Psalms 103:1-5 1 Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.  2 Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

This passage of scripture is the perfect way to start my entry this week. I am due to lead the Sunday school lessons in a few weeks and I have started preparing. We are studying the Disciple's Prayer Life -each week as several days and we are doing one day each Sunday.  My week's topic is Expressing Gratitude in Prayer. After reading over the first couple of days, I know this is the perfect topic for me. I thank God for all He has done for me. I have said this before. I may not have what I want right now, but I am blessed nevertheless. He who has forgiven me all my sins and healed me (both physically and mentally), saved me from destruction and continues to cover me with His love and compassion. Yes and fulfills my desires with good things (not always what I want, but always the things that are best for me) and continue to restore my strength. Sometimes I forget these things and I run into the troubles and trials of the past two weeks. This will be one of staples passages for meditation. I want to be always be mindful to praise and glorify Him with all my soul (my entire being - actions and words).  

 I had an excellent week on plan. I started a new round since I turned the week before into an extra week of MA or prep or just plain off plan. Pre-cooking my meat really helps. I use frozen fresh veggies and make sure I keep fresh fruits in the house. I have discovered a wonderful new protein snack. It started out as a "concoction of sorts and turned into a smoothie better than the ones I have been paying for when I crave smoothies. I was mixing the ingredients in a bowl and eating it until one day I decided to experiment with my blender. I got the idea because someone asked about blending cottage cheese. I added some ice and the liquid and viola - a wonderful tasting creamy smoothie that makes a great protein snack.

• 1/2 cup of ff cottage cheese
• 3 oz half of container of bb vanilla creme carb freedom yogurt
• one sf jello cup
• Some kind of sf zero calorie liquid (I used first some sf snow cone flavoring I found on sale, now I use a lemon lime diet flavored sparkling water. I think I will try something with a different flavor when I run out that the lemon lime.)
• Put it in a blender with some ice. Pretty simple.

130 calories, 8.5 carbs, and 16.5 protein grams.

 Exercise and weigh in: Exercise is back on track. I challenged myself to 7 days of exercise to match the 7 I took off. I achieved that goal and I managed to get back into the exercise zone. I have been doing both AM and PM workouts some days to increase my minutes. I have 503 minutes mid month and looking good to make it for the first time in 2006. I was extremely close last month with 947, but I couldn't force the last 53 minutes. The extra exercise and the de-stressing worked. My weigh in today is 188 down from 196 and 2 pounds to my lowest. One of the things the Lean for Life told me was that stress can cause the scale to show gains or weight fluctuations. I do believe that is true. Stressing less is a key factor with LFL and I am just reminding myself of that. I know some of the weight was true weight gain since I was not exercising and watching portions, but I'm sure some of the gain was water retention. I haven't had an 8 pound week loss in a very long time if ever in this weight loss journey. At any rate I am happy to be back in the 180's and I pray this is the last time I make that announcement. I want out of the 180's. I am looking for an all low this month too. My LFL low is 186 and my lowest is 185 from when I was sick.

• Tuesday 4 mile WATP
• Wednesday 30 minutes dancing
• Thursday 2 mile WATP Abs (AM) & 2 mile WATP Ex (PM)
• Friday Free day
• Saturday 24 min dancing (AM) & 3 mile WATP ex
• Sunday Circuit Walk w/ George
• Monday 2 mile Walk the Walk (AM) & 3 mile WATP Abs

 I have been praying for one of my weight loss buddies and she contacted me today. I just want her to know that she can overcome. God loves you and I love you too. Remember I am here for you.

WOW!! I found your journal while searching for weight loss support. Your journal was a breathe of fresh air for me. I am struggling so much with my weight right now. I am Bi Polar and they have changed my meds and the meds I am on make me eat. I dont know what to do. I really need some support. I have lost 60 pounds with no work and now I am working on it a little at a time. I dont have a plan which I probably need. If you could offer any advice I would appreciate it. Another thing...my journal has some explitives in it but I am a spiritual woman. Maybe you could suggest some prayers I might add into my prayer life that will help. Sometimes I dont think I pray right. That might sound silly but that is how I feel....Much Love and I hope to hear from you.....Thanks...Elyse

Elyse - You signed my journal "anonymous" so I can't link back to your journal. I know exactly what you mean about "feeling that you don't pray right". I am learning alot about prayer reading the Disciple's Prayer Life: Walking in Fellowship with God by T. W. Hunt. Pray from your heart with sincerity. If you have a relationship with God, He will hear your prayers.

This scripture is another one of my meditatio verses. Psalms 18 1 I love you, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

God is my deliverer. My rock. My stronghold. He has given you the strength to overcome.

I pray that come back to read this message. Sign my tag or journal with your email attached and we can talk offline.

^^^^That would be me.

I love your smoothie idea and I am going to try it. It may become my new favorite prot. food too. :)