day fifty...in order to grow you must let go

          my friend Kiera and me                                                        my adorable mom and her friend

  
I heard a great quote at the Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa Women's Christmas Coffee this morning. The speaker told us that "In order to grow, you must let go". That spoke wonders to me.

Without me even knowing it, I have been growing lately. I been letting go of my fleshly nature to eat and overeat and have been growing spiritually by that. For you, it may be letting go of a grudge or an addiction. Let. it. go. It is only then that you can grow. If something is holding you down, how can you continue to grow higher. Once those hindrances are cut and torn down, it is then that you can grow and reach that goal.

And as of this afternoon I have also let go of something else...10 inches of my hair! They do say that when you cut your hair, it grows faster and healthy. So letting go and cutting my hair will only make it grow! I will show you some before and after pictures at the end of the post as well as update you all on my weight...today was a weigh in day!

Breakfast
I ate a little earlier this morning so I could eat my morning snack before the Christmas coffee. It worked out very well. I am getting the timing down...sort of. ;) So this morning, I made an egg nog vanilla shake...which is basically a french vanilla shake with capella egg nog drops in it. This is by far my most favorite shake.

Morning Snack
So on our way out the door to the event I made myself a brownie soft bake (in a cup) to eat on the way. Now...I don't usually have desserts in the morning, but I just decided it would be okay this one time.

Lunch
I was having dinner with a dear friend, so I saved my lean and green meal until then. Therefore, for lunch I made myself a calorie burn cappuccino. I was going to have it at 3pm, but that is when I got my haircut...no bueno having to go to the bathroom in the middle of a haircut.

Afternoon Snack
Right before I headed out to the salon, I ate one of my favorites...the brown sugar cinnamon cereal crunch. Some people don't like it, but I love it! Smells like french toast as well, which doesn't hurt.

Dinner
For dinner, I went to greenleaf chopshop and had flat iron steak with sides of green beans and a tuscan kale salad.

Dessert
I ate my last meal of the day right before church...I actually ate it really fast. I felt kinda sick eating it so fast, but oh well...won't do that again. I had a smores crunch bar.

Okay...you ready for my revealing? Here is a before and after...

What do you think? Yay or nay? I think I like it...it will definitely take time getting used to, but such is life. :)

As far as my weight goes, I weighed in this morning at 142.6! I can't believe I just typed that, but I did!!! As of today, I have lost a total of 23.6 pounds. Woohoo!!!

It's late and I am off to bed. Night!

xoxo,
Toni

day forty-seven...let go and let God

Not sure if you guys know this, but I have an etsy store where I design and sell typology art. Well, as of yesterday, I have officially made my first sale!

I was so excited! I have had my store on esty for a couple of months and nothing has happened. I soon forgot about it and then I receive my first order the customer orders not one but three prints! What's my point in all this? Well...

You know when people say that if you stress and obsess over something, it is never going to happen...but when you forget about it and are focused on the Lord is when something happens. Have you ever heard that? Well, you just did...by me. It is so true! When we become obsessed with our situation (in my case with the program Take Shape For Life), we are not going to go anywhere. Let go and let God. When we are able to let go and stop analyzing every little thing and allow God to worry about it, is when we will have victory.

I used to obsess over every little calorie, which only led me to binge eating and a food addiction. But once I started this program and let go of all my old "ways" I found success and balance. Food does not get to have priority in my life and thoughts...God does. I am so thankful I have finally let go of my flesh and allowed God to take the reigns. I highly encourage you to do the same.

Let go and let God.

Breakfast
Today was a good breakfast day. I had one of those shakes that just had the perfect consistency...the perfect amount of water and ice. Plus, how can you go wrong with a dark chocolate shake for breakfast? Feels like a sin...I mean, c'mon, I am having chocolate for breakfast.

Morning Snack
It was getting chilly over here in the offices at work today, so a piping hot calorie burn cappuccino was exactly what I needed. Warmed me up in no time. And being delicious helps too.

Lunch
It's funny how much I don't really care for non-Medifast food anymore. I look forward more to the Medifast meals more than I do the lean and green...unless I have some time and am able to get creative. ;) But today, time was not on my side so I had to make a quick salad topped with a veggie burger and shredded parmesan cheese and light Italian dressing. Not a fun recipe, but still really good though.

I caved again this afternoon and drank a cup of coffee. I don't know what it is! I just love having a cup of coffee in the afternoon...my Starbucks Verisimo machine doesn't help either. Instant coffee with a push of a button...really?

Afternoon Snack
About an hour after my coffee, it was time to eat my snack. I had some chili nacho puffs and a ton of water. These puffs are so good but spicy (to me)! So I will eat a few and then drink some water a little after to relieve the hint of spice on my tongue.

When I got home from work, I took out our nativity scene and set it up in our living room. Christmas decorating isn't complete without a nativity scene. I mean, Jesus is the reason for this season, so He must be present in the home. :)

Dinner
Confession. I had a cookie dough shake for dinner. Don't you worry...it was Medifast approved. What I did was take a chocolate chip soft bake and I blended it with some crushed ice and water. Sooo good! The chocolate chips stayed pretty chunky, so every once in a while I would sip up a couple. You must try this soon.

Dessert
I was at church when dessert time came around, but I was prepared! I took the bar out of the package and cut it into small pieces so it would be easy to pick up and eat without being a distraction to others around me. I took the picture before I hacked it up though. It's an oatmeal raisin crunch bar.

That's all for today. But remember...let go and let God. It is only then that you will be able to move forward. And just know I will be praying for you. Sure, I don't know everyone who reads this blog, but the Lord does and that's all that matters. He hears and He will answer.

xoxo,
Toni