Day 1

Hi.

Well I finished reading day one and have taken the first commitment to eliminate sugar in all its forms for the next 10 days. I do not foresee this as being a big problem for me since I think of myself as not eating sugar, but some things have popped into my mind. Like the candy man at church who hands me a bag of about 6 to 8 candies which I binge on as I listen to the sermon. Wow. I had this picture of me one way but reality and checking the facts says my self picture was bogus. So I need to be alert to the temptation in it's many forms. I was grateful when a friend told me that the candy man had decided not to do that at church any more. I was excited at this answer to my prayers because I had asked the Lord to deliver me from that temptation. God is good.

Another rule of day 1, Phase One, Blood Sugar "Boot Camp" is that I need to read the labels on everything I eat to eliminate any sugar, sugar alcohol, or fake sugar except the two that he mentions that are OK. The author of the book (The 30 Day Diabetes Cure -- http://30daydiabetescure.com/) talked about sugar being poison and the most sickening food on earth and had plenty of evidence to back this up.

Another major part of Phase One which is the first 10 days of the 30 day cure is learning to tell the difference between appetite and hunger. This is something I have been observing recently because the eating machine has been on and I have been gaining weight. I knew that I was craving food, even though my stomach was full and even though I recognized it, I just ignored it and kept right on eating. But... with the new commitment and the new program, I am no longer doing that. Praise the Lord!

He also has a page full of tips to help combat and eliminate the sugar cravings on page 85. Tips that helped his patients to get past the yearnings for something sweet and kick the addiction. Sugar is as addictive as cocaine but once you get past the first three days it is much easier (personal experience talking -- and notice that a person can get away from doing what is right also -- but, thank God, all you have to do is change your mind and start at day one again. The Christian word for "change your mind" is "repent."). Some of the tips I already knew but a couple were new to me like "gargle and brush." What a great idea! I tried that one and it worked. And it will be good for my teeth and gums, too.

One major point for me to take on is to beware of all those hidden sugars in the foods I buy. I stopped reading labels a while ago, but need to start doing that again. I guess I have to agree that simply calling a truce on eating processed foods will greatly eliminate hidden sugars. He warns against eating "diabetic" foods too, because eating all those fake sugars in prepared goodies like "sugar-free" candies, goodies, and desserts only reinforces the idea that you have to have them in your life. I totally agree with that. I know from experience that if I start eating a lot of things with fake sugar in it, then it is real easy to slip over into real sugar -- they look exactly alike -- and the fake sugars don't really do what we as consumers think they do, anyway. Dr Ripich says that the sugar alcohols, especially, end up causing not only blood sugar increases anyway -- but gastric upset like bloating and excessive gas. So in the end they are not good for diabetics. Pun intended.

I wonder why we call them "goodies?" They are surely not good for us -- especially for diabetics and those of us on the brink of diabetes. In the past I used the idea in my head of calling them "pornographic foods" because they look sweet and enticing but they only cause havoc in a person's life. It is a road I would rather not go down and the only way to avoid slippage is vigilance. The way to avoid pornography (or any addiction) is to turn your head and not let the images in. Just walk away or change the channel. I have to do the same with that kind of food: just turn my head and walk away, or change the channel. When I have mentioned the idea of "pornographic food" to people in the past, they seem to be shocked by that idea, so I stopped sharing it. I am not sure why they reacted that way, but I still think it is an entirely accurate concept and one that works for me. I don't want that kind of temptation in my mind or my life because it only sets up cravings that I have to battle and the longer I look the harder it is to escape. If I instantly turn away, the battle is short and I always win. Thanks be to God! I guess that may be why it says in the Bible:


Matthew 26:41  "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

I scanned through the rest of the program and am very excited about it. I am looking forward to tomorrow's action. I like the idea of adding one thing per day and walking pleasantly along doing the right things to support my body's healing. For a change. It makes me feel good and like I am now headed in the right direction. Thank you Jesus for answering my prayers!

--Marcia