Thursday 13 - Changes I've seen since starting this fast

For those of you that are new to this blog this thirteen is about a Daniel Fast I started on April the 13Th. I was going to do the fast for 10 days but decided to continue for a full month or for however long God leads me. If you would like to read more about my adventure look back through old posts. These are the changes I've discovered since starting this:

1. There is now less of me. I'm 14 pounds lighter and 11 inches smaller.

2. Confidence in myself. I am learning to trust myself to do the right thing.

3. A new found love for cooking. I love to cook and I love to experiment so making all these new recipes is a blast. I also cook a lot more than I did before I started this.

4. I have more energy than I did two weeks ago.

5. Confidence in the Lord. God led me to this a few months ago. I did not listen then. Now I am learning to trust Him more.

6. My skin is a lot clearer and has a somewhat "healthy" glow.

7. My hair is shinier and thicker.

8. My IBS is virtually non existent now. My stomach is not as distended and bloated as it has been from all of the stress of IBS.

9. I am not as hungry as I used to be and I have to remind myself to eat sometimes. My blood sugar is probably the most stable it has been in years or ever for that matter.

10. I have an excitement for life now and an even stronger desire to be healthy and be here for my family and to be a light for the women of my church.

11. My clothes are all getting looser and a few things probably don't even fit anymore.

12. I've turned into one of those people I used to think were a little crazy. You know the type: A vegetarian, almost vegan, organic and raw foodie lol. *No offense to anyone lol.

13. I have found a new appreciation for God's food and creation. I feel like I know just how much God loves me when I eat a food that He designed specifically for the health of my body. An apple with all it's little seeds, a carrot with it's beautiful orange color, even an onion with it's distinct aroma; these are all tangible signs of God's love and amazing power.

Thursday 13 - New foods I've tried recently or will try soon

I'm following a Daniel Fast (Daniel ch. 1 in the bible.) For more information on the fast reread some of my previous posts!

1. Dried Figs - Discovered that I really love these.

2. 100% Carrot Juice - Bolthouse Farms brand is the best.

3. White Asparagus - Haven't tried yet.

4. Butter crunch lettuce - Pretty good but I think I prefer darker greens.

5. Beets - Tried when I was a kid. Made me gag. Going to attempt to try them again.

6. Eggplant - I've cooked this before but it's never turned out right. It's always too soft and watery. I'm going to try this one again hopefully with success this time.

7. Dried Prunes - Ick!

8. Homemade veggie burgers following this recipe. - Haven't tried this yet but I plan to maybe try this tomorrow night.

9. Tossed salad with olive oil as dressing. - I had never done this before but now that I have I am a complete convert. I think I'm going to buy a cruet and start making my own dressings. Yum!

10. Artichoke hearts - Bought a jar of these but they scare me. How do you eat them anyway?

11. Split pea soup without meat - I usually can't stomach this soup without turkey bacon, turkey ham or some other kind of meat in it. I found a simple looking vegetarian recipe that I want to try.

12. Fresh pineapple - I've only ever tried the canned stuff. Every year for Christmas we get a fresh pineapple in a fruit basket from my husband's boss. The pineapple always goes bad before I get a chance to try it - plus it intimidates me a bit. So I want to tackle this spiked fruit once and for all lol.

13. Roasted Garlic Cloves - Tried this once before. Don't remember how it turned out but it seems like it was bad. I would like to try this again.

Thursday 13 - Exercises

1. Exercise your body - Go for a jog.
2. Exercise your mind - Read a nonfiction book and learn something new.
3. Exercise your spirit - Go to church!
4. Exercise your muscles - Do some stretches.
5. Exercise your heart - Do a good deed and don't expect anything in return.
6. Exercise your faith - Read 1 Corinthians 13
7. Exercise your eyes - Watch a sunrise or sunset.
8. Exercise your knees - Get down and pray.
9. Exercise your joy - Shout, dance and praise the Lord.
10. Exercise your voice - Psalm 95:1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
11. Exercise your shoulders - Let someone lean on them.
12. Exercise your hands and feet - Do the work of the Lord.
13. Exercise your life - Give it over to God.

Thursday 13 - Useful Websites & Blogs

1. SparkPeople - Free online diet community with blogs, journals, calorie tracking etc.
2. Calorie King - Find the calories to all your favorite foods.
3. Livin La Vida Low Carb - This blog belongs to a man named Jimmy Moore who lost a ton of weight following a low carb diet. He's entertaining to read, inspirational and knowledgeable. (Thanks for the plug Jimmy! - Just returning the favor :-)
4. FitDay - I feel like I can't brag enough about FitDay. The free online journal is awesome in itself but if you haven't already I highly recommend downloading the pc version. I love having my own personal diet journal right on my computer and for the low price (around $20) it is definitely worth it.
5. Aimee's Adventures - Aimee's website has been a favorite of mine for years. She has a ton of great recipes, a blog and there is a free message board too.
6. Full of Faith (or full of food?) - A christian site about overcoming food addiction. I've found some very inspirational things on there.
7. Eating Low with Amy - Here's another one who took the weight off following a low carb plan. She has her own recipes (most of them low carb but yummy) with videos of her actually preparing the recipes.
8. Grocery Coupon Guru - A great blog that posts where to find the latest deals and grocery coupons online.
9. Hungry Girl - Interesting website that deilvers a daily diet digest straight to your inbox in her own fun quirky way.
10. Hassle Me - A new website that offers a free nagging service to remind you to eat healthy and exercise (or anything else you may need nagged about). I haven't tried this one yet but I like the concept.
11. My Virtual Model - Make your own personal virtual model to compare with. See how you'll look at a certain weight or use it to track your progress visually.
12. 3 Fat Chicks - Offers diet advice, articles, recipes, forums, online journals, and much more.
13. Workoutz - Free online exercise videos.

Thursday 13 - Things you could give up and feel healthier

1. White sugar - brown sugar is better and honey is just as good, if not better when used as a sweetener.
2. Franken foods - foods that are supposed to resemble the real thing but are just a freak chemical mixture that is just barely mocking the real thing.
3. White flour - whole wheat is so much better for you and does not cause your blood sugar to crash and spike like white refined flour does.
4. Fast Food - Well the bad fast food anyway. There are healthy options at fast food restaurants, you just need to physically make the choice to eat them.
5. Soda of any kind - the phosphoric acid in regular soda is bad for your bones, the sugar is bad for you all the way around, caffeine is a drug, and diet soda is just another franken food loaded with chemicals. (Even I still struggle with this one!)
6. Your tv - yes this may seem strange but it's very easy to veg out in front of the tv. It's been proven that people eat more while watching television and are less likely to be physically active. Besides, tv is not only bad for you physically it's bad for you mentally and spiritually. Is there really anything on television that's worth your total well being?
7. Processed and prepackaged foods - There are so many chemicals and preservatives in these foods that it's no wonder we are unhealthy and overweight. We don't even know what we are putting into our own bodies! Not only does homecooked food taste way better but it's much healthier for you and you know exactly what you're eating plus there's an added bonus - it's much cheaper!
8. Stress - stop worrying over the little things. It's a proven fact that stress causes more health problems especially heart related problems. Try to let the little things go and save the stress and worry for the really major things in life. Worrying and arguing over a sock on the floor, or a cabinet door left open is not worth elevating your blood pressure and increasing your chances for heart attack or stroke.
9. Exchange your artificial house plants and flowers for the real thing. I'm not saying to get rid of your decorations - I have some too - but I am saying to add some real plants too. The fake ones are just dust collectors which is bad for your lungs - and allergies - and real plants and flowers actually help to cleanse the air in your home.
10. Negative attitude - A cheerful mind and outlook on life helps to relieve stress. Happy people are usually healthier and live longer!
11. Laziness - Get up and move! It's hard to get started but trust me - you will feel awesome once those endorphins kick in!
12. Noise pollution - if you leave your tv or stereo on for background noise then maybe you should try turning them off. Find some quiet time - if you can - sit down with a good book (or the good book), write in a journal or even pray. We can all use some wind down time especially before bed and more rest = better health!
13. Anything that keeps you from achieving your goals or feeling good about yourself and this includes negative people. Surround yourself with people who support you and take away all the things that hinder you. If you have a successful environment then you will be successful!

Thursday 13 - Reasons to get healthy

1. You'll feel better.
2. Your life depends on it.
3. For the sake of your family.
4. You'll look better.
5. You'll have more confidence.
6. Clothes shopping will be a much more enjoyable experience.
7. Because God commands us to take care of our bodies: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
8. Do it for yourself.
9. Because we are only given one body, and one life and we should make the best of that life.
10. Eating healthy foods and exercising is certainly much cheaper AND easier than going to the doctor for medical problems that are related to not taking care of your body.
11. To serve God more readily. It's difficult to be able to be used in God's service when you can't even get up from your seat.
12. To never have to be ashamed or embarrassed by your own weight or health problems.
13. Because we are the light of the world. If we are keeping ourselves hid behind weight, health, or emotional problems then how can we ever shine to the world and let them know the true goodness of God?

Thursday 13 - Reasons you should sponser our March for Babies walk

Please click here to sponser us - even a donation of just $1.00 can help and is very much appreciated! God bless and don't forget to tell your friends about us too.


1. It's for a good cause - saving the lives of premature babies.
2. You will be helping us (the women of JOY) get healthy as we go on the 5 mile walk.
3. It will make you feel good for doing something good!
4. Because each year half a million babies are born prematurely and will have lifelong disabilities or even die and your donation could make a difference!
5. Because your donation of $1.00 may not seem like much but if you combine all of our dollars it can make a big difference in the lives of these babies and their families.
6. Your donation will help us (the women of JOY) be more encouraged in our walk and feel as though we're truly making a difference.
7. You will feel like you are making a difference.
8. Because maybe you've personally had an experience with a premature baby of your own or within your own family and you have seen the hardships and struggles.
9. What better way is there to spend $1.00 today?
10. Because McDonalds and Starbucks would not go broke if you did not give them your money today ;-).
11. Because you will get a nice thank you note (or email) from us with all sincerity!
12. You will also get fame and recognition for your good deeds! We will post a public thank you - along with your name - on this blog and on our March for Babies site: (http://www.marchforbabies.org/ajoyfulwalk).
13. Because life is precious and short and your donation today could save someone's life tomorrow.

Thursday 13 - Ways to Exercise without a Gym

1. Walk. You can walk around the block, walk around your house, or even march in place while watching tv. Who says you need a treadmill?
2. Take the stairs. Instead of the elevator take the stairs, or if you have stairs at home you can use them to exercise on. Just go up and down 10 - 20 times.
3. Take the longest route possible. When going shopping, and if you're not in a hurry, try to park as far away as you can. The extra walking from the parking lot to the store will be great for you.
4. Use a chair for exercise. You can do an entire exercise routine just using a chair. Youtube has some great videos that can show you how. Just do a search for "chair exercise."
5. Strength train your upper body with just a pair of hand weights. If you don't have hand weights try using soup or vegetable cans.
6. Put a little elbow grease into it. Give your house that extra scrubbing it's been needing all while giving your body fat an extra scrubbing as well :-)!
7. Do some crunches. You don't need a special machine to work out that belly flab. Just get on the floor and do some old fashioned crunches!
8. Do something fun like play volleyball, tennis, or even go for a bike ride. You will easily trick your body into thinking you're having fun instead of getting healthy exercise!
9. Dance! Put on some upbeat gospel music and go to it. Just make sure nobody is watching lol.
10. Play with your children (or play like a kid again). Play tag, jump rope, throw the ball around, jump on the bed (shhhh I won't tell). Who says the fun has to stop just because you're an adult?
11. Waiting for the dryer or microwave to stop? Do some stretches or march in place while you wait.
12. Don't leave the hard stuff just for the guys. You can take out the garbage, cut the grass, or rake leaves too!
13. Go shopping. Go to a museum. Just get out and move! Exercise doesn't have to be complicated or require fancy equipment. All you need for a healthier body is to move it!

Thursday 13 - Things to comfort yourself with instead of food

1. Find something to occupy your time.
2. Go for a walk or go outside. Sunshine and fresh air do wonders for a down mood. Sunshine or light is often prescribed to people with depression. My mood is certainly better on sunny days than on dreary ones.
3. Work on a hobby like sewing, crocheting, or drawing and painting.
4. Talk to someone even if it's just over the phone or finding a partner to chat with online.
5. Write! Journal your feelings in a diary or in a blog. You can even write songs or poetry - anything that helps let the emotion out.
6. Exercise. Good heart pumping exercise is known to release endorphins (feel good horomones) and can make you feel better almost instantly.
7. Spend time with friends or family, go shopping or just hang out.
8. Sing, or play an instrument. Even listening to good music can soothe your soul.
9. Make lists. If it's something you're worrying about write it out in list form and cross off all of the things that aren't as important as you thought. Just writing it down can help alleviate some of the mental stress.
10. Go for a scenic drive. Taking in all of God's beauty can uplift you!
11. Take a long hot bubble bath or a very hot shower and let the heat help to relax you and the water to help cleanse you physically and mentally. Drop some aromatherapy tabs in the tub and let the scent help relax you and put you in a better mood.
12. Play a game with your family or children. Laughter certainly is good medicine!
13. Pray and read your bible. "Take it to the Lord in prayer" - that is a line from "What a friend we have in Jesus" and it is certainly true. No greater friend do we have than the Lord. Who understands our sorrows more than our very own Creator who dealt with grief beyond our comprehension?

Thursday 13 - Kitchen Gadgets

As we all know home cooked food is much healthier for you than store bought, processed and fast food junk but without the proper tools it's harder to make homemade food that tastes good and is healthy for you too. These are some things I like to keep in my kitchen to make cooking AND dieting easier.

1. A food scale, preferrably a digital one that weighs ounces, pounds and grams. This makes it easier to have accurate portion sizes and helps you to learn portion control.
2. Non-stick cookware. Anything that helps you cook without added oil is a great thing to keep in your kitchen.
3. Food processor. Many healthy dips and salsas can be made using this and it turns the task of chopping veggies into half the work.
4. Very sharp knives. If your knives are dull and old you will not feel like chopping fresh fruit and veggies.
5. Vegetable and rice steamer. This makes steaming vegetables easier because it steams them to just the right temperature without overcooking them or drying them out.
6. Blender. Everyone needs a blender to make healthy smoothies, protein shakes and even fresh juice.
7. Microwave egg boiler. This is one of my favorite gadgets. I found this at walmart for around $6. Eggs are a good protein filled snack for very little calories. With this you can easily have boiled eggs without worrying about overcooking them or watching the stove.
8. A countertop grill. Grilled chicken, grilled fish, and homemade waffles all from the same machine - need I say more? If you can't afford the one that has changeable plates there are smaller machines that grill 1 or 2 things at a time.
9. Plenty of tupperware / storage containers. Make meals ahead of time, or pre-chop veggies and store them in the fridge until you are ready to use them. These are also good for keeping premeasured portions.
10. Egg seperator. This seperates the egg whites from the yolks. Use the whites to make omelettes or even merengue and save the yolks for something else.
11. Apple wedger & french fry press. Make homemade baked french fries or slice an apple to make mock apple pie.
12. Measuring spoons & cups for measuring portions without a scale.
13. Toaster Oven. Make homemade healthy pizzas, pita sandwiches, and lots of other things you can't in the oven or microwave.