DAY 21 of the Daniel Diet is today! I made it!!! For the past 21 days I stuck as close to this food plan as possible. I'm not sorry that it's ending. I will now add real meat again, fruits, some dairy. Continuing on low carbs though. The magic bullet comes in avoiding so many carbs. Go LOW.
For my health situation and body type, I believe that cutting carbs is the magic bullet. The carbs I do consume are coming from vegetables and fruit. As much as I love potatoes, bread, pasta, and rice, I know I have to cut way back on these and when I do, I have to remind myself that I am not deprived. I AM BLESSED. With wanting to lower my body weight, I have to be PRO-ACTIVE and this is how I can be pro-active...cut the carbs. Fewer carbs = lower body weight. Hallelujah there is a way to do this.
Avoiding carbs becomes the norm for me. Anytime I eat potatoes, I will half the amount I USE TO eat. Avoiding French fries has not been difficult for me. PASTA is challenging as I LOVE IT. I have to remind myself that I can have some...just not as much. 1/2 a cup will do. Before the watching what I ate, I will confess, I ate enough for 4 people when it came to spaghetti, ravioli, or potatoes. Better put bread in there as well. I wasn't concerned.
If we dined at Olive Garden, I would have several bread sticks along with the salad. The salad wasn't the problem. The spaghetti noodles were. Truthfully there was enough to feed three people with the portion of the noodles I was served. Gluttony for sure. Ignorance played a part with my problem next to not wanting to admit I was OVER EATING ALTOGETHER and over doing the carbs.
If you eat one noodle at a time, it's time consuming and ridiculously slow so stuff as much in the mouth as possible still doing it in a lady like fashion. How can someone look lady like when the cheeks are pooched out like a chipmunk's???
WHAT HAVE I LEARNED WHILE PARTICIPATING ON THIS DANIEL DIET OR DANIEL FAST?
Doing this food program helped me to focus on eating a variety of vegetables besides the ones I grew up on which did not include a large array of veggies. It helped me to focus on eating at least two times a day. It helped me to think about nutrition, nutrients in organic vegetables and how they would help me get healthier. Amen.
Most days I would drink a V8 for breakfast or eat nothing at all. I know that V8 has natural flavors in it which isn't healthy for consumption. Natural flavors are actually chemicals. A no-no when wanting to regain one's health. I could have made my own and probably should have. So I also noticed how lazy I am when it comes to preparing healthy beverages.
I noticed many people who need help with their health. I noticed some pride and arrogance in me that I need to flush out. I am not better than others, but I am working at getting healthier. Others may be doing the same thing. What I see is not all that meets the eye. Others may be changing their habits as well and I don't know their struggles. I know not.
When Daniel was in the LION's DEN, I am in awe of how he survived this. AWE. When I was a little girl, my folks had a Biblical picture book about Biblical characters. Daniel was one of them. The brightly colored plates/pictures with the people spoke volumes to me. They made the Bible come alive to me as a child. PAUSE. I am a visual person to this day.
How many times does it seem like lions could devour us when we are changing habits that need broken or changed? When changing food patterns the challenges could be likened to the lions. Many times when I was dieting, it would seem like the very thing I needed to stay away from would come to mind to tempt me to eat it as soon as possible. The lions wanted to devour me.
Is our LIFE environment likened to a den full of lions? Are we trapped and unable to get out of the things around us that can harm us? Remember that even Daniel was eventually taken out of the dangerous den. He escaped the dangers with the help from God through an angel.
Over the years, standing firm didn't always happen. These 21 days I have had some strong urges to eat junk food. I managed to stay firm and not eat the junk food. I am praising God that I stood firm and ate veggies. Veggie strong. The 21 days showed me that I can change and I have. God has helped me escape a lions den meant to devour me.
I will continue to eat vegetables and some fruit, nuts, seeds, beans and lentils. Adding in some protein from beef, chicken, fish, turkey, and hormone free milk for dairy along with yogurt and cottage cheese. Spring water and green tea. Going low carb is a must for better health. Avoiding added chemicals and additives as much as possible.
Blessed,
d👵
