SUDDENLY SATURDAY

NOT ONLY IS IT SUDDENLY SATURDAY, it's DAY 6 out of 21 days of my Daniel Diet.  Yesterday was a tad bit difficult as I wanted so badly to eat like I have basically all my life. I have to say to myself out loud, I am not deprived.  I am blessed.  I am not deprived.  I am blessed and the weight is coming off of me.  H a l l e l u j a h.  

Today, I had a huge onion sliced and cooked in olive oil for LUNCH.  It was very good knowing this is extremely low cal and low carb.  I will eat a cucumber salad here in a little bit to fill my tummy allowing me to eat Supper later.  I have laundry to dry and weeds to pull over at the cottage. 

YESTERDAY, I stayed busy at HOME moving Winter coats to a different closet.  I am amazed at how many coats and jackets my sweetheart has.  One leather coat/jacket was so heavy it hurt my arms carrying it through the house.  I think eventually we will have to downsize our coats and jackets.  

All the things I NEED to do cause my adrenaline to pump reminding me that I can only do so much and that's the way it is.  My back still causes me to sit.  I think I will make an appointment with the Chiropractor and see what he says.  Physical therapy has only helped a tiny bit and I have been at at for over a month.  sigh.  Dear Lord, I need wisdom on what to do.  Amen and thank you.

I worked over a grapevine wreath decorating it for my Father's grave.  He loved cars and worked most his life connected to cars and trucks.  I thought this was fitting.  

May you have a sweet and pleasant LIFE.

God richly bless you,

👵d

 

ARTWORK

LAST WEEK we attended our GRAND's graduation in which an Art Show was on display.  I enjoy seeing what has been created.  

Makes a Grandma HAPPY.  All SMILES.

 

Blessings,

d👵

THURSDAY THUNDERSTORMS

AWAKE UNTIL AFTER 3 AM.  Thunderstorms in the area were active.  I had to talk myself into going to sleep.  It was after 3 in the morning before I drifted off.  Grey skies and cooler temps.  I was very slow getting started this morning.  Slow as slow can be.

Taking my blood pressure before running about for the day.  The reading was excellent.  Keeping an eye on it throughout the day.  I am weaning off more meds and am to keep tabs on the BP. Studying up on foods and vitamins that help to lower blood pressure naturally.    

Read through the local newspaper, sorted some other papers and now planning to go shower. Laundry next.  Knowing that Memorial Day is coming, we don't have our banners outside decorating the house.  I believe we will let this slide this year.  Thoughts of appreciation toward those who served in the military will not slide nor be forgotten. 

Everyday, I need to work at decluttering until I am content.  Tearing into this is necessary. Amen.

THANKFUL it's Thursday.  Off and running...well walking at least.

Yesterday, it was like Summer as the temps were in the 80s.  The thunderstorm cooled things off. Thunder rumbled this old house throughout the night.  I believe I need to take some time to be outside today.  A drive in the country will lift my spirits.  

Blessings,

👵d

DAY THREE of my DANIEL DIET

HERE I SIT AT THE END OF THE DAY eating a bowl full of pinto beans, chickpeas, kidney beans with a few Kalamata olives added for my supper meal.  I'm way too tired to fix a big meal as we were out most of the day and I really am tired.  Had a good day though and got much accomplished.  Feet are tired and aching.  My back needs the recliner.  It seems my upper back is the problem today.  Anywho, I am on DAY THREE of my Daniel Diet.  21 days and counting.  

Breakfast was a V8.  I know that V8 has some added natural flavors, but I cheated a little bit and drank one.  Low cal and that's what I am aiming for.

Lunch was a Olive Garden Salad and Minestrone soup minus the pasta.  Sipped on water and had a nice chat with Hubby, but I sat across the table from him watching him eat the delicious plate of spaghetti with meatballs and meat sauce.  It was almost torture, but I got through it.  I wasn't deprived and I left the restaurant contented.  

Supper was the SALAD BEANS.  It needs something besides what is in it.  This would be really good mixed in with pasta, tomatoes, green beans, etc.  I'll suffer through tonight and have a large crisp salad tomorrow.  Just added some salsa to it and that made all the difference!

I started what I call a DANIEL DIET based off of Biblical scripture where DANIEL IS EATING VEGETABLES AND BEANS (pulse).  For 21 days I will eat lots of veggies, legumes and beans in hopes of dropping some much needed weight.  So far, so good.  I drink water and unsweetened iced green tea.

May 24 through June 13th.  Can I do it?  I believe I can and will.  I pray and cheer myself on.  

This morning I put on my new walking/running shoes and my new blue jeans with an old top I had in my closet.  I have plans of downsizing my wardrobe after I get further along on the interior of the house.  I can only do so much and that's the much.

Today, I drove across the prairie to small town America to put a load of towels in the drier.  Each time I go over to retirement cottage, I think out loud what we are suppose to do to it.  

Off to Topeka for Olive Garden lunch.  I ordered off their menu what I thought I could eat that lined up with my Daniel Diet.  I knew I couldn't eat the pasta in the soup, so I ate around it.  The Minestrone Soup had good flavor and the salad is always a winner.  No breadsticks or dessert.  I did just fine saying no.  

Stopped in at GOD's STOREHOUSE and I bought a Momma Gorilla with baby gorilla behind her.  I'll clean her up give her a new coat of paint or use shoe polish.  I didn't need the figure, but for some reason I really liked this one.  Not my usual purchase, but that's what makes it fun to go looking.  Surprise...something different.    

Hubby bought a Stem Punk Clock.  SO we both splurged on something.

Drove over to another Thrift Mall and walked about.  I left empty handed and that's alright. Drove the neighborhoods of Potwin Place and Westboro.  Very nice neighborhoods.  Kind of like a fairy tale how pleasant the houses and lawns are.  

Went to the Natural Grocers for organic veggies.  They have a reasonably priced fresh vegetable and fruit section compared to Dillons and Hy-Vee.  Sometimes I shop Aldi as they are increasing their organic items by leaps and bounds.  I laughed outlaid thinking I can't believe how organic we have become.  I would never have believed it a few years ago.  We have it in us to change.

Off to HOME we go.  My feet were starting to hurt by then and I needed to take the tennis shoes off and wiggle my toes.  My back was crying and I was ready to call it a day.

After I tried jeans on last Sunday, I stood in horror looking at myself in the dressing room mirror.  I knew firsthand that I had to do something drastic.  Way too heavy.  SO I started a Daniel Diet on Monday.  I want to be healthy and this is where I continue to make my wayward toward a healthier me.  

I went back through my print outs from MyFitnessPal that records what I eat each day.  I had started cutting back on portions in January.  Here it is the end of May and I have switched gears again.  21 days of this Daniel Diet and then I'll return to adding small amounts of fruit, beef, and dairy.  Not sure when I will add more carbs.  They are part of my problem in why I am so heavy.   

Years ago when I did a Daniel Diet in Texas, I would eat baked potatoes.  When I allow potatoes this go round, I will only eat half of a medium potato due to it being loaded with carbs.  Baked potato with salsa on it or spaghetti sauce makes for a decent meal.  I'll have to skip the cottage cheese this go round, but after this fast, I will return to doing this.  Baked potato, cottage cheese and salsa.  It is good for sure.

Tomorrow is another day.  I will pace myself and go from there.  The month is running out of days.  We need to go to the Court House and purchase our car tags before the week ends.  The month of May included paying taxes on the cottage and auto insurance on the cars.  Graduation gifts also.  Now car tags.  We got hit a little hard in the pocket book.  December and May are that way.  Have to plan for these expenses.  June will have birthdays and medical bills that will need paid.  It seems like the older I get, the more bills there are.  It surely is a sign that I am ALIVE and kicking.

I would like to go decorate my Dad's grave for Memorial Day.  I have a grapevine wreath that I might hot glue some artificial flowers on to make a wreath for Dad.  It seems like it was only yesterday that he passed away.

We celebrated our fourth year on May 25th of living in this old house.  I cannot hardly believe it. Four years.  Take a deep breath and give THANKS to GOD for seeing us through.  

I ordered some flowers for my Sister and Bro-in-law's 50th Wedding Anniversary that will take place on Sunday.  Mailed some cards.  They will not be having a reception.  I wish they were, but this is what they want and that's that.   My Grandparents' 100th Wedding Anniversary will be May 31st.  They are no longer here on Earth, but we still think of them.  God is good.  

Blessings to all and may you have a delightful LIFE,

👵d 

DOING A NUMBER ON ME TUESDAY

YESTERDAY, I WORKED IN THE GARDEN for a few minutes then my back started to ache. Decided to walk it out.  Took a short walk returning hot enough to where I needed to cool off.  A pat on the back as I got a walk in and stayed standing the entire time.  I need to walk daily.  

Perhaps I can get one in this evening if it's not raining.

MY PERSONAL DANIEL DIET BEGAN ON MONDAY.  I was in a time crunched and skipped Breakfast going straight for a salad of SPRING GREENS, CHICK PEAS, BLACK BEANS and small TOMATO with Olive oil.  

Drank water at lunch then treated myself to a Trenta Unsweetened Iced Green Tea before physical therapy.  This size of tea lasts me for about 4 hours.

I was re-evaluated at PHYSICAL THERAPY.  I have improved, but need to strengthen my upper back now.  These kinds of muscle strengthening exercises will be done in the near future.  My therapist said next time, we start on the treadmill walking and go from there.  He thinks another 6 sessions before I should be where I do HOME ALONE exercises.  I will celebrate.  

I can tell my lower back isn't hurting at the intensity it was when I started physical therapy.  In early April, I was in very bad shape with intense back discomfort that was debilitating.  

I could have watched videos about exercises and probably will to continue strengthening my back.  I bought a 5 pound Kettle Bell from Dollar General at a great price and a dog lease so I can do this walk with the dog lease around my waist where the kettle bell hangs on the lease between the legs.  A simple exercise.  A simple walk.

  

I had been meaning to stop in at BROWN's SHOE FIT and see what they have in good quality walking shoes.  A foot doctor suggested that I get some inserts and mentioned BROWN's.  We stopped in and I purchased some inserts and a pair of good quality walking shoes.  BROOKS ADRENALINE.  The young salesclerk knew her feet and had me convinced what type of shoe I needed.  Sharing that our feet need stabilizers that are built in, we were sold. I told my Husband that I would get a pair and he needed to try some new shoes on as well.  We walked out of there HAPPY CAMPERS. 

I'm 65.  I have NEVER and I mean NEVER bought what is called a good pair of shoes of any kind.  Ever.  Well hello 65.  I need help and this journey continues.  I need good walking shoes and I have them now.  This will help with healing my back aches.  This will encourage me to walk more and run.  Amen.

Did some shopping afterwards and came HOME late.  Supper was SPRING GREENS, AVOCADO, KALAMATA OLIVES, CAULIFLOWER and a side dish of fresh cooked SPINACH with vinegar.  

The spinach tasted so different than what I get in a can of POP-EYE's.  Baby Spinach is better for salads than this large leaf spinach that was cooked down.  I will have to acquire a taste for it.  I'm not use to fresh veggies.  I'm really not, as I grew up on highly processed foods and canned veggies like corn, green beans and spinach.  Carrots, tomatoes, potatoes and iceberg lettuce were about the only veggies that I ate as a child that did not come from a can.   Breads from the store were white bread.  White rice.  Wheat pasta.     Mooooooo. 

Overly processed foods did a number on me.  I was raised on the American Diet with loads of processed foods and canned goods with high sodium content and fats.  Over time, the foods and would have a multitude of additives and chemicals added.  Not knowing that eating highly processed foods would make me fat, have high blood pressure, develop diabetes, fatigue so much of the time....I was doomed to get sick, stay sick and get sicker.  A cash cow for the medical profession.  Here I came ready for their attention thinking they had all the answers.

HEALTH challenges occurred through the years with Rheumatic Fever at age 6 leaving me with a heart murmur and a personality disorder of wanting to be a high achiever which didn't allow a sense of ever being good enough and what I did accomplish wasn't ever enough.  A peace stealer.  A confidence destroyer.  A wrong mind set to have.  Dear Lord, Release me from this mind set which is bondage and a energy drainer.  

At 24, it was my misguided decision and choice to have a Tubal Ligation which I would grow to deeply regret later in life.  My hormones would be affected by this.  PMS was a horror.  I did not know to beef up the vitamin B6 to combat this and relieve water retention.  I would learn later about that when in my 40s.  B6.  

B6 does wonders.  

H e a v y and I do mean HEAVY menses in my 40s with fibroid tumors appearing.  A hysterectomy was what the doctor ordered, but I steared clear and toughed it out.  Kept an eye on this with ultrasounds.  Much prayer and staying power.  I stuck it out and I still have my uterus and ovaries at 65.  I should have avoided sugars, sodium, hormone loaded meats and processed foods much earlier than I did.  Pump up the vitamins and minerals, avoiding sugars and growth altering hormones.  I believe that so many of the fibroid issues are due to growth hormones in foods, plastics we use, underwear we wear, sanitary pads we wear that are bleached and enter the body causing health issues.  Even toilet paper has chemicals that enter through your sensitive areas.  When asking questions it may not surprise you that the answers you get are not solid.  The buck is passed around.

Even cotton has issues due to pesticides and preservatives.  I thought cotton was a miracle product then I found out it is heavily saturated with chemicals.  Heavily saturated.  Cotton of all things.      

Stearing clear from GMO foods and eat natural has become a way of life now.  Good fats like olive oil, coconut oils and avocados are eaten.  Grass fed beef and free range eggs.  I should have tried this early on, but I WAS REBELLIOUS and ignorant.  Not well informed.  

Dear God, Help us to eat healthy choices and drink healthy substances.  Help me forgive myself for being in the wrong for so long.  Help me to change for the better and be healthier.  Educate me in the areas where I need change in clothing fabrics and products that I use.  Help me Father God to declutter my HOME and to turn loose of poor habits that keep me in bondage.  In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.  pause.       

Thyroid cancer diagnosed at age 55 where my thyroid was removed in two separate surgeries.  I know now that I had cancer for twenty years before being diagnosed.  Nobody told me I would have difficulties swallowing, more coughing and choking years after the thyroid was removed.  I was told I would have to take a pill for the rest of my life and was given that textbook comment that if you have to get cancer, thyroid cancer is the one to get.  I do wonder who coached the doctors on that one.  

One pill for the rest of my life where my body has not adjusted to the meds and my thyroid numbers have not stabilized.  Weight gain, sweating issues, over heating, low body temps, FATIGUE.  High blood pressure somewhere in here and now high cholesterol with diabetes at 65.  I've researched thyroid issues until I was blue in the face.  AND even though I read a great deal...I was not able to retain what I read.  Memory loss has become an issue.   

I'm mooing like an old heifer.  Can I improve my health?  I so need to and want to.  I'm late in the game with the minerals and vitamins, but I am a strong supporter of them now as well as nutrition like never before.  I'm all in.    

The thought that I have cut way back on sugars rang a bell.  DING...and a light went on.  I remember saying that I didn't think I could ever get to the point of being freed from sugar THEN the light went on and I realized I have cut WAY BACK on sugar to where I am sugar free.   SUGAR FREE.  That's an accomplishment and a half for me.  This is HUGE. 

Instead of taking another medicine, I decided to get to the root of my health problems and my husband's as well.  We are both diabetic now.  He takes some meds for diabetes and I'm working at lowering my weight and eating healthier before having blood work in August.

I did go off one of the meds for blood pressure that causes blood sugar levels to rise.  One down and two to go.  All three meds I have been on raised my blood sugars.  Makes me sick to think I am taking meds that raise blood sugars.  Tadaah...you are now diabetic.  Uh-hah.  Boosting vitamin and mineral intake, changing the type of foods I eat and sipping spring water through the day.  

Once again, I missed Breakfast and had LUNCH instead with organic Kettle & Fire Butternut Squash Bone Broth Soup.  Something warm for the belly, tasted pretty good, but high in calories as I had 2 cups equaling 400 calories.  SUPPER will be a huge serving of cooked carrots and a side salad of cucumbers with onions.  

STOCKING BACK UP up this week on kale, spring greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, beets, Kalamata olives, etc.  and whatever I take notice of like radishes.  All organic and nutritious.   

A LUSCIOUS Product REVIEW is in order.

Today's plans are to have a long QUIET TIME alone.  Take a long shower where the water massages on my back.  I'll shampoo and condition my hair, then let it air dry in curlers. Put the carrots on.  Run the vacuum in the living room, dining room and kitchen.  A couple of loads of laundry and rest.  Tuesday blessings. 

When I clean on the house, it becomes a house blessing.  When I eat differently than before, I am not deprived.  I am blessed and getting stronger.  When I have all the paperwork in order, thinned down and filed, I am adding to contentment.  It is godly to have order.  When I pray, I have peace and feel the presence of God.  I am refreshed.  When I exercise, I am in motion and know that God approves of motion as He put things in motion.  

DOING A NUMBER ON ME got my attention and I embrace the saying...There is hope.  It's called change.

Blessings to you.

HOME LIFE is for me,

👵d

MAKING MY WAY MONDAY

MAKING MY WAY TO THE LOCAL STORE 

THAT SELLS ARIAT JEANS was on my TO-DO LIST.

I made it just in time to try on a couple of pairs of jeans, but they weren't ARIAT.  Lucky me.  The store only had up to a certain size and that wasn't mine.

The Salesclerk needs some training when helping out a newbie to their store.  The chart to convert from waist/inseam to their size was pointed out to me by the clerk.  She suggested that they might have my size in their LEVIS section.  I found my size and pulled two pairs of jeans out of their stash as the clerk moseyed over to the check out desk and just stood there.  I wanted ARIAT, but since they didn't have them, I did the next best thing and tried on LEVIS in the dressing room.  

While trying on the jeans in their dressing room, I overheated which doesn't help a GRANNY undressing in distress in the first place.

What I saw in the dressing room mirror wasn't what I wanted to see.  That woman was having difficulties believing she is so heavy.  I put my original jeans back on and took my selection to the check-out.  Checking out I left the store sweaty and a not so happy shopper.  I left upset.  Sat in the car and barked.

BARK BARK BARK bark bark BARK.  One more...Baa-arrrkkkK.  Get it out of my system. 

I wasn't happy about being so heavy.  I wanted new jeans to help with my wardrobe.  Perhaps I should only wear dresses and skirts with tops/blouses.  Stay in my housecoat and hibernate.   

Drove the distance and I went to the KSU GARDENS to look at their irises that were not in bloom two weeks ago.  Just walking around made me feel better.  HOME I went.  

I checked out ARIAT JEANS for women online and they are OUT OF STOCK, OUT OF STOCK, 

OUT OF STOCK in my size.

The jeans I ended up buying will have to do until I go shopping again for smaller sizes after I reduce some more. 

In the mean time, I have to forge ahead and make things happen.  I will begin a DANIEL DIET today which I will stay on for 21 days.  Then I will step on the scales and see if it budges.  I will do light exercises along the way.  A walk around the block is scheduled today.  After 21 days, I will introduce to my diet some lean meats and dairy.  If the scales don't budge I will cry.

Dear Lord, I need your help.  Amen.  

Rain this week and cleaning the house are on the agenda.

I need to get an Anniversary card and place it in the mail for my sister and her hubby as they will be celebrating 50 years of marriage next week.  I'll order them some flowers mid-week.

No graduations or birthdays this week.  Doctor's appointments and physical therapy though.  Shopping for more vitamins and supplements.  Bills to pay and prayers to pray.  Letters to write and time to talk.

Will you be doing something new this week?

Blessings,

👵d

 

Power Filled with the Spirit by Shara McKee & The Pentecostals of Katy C...

Celebrating PENTECOST 50 days after EASTER.

The Holy Ghost fell.

ACTS 1:8

Hallelujah! Holy Ghost POWER!

👵d

A SATURDAY THAT SATISFIES

MY FRIDAY NIGHT did not include a movie, like we do so often.  Our fridge was acting up.  Hubby went to work on it.  After some tweaking on it most of the evening and working after bedtime at 3 in the morning, it's better this morning.  That's a HUGE relief.  I wasn't wanting to go shopping for a fridge.  Hopefully the fridge will continue to cool like it is suppose to.

Instead Friday evening, I read about health issues, marked irises in the yard, trimmed some of the ones lying down because of the rains then rested when my back began to ache so I had to sit down.  I worked on sorting papers and when I had caught my breath, I worked on organizing the small pantry that's housing nuts, seeds, steel cut and rolled oatmeal, chickpeas, black beans, olives, and kidney beans.  Cereals including Ezekiel Cereals.  Tomato sauces, pizza sauces, spaghetti sauces, soups and crackers.  Some misc. 

Oops....I read that nuts should be stored in the fridge or freezer to keep them from going rancid.  That means I will have to make room in the fridge.  Good luck with that.  My fridge is quite small.  Another day on this.  

This particular pantry is for quick access to some breakfast foods and salad ingredients throughout the day.  I like the way it is taking shape.

I almost can say, this project is finished for the day.

Today, I continued filing important receipts and statements until my eyes crossed.  Had to take a break from this as my mind gets weighed down.  Moved back to the pantry.  Worked a little then went outside to tag the Irises.  Back acts up...back inside to sit for a spell.  LUNCH TIME.  

No Breakfast today.  Straight to LUNCH.  Tuna on a bed of spinach and spring greens. Peppered the tuna and added pineapple slices for sweetness.  Tuna without mayo isn't my cup of tea, so I wanted something sweet with the greens and tuna.  It worked well.  Later, my snack was a very small can of pork and beans.  Sometimes I have a hankering for pork and beans.  No piece of pork fat in this can.    

As I sat, I watched the Biblical Nutritionist on youtube.  I discovered her and started watching Annette Reeder.  Liked what she said.  Years ago I did the Daniel Diet.  It worked for me then, but I went off of it and the rest is history.  I believe I will give her SUPER FUEL MEAL a try in the near future.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL7YuOIBsQA 

We have really changed the way we eat, but believe I CAN step this up a notch.  If I am really serious about reducing weight, then I have to seriously do something different than the American Diet.  I have to have lifestyle changes for LIFE.  Movement and exercises must be a part of LIFE.

With following Annette's SUPER FUEL MEAL, the Daniel Diet and what we are already doing by going organic, low carb, few sweets, no soda, no coffee, few snacks...if the weight doesn't come off then I know my not having a thyroid is the devil.

I believe I need to take a breather before returning to the yard to mark more Irises.  Later, more papers to go through.  MAYBE a movie and relaxation.

Surely a Saturday that satisfies.

God's PEACE to you,

👵d