from where I am going and what I am doing. 

Last Friday at my official weigh in for the week - I was down a couple of pounds from the week before. Yay!! Then I had a higher sodium lunch and an even higher sodium supper (I had made a soup that used Tamari and it is HIGH in sodium- I didn't realize it at the time because it is something I had not used before) So the next morning when I did my daily weigh in I was up almost 4 pound. Boy, was I discouraged. Well, I just got back to doing what I know I need to be doing. By today - I was down a bit but still up since last Fridays weigh in. I could let it discourage me right into giving up but I did not. What I did is evaluated the week. It was a rough week. Because my numbness and tingling don't seem to be improving, in fact, it feels like it is getting worse. So the Chiropractor ordered an MRI. Well, our insurance denied it so I had to pay for it. That was awfully stressful. Then the stress of the MRI. I don't like to be in confined spaces. And when I got there not only did I find out that I would in fact be in the tube - I also found out that I had to take off ALL my clothes and wear scrubs. :( ugh...I have been having issues with sleeping too. It's probably due to menopause. So, I realized that there were reasons that the weight was up. And I just have to keep doing the best I can do.  

So the scales can be a good tool to keep track of what is going on. But we can't depend on it so heavily that we are thrown off course when things don't go our way. So what I weighed myself and my weight was up a bit - I said to myself - you didn't deserve that. And went on with my day like I normally would. The scales are a tool. I won't let them have the power to be a trigger any more. 

Number 15 "Resolving the Resistance" in the "Made for Health"

 Click HERE for "Resolving the Resistance" 

Number 14 "Physiological Forensics" in the "Made for Health" series

 Click HERE for video number 14 

Number 13 "More Than Muscle" in the "Made for Health" series

 Click HERE for "More Than Muscles" 

“Recipe for Success” | Sabbath School Panel by 3ABN - Lesson 1 Q4 2025

10th Month Check-in

I am 2 days late at getting this post written up and shared, but I am finally getting it done. The 22nd marked the anniversary of when I decided to stop allowing my flesh to rule my eating and to allow God to have the control instead. Ever since then I have found freedom from food! What a blessing! But just so there are no misunderstandings- it meant giving up the foods that cause toxic hunger. The foods that cause food noise, things like meat, dairy, refined carbs, refined sugars and a majority of the oil. I can't say I totally abstain from oil because I have 1 T in the batch of Ezekiel bread that I make that makes 3 loaves. 

So, what has the last month been like you might wonder. Well, I have continued to have the extra stuff in my life like the chiropractic appointment and such. So, it has still been busy. But thankfully this last month I have been more successful in the weight loss realm. 5 pounds was lost bring to total weight loss to 61 pounds!! I would really like to lose a total of 100 pounds, maybe a bit more. It depends on where I feel God is leading. Truth be told it is not like I will do that much different on what I eat or do once I arrive at my goal weight. 

I had a dream about a month or 2 ago and in the dream, there was a number that stood out to me. And if this number was what God wanted me to set my goal weight at - it will have me at the point of losing 111 pounds. But I am leaving that in God's hands. 

I am still so grateful! I had struggled with my weight and most of the time I was on the losing side. Not in losing weight but losing to my fleshes desires. I might have been able to eat all sorts of things that I have left behind. But I was not happy. Those things did not bring happiness. Allowing God to have to control and eating the foods that best nourish my body and seeing my body change has brought a lot more joy and happiness. Things in my life are not all roses and sunshine. But I am very happy to be following God's plan for my life. 

Not very many people in my life have really mentioned my weight loss. For a while I thought well maybe it just doesn't show up yet. But after 61 pounds - there is NO question about it - it is showing up. And God blessed me with one of the best compliments I have ever gotten this past week. I was at the part that I have been walking at for quite some time and a lady slightly older than me who runs/walks at the same park - even though she doesn't speak good English made it clear that she noticed I had lost quite a bit of weight. And the hand gestures she used to help me understand what she was trying to say - said it all. What a blessing!! 

"We all sit in cages with doors wide open." 

 I heard this quote on the radio one day this week on my way to my chiropractic appointment. And as I pondered it the rest of the drive there, I realized that for me the cage had been my diet. As long as I ate the standard American diet - I was sitting in that cage. The cage that kept me in the morbidly obese category. And let me tell you - seeing that be the way you are described is very hurtful. I can't remember if i mentioned this before but back in Feb when I went to my CPAP Dr I noticed that phrase on my chart. At that point I had already lost 22 -24 pounds, and it was one of the things that made me feel defeated even though I had been losing weight. What a slap in the face. So, eating the wrong foods were causing me to be a prisoner to my appetite and had me sitting in a cage. But with Jesus Christ leading the way I am free and able to choose the foods that my body needs for nourishment. So, there you have it - 10 months and still going with no plans of veering off course.  Be watching for about Nov 22 when I share about how month 11 goes. :O) 

Number 12 "Secure the Border" in the "Made for Health" series

 Click HERE for video number 12 "Secure the Border" 

Number 11 "Border Crossing" in the "Made for Health" series

 Click HERE for video number 11 in this series - "Made for Health" 

10 Months / 3 Miracles

 Over the last 10 months I have experienced 3 miracles and today I wanted to share them. 

• This first one I have already shared with you all, but to be honest it still amazes me. God totally released me from food addiction, and He took away my desire for things like meat, cheese, and ice cream. That is a BIG deal!! 
• I may or may not have shared about this one already, but it is worth repeating if I did. A cat had her kittens here in our yard, 5 of them. When it came time to find a new home for 3 God provided 1 person that was willing to take all 3 in. This was exactly what I wanted!  
•  On Friday God preformed the 3rd miracle. Since July I had felt like it was time to let my chickens go. I am not eating eggs, and my husband doesn't eat very many eggs. I felt that it would be a lot smarter to get rid of our chickens and find someone local that sells fresh eggs. But I wanted all the chickens to go together. I didn't want the stress of a few chickens here and few there. I won't bore you will all the details but my Mom just happened to mention to someone about me getting rid of my chickens and someone that overheard the conversation said Oh I know someone who would probably take them. And just about 2 days later - A man and his wife were here at my house to pick up all 21 chickens. I also sent them home with feeders and waterers and one of the sets of laying boxes. Also, with the knowledge that they are welcome to come get the other laying box thing we have. 

I am sure God has done so much more but these miracles really stand out to me. We really need to pay more attention to how God is working in our lives. If we don't, we risk missing out on such blessings as it is to realize how God worked a situation out in an amazing way!! 

I don't want to sound greedy or ungrateful but I do have a prayer request for another miracle for me. As you know I have a bulging disc in my lower back that is causing numbness and tingling from my right hip to the knee. I have been getting chiropractic car over the last couple of months. I really feel it will take a miracle to heal this situation so I would appreciate any and all prayers for healing. Thank you so much! 

How has God been working in your life? I would love to hear about it!! :O) 

Number 10 part 2 of "You've God Guts" in the "Made for Health" series

 Click HERE for part 2 of You've Got Guts! 

A Dream Come True!

 When my husband and I go camping one of my favorite things to do is to go hiking. As I would hike, I would think about how wonderful it would be to have a hiking trail near where we live. As I have shared before - we have a nice park with a walking trail on it- but it is a concrete path around a park area. It is so nice that it is only about a mile from my house. So, it is easy to get to. I have been very thankful for the park and the walking path there, but I have always wished for a hiking trail. 

Last Sunday morning my son and I went to check out a hiking path that is actually only about a block or 2 from the park that I would walk at. There is a good piece of property that has a duck pond on it and on one side it has a wooded area. Well, the week before or so they had worked on putting mulch down on a walking trail through the woods. So, we went to check it out.  

Since Sunday I have been back 5 times. And took photos here and there along my hike. 

I wanted to share them here with you so you took can feel the peace that comes while walking this path. 

Whether it's a country road or a hiking trail, I love a canopy of trees!! 

My beautiful hiking trail is at the bottom on this hill to the left. But I have enjoyed walking up this hill and around parts of the pond. To be honest - I have stayed away from the front section. Why? You ask? Well, there are geese at this pond, and I am a bit afraid of geese and I don't want to give them the option of chasing after me. But trust me there is plenty of room for me and them on this beautiful piece of property. 

I love this pathway that goes along the water's edge. 

So I actually have a hiking trail that is not very far from my home. I am blessed to be able to go and check it out and have the blessing of the peace that somes while walking on this wooded pathway. The hiking trail of it is only about 1/2 of a mile. There is another trail off of it and my son and I plan on trying to check it out as soon as we get a chance. I just feel like it is a better idea to check out the new path with my son first. Then once I know where it goes and all - I will probably be alright going by myself. Like I have been hiking this trail since last Sunday.

My dream to have a hiking trail nearby has come true!! What a blessing! It is true that God gives you the desire of your heart!! :O) 

“The Tabernacle” | Sabbath School Panel by 3ABN - Lesson 13 Q3 2025

Number 9 "You've Got Guts" in the "Made for Health" series

 Click Here for video number 9 - "You've Got Guts" 

Number 8 "Free Radicals" in the "Made for Health" series

 Click HERE for the next video entitled "Free Radicals" 

Number 7 "Fire Extinguisher" in the "Made for Health" series

 Click HERE for installment number 7 

I hope ya'll are being blessed by this series. I know I sure am. It seems like every time I listen to a session I hear something new and inspirational. As we learn how to better take care of our bodies the better decisions, we are able to make. 

“Please, Show Me Your Glory” | Sabbath School Panel by 3ABN - Lesson 12 ...

Number 6 "Quenching the Flame" in the "Made for Health"

 Click HERE for "Quenching the Flame" video. 

Number 5 "Fired Up" in the "Made for Health" series

 Click HERE for the 5th video - "Fired Up" 

Number 4 "Balance" in the "Made for Health" series

 Click HERE for video number 4 in the "Made for Health" series - Balance. 

“Apostasy and Intercession” | Sabbath School Panel by 3ABN - Lesson 11 Q...

Number 3 "Pumped" of the "Made for Health" series

 Click HERE for the next installment of the "Made for Health" video series. Today's video is "Pumped" 

Number 2 "Losing Steam" in the "Made for Health" video series

 Click HERE for video #2 in the series "Made for Health" "Losing Steam" is the title of this video. 

I do hope that you are bless and learn a lot of great information in order to improve your health!!