The "Lymphoma Diet"

The title of this post is a bit disturbing, I know...but, that is what Garvin is currently calling his new lifestyle of eating...I, personally, would rather think of it in terms of the "Word of Wisdom" lifestyle...

"WISDOM"...As I begin to digest the concepts in the "Word of Wisdom"...I am marveling over Father's LOVE for us...in giving us HIS "counsel" on how to keep our bodies "healthy"...and "strong"...to "walk and not be weary"...

For instance...ever ponder over the idea of "eating in the SEASON, thereof"? Ever think about the CYCLE of our "gardens"? What kind of plants (food) come off in the SPRING? What kind of plants (food) come off in the SUMMER? What kind of plants (food) come off in the FALL? WISDOM....long "created" in cycles before we ever "entered this life"...

I am LOVING my new LIFESTYLE...though, I find I still CRAVE "CHICKEN" every day! GO FIGURE!!!! (smile)

Garvin has now lost "32" pounds...and I am shy of "15"...YES!!!!

New Additions to the Blog...HEALTH BLOGS and SITES

In recent weeks, I have been studying and researching Health blogs and Health sites that might be helpful in our quest for better health habits and tools to make our new lifestyle easier...

I have added a few for your consideration....and information...

If any of you...have more IMPUT...that would be GRAND!!!!

Made a MAJOR GOAL!!!

I may be losing weight...but, I am also losing my "mind"...in the process!!! (smile) I posted on our FAMILY BLOG this week's post meant for THIS BLOG...Here it is:

It took me TWO MONTHS...to get to the weight I was LAST JANUARY 2009...when I first started this BLOG...(smile) I am THRILLED! I had to lose 13 pounds to get to that point...Now, I have to reach ANOTHER GOAL...the weight I had LOST in 2009...before...everything came UNDONE...by the middle of the year...when I regained those "11" pounds...and THEN another "15" on top of that....

But, this time...I am NOT DIETING...I have simply changed "lifestyle"...and that I am "Eating to LIVE" and NOT "Living to EAT"... WHAT A MAJOR DIFFERENCE!!!!

Garvin has now lost 27 pounds...

Angel, who is now on this blog...began her goal to LOSE weight...now that she has had her little "LILLIE ANNA" on February 16th...She had gained "45" pounds with this baby...Lost 20 some odd of it afterward the birth...but, then we set her "ticker"...and she has taken off a little over 2 pounds...

LAST YEAR...our FAMILY champions were HOLLY and ABRAHAM....Abe lost over 50-60 pounds...and Holly was over 40 pounds...(can't remember exact totals at the moment)

Anyway...been a GREAT week...and enjoying the BENEFITS...of this NEW LIFESTYLE...Has been AWESOME!!! Will be adding a POST on BLENDER foods...Sandee Spencer inspired me...along with my son-in-law, Jared...to RESEARCH....and we made a decision...YESTERDAY...and began our "blender" foods...Will explain more later...

My New Secret Weapon...

I have a new secret weapon...in helping me lose weight...He is two years old...height is about to my navel...diapered...and VERY active...My secret weapon even has a name..."Nathan"...

Since, my daughter, Angel, had her 2nd child...my "13th" grandchild... on February 16th...I flew that day to Utah...Our little Lillie has been in the "intensive care unit" until YESTERDAY...She was just moved from the NICU to a regular unit for newborns and prayerfully will be home MONDAY NIGHT...

In the meantime...I have had the incredible blessing of being a part of a two year old's world...and that little world is in CONSTANT MOTION...(smile)

I have lost an additional 2 pounds...ONE MORE POUND...and I will be at the beginning of LAST YEAR's WEIGHT...when I began this BLOG...I am VERY EXCITED...

Garvin in the meantime...is doing AWESOME...Has now lost 25 pounds...Continuing his STRICT regime and is feeling for the first time in MONTHS...more like a human being...Is getting more energy, has truly found a new way to LIVE...

Been a great week for both of us...

Men seem to lose faster than women...A double standard?

Why is it...that men seem to lose weight faster than women? Garvin is now down 23 pounds...and I am nearly 10....I can understand the situation...of why Garvin would lose faster than me this time...however, it seems that it is a general rule...men lose faster than women....Is there is a double standard...even in the weight department????...(smile)

Actually, I am thrilled over Garvin's current success...Anytime our bodies are OUT OF TUNE...eating RAW foods is a great way...to help it back to being "healthy"....

In our experimenting with JUICING...Sandee Spencer sent me a site...that refers to the DANIEL DIET..."Old Testament Daniel"... http://ldshealth.ning.com - This site has some GREAT RECIPES for a healthier lifestyle of eating...

I tried one of their recipes for juicing:
APPLES - (# of apples depends on size and amount of juice you get from apples - I used generally 2-3 apples)
1 peeled lemon
approx. 1 inch raw ginger root

I juiced these together...The ginger gives it a PUNCH....Besides...the nutritional value of the drink....it is not a "boring" drink...(smile)

We are in it together....

Since the time Garvin and I have been married...we have nearly stayed...toe to toe in being "100" pounds apart...I was 125 and Garvin was 225 when we began holding hands...down the pathway of life...

Today, we are once again..."100" pounds apart....I have to smile at that...We both were at the HIGHEST we have ever been in our lives in weight...Due to Garvin's lymphoma, we are now...EATING to LIVE and not LIVING to EAT....

Due to so many precious friends...we are being directed to BLOGS of good health...Piles of BOOKS have been lent to us...PRAYERS...petitioning not only for recovery...but, HOW to DO IT...Figuring out WHICH course to take...One of the hardest things we have ever had to face...for there are SO MANY VOICES....Yesterday, I hit...a point...that I am now begging...to hear a SINGULAR voice of the SPIRIT...so that I can discern...and that Garvin can discern...how to do it FATHER'S way....in HIS particular case...

We have come up with a plan....For now...I will restrict the comments...to our ATTITUDE on HEALTH....

We have been given the "Word of Wisdom"....How SIMPLE it is....how COMMON SENSE it is...to the well being of our bodies...We have been making all kinds of juices...different combinations...plus...taking the bulk of GREENS (after juicing them) and simply adding them back into the juices...for an added punch....(we don't have a blender in our motel room...just the juicer...so, this works for now)

MOST of our intake...is in raw form...though, I have more "cooked" things than Garvin is doing at this time...I LOVE SOUPS...so...I indulge myself...in that arena...Besides, when it is cold outside and snow on the ground...SOUP seems to call my name....to balance nature's current wintry weather...

Garvin has now lost 20 pounds...and I am still limping along...but, thrilled nevertheless...in my progress...small as it is...

I am hearing GREAT things out there....Sounds like many of you have found...a way...to make progress in your weight loss...But, I believe more than ever, now, simply EATING HEALTHY...the LORD's way....will achieve that goal....DIETING is NOT THE SAME...LIFESTYLE and ATTITUDE...of EATING TO LIVE...more than LIVING TO EAT...will have greater results...

The Power of Love

February - the month of cupids and love...or on a patriotic note...the celebration of two most remarkable Presidents of the United States...Abraham Lincoln on the 12th and George Washington on the 22nd.  It truly is a GREAT month of fun and gratitude celebrations...

This February 2010...will have a different tone to it for me...but, one of HOPE...and one filled with GRATITUDE...

The OUTPOURING of LOVE for Garvin due to his current physical challenge...has been one of PURE CHARITY...from all across the country...The POWER of PRAYERS...have given us the COURAGE to MOVE in a direction to "overcome" his current condition....It has affected both Garvin and myself...

It is hard enough to change a major pattern of "eating"...but, to REFINE it in such a radical manner...takes all the "self mastery" one can find inside one's soul...

But like all "challenges"...they can become GIFTS....We are finding "hidden treasures" that come from this "deep spiritual cleansing"...

I didn't want Garvin to walk the path alone...so, I am incorporating 90% of the changes he has to make in his life...in order to "give him more time" to do his work here on the earth...Consequently....we are BOTH being GREATLY BLESSED...Garvin has lost 18 pounds...and I have lost almost 10 pounds...But, it isn't simply the WEIGHT LOSS that is blessing us...It is the types of foods that we are putting into our mouths...Living the "Word of Wisdom" in the DO areas of the commandment...has been INCREDIBLE....Can feel the difference...in small ways, already...

We have a LONG WAY to go...BUT...with GREAT HOPE...and FAITH...that the path we are taking...will lead us to a more fulfilling physical life here on this earth...

THANK YOU...to EACH OF YOU...for YOUR LOVE and SUPPORT...What a difference it has made...in our lives....