Daily Blog of the 3 Week Diet Plan, Brian Flatt ~By Donna L. Young ~DAY 11

Daily Blog of the 3 Week Diet Plan, Brian Flatt 

~Day 11~

PROs

• 145! Woohoo! 
• Now I can eat anything I want so long as I stay under a certain amount of calories and carbs. 
• White refined sugar doesn't taste as good as God's organic sugar. (I tried to eat a bar off of a Kit Kat candy bar and all I tasted was crunchy sugar and fat. Then, my husband handed me a few pieces of a juicy cold tangerine that he brought home from my Father-in-law's yard..thank you Dad. The orange was sweet and satisfying! Who would have thought I'd ever put down an unfinished candybar?

CONs

• Right now? None!

DEVIATIONS

• None! I can eat whatever I want. Yeah!

So far, so good. See you tomorrow!

Daily Blog of the The 3 Week Diet Plan~Brian Flatt, By Donna L.Young Day 10

~Day 10~

PROs

• My finger nails are rock hard and my skin condition has all but cleared up. 
• Also, I large bump on the bottom of my foot has almost completely disappeared. 
• Not putting the weight right back on. Weighed 146.8 this morning. 
• Still expelling parasites. 
• Starting to like Macadamia Nuts. 
• Food is taking longer to eat. (I am no longer scarfing down my meals). And, I am getting fuller faster on less. 

CONs

• PLATEAU! 146.8. 
• The high fat content is making me feel nauseous. I miss the first week when I just felt hungry.

DEVIATIONS

• Ate a completely different dinner than prescribed. Was supposed to have a steak with butter on top but just couldn't eat anymore high fat. So, I had a ham, bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich on white toast. I did add mayonnaise as suggested. 
• I cheated with 3 thin Oreo which I shared with our rescued Chihuahuas. Also, I ate a yogurt. 

So far, so good. See you tomorrow!

Daily Blog of the 3 Week Diet Plan, Brian Flatt ~By Donna L. Young ~DAY 9

Daily Blog of the 3 Week Diet Plan, Brian Flatt

~DAY 9~

Okay, so last night I was able to eat anything I wanted. I chose a McDonald's double Quarterpounder. No, this is not a McDonald's diet. But, for some reason, unknown to me, I keep craving fast food. Well, the result was complete nausea. If I could do last night's meal over, I would. I spent much of the night trying to keep the McDonald's down. I also experienced heartburn today along with an upset stomach. Well, at least I won't be craving fast food for awhile :)

As for today, I have stuck to the plan fairly well. The only exception is that I ate at 2, 5 and 8:00pm instead of 12, 3 and 6pm. And, I at a yogurt at the end of the day to alleviate the nausea.

PROs

• Keeping the weight off so far, despite a huge fast food meal. 
• Eating such high fat meals is making me WANT to work out.

CONs

• Today, I began the High FAT portion of the diet plan. I had been looking forward to this part, but, it feels like every artery in my chest is clogging with fat.  
• I also began taking omega 3 fish oil today. I think both the fish oil and the high content of fat are the reason I feel so nauseous. 
• I checked my blood pressure today at Rite Aid and it was VERY HIGH compared to normal.
• And, I have heartburn for the first time today.
• Still 146.8! I think I've hit another plateau. 

DEVIATIONS

• Worked out again instead of taking a day off in between workouts.
• Added a yogurt to my day. 
• Have not been taking my daily brisk walk for 30 minutes. (I've only walked one day during the past 8 days). 

                   That's all for now. See you tomorrow!

Daily Blog of the 3 Week Diet Plan, Brian Flatt ~By Donna L. Young ~DAY 8

Daily Blog of the 3 Week Diet Plan, Brian Flatt 
By Donna L. Young ~DAY 8~

Today was day 8. I weighed the same amount as yesterday 146! Just seeing the number on the scale, I flashed back to those days on the Adkins diet when I had lost a bunch of weight quickly then suddenly plateaued. I learned then that eating broke the plateau. So, I am sure after today's total fast, the meal will tell my body that I am trying to starve it and get my metabolism started again. Well, at least that is what I hope.

PROs

• Still happy about the number 146!
• Looking forward to eating anything I want tonight @ 8:00pm

CONs

• Fasting, when it isn't for an answer to prayer is REALLY NO FUN! 

SO FAR SO GOOD! SEE YOU TOMORROW!

3 Week Diet Plan, Brian Flatt ~By Donna L. Young ~Day 7

3 Week Diet Plan, Brian Flatt ~By Donna L. Young ~

Day 7~

Well, the weight is mostly staying off. 146.2 today. I went up a little, but not by much.

PROs

• Weighed 146.2 this morning!!!
• NOTHING tastes better than plain water anymore. I tried a swig of my son's sweetened iced tea and it tasted terrible. I also tried a drink from my husband's PROPEL water. Again, I was immediately reaching for my purified water glass. Amazing!
• I am sleeping really well at night!
• Can't wait until day 9 when I can have anything I want (as long as I stay under 30 carbs of course). 

CONs

• Still hungry between meals. 
• Still wrestling with short temper.

Deviations

• I ate a pre-packaged, individual communion cup to celebrate communion with my LORD.
• Had provolone cheese and two slices of fresh tomato with my egg and onion omelet this morning.

                      So far, so good. See you tomorrow!

3 Week Diet Plan, Brian Flatt ~By Donna L. Young ~ Day 6~

3 Week Diet Plan, Brian Flatt ~By Donna L. Young ~

Day 6~

Well,  I hit an old goal weight today. 145.6! You know, the last time I weighed this amount, I was going to CURVES AND working out at home regularly. Plus, I was counting calories.  Back then, it took months and months to lose a few lbs. This time, 5 days! So I will press on!

PROs

• Weighed 145.6 this morning!!!
• Getting full easily. 
• Worked out again and slept with icy-hot patches on my thighs. Pain in my legs went away completely.

CONs

• Still hungry between meals. 
• Very tempting to buy candy bars while waiting in grocery line. 

Deviations

• I ate a pre-packaged, individual communion cup to celebrate communion with my LORD.
• At the end of the night, I began craving something sweet. So, I ate a yogurt with all natural ingredients. 

                      So far, so good. See you tomorrow!

Daily Blog of the 3 Week Diet Plan, Brian Flatt ~By Donna L. Young ~DAY 5

3 Week Diet Plan, Brian Flatt ~By Donna L. Young ~

Day 5~

I cannot believe how much I've lost already! I've tried several diets in the past that were similar to this one. However, I have never had these results before! And, so I will press on!

PROs

• Weighed 146.8 this morning!!!
• Getting used to the hunger pangs. 
• Headaches went away. And, I didn't take the caffeine supplement today. 
• Hearing and reading Scripture in a deeper more meaningful way. 
• Being in control of my eating habbits is having another surprising effect. I am also taking a hard look at my Spiritual health. It seems I have quite the plank in my eye that I have looked past for awhile. Humble me gently LORD. I pray.

CONs

• Still can't walk without feeling pain in my thighs.
• Not so slow to anger as commanded by my Jesus. 

Deviations

• Cheated a few times. 1st, I had a few samples at Nothing Bundt Cakes.  
• Next, I substituted a protein at dinner. I ate a piece of roasted pork from dinner. 
• Then, I ate 1/2 of a new yogurt I received as a gift from our LORD. (Vons Just4U program).
• And, last, I ate a pre-packaged, individual communion cup to celebrate communion with my LORD.
• Just had water at the 8:00pm meal time. I was full!

                      So far, so good. See you tomorrow!

I'll Rest When I get to Heaven. Right now, I am busy doing my Father's work!

The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched out arm, whereby the LORD thy God brought thee out: so shall the LORD thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid. — Deuteronomy 7:19 (KJV)

     Our first few weeks in our new location and new home were certainly trying! And learning to live in such a confined space took some getting used to. Outside temperatures soared up over 100 degrees.  Then suddenly, our trailer was inundated with ants. The pestilence continued for days as the small insects even took over improbable places such as the inside of our refrigerator. At one point, ants covered our food and caused our green grapes to look as though they had freckles. 
      Next, we began to hear warnings of baby rattle snakes. Two rattlers had slithered their way into our camp ground. One was killed only two camp sites away from ours.  Still, hiding out in our trailer was not an option.  Our air conditioning simply couldn't keep up with the rising outside temperature and the smell of Raid Ant Killer was too much for our lungs to process. I could feel my temper rise as the thought, "What have I done," continued to flash in my head.
     Right on cue, our youngest son began losing his normal spiritually uplifting character. Now,  I was having to discipline him often Soon, our laundry piled up. So, despite the heat, I needed to visit the park facility laundry mat. Beads of sweat dripped from my face onto our clean clothes, as I folded each item in the overheated facility.  Frustration mounting!  Afterward, I returned to our trailer and began to put stacks of clothes away. That's when I found a new bottle of hidden prescription medication.  Unbelievable!  I threw up my hands, hung my head and began to weep. Lord, after all that we have been through, could this be Your will? http://dlouyoung.blogspot.com/p/official-book-launch.html#!/p/official-book-launch.html  
    Right away, I called my husband at work and unloaded my feelings. "It's hot, there are ants everywhere, rattle snakes and now this? We need to get help!" Have you considered attending the 12 step meeting I spoke to you about?" He remained silent. Earlier in the week, I had researched on line and found a local  Celebrate Recovery http://www.celebraterecovery.com/  meeting that offered inexpensive childcare. Once and for all, I wanted my husband to make a decision about getting help.   Before we ended the call, my husband agreed to go to the next scheduled meeting. Hope began to rise!
     During the next few days,  I asked friends and family members to pray for our marriage. I prayed too. “Please God, convict a believer's heart at this meeting to reach out to my husband.”
      Meanwhile, I remained busy about my Father's work. Each time, the Holy Spirit prompted me to reach out to someone, I responded. As a result, the week flew by. Finally, it was Friday! My heart filled with hope. "Perhaps, I too will receive the loving support I need to lead my husband to fully surrender." I thought.
     Amazingly, by mid-day Friday, my husband had contacted me three times.  "Looking forward to tonight." He said. Wow! After nine years of dealing with his addiction, I could barely comprehend his willingness and excitement. I told our young son, “God bless Daddy for his desire to attend this meeting tonight. Now, I can't wait to go. Thank You Jesus!"
     Then an hour before the meeting was scheduled to begin, my soul began to feel restless.  So, I drove our youngest son to my husband’s job site.  At the time, it seemed silly to drive the extra 40 minutes simply to meet my husband and caravan back home together.  However, when I saw the expression on his face, it made perfect sense. He was excited too!
     We arrived early to the meeting location. No cars! I thought, “Maybe I read the information wrong on the computer.” So, I called the number that I had written onto a torn piece of legal pad paper.  Voicemail!  "If you are calling after hours, please call Pastor Jim at..." The voice on the message said. Quickly, I called the Pastor's number. No answer. So, I left a message. Meanwhile my husband attempted to search the church website, using his cell phone’s Internet page, for more information. Unbelievably, my husband was able to search any other website except this church's website.  Instantly, I felt myself becoming angry at Satan. "Was the devil trying to hinder our family from obtaining God's help?" I wondered. Then, I started to pray, “Please God give me the confidence to withstand the devil’s schemes. Thank you for your Spirit who helps even now by interceding for me as I pray. In Jesus' name. Amen.”
    Yet, after 25 minutes of waiting and not having received a response from the Pastor, we decided to leave. On the drive home, I explained to my husband how disappointed I felt about missing the meeting. Yet at the same time, I felt an inexplicable feeling. I felt joy! “How could this be?” I wondered.
    When, we arrived home my husband offered to take our young son swimming in the community pool. I asked if I could stay in the trailer and be alone for awhile.  He obliged.  Then, with my head resting against our living room rocking chair, I began to pray, "Lord, thank You for moments like these when You teach me to rely on You. In Your precious Son's name, Amen."

    Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!  

To read this author's personal testimony please go to: http://dlouyoung.blogspot.com/p/store.html

God is refining us!

Determined to finish working on liquidating our belongings, I resolved to spend the day at our storage unit. When I arrived, I put the CD 'Revelation' by Third Day, in my car's compact disc player. Then, I grabbed the first box.

The first thing I pulled out were some of LeeRoy's old check stubs. I set those aside to shred later and reached in again. The next item I pulled out, was a copied CD that read, "Sleep." I sat back on heels and stared at the disc. My throat began to close and my eyes welled with tears. Could my husband have been trying to sleep without the prescribed medication that caused him to hurt me on that terrible night? I wondered, "When did he get this CD? How come I never knew he was trying alternative methods of resting peacefully?" Could he have tried this for me?

Then, I reached into the box again. This time, I pulled out a key chain. I read the key chain. It said, "Just For Today." Then, I turned it over and read the other side. It said,"NA Welcome." I remembered that two and a half years ago, I gave my husband an ultimatum. I demanded, "Go to an NA (Narcotics Anonymous) meeting, or I am filing for divorce."  Unbelievably, he went!

I started to think about how much easier it might have been to just divorce me back then. Instead, my husband began attending church and sought help from a 12-Step program. He even began to attend counseling. At one point, it seemed that all he did was attend meetings and church. What an incredible change from the man who gave me the silent treatment when I would approach the issue of addiction or speak about God. I tried to take the moment in. And, praised God for my husband's willingness to change.

As God would have it, in that very moment, the song, "Mountain of God" began to play. At first, I found myself singing along. I dug further in the box, not really thinking about the words that came from my mouth. But, when the artist sang,  

"Sometimes I think of where it is I've come from
And the things I've left behind
But of all I've had, what I possessed
Nothing can quite compare
With what's in front of me."

I began to sob! I just sat there, my hands raised and covering my face. I thought about how far my husband and I had come in our walk with Christ and in our marriage.  I uncovered my eyes and looked up! In that moment, everything we possessed just looked like "stuff."

When I gained my composure, I called my husband. I said, "I love you." He quickly responded, "I love you too!" I shared with him what just happened. The moment turned into another treasured memory. I think we both realized now, that it's the connection we feel to each other and the fact Christ dwells in us both, that brings us joy. All the rest, really is just, "STUFF."

To purchase a copy of the only written and published Personal Christian Testimony with stories just like this: Please go to: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Apologies-From-a-Repentant-Christian/Donna-L-Young/e/9781613791936/?itm=8&USRI=donna+l.+young