Friday's Weigh In & Victory!

Today I increased my walking distance from two miles to two and a half!  I didn't think I would be able to make it; the pain in my low back was pretty intense; but I did!  Not only did I increase my distance, I cleaned two houses back to back today!  The Lord provide financially, AND He gave me the strength to get through both house cleanings; for that I am thankful!

I was VERY surprised that I had another four pound weight loss this week!  I expected one, but hoped for two.  I thought with the walking and cleaning of houses that I would be building muscle, making the actual weight loss less . . . . . regardless I am thrilled.

As of today, I have lost a total of 15 pounds! 



These potatoes represent 15 pounds !

Just can't believe it.  I am so thankful for Lysa Terkeurst's, Made to Crave book.  Healing is taking place.  That's a good thing :)

Walking in Victory,

Stacey



Chocolate Almond Butter Sticks!

OK; so I know me posting recipes is getting on people's nerves, but I am enjoying learning knew recipes and want to make it easy for others trying to lose weight also! 

I shared the link to Green Lite Bites a few days ago on the Red Pepper Feta Pizza recipe; well here is another fantastic one . . . . only this one is a dessert!  Here is the link to her recipe with her pictures (which her pictures are much prettier than mine).

Here's the recipe:

4 egg roll wraps
Almond Butter or Peanut Butter
Chocolate Chips

Cut the 4 egg roll wraps in half.





Spread one tablespoon of Almond Butter (that's what I used) or Peanut Butter over the wrap.

Now, I used mini chocolate chip morsels because they were already opened and I like them better than the big ones. I sprinkled one tablespoon of the morsels over the Almond Butter.

Roll them up (like a cigar! lol!).  Place them on a sprayed aluminum foiled pan.

Bake them on 400 degrees for 10 minutes.  I sprinkle VERY LIGHTLY with some confectionate sugar.  (Again, my pictures DO NOT do them justice, so please look at them on this link:   
http://greenlitebites.com)

IT WAS SO YUM!  The next time I make them, I will use a little less of the Almond Butter and Morsels and once they were hot they ran out the ends on all of them.  Once I fix it the way I like it, I'll post the changes.  That's what I love about recipes, you can always make them your own!

Enjoy

Tuesday's Victory

During anxiety, I put my trust in the Lord, not in the temporary comfort of food.

Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Tortilla Pizza

I found this AMAZING web site, http://greenlitebites.com/category/food-ideas/ while searching for healthy recipes. 

I came across a recipe that caught my attention (well, SEVERAL of them did; but the picture of this one looked gorgeous!)  It was Roasted Red Pepper and Feta Tortilla Pizza!  I started with the recipe she had posted and then used what I had at home.

Here is my recipe:

Mission Carb Balance Whole Wheat Tortillas (small)
1 TBSP Classico Fire Roasted Tomatoes & Garlic
Oregano
5 or 6 Fresh Spinach Leaves
Mezzetta Deli Sliced Roasted Bell Pepper Strips (4)
1 TBSP Low Fat Feta Cheese

Toast the tortilla first to get it crunchy, then spread the sauce, oregano, spinach leaves, peppers, then feta.  I baked it on 425 degrees as instructed for five minutes - 7 minutes.

OH MY GOSH IT WAS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!!!  I'm attaching pictures.  I was so proud of how well it turned it! 

I hope you will give it a try cause it was absolutely fabulous!

Putting Into Practice What I'm Learning

I am having to put in to practice this morning what I have been reading and studying the 22 days.

My son walks in and says, "Mommy, the toilet is bubbling and filling up all by itself.  Weird, huh?"

Well, it wasn't weird to me and I knew exactly what it was, our septic tank needs emptying, again.

This makes the third time in two years. 

"Pee-ou!"  LOL!  Had to take a quick picture of this!

Christopher took this picture.  He said, "LOOK AT THOSE SHINEY WHEELS!"  He was impessed with them ;)

Kaitlyn took this picture.  She said since Christopher got to take a picture SHE should be able to take one.  She as sooo intrigued with the guy being in the tank (no wonder they charge soooo much!) that she took a picture of him in there.

On a serious note, the anxiety fills my body physically as I fight with every ounce of energy I have to not go in the kitchen and gorge on the fresh pan of brownies my husband made.

What I keep telling myself is this did not catch the Lord by surprise; He knows our finances better than even I do; He has met every need we have had before and we have NEVER gone without.


I will not lose victory in what has already been conquered.


I will continue doing as I have been called to do by the Lord as I continue to trust in Him.

Why Are You So Mean?!

Mid to late afternoon's are my body's "munch" time.  I snack and snack.  In the past, those snacks have been snicker bars, potato chips, ICE CREAM . . . you get the drift.  I've replaced those snack time indulgences with more healthy options such as grapes, apples, fruit smoothies, in order to get my through to dinner. 

**You'll have to mute the music player below to hear the song posted below.**

A few days ago, Kaitlyn looked at me and started singing the chorus to Taylor Swift's song, Mean. (Kaityln, and Kayla for that, are huge Taylor Swift fans.)  I said, "Why are you singing that to me?"  She said, "Cause you are being MEAN!"  I laughed at the moment, in fact, chimed in with her, until this morning.

My journal entry for this morning was this, "The last three or four days I have been snippy in the afternoons when my normal snacky munchie time sets in - anxiousness sets in as my body craves to eat - doesn't matter what it is - junk food or healthy - I just crave the gorging full "feeling."  It's just as wrong for me to gorge on healthy as it is to gorge on junk, not health wise, but heart wise.  See, the point is I have to get past the necessity of  gorging or I will just replace this food addiction with another as I did with the alcohol almost 13 years ago.  As I mentioned before, these spouts have been going on for the last three or four days; so today, I am putting it before the Lord, so He will quicken my spirit and give me, show me, a way out."

Then, I read today's devotion from "Jesus Calling."  It was so good and it amazed me how it was referring to exactly what I had journaled!

Jesus Calling

LET ME HELP YOU get through this day. There are many possible paths to travel between your getting up in the morning and your lying down at night.  Stay alert tot he many choice-points along the way, being continually aware of My Presence.  You will get through this day one way or the other.  One way is to moan and groan, stumbling along with shuffling feet.  This will get you to the end of the day, eventually, but there is a better way.  You can choose to walk with Me along the path of Peace, leaning on Me as much as you need.  There will still be difficulties along the way, but you can face them confidently in My strength.  Thank Me for each problem you encounter, and watch to see how I transform trials into blessings.

The scriptures given to study are:

I Corinthians 10:10, "And do not grumble as some of them did - and were killed by the destroying angel."

Luke 1:79, "to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace."

Was that confirmation, or what??!!  Today my goal is to take my thoughts captive before they come out of my mouth! 

Father I pray my victory at day's end is that my children will be able to see a difference in me regarding my attitude.  Believing it to be so!  Amen!