self-discipline

I've been having some intestinal issues...probably because of my past c-sections. So, this week Mike and I are doing a 7 day cleanse where you take two herbal supplements (actually each supplement is a packet of 5 capsules!) at morning and night. It's supposed to clean out your digestive system as well as all toxins in your body. Mike didn't really have to do it but he is for moral support...what a good hubby!! We can only eat really, really healthy food...like no flour of any kind, no dairy, only one serving of fruit/day (except bananas, grapes, or citrus fruit), no sugar...etc. So, basically you eat lots and lots of veggies and a little chicken and fish. We can have almonds and pecans. We also can have whole wheat pasta and whole rice (which is what I already use, so that wasn't too hard for us!) We are allowed 2 cups of coffee/day, but no cream or sugar. We sweeten our coffee with rice milk, which actually is naturally sweet...I actually may keep doing that even after the cleanse! We just finished day 5. Sunday is the last day! I am happy to say that I have done very well on this thing! God is really using it to teach me discipline...I have been praying more, in the Word more, as well as memorizing scripture. I don't think I have EVER done something for seven days that I have tried to do. I know that many times I have tried to give up Coke, work out 4/week, eat better, etc., but it's never happened! I was ready to cave tonight, but popcorn (actually air popped [thank goodness for that random popcorn popper wedding gift that I never thought I'd use:) --it saved the day!!], not microwaved) with butter (on the okay list) and a tiny bit of some butter toffee sprinkle-on stuff hit the spot!! (probably not supposed to use, but I can't have chocolate which really is entirely unfair) Yippee for buttered popcorn! Although, tomorrow we are going to see my parents for the weekend...I have a feeling we are basically going to be fasting! Oh well...I really do feel good and I think my intestines feel good too. I guess that some people recommend doing these cleanses two times a year because of all the toxins in food these days. Probably not a bad idea...I know it's been good for me! If anything, it has helped me realize how much "unhealthy" food I eat and how much money I waste on buying Cokes or getting fast food! So, good for the body as well as the "pockabook" hehe!! (if I said pocket book here in Oklahoma, people would look at me like I was NUTS!!)

2 Timothy 1:7
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of SELF-DISCIPLINE.