Monday, March 7, 2011

Made to Crave Mondays - Chapter 3

OK, we're at chapter three and I believe this is where I'm going to be kicked into gear. No more theorizing...it's time for action. Well, there may still be theorizing and self-introspection...but the action has to be part of it as well at this point! Are you ready? I really don't know if I'm ready...but for my health, for my family, for so many reasons...it's time. Let's dig in to chapter three of Made to Crave by Lysa TerKeurst, President of Proverbs 31 Ministries. Even if you haven't read the chapter, I know you will have so much to add to this discussion! And, you can find out more about the book at www.madetocrave.org!

HERE WE GO...

1. What thoughts, images, or emotions do you associate with the word plan? Are you the kind of person who says, "I love it when a plan comes together!" or are you more likely to say, "Plan-schman, can't we all just go with the flow?"
Jill's answer: Of course I'm a Plan-Schman girl. One thing that really hit home for me in this particular chapter is when Lysa says "I wanted to eat what I wanted, when I wanted, in the quantities I wanted."That is so me. I hate planning and journaling and being so careful with what I eat. I KNOW it works, but I HATE doing it. And, what really frustrates me is that I have so many friends who can eat what they want, when they want, and in the quantities they want. In the past I have found myself shaking my fist at the unfairness of it all. Why do I have to be so short, why do I have to gain weight so easily...why why why! What a whiner!!!! So, needless to say, a plan may not be what I want, but it is what I so desperately NEED!
 
2. Are there areas of your life in which having a plan works well for you? For example, in your finances, for vacation trips, accomplishing daily tasks, reaching professional goals, reading the the Bible in a year. In these areas of your life, does having a plan feel empowering or restrictive? Do your feelings change when the plan is about food, what you will eat and not eat?
Jill's answer: A few years back Jeremy and I had worked extremely hard to get debt free and set up realistic plans for our finances, vacations, family goals, etc. But lately, we've strayed way off course in just about every area. Now we're beginning the long process of turning the Titanic back around. It's going to take time, but we remember how well the plans worked and want to get back to them AFTER cleaning up the mess that's left in the wake of living life on a whim. I desire planning and goals in these ares. But, I do not desire then with my eating. Like Lysa says, it's an acceptable drug of choice for a Christian woman. I work in full-time ministry so sometimes having even just one drink out in public is frowned upon. And, Jeremy and I try to be careful with what movies we choose to attend. We don't want to give the wrong impression or lead anyone astray by our poor judgment. But, FOOD! Everybody loves eating yummy food. It's accepted and encouraged, even in excess. So, when I look at the one "drug" that is socially accepted in just about every circle...I don't want to think of monitoring and restricting myself, especially when everyone else is indulging. But, a plan in place will be necessary!

3. "My changing body revealed all my secrets...Poor choices with food will rat me out every time". What is the relationship between food and secrets? What secrets do you think your body reveals? Jill's answer: I guess when you're trying to hide what you're eating you are in fact keeping secrets from your spouse, your friends and family, and even yourself. If I eat something quickly, quietly, and all by myself so I'm the only one who knows...I'm often tempted not to count it during a time when I actually am trying to keep track of calories or points, etc. I will also fail to mention it. I am not proud of it, but there have been times when Jeremy has asked me what I had for lunch that I have said, "A salad". Really? Well, I did eat a salad, but maybe I also had some fries off of Alyssa's plate and half of her ice cream for dessert. But, I did eat a salad. Maybe that salad was topped with crispy chicken and fatty dressing and croutons. But, it's not a LIE to say I had a salad. However, it always winds up feeling like a deception because, well, it is. And, why? It's not like Jeremy's going to be upset with me for my food choices. I just don't want him or anyone to KNOW the extent of my poor choices. But, like Lysa, my poor food choices rat me out every time. The bulges and lumps and tight "big" jeans...well, they reveal the truth about that "salad" and all the other half truths I've admitted to eating.

4. Choosing a healthy eating plan that works for you may require research, experimentation, and consultation with your doctor or other health care professionals. How does the prospect of doing these things make you feel? Does it energize you and help you to feel equipped or does it overwhelm you and make you feel discouraged? Jill's answer: It does give me a little hope because I've seen results from following a plan in the past. However, I also remember the tedious journaling and counting of calories. One thing that I think might help is that I've downloaded a calorie counter on the home page of my PC. That should make it a little easier to record what I've eaten and let it do the counting and the math. I'd say I'm starting the PROCESS of turning the corner here, but I'm not completely giddy about it! :)

5. Lysa described her food plan but emphasized the importance of choosing a healthy plan that works for you. What words or phrases would you use to describe the kind of plan you think would be realistic for you over the long term? On a scale of one to ten, how hopeful are you that you can find a realistic food plan, one that you can grow to love just as Lysa grew to love her food plan? Jill's answer: I think a simple food list works best. I know if what I'm about to put in my mouth is not a whole grain, fruit, veggie, lean meat, low fat yogurt, or organic milk, or nuts...then it isn't something that will be beneficial for my body and my overall well-being. So, I will continue quoting I Cor 10:23 over and over to myself. "Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial!" 

So, I've begun this road today. Also, I'm starting to keep track of my calories. I've given myself an average of 500 calories per meal for 1500 per day. This may be too many to get me to my goal weight, but I know it's way better than what I've been doing otherwise. And, I will leave room for adjusting down as I move forward in this process. So, from here on out, everything that goes into my mouth will be entered into that calorie counter. This will also help me think before popping a handful of peanut m&m's in there. They are Yum-O - but they're also 'Oh MY' when it comes to calories and the total lack of nutrition beneficial to my body.

Will there be an occasional splurge for a special occasion? Sure! But, I'm going to be VERY picky about what constitutes a special occasion. A special dinner out with Jeremy to celebrate our 10th anniversary = special occasion. Alyssa gets invited to yet another 5-y.o. birthday party where they're serving pizza, cake and ice cream, and they offer it to the parents as well = NOT a special occasion (for me, that is)!

OK - so it's getting real, now. No more just talking about needing to make healthy changes. The changes are here and ready to be MADE! Are you on board with me? Let me know with your comments below. Maybe you have some ideas for the anti-journalers like me. Or, maybe you have other questions, comments, concerns, encouragement. Whatever you have to say, I can't wait to read it! Have a FABULOUS Made to Crave Monday!

7 comments:

  1. I'm so excited you are doing this Jill and I'm VERY honored you are using my book. The "permissable" vs. "beneficial" question stays on the top of my mind constantly!

    Big cheers for you and your friends today... Lysa

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  2. I need to be but haven't done very well! I have the DVDs and need to watch them :) I have a group of ladies who say they are ready to start this bible study at my house so I need to get in gear! BTW, I created a Made To Crave Facebook unofficial fan page so we could all encourage each other! If you'd like to join us :)

    http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Made-To-Crave-Fan-Page-Unofficial/114471388630106

    Blessings,
    Mel
    Please feel free to stop by: Trailing After God

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  3. Okay, so I am a planner in some ways, but definitely not when it comes to food. I tried weight watchers many years ago but hated counting points/calories, etc. I DESPISE the thought of counting calories. It's way too time consuming. I know it probably gets easier the more you do it, but I have no desire for that.

    So, what I've been doing the last couple of weeks is watching what I'm eating and especially watching proportions. I try to eat half of what I normally would. I've taken out snacking unless it's fruit or yogurt and I'm actually hungry. I grew up eating dessert at every meal, so that's been hard. I've found eating some sweet fruit after a meal helps me not crave bad sweets. Or, chewing a piece of sugar-free gum. I've also traded chips with my sandwich for carrots, fruit or a small salad with lowfat dressing.

    @Jill, I love peanut M&M's too. :)

    I've made some bad choices, but feel like my good choices are outnumbering the bad ones finally. Now, if I can just keep going!

    Thank you for doing this and for your honesty! I'm also thankful for 1 Cor. 10:23. Such an easy but powerful verse to memorize and use in the battle!

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  4. I hate to journal too but have found SparkPeople to be kind of fun. It is free, and has a huge database of foods already in it so it is easy to to add your food in for the day. The best part is you can copy one day to the next so if you eat the same thing for breakfast every day you don't have to keep entering it. I just found your site today and am so encouraged by your blog. I too have come to the place in my life where I am just done with the whole diet thing. This has become a serious form of bondage in my life. I want to be free of this. I loved the book and now I am reading it again and doing the questions at the end of the chapter. I look forward to reading your blog as well. Thank you for putting it out there!

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  5. I love the idea of Made to Crave Monday! I had started reading it daily, journaling my answers to the questions and then stopped. A chapter a week may actually be better - I would have time to practice and ponder whatever new insight I got before being bombarded with the next one.

    I restarted this journey after my infant son's death in November. I'd lost about 15 pounds after his birth, but was still considered "obese". When he died, I felt a burning desire to turn my life around, essentially. I've been failing miserably at it, though, and now weigh what I did while pregnant (!!!!) Finances are another area I felt the desire to get straight and I've been far too relaxed there as well. Satan's got a hold on me and I'm finally realizing it.

    What's the calorie counting thing you downloaded? I'd be interested in checking it out.

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  6. Elizabeth, I'm so very sorry to hear about your son's death! Having gone through a miscarriage at almost 9 weeks, I can only imagine how much more painful that loss would be if I'd carried my baby to full term and then lost him/her. I will pray for healing for you today, because I know it is a process and it takes time and love and HOPE to help it begin to become manageable!

    As far as your question regarding the calorie counter. My husband has downloaded a free one on his iPhone. I'm prety sure there are several available. And, the one I put on my homepage is a tool you can put on your iGoogle page. Yahoo probably has one as well. :)

    Cheri - I LOVE your idea of sweet fruit or gum after a meal. I remember hearing Zig Ziglar speak once and he said as soon as he would finish eating a meal he would jump up and brush his teeth. It would keep him from eating anything else for a while and the sweet mint flavor of the paste would satisfy his sweet tooth. He also allowed him self one dessert/treat a week and he would play it up big when it came time for that one dessert!

    Keep the comments and the tips coming, FABULOUS chicas! I love reading what you have to say!!!

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  7. I do love it when a plan comes together but I usually don’t like sticking to the plan as it’s going on. I’d rather go with the flow. Like Jill and Lysa I want to eat what I want in the quantities I want and when I want! It’s so much easier to do this than to have a plan but it's also what gets me into trouble with my jeans! I also feel like I am not one of those people who can eat whatever they want. However, I am very thankful to be taller than the average woman.

    Having a plan sometimes makes me feel restrictive but it can also be empowering. It helps me to have a plan when I'm going out to dinner or to a certain event. I realize if I don't have a plan that I'm probably not going to make good choices. We have just recently started a financial budget that is working fairly well. It feels good to be in control and think about things first. I think that in any area of my life a plan is helpful or else it seems like I don't do well.

    The relationship between food and secrets is that it’s much easier to eat the wrong things and in excess too. My body reveals the secrets about what I’ve been eating. It may not immediately reveal the secrets but eventually my pants are too tight.

    Sometimes it energizes me to figure out a plan and other times it overwhelms me and seems like too much work. The counting of calories is very tedious but I also know it works well.

    I think a plan that would work best for me is similar to weight watchers. I like that it allows you to eat things you enjoy but in moderation. That makes me feel like I have a little more freedom.

    I also like the gum idea! I have been chewing more gum than I ever have in order to minimize snacking.

    I am also very sorry for your loss Elizabeth. I know that could not have been a easy thing to go through.

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