Food& Greed (2)

Do you ever get  thoughts  like...

I know there are 3 more large cookies there...man I'd love one Or maybe all 3...
Or Wow, I'd love ice cream (even though you've just eaten a good meal and it sure isn't your stomach which is crying out for more...)

Where are these cravings coming from?

Well, you may be craving something entirely different than food but after years of responding by feeding yourself,  feeding more is what you're likely to keep doing unless you stop the cycle...

One tip I've found is to distract myself...whether it be by reading the Word, listening to enjoyable music, getting the phone, working out, setting up regular beauty treatments at your local...it gets your mind off feeding to make yourself feel better! In other words, seeking to give a quick kick to your Serotonin (and Adrenalin levels)...the feel good hormone...

Another step is to change what you eat...eat more low gluten, slow release foods...they will keep you feeling satisfied for longer. I think of eating cooked plantain in coconut oil. I usually don't seek a dessert afterwards. They do the trick. Sweet, filling but actually high in fiber! I suppose another equivalent is eating a banana...

If you can think of other ways to make yourself feel 'happy' tell me more...it could help you lose weight!


These are some more verses which I've come across...

Luke 12:13-21

Application:
1. How do the above verses apply to you today?
2. Did you find it hard to repent of any forms of Greed in your life?
3. Is there anything else other than food that you find has been acquired in greedy amounts?
4. Pray to God asking to show you which areas of your life has been in excess.

Chicken recipe from Yahoo...good anyone?

Rosemary-Brined, Buttermilk Fried Chicken
by Michael Ruhlman, “Ruhlman’s Twenty,” Chronicle Books
Serves 6 to 8

Brine
1 small onion, thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, smashed with the flat side of a knife
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
Kosher salt
5 or 6 branches rosemary, each 4 to 5 inches long
4 ½ cups
1 lemon, quartered

8 chicken legs, drumsticks and thighs separated
8 chicken wings, wing tips removed
3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons fine sea salt
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 cups buttermilk
Oil for deep-frying

Make the brine: In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, sauté the onion and garlic in the oil until translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add 3 tablespoons salt after the onion and garlic have cooked for 30 seconds or so. Add the rosemary and cook to heat it, 30 seconds or so. Add the water and lemon, squeezing the juice from the wedges into the water and removing any seeds. Bring the water to a simmer, stirring to dissolve the salt. Remove from the heat and allow the brine to cool. Refrigerate until chilled.

Place all the chicken pieces in a large, sturdy plastic bag. Set the bag in a large bowl for support. Pour the cooled brine and aromatics into the bag. Seal the bag so that you remove as much air as possible and the chicken is submerged in the brine. Refrigerate for 8 to 24 hours, agitating the bag occasionally to redistribute the brine and the chicken.

Remove the chicken from the brine, rinse under cold water, pat dry, and set on a rack or on paper towels. The chicken can be refrigerated for up to 3 days before you cook it, or it can be cooked immediately. Ideally, it should be refrigerated, uncovered, for a day to dry out the skin, but usually I can’t wait to start cooking it.

Combine the flour, black pepper, paprika, sea salt, cayenne, and baking powder in a bowl. Whisk to distribute the ingredients. Divide this mixture between two bowls. Pour the buttermilk into a third bowl. Set a rack on a baking sheet/tray. Dredge the chicken in the flour, shake off the excess, and set the dusted pieces on the rack. Dip the pieces in the buttermilk, then dredge them aggressively in the second bowl of flour and return them to the

Heat oil in a pan for deep-frying to 350°F. Add as many chicken pieces as you can without crowding the pan. Cook the chicken, turning the pieces occasionally, until they are cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes depending on their size. Remove to a clean rack and allow them to rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

BINGO!

I forgot to mention the fantastic NEWS! We cleared the debt completely! Paid off the credit card on Thursday and POOF I've cancelled the card! We actually cleared it in 3 months! After so many months struggling...I thank God for helping me get over that hurdle! Hubby didn't even have to use his Accounting tricks on me. It truly was God's work on my heart, amen...Although when I think of it, I believe my husband secretly prayed for change...my goodness...!My love and husband....:)

Well it worked!

We also have savings actively growing and have a goal we want to achieve! I'm excited! That's one huge issue out of the way! Now for only the good stuff ie. savings for the next 9 months and exams out of the way!

My husband also passed his driving test (Oh yeah, should have shared this too!) This happened 2 days before Christmas!

I truly believe and stand by these verses...

Romans 8:28 (Amplified)
28 We are assured and know that [[j]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

1 Peter 5: 6-11(Amplified)

6 Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,

7 Casting the [c]whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, [d]once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you [e]watchfully.

8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant andcautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [[f]in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

9 Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same ([g]identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.

10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.

11 To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

It is usually quite hard to believe that the breakthrough will happen but God's timing is always right! I believe that all works according to His timing and purpose so,  re the insight re my weight, the insight re my exams, insight re my character flaws esp. Greed at this point in time, the insight re financial struggles, God revealing what I need just at the right time.

I praise Him and thank Him...
I thank you Yeshua for Your steadfast love and ways in my life! Amen.

Food & Greed

I've had some time to think over why I'm back to square one with my weight. I admit, the regular cycling to work and back last year was an awesome help however my family went on a crack down and pleaded that I stopped. (((Safety)))
 I now have comfortable morning trips with my love by car to work & arriving always on time. My return is by public transport which is fine.

What has dawned on me about my weight battle of 10-15kg over desirable is GREED.

Google dictionary defines it as an 'intense and selfish desire for something, especially wealth, power, or food.'


When I first felt led to this association with food, I would never have considered myself to be greedy....I mean, I don't look overly big just a bit 'puffy' for a petite women, I still wear size S/M, I still wear some clothes from 2007 which fit. Therefore why would I be greedy? 

I then proceeded to some verses like so....

Proverbs 23:6 
Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies; 
Jeremiah 6:13 
"From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.

( I think of the well known corporate Food companies which  highly sweeten& salt our foods to make them appear delicious! All for money!)

Luke 12:15 
Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

(I can buy most if not everything I want however have found myself overloading on groceries, buying double throwing it out, buying so many clothes as I saw it looked nice on another person or I like an item - why not buy 4 or more but in different colors...I do that a lot! The saddest part is forgetting that I ordered the item online, bought it a week ago, had it in the food cupboard. To me, that sounds like wasting and over buying...my excuse is usually ' I want it now....' 

James 3:14-16 
14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

This verse in James holds very true in that...with selfish desires, there is also chaos and disorder. Most health gurus would state that we need to plan what we eat and jot down what we intend to do...plan, plan, plan...before that happens, are eating is all over the place...as in, we eat lots of xyz, we eat huge calories of abc eventhough we 'only had a small portion,' etc. To me, this highlights the need to be in control of what we eat and what we put in it...not to allow our selfish desires go on a rampage....

It is my understanding that those of us that do not have medical reasons for being overweight but are 'fat' 'heavy' 'chunky' carrying excessive weight' ' always on a diet which never ends' (fill in your own words) are in sin. We have been blessed with beautiful bodies therefore why aren't we enjoying them and blessing God by taking good upkeep of our bodies?

Exercise 1:
1. Meditate over these verses and ask the Holy Spirit to help you understand anything else which is relevant in your life re Greed.
2. Take a moment to Repent and ask God to forgive you for engaging in greediness
3. It takes 15 mins for your body to feel satiated. Attempt to eat a smaller portion size of each meal of your day and wait until 15 mins is up before eating any more. I hope this will be an eye opener for you, as it has for me...

I hope to share another blog on this matter next week.

London

I love London, UK.
Off there for the weekend for a course and boy is it exciting to think that we are contemplating moving to London  for good! Hubby will be coming too this weekend and studying...we both have more exams! Can't wait to say it's all done!

See you soon!

Color Blocking Fashion Tips

Exam time...

1 day and a half to go. Ex-haus-tion. Don't think my brain can take in any more today...have been checking youtube, shopping sites, my new selection of ebay items for sale (yeah!)

It's been great to have a week off work but getting out little to the 'no fun' anymore side...

Working and postgrad exams..it's worth it, I tell myself. It's worth it....