Cravings

[gurneyhalleck1]

Well at least you guys have struggled and arecwinning the good fight. I'm not. Just got back from a week-long science camp up in the CA foothills, livingbup tgere 24/7. I was falling with my fasting before I went there in many ways, completely failed in every dang way once I got up there. I'm a MESS right now. Feeling frustrated and disheartened.

 

[Anhelyna]

I don't think I can imagine anything much harder than being with a crowd of kids who are not keeping the fast , and are away from home and trying very hard to keep the Fast and all it entails !

For goodness sake Gurney - be reasonable ! There was no way you could have done it - well not completely

Now you are home - give yourself a shake and start again [ says she who is also having problems with the fast ]

 

[~Anastasia~]

My husband came home last night with BBQ ribs. Cruel, cruel man! Lol (j/k ... on the cruel part - he's not really - he did apologize and said he forgot I was fasting.)

 

[Goatee]

Alcohol.............

 

[ArmyMatt]

Oh....I thought you were going to say you had the temptation to eat an eclair out of the trash can!

no, I will never cross the line between man and bum

 

[FenderTL5]

no, I will never cross the line between man and bum

and I will never say never.

 

[Light of the East]

I am usually tempted, one of these Bright Weeks, to pull a Costanza and eat a block of cheese the size of a car battery

That's really funny!!!!

I'd just like to stop eating beans!!!

So would my wife like me to stop eating them!!!!

 

[Left]

Lemon-lime soda.

 

[Light of the East]

Lemon-lime soda.

Don't we get a small break for the Annunciation?

 

[ArmyMatt]

and I will never say never.

if you can down a block of cheese the size of a car battery, that'd be most impressive

 

[ArmyMatt]

I'd just like to stop eating beans!!!

I can imagine, it can get old, hahaha

 

[Light of the East]

You want to make it real?

Go stand in front of a Red, Hot & Blue Bar-be-que Restaurant.

That's when it gets real........very real!!!

 

[~Anastasia~]

You want to make it real?

Go stand in front of a Red, Hot & Blue Bar-be-que Restaurant.

That's when it gets real........very real!!!

Hey ... I smelled rabbit curry for two days, then hubby brought home BBQ ribs. I know I already said that but ... I'm saying it again, LOL!

At least he's not actually waving steak under my nose those time around ...

 

[Orthodoxjay1]

Well at least you guys have struggled and arecwinning the good fight. I'm not. Just got back from a week-long science camp up in the CA foothills, livingbup tgere 24/7. I was falling with my fasting before I went there in many ways, completely failed in every dang way once I got up there. I'm a MESS right now. Feeling frustrated and disheartened.

Hang in there brother, during Lent we really feel it when we fall, we also tend to fall the hardest during Lent. Hang in there, pick yourself back up, we are at the half way point bro.

 

[ArmyMatt]

You want to make it real?

Go stand in front of a Red, Hot & Blue Bar-be-que Restaurant.

That's when it gets real........very real!!!

oh I know the struggle is real

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

You're too kind, sister, but it's not the fault of those around me. This falls on me. My wife and I had been losing weight with the South Beach Diet for weeks. I went from 272 lbs. to 257 lbs in a matter of a few weeks. I was feeling great, excited, full of energy, and finally, after 5-6 years of gaining weight and feeling like garbage, was doing something about it. You have to eat lots of cheese, yogurt, some chicken (hard for me, a vegetarian), fish, shrimp, salads, etc. Grains get SLOOOOOWLY introduced and things like oatmeal and legumes...SLOOOOOOWLY.....it's a diet that seeks to really kick out the sugar and steadily bring back healthy carbs.

And my wife lost 16 lbs!

Then BAMMMMMM Great Lent comes. The ultimate monkey wrench in our healthy crusade.

So now I'm trying to tell myself, justify, why on Earth God would want me to pack back on the weight and spin my wheels? Maybe it's the Devil talking, maybe it's common sense. Heck, I don't know.

But Father told us he'd allow us to have yogurt and fish on top of the shrimp, etc. but zero eggs and no meat (obviously) and other things.

He did say we could eat up the remainder of what we had in the fridge.

Father was generous.

So what did I do? I started fasting a bit, and the weight started creeping back for a bit, then I just stayed where I was.

We're trying to drop weight for the Greece trip. It was our goal.

So I started eating eggs when Kate brought them home, and cheese, and then went to science camp and took advantage of the situation.

This all falls on me trying to make a healthier me. Eating a ton of lentils, oatmeal, breads, and starches for Great Lent will wipe out all I've accomplished.

So, I'm just at a point of extreme guilt and self-loathing. I am considering going to Pre-Sanctified this Wednesday and confessing and starting over. Then part of me says, "wonderful, now back to being fat....."

I've looked long and hard for a livable diet that will help me get off my blood pressure meds, feeling lousy about my weight, and to get me back to the old me. Lent is more of a barrier to it than anything right now...I'm sad to say.

Prayers would be appreciated.

Hope everyone doesn't hate me too much here...I'm one lousy example of an Orthodox Christian this season. Great Lent is a powerful, heck, the most important, fast of the year...and I'm just pathetic. During the Nativity Fast I put on 6 lbs. alone. I dread lents now. My body hates carbs!

I don't think I can imagine anything much harder than being with a crowd of kids who are not keeping the fast , and are away from home and trying very hard to keep the Fast and all it entails !

For goodness sake Gurney - be reasonable ! There was no way you could have done it - well not completely

Now you are home - give yourself a shake and start again [ says she who is also having problems with the fast ]

 

[Phronema]

I followed someone's suggestions on the forums for a beer I might like. Last week they were buy one get one free at Publix, so I bought two six packs. Tonight my husband chilled one, and I did have a sip.

I don't like beer, but this was pretty good - a second's beer taste, but lighter, followed with a raspberry aftertaste. I could drink that, and it wouldn't be far down my preference list of all beverages, both regular and alcoholic.

But .... but ..... but ....... I know some say beer is "liquid bread" but I never asked if it was allowed. I would have guessed it was maybe like wine. If I actually ASK my SF he will probably say no, since my fasting is light anyway. And by Pascha, my husband might have finished them off.

Did you happen to try Shock Top?

 

[Phronema]

You're too kind, sister, but it's not the fault of those around me. This falls on me. My wife and I had been losing weight with the South Beach Diet for weeks. I went from 272 lbs. to 257 lbs in a matter of a few weeks. I was feeling great, excited, full of energy, and finally, after 5-6 years of gaining weight and feeling like garbage, was doing something about it. You have to eat lots of cheese, yogurt, some chicken (hard for me, a vegetarian), fish, shrimp, salads, etc. Grains get SLOOOOOWLY introduced and things like oatmeal and legumes...SLOOOOOOWLY.....it's a diet that seeks to really kick out the sugar and steadily bring back healthy carbs.

And my wife lost 16 lbs!

Then BAMMMMMM Great Lent comes. The ultimate monkey wrench in our healthy crusade.

So now I'm trying to tell myself, justify, why on Earth God would want me to pack back on the weight and spin my wheels? Maybe it's the Devil talking, maybe it's common sense. Heck, I don't know.

But Father told us he'd allow us to have yogurt and fish on top of the shrimp, etc. but zero eggs and no meat (obviously) and other things.

He did say we could eat up the remainder of what we had in the fridge.

Father was generous.

So what did I do? I started fasting a bit, and the weight started creeping back for a bit, then I just stayed where I was.

We're trying to drop weight for the Greece trip. It was our goal.

So I started eating eggs when Kate brought them home, and cheese, and then went to science camp and took advantage of the situation.

This all falls on me trying to make a healthier me. Eating a ton of lentils, oatmeal, breads, and starches for Great Lent will wipe out all I've accomplished.

So, I'm just at a point of extreme guilt and self-loathing. I am considering going to Pre-Sanctified this Wednesday and confessing and starting over. Then part of me says, "wonderful, now back to being fat....."

I've looked long and hard for a livable diet that will help me get off my blood pressure meds, feeling lousy about my weight, and to get me back to the old me. Lent is more of a barrier to it than anything right now...I'm sad to say.

Prayers would be appreciated.

Hope everyone doesn't hate me too much here...I'm one lousy example of an Orthodox Christian this season. Great Lent is a powerful, heck, the most important, fast of the year...and I'm just pathetic. During the Nativity Fast I put on 6 lbs. alone. I dread lents now. My body hates carbs!

I'm not Orthodox (I'm hoping to be), so forgive me please. Maybe I can be of help though.

While the South Beach diet has worked for you so far, maybe try a different approach to dieting during the Great Lent?

I'd say try a Mediterranean diet? There are great foods, and recipes involved, and the Greeks have been using this as their food paradigm since the time of Christ and before. There have to be recipes out there that would be conducive to Great Lent.

In addition, I lost 40 pounds when I quit smoking with the Mediterranean diet, though it was in conjunction with moderate/heavy workout sessions.

Ultimately, please don't see this as me trying to change you or your life. I'm only offering it as a suggestion


Also, congratulations on your success so far. Myfitnesspal.com really helped me by being able to quantify what I was eating. It really showed me where I was making errors.

I'm sure you'll continue to do well brother! God Bless!

Edit: I realize there are a lot of things such as meat and cheese involved with the Mediterranean diet that may make it unsuitable. The other portions of it seem to adhere to Great Lent, as far as my (very) limited knowledge takes me.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Did you happen to try Shock Top?

Yes, I did!

The apple one (what I really wanted to try) is only in the seasonal box (which I got) but has three other flavors I don't care that much for, though the cranberry is drinkable. Wal-mart has them in their "make your own" but it's like $10 for just 4 or 6 bottles and that's just plain out of my price range.

But Publix has cheaper prices, had the BOGO and so I tried the raspberry, which I think I like better than apple. It's drinkable and almost even enjoyable ice-cold - and that's saying something coming from me. If I get used to it, I just might even enjoy/like it!

I'm not used to drinking much. Half a bottle and I get this delicious relaxed heavy feel that settles through my limbs. It's kinda nice to relax.

I did have one over the weekend. I guess I'll talk to my SF. I talked to my surgeon today and he doesn't like the sound of the fast. He said I don't have to eat meat EVERY day, but ....

I dunno. Gotta talk to Father. I felt cheated of the Nativity. Pascha is important to me, and Lent is important to me. I guess I don't know how to balance what my body apparently needs with what my spirit wants. Pretty typical Christian struggle, flesh vs. spirit anyway, I guess.

But thank you for the recommendation! After the day I had, I was pretty tempted to have one tonight!

 

[~Anastasia~]

You're too kind, sister, but it's not the fault of those around me. This falls on me. My wife and I had been losing weight with the South Beach Diet for weeks. I went from 272 lbs. to 257 lbs in a matter of a few weeks. I was feeling great, excited, full of energy, and finally, after 5-6 years of gaining weight and feeling like garbage, was doing something about it. You have to eat lots of cheese, yogurt, some chicken (hard for me, a vegetarian), fish, shrimp, salads, etc. Grains get SLOOOOOWLY introduced and things like oatmeal and legumes...SLOOOOOOWLY.....it's a diet that seeks to really kick out the sugar and steadily bring back healthy carbs.

And my wife lost 16 lbs!

Then BAMMMMMM Great Lent comes. The ultimate monkey wrench in our healthy crusade.

So now I'm trying to tell myself, justify, why on Earth God would want me to pack back on the weight and spin my wheels? Maybe it's the Devil talking, maybe it's common sense. Heck, I don't know.

But Father told us he'd allow us to have yogurt and fish on top of the shrimp, etc. but zero eggs and no meat (obviously) and other things.

He did say we could eat up the remainder of what we had in the fridge.

Father was generous.

So what did I do? I started fasting a bit, and the weight started creeping back for a bit, then I just stayed where I was.

We're trying to drop weight for the Greece trip. It was our goal.

So I started eating eggs when Kate brought them home, and cheese, and then went to science camp and took advantage of the situation.

This all falls on me trying to make a healthier me. Eating a ton of lentils, oatmeal, breads, and starches for Great Lent will wipe out all I've accomplished.

So, I'm just at a point of extreme guilt and self-loathing. I am considering going to Pre-Sanctified this Wednesday and confessing and starting over. Then part of me says, "wonderful, now back to being fat....."

I've looked long and hard for a livable diet that will help me get off my blood pressure meds, feeling lousy about my weight, and to get me back to the old me. Lent is more of a barrier to it than anything right now...I'm sad to say.

Prayers would be appreciated.

Hope everyone doesn't hate me too much here...I'm one lousy example of an Orthodox Christian this season. Great Lent is a powerful, heck, the most important, fast of the year...and I'm just pathetic. During the Nativity Fast I put on 6 lbs. alone. I dread lents now. My body hates carbs!

I feel for you, Gurney. No advice. You're doing better than I am. I'll offer prayers though.

I need to lose weight. I feel like giving up - but MAYBE something like what you're talking about would work. After I finished radiation, my doctor gave me a plan. I was supposed to eat 1000-1200 calories a day. Problem is, the only way I can get that many calories is if I add juice, soda, or candy. I don't eat that much! I tried to diet before, and I don't lose weight on even 350-700 calories. On a "heavy food" day I get about 900 calories, and that's all I want to eat. But I did start working out, and I was losing a couple ounces here and there, but then an injury and I've been in physical therapy. But I'm starting to think my problem is in the macros and lack of exercise.

Throw in Lent, and now surgery again, and I'm ready to give up again. I don't know how to make it work.

Like you, I'm a little frustrated that Lent doesn't seem to work with losing any weight. Please, can't I just eat grilled chicken, fish, yogurt, and boiled eggs, and skip the bread and pasta and potatoes? I'd still feel deprived, lol. But I'm not even sure it would work as far as weight. It does seem like a better idea. I might have no choice anyway. But I SO don't want to give up on Lent! It's discouraging.

Can you manage with fish and yogurt? I'd try? But don't beat yourself up. I'M certainly not judging you!!! Not in the LEAST. Prayers for you. I wish I could help more than just to say I'm sorry, and I know a little what you mean.

If fasting were our judge, I'd be about the most terrible Christian it would be possible to be. Fortunately, I don't think it works that way.