9 pounds down . . .

I am so excited to say that I have lost 9 pounds in the last 17 days. I am also excited to say I got to eat oatmeal today for the first time in over 17 days. It's the little things in life that really do make us happy.

Well Kevin and I have decided that today we were going to splurge and eat out somewhere before starting on our second set of 17 days. I am not looking to go completely off plan and gain 5 of those pounds back today - we just decided that all along we had said "we can’t have that right now but we will be able to one day." Well today is one of those "one days". We haven't decided yet what we are going to eat. We have decided between pizza and Mexican. We want something flavorful and delicious. I have to keep telling myself that I am not rewarding myself for doing well with food. I am just proving to myself that I am not a complete diet nerd that has lost balance. I refuse to tell myself "you can never have . . .". God tells us in Colossians 2:19-23 “He is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as he nourishes us. So, then, if with Christ you've put all that pretentious and infantile religion behind you, why do you let yourselves be bullied by it? "Don't touch this! Don't taste that! Don't go near this!" Do you think things that are here today and gone tomorrow are worth that kind of attention? Such things sound impressive if said in a deep enough voice. They even give the illusion of being pious and humble and ascetic. But they're just another way of showing off, making yourselves look important." The Message I refuse to say I cannot have pizza or chips and salsa because I can. I just don't need to eat them every day of the week. I am going to enjoy the foods we choose and test my self-control on stopping when I have eaten enough to be full.

Wish me luck! Guess I might want to add that to my blessing before I eat. "Thank you Father for these foods and help me Lord to not overindulge in them." I pray that for me today and I pray it for you too.
God Bless!