The 11th Day

This has been an amazing 10-day journey.  At times, I wanted to cuss some folks out and at other times I wanted to be coddled.  I didn’t have many cravings, but at times I just wanted to sleep and be alone because I couldn’t explain what was going on internally.  Not only could I sense my body making changes, but I felt the aching in  my brain as I warred with myself.  Remember, I said from the very beginning that I wasn’t doing the cleanse to just lose weight, but rather I was doing it to jumpstart some things in my life.  The cleanse promised a jump-start of 10- 15 pounds if you followed the complete version and then the goal is to modify it and lose 1- 2 lbs  per week.

Here are a few things I learned:

1.  I am stronger than I actually thought.
2. Carrots are actually sweeter than a candy bar and they have a great crunch (great, if you need texture).
3. When you make up your mind to do something, stick to it.  Don’t allow outside forces to deter you from your goal.  Heck, don’t allow internal forces to deter you either.  About the 8^th day when I was ready to give it up, I had to quiet the voices in my head that said, “Girl, you’re good… you lasted this long…it will be okay if you just stop…you already feel better anyway”. 
4.  I realized that I am the sole person responsible for my happiness.  So many times we place unfair expectations on others to love us, encourage us, make us feel important or special.  But that is just wrong!  You’ve got to love yourself first, be your own personal cheerleader and do things for you that make YOU happy.  When you are joyful, the law of attraction will bring joy to you.  It’s not about loving yourself because someone else is not doing it, but rather it’s loving yourself because you are worthy of self-love.
5. Fasting puts you in tune with your body and your spirit, if you allow it.  There is something that happens when you have to pray and ask for God’s help.  HELP ME LORD… I WANT TO EAT THAT MAC & CHEESE THAT I JUST COOKED FOR MY FAMILY! (that was day 6, Father's day)
6. It doesn't take a crowd!  I mentioned, in the beginning, that I didn't tell a bunch of girlfriends to join me because I wanted to learn to cheer for myself.  Don't get me wrong, sometimes you definitely need accountability partners to keep you motivated but there comes a time when it's just you and God and y'all need to be in conversation together.  ( I am grateful for my morning gym buddy  to help keep my body moving, but I wasn't going to ask her to join me on the cleanse.)
7. Now that I've seen results, I want to continue making healthy choices.  It won't be as extreme as the 10-day cleanse but it will still involve at least one green smoothie a day. (Well the next 3-4 days I'll have to be Jesus Junior anyway, so as not to feel sick and bloated. That would kinda defeat the purpose.)
8. This cleanse was a testament to myself that now I can begin accomplishing some of those other goals that I have:  beginning that next book, clearing up my credit, etc...  There ae so many other things that I must leave unstated, because I don't know what God has in store for me next.  As I continue to be available to Him, I know that He is going to have me doing some amazing things.  (Actually He's probably been waiting for me to get myself together anyway. Ha!)

 Alright that's enough for now, but I will share this news with you.
On Day 1, I weighed in at 216. 4 lbs.  This morning, Day 11, after much prayer and determination, I weighed in at ......drumroll please.....201 lbs.  That's a total of 15. 4 lbs lost.  I'm grateful!  I needed to see the drastic change to encourage myself to reach higher and farther.

So let me turn and encourage you....you are stronger than you can even imagine right now.  Don't allow your past mistakes and failures keep you from reaching forward. (Remember I tried this a few years ago and quit on day 5.) 
Allow yourself to feel the hurt, the frustration, the weariness and move past it! You can do this!

So be encouraged and walk it out.....