I Desire You More-Recovery from Food Addiction through Jesus

03/27/2022

Say a prayer for me. I am embarking on a strict food protocol for several months to get my blood sugar levels back to acceptable numbers. My mother had diabetes and I don’t want to follow in her footsteps. I want to be healthy and I know I need the Holy Spirit to empower me to stand against the temptation to have a sweet, or something else that sabotages my attempts to gain control over food.
Thank you for your prayers!

03/25/2022

I’ve begun drinking smoothies for a more balanced meal. Today’s is spinach, Greek Yogurt, AG-1 Greens, two scoops of protein shake, apple, peaches and avocado. Yum! Fills me up and has great healthy benefits.

02/03/2022

It’s easy to lose weight when you’re sick. Chicken noodle soup and toast.

12/08/2021

The journey to lose weight takes determination. No matter how many times you fall, what matters is how many times you get back up and do the work necessary to create change in your body.

Keep showing up.

Keep working toward your goal.

It will get easier.

10/26/2021

10/23/2021

What’s your story?

10/07/2021

Food addiction is no joke. The cravings for carbs… comfort foods…all of that is tough to overcome. At times, I feel like I am in a battle between my life, and all that God has called me to, and death-literally and figuratively.

The only help I know is Jesus Christ. My willpower isn’t as strong as it should be.

You’ve heard the scripture, “The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak” (Matt 26:41)? So very true! I am the strongest before the battle. I tell myself “You’ve got this,” only to fail when temptation strikes.

We need each other. We need to pray. And we need the Holy Spirit to enable us to overcome.

Who is with me?

11/10/2020

I usually don’t like having a picture taken. I hated the way I looked. Like someone had stretched skin over an overflowing bucket of lard.

I berated my own self for how big I got. All the names passed through my mind. Even as I’d sink my teeth into a jelly donut, I’d remind myself how horrible I was; I would call myself vile names. Seeing a picture only reminded me of the ugliness.

I couldn’t stand me.

But, it’s getting better. As I continue this journey I am noticing differences. Looser clothing. Feeling better. Sleeping improved. Smaller face.

I took a selfie.

I want to see the difference. I want to look at her and remind her that she is worthy. She is loved. She is beautiful. She is fearfully & wonderfully created. She is worth rediscovering herself.

All those other things she told herself were lies. Those names weren’t true. They came from the father of lies. Those hurtful comments were meant to defeat her.

But, no more.

He cancelled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” – Colossians 2:14 (NLT)

10/30/2020

Who loves to step on the scale?
I haven’t always. Over the years, as my weight fluctuated I have had a love/hate relationship with the scale my entire life. But now, since I let myself go, so bad, I am ashamed by the number that glares at me from that devil scale.

I saw the doctor last month (after falling and hurting my knees) and, of course, the first thing they have you do is step on the scale. I had been wondering, but man, talk about a punch in the gut when that number came up. I’m pretty sure my fave turned red.

Fast forward to today’s visit. After a months worth of not eating chocolate, not really eating car laden, sugary sweets after a meal, I was actually looking forward to seeing what number popped up. I knew I had lost some weight, and thought maybe 10 or 15 pounds. I did not expect to see the number I saw. It took a minute for my brain to wrap itself around that number and to calculate the total. I stood there, not moving, staring with my mouth open. I finally managed, “Oh my God”!

“What”? The nurse asked, “is it worse than you thought”?

“No”! I almost shouted, “it’s glorious”!

I lost 25 pounds!!!

25! Two Five!

Man that made me feel good! All that restriction of carbs and fatty foods is paying off!!!

I didn’t mind the scale tonight. As a matter of fact, I think I love that scale!

I can’t wait to see what my new number will be next time!

10/20/2020

Have you ever felt as if you were starving when dieting? Me, too! Hungry all the time; always feeling like there was a hole in the pit of my stomach that was never satisfied.

That is one of the main reasons why diets don’t work. We restrict the amount of food we eat, hoping to cut calories, and limit the portion size. We make it impossible to maintain long term.

Our bodies are designed to need fuel in order to function properly (I won’t go into the medical reason) and feel good.

Most of us eat too much. Too many carbs. Too much salt. Too many fried food; too many food that are high in fat and calories. As a result we are lethargic, overweight, diseases and hurtling toward an early grave. Our knees and backs hurt, our joints are swollen from the excess weight our frames carry. And, many diseases lurk in the shadows just waiting to pounce on the obese.

How do we change this?

By changing the food we eat.

There is an abundance of food on this earth. Food that God created; food that is nutritious and healthy. Food that we are able to have second helpings of without guilt.

I know. I can hear you saying, “But, I don’t like Kale,” or, “I have never liked Brussels Sprouts.” Fine. Have you tried them lately? Or, just when you were a kid? Because our taste buds do change. With the abundance of fresh food available today, there are options. Fresh food doesn’t have to be tasteless. Olive oil and seasoning adds depth of flavor, and you can try anything!
I actually got excited today thinking about air frying Brussels Sprouts with some salt & pepper, and Balsamic Glaze.

We shouldn’t feel like we are starving after we have eaten. By filling up on vegetables during a meal, along with a protein, you get full and stay satisfied longer. Snacks in between can be fresh fruit or veggies, cheese, yogurts, nuts, etc.

All we have to do is begin to explore new possibilities with food. What tastes we like. And, reintroduce some foods we don’t think we like, but in a new recipe. The internet gives easy access to millions of recipes for free!

Ask God to help your taste buds to change. Give him glory for the abundance of food we have to choose from.

Look at what Joel 2:26 says:

“You will have plenty to eat, until you are full, and you will praise the name of the LORD your God, who has worked wonders for you...“

Just as the Holy Spirit has given me an excitement over air frying Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic glaze, he can do the same for you!

10/18/2020

Chocolate.
Just the sound of it used to make my heart smile. I ate chocolate in cookies, cakes, and candies. You name it, if chocolate was involved I would eat it.

It’s one of the comfort foods I would hoard. I remember years ago binging on chocolate covered peanuts and Diet Coke after putting my kids to bed. Once, I ate an entire pound bag of M&M’s and used syrup of epicac to throw them up (believe me, you DON’T ever want to try that). I didn’t think I could ever lay chocolate down.

But, I have.

As of today, I haven’t had anything remotely close to chocolate in about 2 weeks. Not only that, but I’m cutting out a lot of the excess calories I would eat at night.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s hard to tell myself, “No”! Especially if I am having trouble sleeping and my stomach is rumbling at 2 a.m., shutting that signal off is difficult. I’ve had to switch what I reach for. Instead of something with empty calories, I’m reaching for something that has low calories, low carbs, and higher proteins to satisfy (like an 80 calorie yogurt).

I noticed something.

I went for a short walk and didn’t die. I didn’t feel like my legs were going to fall off. I was able to keep a good pace. Increase my heart rate and get my joints moving.

Somethings changing!

Thank you, Jesus, for changing my mindset. For giving me the “want to.” Thank you for changing my desire from food to you. Fill those voids in my heart that long for comfort, as only you can.

And, thank you, in the right time, that chocolate and I can have a correct relationship...

10/15/2020

How many times have we started, stopped, and restarted the same exact diet? How many times have we struggled just to make it through another day of healthier choices?

We all have.

It’s harder when food is more than just fuel for your body. For many, especially to those who have suffered abuse as children, food is a comfort; a friend that stands beside you through all the chaos. It’s a balm to soothe your wounds and make you feel happy.

The abused also use food as a tool for protection. As an adolescent I can remember thinking that if I ate enough, and got fat enough, maybe “they” would leave me alone. Food became a double edged sword. With one side of the sword I fought to save myself, and with the other I found comfort.

Food has always been important to me. There were a few times I’ve gained control, lost weight & felt great; I even loved how I looked in clothes! But, I had done nothing to address the underlying issues that miscatagorize the need for food.

As a Christian I should be horrified that I have comfortably shoved Jesus Christ & his authority off of the throne of my heart and replaced him with temporary things, like chips, cakes, and burgers.

I have.

Remember, what started this whole thing was God, gently, telling me that I desired food more than I desired him. I made it a good two weeks, eating healthier...before I found myself right back under the same struggles.

That needs to be changed.

I recognize I have a huge problem. I need a heart and mindset change—it has been a stronghold in my life that spans decades—and I know that I cannot change it by myself.

I need help!

I’ve prayed and prayed, and asked God to deliver me from this. Many times I’ve cried myself to sleep begging God to do something before I kill myself with my fork.

He answered.

I was listening to a podcast today that spoke on Ezekiel 36, verses 25-27.

It hit me hard.

Tonight, I make it my prayer. Feel free to make it yours.

“LORD, pour clean water upon me, that I may be cleansed from all my filthiness, and cleanse me from all my idols. “

“Give me a new heart, and put a new spirit within me: and take away my stony heart, and give me a heart of flesh.”

“Put your spirit in the midst of me: and cause me to walk in your commandments, and to keep your judgments, and do them.”

In Jesus name.
Amen!

It’s my step forward, asking God to tear down the idols I have been bowing down to. Asking him to raise me up, free to be who he calls me to be, in him.

If you are struggling, too, reach out to me. We can encourage each other!

08/09/2020

LORD, deliver me from my own destructive self!!

07/06/2020

This was soooo good... Cedar plank Salmon cooked in the air fryer with quinoa, brown rice, lintels & roasted red pepper mix!

07/06/2020

Eating healthier has helped me to feel a little better. I’ve got a long way to go but I set my eyes upon the One who strengthens me when I am weak.
I have “fallen off the wagon,” occasionally, but my attitude is to restart each new day with a clean slate.
Before my week of clean eating if I wanted to have something to satisfy my sweet tooth, I would. But, I made sure not to gorge myself as I have done in the past.
I have to talk to myself.
I, quite literally, say, “Cheryl. Get a hold of yo’self! You are NOT going to eat a bunch of stuff”!

LORD, we look to you to guide us on this food journey. We ask for strength to overcome those issues that keep us bound to food. We ask for grace to cover us when we fail to meet our expectations. In Jesus name, and for his glory. Amen.

07/01/2020

I have joined a clean eating FB group. I’ve gotten some decent recipes for healthier eating. Last night I made these...
I ended up mixing my salmon together with the tomatoes. They turned out a little watery for my taste (could be the salt I added before baking, so don’t do that!)

Here’s the recipe.

* 2–3 large beefsteak tomatoes
* 1 cup shaved parmesan cheese
* 1 Tbsp dried basil
* 1 Tbsp dried oregano
* 2 Tbsp fresh Italian parsley, roughly chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Slice the tomatoes into 1/4″ slices and arrange on the baking sheet.
3. Top each slice with enough parmesan to cover the top, as well as a sprinkling of basil and oregano.
4. Bake for 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
5. Top with the fresh chopped Italian parley.
6. Serve immediately!

06/28/2020

In times of stress, oh LORD, help me to trust in you to help me overcome any temptations I may face throughout the day.

And, even in those times, when I think I failed, remind me that your mercies are new, every single morning and I get a clean slate.

Thank you, LORD.

06/24/2020

LORD, I need you more. I need your Spirit to fill me to overflowing so that I may become the person you created me to be. Fill the void in me. Satisfy my longing. Baptize me in your Living Water that I may never thirst, again.