Pen Pal Devotions for Dieters

[vonniepooh]

Hello all! : )

I thought this would be nice to incorporate in a new thread. I think that when you are really trying to overcome a challenge, you must first seek the help of God. These devotions come out of a book that I read everyday for Inspiration. And, trust me........it helps a lot! Please feel free to discuss anything on the tread. Thank you, and God Bless you! ENJOY!

Day 1

Let us therefore come bodly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16

Story:

Jeffrey never wanted to put anybody out. Instead of asking for help, he would struggle along on his own. Often, Jeffrey didn't get anything accomplised because he refused to impose on anyone else.

Sometimes, we act that way with God. We ask ourselves why God would be interested in helping us solve our problems. The thing is, God wants us to come to Him with our heartfelt needs.

We have been invited to come before the throne of grace, and that includes with our diets. When we're honest, we'll admit that we need help, and there is no greater source of help than God.

Today's Thought:

Our hope to lose weight becomes reality when we put our trust in God.

[vonniepooh]

Good morning!

Today is day four for me on Induction. This is a good day! I hope I can say that at the end of the day! : ) Enjoy the devotion!

Daily Devotion Day 2

I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. Philippians 3:8

Story:

A young man dreamed that he was standing before a table spread with a wide array of tantalizing foods. Beyond the table stood Jesus. The young man began eating the food, and he became completely engrossed in his consuption. When he finished, Jesud was gone, and he didn't know where to look to find him.

Whenever we engage in gluttony of any kind, out attention is turned from Christ to our own selfish wants. There should be nothing more important in our liveds than doing what is pleasing to God. He wants us to be the best we can possibly be. Food, and our love of food, should always take a second place to our love of the Lord.

Today's Thought:
Eating pleases me; dieting pleases God!

[vonniepooh]

Here is day 3 of the Devotion. I was totally busy this weekend, so I will be doing Saturday and Sunday's tonight. Enjoy, and God Bless!

Day 3

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9

Gwen hadn't seen Ed in almost five years. When they had last been together, she had been very overweight. She had struggled and fought to lose over the years, and she was quite proud of what she had accomplished. She could hardly wait to see his reaaction. That was one of the best things about losing weight: seeing the faces of old friends who could hardly recognize you. The looks she got made the fight worth while. Their disbelief made Gwen feel she had performed a miracle. Good things truly did come to those who waited and stuck to their hope. God had blessed her a hundredfold.

Today's Thought:
What I lose today in weight, will be gain in other ways tomorrow!

[vonniepooh]

GOD BLESS YOU! Enjoy! : )

Day 4

When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. Proverbs 2:10-11,20

Knowing what is right and doing what is right are completely diffrent matters. Jessica knew she should lose weight, and she knew the way to do that was to cut back on what she was eating. The problem was that she didn't want to give up any of the foods she loved. She just wasn't committed enough.

A friend of hers told her that she had all the knowledge she needed in her head, but none of it was in her heart. The reason she couldn't stick to her diet was that she didn't want to lose weight badly enough.

When we find ourselves lacking the proper desire, we need to turn to the Lord to ask His strength for doing what we know to be right.

Today's Though:
Dieting is more than a matter of the mind. It's a matter of the heart!

[CKANE]

Keep up the good work, Vonnie!

Thanks again and I pray blessings upon you and your family in Jesus' powerful name. AMEN!

[vonniepooh]

Good morning,

Today is day 7 for me on Induction, and I tell you......Every day gets easier, and easier! Thank you Lord! Enjoy the Devotion!

Day 5

In your patience possess ye your souls. Luke 21:19

Arlene asked the Lord for just a little more patience. She looked at the clock, she had eaten lunch just three hours before, and now her stomach was telling her to eat again. She knew she really couldn't need food again so soon. She concentrated all her attention on the project she was working on and repeated again, and again that she wasn't hungry. Before she knew it, she was finishing the project, her hunger had died down, and it was almost five o'clock. Quickly, Arlene thanked God for helping her hang on awhile. It wasn't nearly as hard to get by with God giving her strength and support.

Today's Thought:
Decide to control your stomach instead of letting it control you!

***Char.........Thank you for your support to the Devotions! God Bless you!***

[vonniepooh]

Good morning,

I hope your Low Carb efforts are going well! Mine are great.....today is day 8 on Induction! : ) No cheats! I'm just moving right along. Thank you Jesus! Have a Blessed day!

Day 6

And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Matthew 10:22

Christ has a powerful leson for those who choose to diet. Dieting makes us diffrent, and it is never easy to be diffrent. Being Christians made the disciples diffrent, and they had to suffer many things for their diffrence. People who are diffrent are often excluded by other. Sometimes they are even abused and persecuted for their diffrences. There was only one reason the disciples were able to perserve in their faith, and that was the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. That same Spirit can give us the power to be diffrent and the strength to persevere, even through a tough diet.

Today's Thought:

Jesus Christ helps everyone who chooses to be different!

[Ana K.S.]

these are great!!

[vonniepooh]

Thank you so much for responding! : ) GOD's motivation is the best motivation you can get! : ) I am so happy that you are enjoying them. I list one everyday. Thanks again for your resonse, and GOD Bless you! : )

[vonniepooh]

Hello fellow Low Carbers. The days are getting easier, and easier for me. I hope they are getting easy for you as well. Enjoy the devotion for the day. God Bless!

Day 7

Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, whicn the Lord hath promised to them that love him. James 1:12


Christ allows us to declare a special kind of independance from the prison of obesity. Prisoners endure their captivity because they believe that they will one day find release. Through perseverance we earn the right to declare our independence from fat. God will stand with us as we fight for a helathier, more slender body. His holy Spirit will help us withstand the temptaions of rich, fattening foods, and He promises to bless our efforts to do what is right and good. Let us celebrate the freedom from flesh that God will help us achieve.

Todays's Thought:

Faith in Christ can lead to freedom from fat!

[Deblorian]

Good morning, I'm 41 years old and looking for a low-carb pen pal. I am new to the board and I would like to lose between 38 -48 lbs. It's so good to here someone else uses the Devotion for Dieters devotional. This is day 4 for me on the Atkins plan. I've tried Atkins in the past and lost a lot of weight. Only to gain it back because of lack of disciple in eating and exercising. This time I am more determined then ever to lose the weight with prayer , self-control and exercise. I also joined Curves (3 days a week) to help in toning up my muscles. Thank you for the time you take to write out each days message. Looking forward to hearing from you. God bless

[vonniepooh]

Thank you so much for your Encouraging comments! I tell you, when the Lord first told me to do this, I was not sure. Then I saw that I was not really getting very much response, but people were reading them, the Lord told me that is all that counts, that they read them! : ) Thank you!

Deb, you sound a lot like me. I started at 283. I'm 5"11, so I a really tall. I did the same thing on Atkins last year. I started in April 2003 and wanted to lose 30lbs. by my Birthday, which I did in July. : ) I then went on to lose another 13 lbs. by the middle of August. A total of 43 lbs. off! Thank you Jesus! I read my devotional faithfully everyday. Exercised, watched what I ate, and everything. Then I saw that after a couple of months, the weight was still off, and I was pretty much eating what I wanted. So I thought I had it under control! BIG MISTAKE! By December I had gained 8 lbs. I went back on Atkins, and lost the eight pounds.

The first of the year came, and I said I can do this on my own. I stopped exercising, stop eat low carb, to very high carb. I even found myself doing binges on sweets! I lost and gained the same 8 lbs. for almost 4 months. Then I just said whatever. I gained back just about half of what I lost (22 lbs.)! THe inches came back and everything. The new clothes I bought when I lost so much weight, I can not even get into now. I just got lazy.

The Lord told me that I had to do my first works over. So that is what I am doing. Today is day 10 on Induction, and I tell you Deb.....it has gotten so easy. I know that I have turned it over to the Lord, and I feel so much relief in sharing these devotions with other fellow dieters. This web site has really been a Blessing too! I get a lot of Encouragement from this web site. To talk to other dieters, they let you know that it gets easier & easier! And it does!

YES! I would love to be your pen pal! : ) It helps a lot when you find someone that you have something in common with. (Jesus!) Please feel free to email me at any time. vonniepoohslowcarb@yahoo.com & IM - vonniepoohslowcarbn, if you want to chat on yahoo. I will talk to you soon! Your doing a great job! Keep up the good work!

I can do ALL things thru CHRIST which Strengeth me!
Phil. 4:13

[vonniepooh]

Enjoy the devotion for the day. Talk to you soon!


Day 8

We glory in tribulation also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope.
Romans 5:3-4


The first week had been the toughest. Perry had paced back and forth past the refrigerator a thousand times. His hunger was so intense that it made him feel ill. He stuck with it a week, but he didn't lose much weight. He decided that he would diet at least one more week. Then it happened! A few pounds came off. Perry felt better. He felt more hopeful. The longer he dieted, the easier it got; especially when he could see some results.

Dieting is tough. It takes a lot of patience to wait for the first few results, but when they finally come, they offer us the hope we need to stick with it.

Today's Thought:

God gives us hope in order to cope!

[Deblorian]

Good afternoon,

So good to here we are in the same boat. It's good to be encouraged and to enourage another believer.

I think of our weight loss goals as a prize after running a long hard race.
Praise the Lord we can run the race together. We may have been knocked off the course for a short time, but the Lord knows and helps us to get back up and on track to continue the race for the prize (a leaner, stronger body). You will be in my prayers along with anyone else who joins the race.

Today's devotion reminds me of how anxious I am about seeing immediate results. Boy, can I be impatient. I did not gain it overnight, I won't lose it either overnight. No quick solutions.

I'm also reminded of the verse Philippians 4:13 Forgetting what is behind (dwelling in my past weight gain) and pressing toward the goal to win the prize (weight loss goals) for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Having a pen pal for encouragement and that I can encourage is a blessing.

God bless and talk to you soon.

[fla gal 57]

vonniepooh,
i was reading your site and what a inspiration it is to see such a find christian person as you post the wonderful words that you do. it is refreshing to see such a site as this since there is so much evil in this world and all around you everyday.
i know God must have led me to your site for a reason .
i have been on atkins low carb going into my 4th. yr. now and have lost alot but still have alot more to go to. i would love to be apart of this site if you don't mind . i have gone into alot of the other low carb places but none has been like this one here.
keep up the great work and i will try to post daily if at all possible.
god bless you all here..

[Deblorian]

Good morning,

This is my exercise day at Curves. Even though I hate exercising, being at Curves makes it easier. And the fact that it will help tone my body and I'm paying for it helps to keep me motivated. I use to use a home video for exercising, but I didn't stay committed to the routine. I would get lazy and say that I would do it later and later became later and later. Until at the end of the day I was too tired.

When I did lose weight in the past, 60 lbs, I found my body was not as toned. I still had some loose flab that could have been toned if I would have exercised early in my weight lose.

Now I have started both Atkins and Curves at the same time. I looking for some much better results.

Thank you also for reminding me that it does get easier as the days go by.

Yesterday, I misread how many cups of veggies I'm allowed to eat. I thought I was allowed 2 cups of brocolli, but it's only 1 cup. I love broccoli and when I read 1 cup of this veggie I said, " Oh no!". In the past, I never ate veggies in the induction stage. So this was new to me. Broccoli, according to Atkins, is slightly higher in carbs than green lettuce. Oh well, live and learn at the early stages of induction.

At least when I'm close to my goal weight, I'll be able to add extra veggies.

Well day 5 and down 13 lbs. My carb intake has been no more than 15, except yesterday with the broccoli. Which made it 20 carbs. Still not bad because I was still within the carb level for induction.

I'm 5'7" and weigh 207 lbs as of today. I have started taking my measurements because I know the scale will stall soon. So I figured I go by both scale (sometimes) and measurements. And of course the way my clothes fit.

How do you measure your progress?

Anyone else on the board can you also share how you measure your progress.


Hope you had a great day yesterday. Can't wait to hear about your day.

Look forward to hearing from you.

God bless, Deblorian

[vonniepooh]

Thank you so much for your ENCOURAGING WORDS! That's what this Christian Life is ALL about. Learning to lean on one another in time of need! I am so happy that you all have been led by the Lord to this Pen Pal site! To GOD Be The GLORY! I am so excited! Please, email me anytime....vonniepoohslowcarbn@yahoo.com. When the Lord first set me out to start the Pen Pal Post, I was first like....Ok, I was very excited. Then as the days went on I saw that no one was responding, and I started getting discouraged. I just about wanted to stop. I saw that people were reading them, but no one talked about it they like them or not.

I tell you the truth, just when you are at your breaking point, the Lord sends in Re-Enforcements! : ) Thank you so much! I give God all the honour and Glory for allowing me to start this post.

I have been on Atkins for almost a year off & on. I lost 43 lbs., but gained half of it back because I just thought I could do it on my own, and I just got plain lazy!

I lacked motivation to get back into the diet race. The Lord was telling me that I could do it, but I could not tell myself that! After being so upset with mself, I repented, and got back in the race! Today is day 11 for me on Induction. : ) I tell you the days get easier and easier for me. The devotion has been a great help to me. I am so happy that it has been a great help to you all as well! : )

My name is Yvonne! I forgot to tell you that. We can, and we will be helpers "One to Another." I have been so Blessed that the Lord has placed you all in my path on this diet journey. Let's all keep up the good work. What do we have to lose??? Nothing....BUT WEIGHT! : ) I love you all with Agope Love! Talk to you all soon! God Bless, and enjoy your Low Carbn day!

[vonniepooh]

Deb,

Sorry I forgot to tell you to that I take my measurements. I have an old fashion tape measure. Once a week I take my measurements. I write them down on the calendar next to my bed on the wall. It's a motivational tool to me. I see the inches go down, and down, and down! : ) It get's exciting! I have really not done to good on the exercising this week. You all stay on me about that.

My family and I will start our vacation tomorrow. You may not hear from me for a week. But please continue to post, I will catch up! If I can while we are on vacation, I will check the web site from a library, If I can find one.

Deb, please do me a favor while I am out. I know that you say that you have the Devotional for Dieters book too. Would you mind posting the devotional each day until I return? I do not want to stop, and It would be a great help to have them continue to be written out. People are reading them, so I know that we are doing a great service. Please let me know. I will post again tonight, and possibly in the morning. Thank you so much, and God Bless!

[vonniepooh]

Day 9

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Janet was tired of dieting. She had been at it for almost six months. She looked better and knew that she was doing the right thing. Taking the pounds off had been hard, but sometimes Janet felt that keeping them off was even harder. Thin people didn't understand that dieting wasn't just something to do to lose weight. For a person with weight problems, it had to be a way of life.

God knows that dieting is hard. He knows dieting can be a bore. More than that, He knows we need help to diet. Rely on God. He won't let you down.

Today's Thought:

I will take dieting one dat at a time, one pound at a time!

[Deblorian]

vonniepooh,

I would be happy to post the daily devotions while you are on vacation. Thanks for asking.

Do you have any special food plans during your vacation. Meaning are the places you will visit have an Atkins friendly menu. Or will you take your own foods.

When my husband and I went to Ocean City last year, the first time I was on the Atkins diet, I was blessed that they had a GNC. They sell a lot of low carb items.

I purchased things like low -carb Ketsup, brownie mix, barbeque sauce, pancake mix, pancake syrup and Splenda.

I ate salad, steak, had apple pancakes for breakfast. If we were out and I wanted a snack to hold me until later, I would just grab a low-carb snack and that would last me until my next meal.

I don't know if Atkins recommends all low-carb snacks.

All I can say is read and look for those hidden carbs like sugar.

This helped to keep me on track. Especially when my husband was eating things that you nor I would never dream of on a low-carb diet.

Even supermarkets are beginning to sell a number of low-carb products.


Also, some resturants like Subway and TGIFriday have Atkins friendly menus. Or you can just choose yourself something like steak, cheese, eggs, salads, I'm sure you are familiar with the many low-carb choices for the induction stage.


Please be encouraged during your vacation. It is possible to keep your great results without jeopordizing your past few days of success.

As for exercising, are you staying some place where they may have a weight room with a treadmill or bike? If not, just do the old fashion parking far away and walking the distance.

Either way remember low-carbs are good

high carbs are bad

I will be praying for you. Have a wonderful vacation.

[vonniepooh]

Hey Deb!

Thank you so much for keeping the posting going. What a Blessing it will be.

Yes! Please pray for me! I will need it! I have actually seen myself binging in a day dream! : ( I know that it's the devil trying to discourage me! But, he is a lie in the name of JESUS! GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN ME, THAN he THAT IS IN THE WORLD!

I know I can do it with the Lord's help, and the prayers of my special buddies! : ) We are going to San Antonio to see Shamu. We have not been in a couple of years. I know about all the temptation out there! I plan on packing a cooler with some snacks I can put my hands on, like cheese, low carb lunchmeat, Atkins snack bars...etc. Yes, the children know that we will have to eat at a resturant that mommy can eat at. : )

There is a little country store that we always stop at, at the half way point to Austin / San Antonio, and my 8 year old has been asking me all day are we going to stop, because he wants cookies from there. It is an old fashion bakery. And the baked goods are very good! That will be one temptation I am going to have to rebuke! lol NO COOKIES FOR YVONNE!

Please, just pray for me. I will think of the Baked goods as the plague! : ) hahaha Eating it will make me gain 20 lbs. in one setting! lol

Thank you so much for your help on the BB. Keep the Holy Spirit rolling. Thank you again!

Love,

-Yvonne

[fla gal 57]

i think this is the best site on this board. i know God led me to this place for a reason.
i have been down all the month of June because it was the month our 33 yr. old son passed to be with the Lord ,that was two years ago, he had cancer and even the bone marror transplant did not help any. we spent 6 months in Houston at the cancer center there with him. yvonne, sure wish i knew you then while i was there.
so anyway my low carb has been the pits all month along because i guess i am just hurting for him, that's all and using food to cover my pain. i know that is not right so i have prayed alot about it and then out of the blue i found your site the other day and that was a blessing i know from God to find it. when i was so down i found you all here. you will never know what it means to have christian people to talk with not only about losing weight but for all kind of christian support. i do have my church and friends but sometimes they are so busy i hate to worry them with my problems. i know there are others who need more than i do right now so i want them to be helped first.
yvonne, write me sometimes at my email and lets talk more.

God bless all of you here and thanks for being here when i needed you so much.
i do need support with my weight lost and know i can find it here with you. you all are my own miracle, Goid did hear my prayers like i knew he would.

thank you all and God bless you always.

[Deblorian]

Day 10

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."
John 14:18

Joan was such a great friend. Almost every day she would stop by to see how things were going. Joan had been there herself. She had battled her weight for years. Joan looked great. Just knowing it could be done made the whole diet easier, somehow.
When we try to lose weight all by ourselves, the struggle is doubly diffiecult. We all need support in towgh times. We can count on God's comfort when we diet. He has promised that He will never leave us comfortless. Believe in that promise. When our diets seem most futile, God will come to us.

Today's Thought:

With the help of friends, I can lose more pounds!

[Deblorian]

fla gal 57


I second that about God leading to this board. I never imagined finding a christian board like this or of any kind.

vonniepooh is on vacation, so I will be adding the devotions until she returns.

I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. If there's anything I can do to encourage you more, please do not hesistant to let me know.

We are all here to help one another. And praise the Lord, God knows our struggles and trials. And He knows who to put together. And I feel God has put this particular board together using vonniepooh because He knew what we all needed.

This is day 6 for me and I'm down 15 lbs. This is my 4th time on Atkins. I've learned a lot from the past. And hopefully, I've learned enough not to make the same undiscipled mistakes again.

I know it's hard to get started. But though Christ and friends on the board, we can struggle together. With our ups and downs.


I will be praying for you.

God bless, Deblorian