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Sunday, May 31, 2015

30 Day Fast - Day 3 (May 31, 2015)





Weight - 154.2
Bust - 38
Chest - 35
Waist - 33
Hips - 42
Thigh - 23
Calves - 15
Upper arm - 12
Fore arm - 10
Neck - 14

I have been playing somethings over and over in my mind.  Last night I had the song "Beyond Me" stuck in my head.  I finally listned to the lyricks my brain was singing.
"Beyond Me"
Call it a reason to retreat
I got some dreams that are bigger than me
I might be outmatched, outsized, the underdog in the fight of my life
Is it so crazy to believe

That You gave me the stars, put them out of my reach
Called me to waters a little too deep
Oh, I've never been so aware of my need
You keep on making me see
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
Yeah, it's out of my league
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond

Anything that I got the strength to do
In over my head keeps me countin' on You
I'm leaving the sweet spot, sure shot
Tradin' it all for the plans You got
Is it so crazy to believe

That You gave me the stars, put them out of my reach
Called me to waters a little too deep
Oh, I've never been so aware of my need
Yeah, you keep on making me see
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me
Yeah, it's out of my league
It's way beyond me
It's way beyond me

You take me to the place where I know I need You
Straight to the depths that I can't handle on my own
And Lord I know, I know I need You
So take me to Your great
Take me to Your great unknown

It's way beyond me, w-way beyond me
It-it's way beyond me, w-w-way beyond me

Yeah, You gave me the stars, put them out of my reach
Called me to waters a little too deep
Oh, I've never been so aware of my need
Yeah, you keep on making me see
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
Yeah, it's out of my league (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me (it's way beyond me)
It's way beyond me

You take me to the place where I know I need You
Straight to the depths that I can't handle on my own (it's way beyond me)
You take me to the place where I know I need You
Oh take me to Your place
Take me to Your great unknown 
 
I felt like God was letting me know that somethings were out of my control and that was okay.  Then the church we visited this morning talked about worry and how sometimes its things we have no control over that we are worried about.  That's totally true and it is what I was doing.  I am so grateful that God spoke to me through this song and his word this morning.

For breakfast I had 9oz grape juice, coffee and some orange juice.  We went to a new church, they have a truly wonderful children's program, we are so excited. I came home and took care of the animals.  I had some grape juice and V8.  I really have not had any symptoms at all to report.  Last night I had some insomnia.  But other than that, this time has been so much easier than the first time.  Other than the first day, I did think about giving up.  I asked my husband "should I really do this?"  You miss out on date night dinners and things like that.  But its only for a month, and to me the benefit, spiritually, is so worth it.

I am going to pack up some drinks for my moms house, we have an afternoon of swimming, naps and family fun.  School tomorrow and on to day 4!



Readings:
Judges 11-15
1 Corinthians 11 & 12

30 Day Fast - Day 2( May 30, 2015)



Today I woke up & took my measurements.  Today they were:
Weight - 156.4
Bust - 39
Chest - 35
Waist - 33
Hips - 42
Thigh - 23
Calves - 15
Upper arm - 12
Fore arm - 10
Neck - 14

I let our ducks out, had some coffee & did today's readings.  Judges 7-10 and 1 Corinthians 9-10.  I had 16 oz of orange juice.  We cleaned the house took care of the animals and did the laundry.  For lunch I had grape juice and V8 juice. 
We went shopping at whole foods where I grabbed some kombucha.  Kombucha has a very small alcohol content (.5%)  and I have to admit I felt it (it was store bought)  I think it was due to the lack of food.  I normally feel no alcoholic effects from Kombucha.  This fasting time my husband commented that drinking the different juices I don't seem as tired as last time.

That wraps up day 2 on to day 3!!!

Saturday, May 30, 2015

Day 1 of 30 Day Fast (May 29, 2015)




 Today was the first day of my 30 day fast.  I had arranged for my kids to be with my mother this weekend, because the first three days of the fast is the hardest.  I started by taking my measurements:

Weight - 156.4
Bust - 39
Chest - 34
Waist - 34
Hips - 42
Thigh - 24
Calves - 15
Upper Arm - 12
Forearm - 10
Neck 14

I am unsure about the three pound fluctuation between yesterday and today.  I guess it was the orange chicken.  I made my coffee, grabbed some orange juice (8oz) and sat down to do my morning readings.  Today I read: Judges 1-6 and 1 Corinthians 7-8

After my readings I took a nap.  When I woke up I was achy, hungry and sore.  I drank 16 oz of orange juice.  I went out side and took care of all of our animals.  We have 4 turkeys, 9 rabbits, 25 ducks and some where around 75 chickens.  Some are full grown and some are babies.



Wes and I went to buy some juices and he suggested that I get more than just orange juice, which is all that I drank last time.  So I grabbed some V8, black cherry juice.  I had a glass of V8 juice and black cherry juice when I got home, the black cherry is too sweet for me, so I will cut it with water.  The symptoms I had in the evening were: I was cold, and I had a headache.  I ended up falling asleep around 12:30am.  Day one down.

Preparation for fast - day 4 (May 28, 2015)


The final day before the fast begins.  This morning I took my measurements:


Weight -  153.6
Breast -  40
Chest - 35
Waist - 33
Hips - 41
Thigh - 24
Calf - 14
Forearm -  13
Neck -  14

This morning I woke up at 7:00am, I got dressed made my coffee and had some yogurt with fruit and honey mixed in.

The kids have gone to this awesome creative arts camp for the past few summers, and last summer I started volunteering at it.  I lead the "God's Great Outdoors" class.  Today was supply room day so at 8:30 we headed in to Friendswood.

I gathered up most of the things I would need for camp.


When we were done there we ran to HEB to get the kids organic lunchables (tomorrow is shopping day)
Ordered orange chicken as my "last lunch"
I decided that instead of eating healthy today that I was going to order what ever I wanted for lunch and dinner.  So I had orange chicken for lunch.  And Wes took me to Gringos for dinner.





I asked Noah to take some pictures of me.  For comparison later.  Hes an awesome photographer :)
I

Fast starts tomorrow 

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Preparation for Fasting - day 3 (May 27, 2015)




Today I am focusing on the kids and continuing to make good eating decisions.
6:00 am - woke up, dressed, made coffee, I had fruit for breakfast, the kids had Panda Puffs

6:15 am - woke up the kids

6:30 am - headed to Galveston to see the release of the sea turtles.  It was pouring down rain when we got there.  I had the kids take off their shoes and grabbed an umbrella.  It did not really help that much.  We were freezing cold and wet.
Then the turtles came out.  And the boys realized why I had brought them there.  It was absolutely amazing.  To think that God created such awesome creatures.



8:30 am - headed home
10:00 am - let the kids play/ relax before starting school, fixed an early lunch
10:45 am - lunch



2:30 am - left for Micah's speech therapy


I worked on my supply list for camp

Cooked an easy dinner.
Had some sunggle time with my little before I put him to bed.

7:30 - Little guy is in bed, I'm exhausted heading to bed for today

Preparation for fasting - day 2 (Tuesday, May 26, 2015)

Up until Thursday the only real "prep" work I am doing is staying away from alcohol and drinking more water. (All of our food is organic from Whole Foods)


 Here is a recap of my day (starting super early):

12:35 am - We have lost power twice and the weather warning went off on both of our phones, right as I was drifting to sleep.

8:00am, fixed breakfast. (panda puff cereal)  started laundry

9:30 am - left to drop things off at good will and pay for creative arts camp


10:30 am - stopped by moms, she was off 1/2 a day due to the flooding in Houston

10:42 am - the kids started their science work


11:00 am - left for lunch at mod pizza

12:30 - 1:00 - pm science

1:00 - 1:30 pm -  Eli works on geography while Noah does math.

1:30 - 3:00 - Break/nap

3:00 pm - Lesson on China, lesson on Andrew Jackson, and William Henery Harrison
          Reading time with Noah & Eli (30 min each)
          Cleaning and Laundry
          tend to animals
          started 2nd fermentation on my Kombucha

6:00 pm - Dinner (Mexican casserole, rice, beans)

7:00pm - run to a friends house to grab some toys she picked up for me


8:30 pm - lock the ducks up for the night, tuck the kids in and tell them about tomorrows great adventure.

9:00 - bath & goal to be asleep by 10pm.

Monday, May 25, 2015

Preparation for fasting - day 1 (May 25th, 2015)




My first 30 day juice fast in January was so life changing for me, physically and spiritually that I decided it was something I wanted to incorporate into my life every 6 months.  On my last juice fast I did zero prep work.  I basically just started.  This time I wanted to prepare a journal and have a better idea of how I would record my fasting.


       Today was Memorial day, the kiddos were with my mom so we slept in until about 10am.  That is totally unheard of.  I fixed my coffee and had a banana and peanut butter for breakfast.  We fed all of the farm animals, moved the chicken tractors, collected eggs and did some laundry.  Then it was time to head over to my mothers where we had a wonderful time swimming and eating with family.  I did very little food wise to prepare for the fast today.  I just ate as normal.  This week leading up to the fast I will not be drinking any wine.  I will be increasing my water intake and drinking Kombucha.  Kombucha is something that I have been introduced to since the last fast and will be drinking this time.


    We headed home about 7 and I prepared our home school lessons for the week.  I worked on my fasting journal.  Each day has the daily scriptures that I want to read, a spot to journal my weight, measurements and a recap of my day.







Currently we are getting ready for a big storm and I
 will be loosing my internet soon.  Stay safe!!!


My fast will last from May 29th to June 29th.  If at anytime during the fast you would like to join me and have a cheerleader on your journey, please let me know.

***This is my personal fasting experience, it is not medical advice***


Sunday, May 17, 2015

ADHD Diet - Day 3, 4 & 5


My motto this week was "Come Closer"  I had read a blog about it (I tried to find it, but I cant.  When I do I will link to it)  It basically said that you don't yell across the room for people in any work type situation.  That if you need a person, you go to them - come closer.  So I started asking the boys to come to me, or I would go to them.  This cut down on yelling, actually it made it almost zero.

Wednesday we did some cleaning, I purchased birthday cards for my volunteers at church.  The kids were having some serious carb cravings so I made some home made tortillas and they ate them with their ham and cheese roll ups for lunch.

Thursday was pretty similar to the earlier days.  I am noticing a huge difference in Eli, but I am wondering if anyone else is.

Friday I took the kids to their grandparents house.  I packed their lunches and got dinner together for our evening group.  This part is going to take some practice.  I dont normally have to worry about packing food.   I replaced our toothpaste.  Now for the BIG reveal that this is all worth it.  I called their grandfather after they had been with him for about an hour or two and asked if he noticed a difference.  Now their grandfather is a meat and potatoes - no special diet kind of guy.  He said YES!  He has become one of my biggest ADHD diet fans and goes out of his way to make sure they stay on the diet. 

Saturday, May 16, 2015

ADHD Diet - Day 2

With day one under our belts we move on to day two.  I forgot to mention yesterday that alson with the new diet we are implementing a morning exercize program.  We are doing a couch to K program and on our off days we do a kids work out program from you tube.

Breakfast and lunch were the same today and I cooked less sausage and eggs.  Again the little one refused to eat sausage and eggs.  I am not sure what that is about.  The children adjusted quickly to requesting healthy snacks (hard boiled eggs, cheese, fruit).  Between lunch and breakfast, and then again between lunch and dinner, I prepared a tray of apples and carrots for them to snack on.

Eli did seem much calmer today.  I think I need a few days to know if this was just a good day, or if the diet is helping.  I do feel that the exercise is helping.

Friday, May 15, 2015

ADHD diet

We began to suspect ADHD in my middle child.  We have already made the choice of alternative schooling so we decided to try a diet change to see if we noticed a difference. (6 week challenge). I spent most of the weekend preparing and cleaning out the pantry.


For the first few weeks, I will  keep the meals very simple as times goes on I will add more choices at breakfast and lunch.  Today for breakfast we had our pasure raised eggs (we own our own chickens) and nitrate free sausage.  Two of the kids chose to have bannanas instead.



While I was doing school with my oldest child, my middle child (the one we are doing the diet for) runs into my bed room and finds the only candy that I had forgotten about.  My husbands M&M dispencer.  I quickly empited it.



For lunch we had nitrate free lunch meat roll ups, cheese, carrots and apple slices.  It was a huge hit.  The kids ate it up.  Last week I went to Dream Dinners in Pearland, because I was wanting to make this week as easy as possible.  I am working on getting my own ADHD freezer meals together.  We had the Cranberry Buttermilk Chicken with oven roasted broccoli.  The whole family said they would eat it agian.  It was very nice to have something on hand to make this process easier.

Some odd things I noticed, I was extremely tired today (not related to the diet change) and I had purchased enough bananas to last us all week.  While I was resting, Eli ate two bunches of bananas.  I am not sure what that is about, I set a limit of one banana per person, per day.