Insert Choice Title Here

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There are so many titles I could put for this post, so I'll just let you put one in there yourself.

Rhys slept ALL. STINKIN. NIGHT. I feel so happy, blessed, energetic. He usually would get up around 11pm, nurse, and go right back to bed. Then he'd get up early morning, like 4ish. And go right back to bed. Well the past couple of nights he'd pushed his first feeding to 1am, then 2am. Then he just dropped the second feeding and was getting up once. I'm not holding my breath though, because I had to wake him up from all his naps yesterday. He was just a sleepy boy. I think he's growing. So he might go back to getting up again and that's ok. This is the point where I did controlled crying with Nadia, but I just don't have the heart to do it with Rhys. So I won't, at least not yet. And that's ok. I know that if he did it once, he can do it again when he's ready. He's my last baby, I want to enjoy all the baby/nursing/bonding moments I have with him. And as long as I'm getting sleep why should I force him to go through that?

Anyway, it's a good day. I even woke up before he woke up. Wow.

Little Weight Loss Joys #3

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Yesterday I was walking through our annual street fair with a friend from Ohio. This particular friend has seen me at almost my highest weight. Everybody else in our little town has not. A lady who comes to our church when she is visiting her mother in law was there. She saw me and exclaimed "hey there skinny mini!" I have never, ever in my life been called that. I've been called a lot of other things, but never skinny mini. It's a first. And it was nice. She's only ever seen me as heavy as after I had Rhys. What she didn't know is that I had been much much heavier. And what was really weird is that she herself is thin. I can't believe I'm being classified with the skinnies. How cool is that?

Can't Loose Cankles

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I was watching the Early Show this morning while I was doing my 200 Squat Challenge (more on that later) and they had a segment on Cankles (remember my previous post?). They said that the only way to get rid of cankles is surgery. That's a load of hooey. Now maybe for this woman, I mean she was fairly thin all over, but the other pictures of women with cankles they were showing were heavier women. Exercise would probably help in most situations. I find it irritating and depressing that the only way they are saying you can get rid of fat is to cut it off! Now there are sometimes I'd like to do that and I can remember my mother actually saying that, but I'm not going to put myself through an elective surgery just for looks. No way. That's asking for trouble.

And another thing, do you know what irritates me about those shots of heavy people? They never show their faces. Now they probably do that because of the lawsuit factor there. But it makes those people seem nothing more than the excess weight they carry. It irritates me. And why do they feel the need to film heavy people at all? Can't they just show the announcer talking or something? Or show medical pics of the area or whatever? Grrrr. I realize that a lot of people who have excess weight is their fault and they need to do something about it, but still it's irritating.

I'm off my soapbox now.

By the way, have you heard of Turbo Jam? I just tried it this morning. I LOVED it! It was so much fun! And different. I was getting tired of Jillian. I figured that if I was getting bored mentally, I might be getting bored physically. Time to mix it up. I'll still do the Shred, but not everyday. This DVD has 5 different workouts. YAY! Never get used to it.

Now to go eat and mow the lawn. yay.

Little Weight Loss Joys #2

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For the longest time in my life I had cankles. Those ugly, tree-like impostors for ankles. Yuk. I would wear heels in high school to give myself the appearance of ankles. I mean, this was not reserved for pregnancy, no I had them day in and day out. My wonderful best friend felt the need to point this out to me. Nice, thank you. I used to admire other women's ankles, just because they had them. I would think how nice that inner bone sticking out was.

Well now I can admire my own. I finally have ankles. Nice ankles. I have the prominent bone on the outside and even a nice little bone sticking out on the inner ankle. I, finally my friends, have ankles. And for that I am happy. It's small, but it's a step.

Pardon Me...

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The idea for this post has been rolling around in my mind for a long time. It's sort of an embarrassing issue, maybe for some, but I think you can handle it.

It's about underwear.

Now I realize that some of you are already moving your little white arrow to the 'X' at the top of the screen to shut me out, but but but! Give me a minute, hear me out, I'm not going that embarrassing.

Here's the dealio, for a long time I was brand loyal to Victoria's Secret. When I had lost enough weight to finally fit in a pair I only bought undies from them. It was something in my mind that if I wore from that store I mustn't be as fat as I thought I was. Whatever. But I discovered that even though they were a bit more expensive than my previous brand from Wally World, they lasted FOREVER. I mean I had pairs for 5 years before I forced myself to throw them out. Nary a snag, hole, tear or fading. They remained fabulous throughout the entire time I owned them. Then about, oh, a few months ago I decided that I had had enough of buying into the hype, I was who I was no matter what underwear I wore and I went back to Hanes. Lemmee tell ya, they tore after just two washings. I was miffed.

All that to say, I've gone back to VS. I don't like the way they portray women in their catalogs, stores and website. But I have to hand it to them, they've got the market on underwear (bras are a different story. To me, a bra is meant to hold me in, you know, I want to be able to bend down to pick up my son without having to adjust afterward. That's annoying. Women move, VS bras are meant for women who sit around and do nothing. That's not me. Anyway.) But I'd like to know, do you know of a brand that does stay together fairly well? I mean they don't need to last 5 years, but at least 1 year would be nice. I was so irritated that I wasted money on underwear that fell apart so soon.

There I said it. I got it off my chest, oo, bad verbiage there. Well you know what I mean. That wasn't so bad, now was it? :)

Randomly Not Here

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I am here, but not here. That means, I am active, not sick, busily running around, but not blogging lately. So, feeling bad for the small, very small following of followers that I have, I'll blog for you. Isn't it nice to be thought of?

My garden has reached the minimal weedage stage. I love this stage. It seems in the spring I could weed all four gardens and need to do it at the end of that same week. It's ridiculous. Then around this time the weeds sort of give up on trying to take over my garden and only the few tenacious ones refuse to give up the ghost. It's nice. I can sort of take my time on weeding. The only reason I like to weed is the same reason I like to mow...expenditure of calories. If I didn't have just a few pounds to go to my goal weight, I would chuck both and do them a whole lot less. Of course the garden and the yard would look disastrous, so I suppose it's a good thing.

I have been stuck at the same fluctuating 4 pounds for about a month now. Really, since about April. Yuck. I get down, really low to 157, then I sort of wiggle back and forth to 161, much to my dismay. But I am noticing a change in the mirror. I look more toned and I feel stronger, so I know change is happening, even if the scale isn't reflecting that change. I know eventually it has to come off, but I believe it may have something to do with nursing. I wonder if my body is sort of holding onto the last few pounds in favor of nourishing the baby. And that's ok. I am slowly getting more and more comfortable with being at this weight. For some reason, though, I hate seeing 160. I'm much happier at 157, and I know it's only a 3lb difference but it makes all the difference for me in my day. I know that's bad, and I'm working at changing that, but mindsets take time. I would've given anything to weigh 160 when I weighed 280. What am I griping about? Someone slap me. I guess it's the idea of it all. When I'm so close to being 'normal'. 154. That's all. I'd settle, right there. That would be a healthy weight for me, normal on all the charts. Someone pray that for me? Will you? Pray I make it there. Just 4 (right now) more pounds. And I'll stop. I'll be content. But perhaps it's the mind that needs to change. *sigh*

Rhys is pulling himself up on things left and right. Last night he was standing in a dry tub holding on the edge, just so happy about it! He crawls to who he wants to have hold him and he is usually held by more men in our church than women. Which I think is awesome. It's one of the only times I actually see their guard fall and it's sweet. These big, burly, tough men, cooing and playing and blowing raspberries much to the delight of a sweet baby boy. And he enjoys them. Never once have I had a man refuse to hold Rhys. It's adorable. There is something about a man holding a baby.

I got the book about raising spirited children and I also got a book by Dr. Lehman that's much more enjoyable to read. So I read it first. *blush* That's all I'll say. I figure if that is in place and going well, parenting should go much better.

And Rachel, it looks as if I won't be able to get my nose pierced. I'm still nursing and I would squirm like a worm on a hook to lie about it. I guess we can still ask, as I don't have a problem with getting it done while nursing, I just have a problem with lying about it. Of course, those who might do it, might have less than ideal scruples and therefore less than ideal piercing standards. I should probably nix the idea till Rhys is weaned. BUT, I will so go with you to get yours done! Don't let me stop you!

Well the lawn needs mowed and I have calories to burn. *sigh* Somedays I wish I could just eat whatever I wanted and laid around and do nothing. Eat everything and do nothing. Sounds like a vacation! Heck, that'll be our 10th anniversary. And no conception of children, thank you very much. We are done. But that's another post.

Later!

Emily Post Was Out...

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I need your advice. I am having a couple couples over (yes you read that right) for dinner in a few weeks. These are totally awesome people and one of the ladies, when I invited her and her husband, offered to bring something. I didn't ask, but she offered, so I said, sure, how about dessert. Well, now I'm concerned that if she shows up with something and the others don't, that the others will feel awkward. Should I mention to the others that this other lady is bringing something, and that I don't care if they don't bring something, but if they would like to bring something they may? What would you do?

Little Weight Loss Joys

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I've been changing my mindset about this whole weightloss thing. I've been looking to the last 13lbs that I want to come off. I've been badgering myself, beating myself and just generally down about the whole thing. And ya know what? I've lost 122lbs. That's a lot of weight. I need to re-focus on what I have done. So when I see one, I am going to post little weight loss joys to remind myself that I have come a long way, even if those last 13lbs never come off.

So here is my one for today:

I can wrap a bath towel (and not a bath sheet, just a regular towel) the WHOLE way around my body and it covers everything from pits to thighs. Before I might be able to cover my chest. Now I can cover everything. That's just cool.

Nephew and Cousins

Over the Independence Day weekend I had the opportunity to meet my new nephew! This is the boy that made me an aunt. I'm so honored. His name is Ivan and he looks just like my brother and Dad. He's a cutie. Enjoy some pics of the kids.

Nose Piercing Update

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I've gotten a lot of comments on the nose piercing thing, so I thought I'd make my 'comments' right here.

Yes, Andrew approves. I suppose he sees it as the lesser of two evils. He knows how much I want a tattoo. I've wanted one for years, but this is something he's putting his foot down. That makes him sound bad and really he's not like that. There is very little he just says no to without discussion. So I respect that. And I think because this is totally reverse-able he's for it.

Now I'll only be getting this if I get down to 145, so it could be a while yet, seeing as how I only loose like 2lbs a month now. Grrr. I found a place locally that looks reputable to get it done, so maybe this winter. It would be great if it could coincide with my 30th birthday. Sort of poetic.

Rachel, I'll tell you what, if I get my nose pierced, you get your belly button pierced. If we still lived in the same town, I'd say lets do it together. You know what? We could do it this summer when the commission meets! What do you think? I guess I could fudge a bit on the weight goal, sort of a preemptive reward. (Heck, as if 120+ pounds isn't enough for a celebration, I don't know what is!)

Yes, Sandy send me pics, especially of the ones that aren't as noticeable.

One other question I have, I know while it's healing you can't take it out, do they have piercing studs that aren't as noticeable from the beginning?

Oh and how much did it cost?

Thanks ladies for all the support!

Nose Piercing

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I have been toying with the idea of getting a nose piercing for some time now. In fact, I'd rather do that than go Goodwilling. But, being the cautious one that I am, I am really weighing this before I just go and shove a poker through my nose.

Do you have one? Know anyone close to you that has one? Remember I am a pastors wife and I don't know how the church will react. This is a backwoodsy, down-home sort of place and I can just imagine the reactions.

What do you think?

30 Day Shred - Day 7

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Just so I remember where I am at, I completed Day 7 of the 30 Day Shred. It's still tough, but I notice little changes. Like I am able to actually kick my butt on the butt kicks and the jumping jacks are a little smoother, more graceful. So I'm getting better. Wow, I can't believe I've made it a week, with no breaks! Now on my 'usual' days off, I just do the shred and the walk to the post office (we live in podunk and have to get our mail at the post office everyday. It's a mile walk round trip so it's ok.) and no other working out. Well, I do also do some work in the garden, so I'm staying active but no extra planned working out.

I think I'll be ready to move on to the next level in a day or so. Woohoo!

Brutal Honesty

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Nadia gets my mothers knack for honesty.

We were lounging around in the kiddie pool this afternoon, just her and I, having a good time cooling off. She braced herself with her hand on my thigh to get up and noted: "Mama, you're squishy!"
"Yes, yes I am. But you are too, you are squishy on your butt and your cheeks. Everyone is squishy."
"Why are you squishy Mama?"
"It's called fat, Nadia. Everyone has some. Even Papa, even Rhys. Everyone has fat."
"Rhys' butt is squishy, my butt is squishy. I'm a little squishy, but you are A LOT squishy."

Thanks Nadia for that reminder. *sigh*

It's All Tammy's Fault!

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Ok, so I had been following Tammy's 30 Day Shred reviews for a while now and thought "nah, this can't be as hard as she says it is. And I'm in GOOD shape, this isn't hard enough for me." I even went to Collage Video's and watched excerpts of it and still wasn't convinced. Well, I WAS WRONG. So wrong. So so wrong.

We have Netflix, which is a nice way to rent vidoes by the way, and I saw that I could get the 30 Day Shred, so I thought I'd at least see the whole thing. Hey, it would be nice to do something different, even if it was boring. Hah! Again, I was wrong.

I got the DVD today and sat down to view it. I always view my workouts before I do them, that way I have a heads up on what's happening, it helps me to perform better. While I was folding laundry, I noticed these ladies were sweating only 10 minutes into the workout. I thought "why are they sweating already? I mean, they haven't done that much" But it looked like fun and I was eager to do a workout tonight so I decided to do it. Here I sit, 30 minutes later, sweaty, hurting, but so so happy about this workout! It is exactly what I needed! It CHALLENGES me. I needed something to challenge me. I'm hoping this works. I plan on doing it everyday as they say to and see how it goes. I do plan on walking afterwards, just for like 15 mins or so, just to get outside by myself and get some sun. This is an excellent workout people, I highly recommend it. Try it, you won't regret it.

Beets

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We planted Beets this year as we love pickled eggs and beets. I learned, however, that you can eat the tops and we have been. I've been putting them in out salads. Just the young, tender pickings, when I am thinning out the row. But the big leaves are too big and too tough for salads, so I'm wondering if I can get your help. I know the South eats greens and so I'm sure they have to have wonderful recipes for that. I don't know how many Southern Belle's I have reading this blog, but if you wouldn't mind sharing your recipe with me, I'd be so obliged.

I've got to do something with these greens and I sure don't want to throw them out (that would just go against my frugal nature.) So share away and I'll post the resulting plate of food. Thanks!

Sheer Foolishness

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Americans are foolish. I include myself in that statement. I spent over an hour and a half doing the most foolish act I think I could do. And I volunteered to do it too! I bet you've done it too. In fact I wager to say that most Americans have done such a foolish act themselves.

We mow the lawn.

Why, you ask, is that so foolish? Well, think about it. What is the purpose of a lawn? To mow it? Certainly seems so. Some people spend more time on their lawn than what they do their children. Um, this is wrong. And with the price of gas these days we are literally blowing money all around our yards. And what do we have to show for it? Little tiny pieces of cut grass, allergies, wasted time, money and energy. And for what? So it looks nice? If I spent that much time on my face and hair every morning people would call me vain. But if I spend that much time on the lawn, my neighbors are pleased. This is asinine. About the only thing I can see beneficial to mowing the lawn is exercise. If, that is, one uses a push mower. (And trust me I count every single calorie I drop on that lawn, whether it's foolishness or not! A calorie spent is a calorie spent!)

It would be better, especially in this economy, if we all just had huge gardens. We'd get a lot more for our money, time and energy. We'd all be better off financially, physically and eat better. I know gardening takes time, but doesn't mowing the lawn? Yes, there still is gas involved, but after the initial tilling, we don't drag that machine out till we put the garden to bed. It's really a better deal people. I'm thinking we'll expand next year. We have four gardens right now (not including the herb garden) but we could go bigger. Maybe connect all the gardens. I'm thinking a whole backyard full of food to eat. And where we have the clothesline just lay down some stones. No mowing required.

Now I realize that there are people who can't have a garden instead of a yard, or those who have huge lawns and it would be ridiculous to have such a huge garden. So I propose a new trend, a new business venture. Think with me here: Rent-A-Goat. These animals can eat grass (and weeds) like nobody's business. We could get boro's and townships to allow so many goats per family or per acreage. And it would only be during the grass growing months. A temporary lean-to would be provided in the rental fee. Sure there is the, um, waste products (that lawn mower we all have now has waste products) but those are beneficial for all those huge gardens we are going to have. What benefit does exhaust have? I'm sure it's just dandy for the environment. Suppliers of these goats would make a killing during the summer months and then spend the fall and winter months 'restocking' their supply. It's a great idea. And, here's the bonus, for a bit more rental fee one could get a nanny goat and keep the milk! Goats milk is purportedly better for us than cows milk anyway, so it's a win-win-win situation. Natural fertilizer for the gardens, lawn is mowed and you save money on milk and get a better product anyway! Oo, I like this idea! Just pop that goat on a picket line and problem solved.

Hmm, I may have something here.

Journal

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I don't journal very much anymore. I used to, a lot, but then just sort of got out of the practice. I used to journal right before bed. Well these days the only thing I can think of before bed is, well, bed. I think my journal is under the bed somewhere. I have good intentions, but alas, my thoughts and frustrations remain conjumbled in my head. So, I need to get some stuff out. I am about to burst.

I feel like a lousy mother. Really, I do. My daughter is constantly asking to go to a different neighbors house all the time. And I feel like she wants to because I'm no fun. And I feel like I'm no fun because I have all this stuff I have to do. I try to include her in it, but when I ask if she wants to do this or that with me, she says no. What am I to do? We go on walks, but she always wants to go to the park. I've sworn off the park because she every time we go to leave she throws a fit the whole way home. I don't want to deal with that anymore. And last time she threw woodchips at another little girl who was doing nothing to her. I am so frustrated. The more she acts up the less I want to be around her and so I push her away. I know I do it. I just don't know what to do with her. If I say the sky is blue she'll say it's most definitely red. She'll argue the paint right off the wall. Even my parents and my best friend have told me that she's intense, active and hard to handle. She doesn't listen. I've tried time outs, spanking, ignoring the behavior, yelling, firmly telling her what I expect and it may work one time but not another. I'm about ready to give up! I am so frustrated, I just don't know what to do. I've always dealt with feeling love towards her, since the beginning. I have ppd to thank for that. I struggle with it, I've prayed about it. And I even sat down with her and had a talk about me not being perfect but trying to be a good mama. She seemed to understand. Things got better, a little, after that, but now they are back to bad. I've read Dr Dobsons' book, thank you very much. I don't know what else to do.
Different note. I read an article on sparkpeople about ideal weight. Come to find out my ideal wieght is in the range of 117-143. And because I am small framed (boo) I should weigh towards the end of that range. Crap. You mean to tell me that I still, after I loose the rest of what I thought was my lifetime goal I will still have like 20lbs left to loose? Man oh man. When does it end? I can see why women become anorexic, they are constantly told they are too fat! I still haven't decided if I'm going to go that low. I guess I want to wait until I get to my first goal. If I ever get there. Sometimes I think I'd be happy right here. Or at least at 154 because then that stupid BMI thing would say I'm a 'normal' weight. That'd be nice. Do you know that stupid thing still says I'm overweight? At least I'm not obese anymore. Gee wizz. Give me a break. I feel like I"m starving as it is right now. I'm hungry all the time of late and I look at myself in the mirror and I see a very tired mama. I have bags, bags! people. I don't know if that's because I'm getting up a couple times at night or not. And I'm not willing to do controlled crying with Rhys as I was with Nadia. I don't know why. PPD made me insensitive I think. Anyway maybe I need to back off of the dieting for a little bit. I think I'm getting too obsessed over it. I think I'm getting beat up.
By the way, how many times should a 8 mo old baby be getting up at night anyway? I mean he'll eat and go right back down. I can't complain about that. But I'm suffering for sleep here. And a lot of the time if Nadia gets up it's me who deals with that too. Why do mothers need sleep? Why can't we all just be supermom?
By the way I'm starting to taper off my meds. Just took a half dose last night, as per the dr. Will be doing that for a month and then a half tab every other day for a month.
There are times I say "God give me grace!" and that scripture pops into my mind "My grace is sufficient for you." So I guess it's going ok, because if it wasn't He'd change it, right? Sometimes I still feel like I need a friend who doesn't know I'm a pastors wife. I just need to be frank sometimes. Or charlie or larry.
Still my prayer, Lord give me grace.

Another Milestone...

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When Andrew and I married, we were easily 90lbs different in weight. Him being thinner, much thinner than I. That has changed. Oh yes. I am now thinner than my husband. That's not to say I've lost 90lbs in the past 6 years, no I've lost my fair share, but he's also gained his fair share as well. I've always wanted to weigh less than my husband, don't know, guess it's a woman thing. And it's here, I've finally made it. YAY!!

Even if it is only a half a pound, I still weigh less. Heh heh.

I Gotta Tell Ya

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Rhys did the cutest thing tonight, I just hafta tell ya about it. This week is VBS. I am not about to take Rhys out 3 hours past his bedtime, so it's just him and I at bathtime. Which is fine, we have great fun. I really do enjoy putting him to bed. We usually end up playing and seeing what new things Rhys has learned. After I get him undressed I put him on the floor in his room and go get his bath ready. His room is right next to the bathroom and so he usually meets me there in a few minutes. He's crawling now, y'all knew that right? Well tonight I decided to play a gentle game of peek-a-boo. I heard him coming down the hall (how can you miss his grunting and excited squeals? He really is a contentedly noisy baby!) and I decided to hide behind the open bathroom door. He knew I was nearby and he thought I was in the bathroom, but when he got to the bathroom door and didn't see me, he didn't quite know what to think about it. You see, he doesn't crawl on all fours, he army crawls. So I'm secretly looking at a buck-naked boy scanning the bathroom to his left, the rest of the hall and living room directly in front and then craning his neck to peer into our room on his right. Upon not seeing me he gives a little bewildered moan, I swear he was trying to say 'mama?' It melted me. I couldn't stand to see him laying there on the floor feeling all alone when he really wasn't. So I peaked further from behind the door and said 'peek-a-boo!' He flashed me the widest grin and commenced to crawling into the bathroom, all happily grunting away.


He is such a heart-breaker.

The Lord's Table and a Guest Blogger!

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I invited fellow crunchy mama to be a guest blogger today. She has dealt with the whole food control issue and has found a great resource for dealing with that. I have started the study and I'll tell you, it is great. It's simple, but it uses a lot of scripture and it cuts you to the core. So far it's been effective. I haven't lost much weight, but that's not my goal. My goal is to change my food-view. And it's working. I praise the Lord! Anyway.

Sandy's Blog is called The Daily Poop. I encourage you to visit her blog, if you don't already and check her out. She's full of wisdom and humor, which is so needed in today's age. Take it away Sandy!

First of all, I'm really flattered that Kathryn would ask me to be a guest blogger. It's an honor for sure! Thanks Momma!
The asking came about when I read this post of hers. *gasp*! That could have been written by me...I share the same feelings. Always have, and probably always will.
Without getting sidetracked into my past dealings with my weight and obsession with food...I'll sum it up by saying that I hated exercise. This, I think, was due to being an asthmatic and never learning how to suit exercise to my disease; instead opting to avoid it as much as possible. On the other end, I love food. LOVE IT. I was not taught or (more likely) chose to avoid listening how to eat properly, and how to eat only to be satisfied, not because it's so stinkin' yummy.
In fact, I had no concept of eating as a means to live, not as the reason to live. Anyone who's been in this mindset knows exactly what I'm talking about.
Food addiction is real. It's perhaps not as horrible or life threatening as a crack addiction, or as cruel as an alcohol addiction, but it's just as real. And it's a tough one to beat. Anyone can avoid alcohol. You can quit and simply say, "No thank you, I don't drink" Try doing that with food. It's a paradox in that you must have it in order to live, yet you must learn how to live with it. And it's shocking how much food can take over your thoughts, just like any other addiction.
The main reason Kathryn asked me to post is because I've done a bible study before, called The Lord's Table. I had heard of it, but thought it was merely a weight loss tool, which it is sort of. Weight loss is a really awesome bonus. The REAL purpose is to teach some harsh truths to those of us who are addicted to food and will not admit it, then to guide us in love and teach us through the Word how to be free from it.
This study is wonderful. I decided it was time to try it when I was the heaviest I've ever been right before the birth of my third child. I saw pictures of myself and was not pleased. Not.pleased. Justin and I looked up the study and decided to try it together. It's a bible study, eating plan (there's actually two), message board, and each person is given a 'mentor'. Someone who has done the program before and completed a leader study. This person emails you daily, receives copies of the studies you do online, and is a encourager and helper as you do this study.
If you're willing to make the change, admit sin and repent before God, this WILL help you. I lost 50 lbs after son was born. I have a lot left of course, and plenty of excuses why it's not gone yet, but the study works. Your mindset will change if you are ready to change it.
One of the first things the study is frank about...and this is a tough one to chew (pun intended, even if it was no good =P ) -- if you think of food all the time, you are making it your idol. That was hard to realize, I had never considered that before.
But it's true, anything we put before the Lord is an idol. And it doesn't take much, honestly. Every time I go to the cabinet and get some chocolate ''because I'm...." that's idolatry. I'm turning to food for comfort instead of God. Have you ever had those "I'm want something to eat don't know what I want" moments? More often that not, that's your body longing for spiritual food, rather than earthly food. Try spending some time with God, and see if that doesn't ease the pangs first. From experience, I can tell you it will most of the time.
Does that mean we can never enjoy food again and must hate the very sight of it?
NO. It's about balance. It's not a sin to love food. The sin comes from loving food MORE than God. The whole point of the study is to teach that nothing tastes better, nothing feels better, nothing is more pleasing than time spent with Him. And oh how it's true!

Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him Psalm 34:8


How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 103:119

The study makes a wonderful point about midway through:

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving 1 Tim 4:4

If you want to have a cookie, have a cookie. Thank Him for it. Just don't eat 20 because they are so good, and then feel ashamed afterward.
That's the beauty and the price of freedom from food bondage. We are allowed to enjoy food. We are to be grateful for it! For who did all things come from? Being thankful, remembering from whom our bounty comes from, and focusing on God while enjoying a wonderful meal made from God's creation is key in breaking the bondage food holds on so many of us.
The biggest points to remember throughout this study:
-Loving food to the point it's an obsession is idolatry. Not easy to hear or admit, but true
-Enjoyment of food is NOT a sin. The sin comes from depending on food for anything other than sustenance and enjoyment (ie comfort).. The Lord is to be our comfort. He is to ease our loneliness, soothe our anger, fulfill the cravings that come from deep within.
-Everything God created is good. And God created everything, so it's all good. From the veggies from the market, to the cookies that come from the junk food aisle. And everything in between. The point is to remember from whom it comes and not love the food so much you forget who gave it to you.


The Lord's Table is a wonderful study. I highly recommend it. If you do try it and like it, will you let me or Kathryn know?

Again, thanks for having me over to your blog Kathryn! I wish I was *really* there, so we could have a cup of tea and a cookie and talk about God's awesomeness!