Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes and the Daniel Fast

I have decided to make some changes in my life...changes toward a more positive lifestyle.  The past few weeks have found me reading about the Daniel Fast and slowly trying to prepare myself for beginning this new journey.  I have cut down on snacking and have chosen what I do eat more carefully.  I know I need to become mindful of what I put into my body and the effect of that food on both my physical health and my spiritual health.  I am not going to weigh myself to keep track of pounds lost even though I do need to lose weight, get in shape, and lower my cholesterol.  This first fast, for me, will be a spiritual fast.  I have found myself further from God than I want to be and I pray this action I am undertaking will lead me back to a strong faith.  When I first became a Catholic, my mother-in-law was a huge influence on me.  Her faith in her daily rosary was inspiring and I vowed to say a rosary daily, too.  I did keep up with it until my second child was born and then I became overwhelmed with young children and life.  Depression followed and even though I got medical treatment, I never went back to my daily rosary.  In retrospect, I can see how much that daily prayer centered me, calmed me, and made me a better person.  Whatever arguments I may have with the Catholic Church as an institution, the truth is....the rosary and the ritual of it eases my soul and I miss it.  So this first time with the Daniel Fast is going to include readings and prayers to help my spirit and the weight loss will be a secondary, though welcome, part of my new routine.


I planned my 21 days of food...starting with easy recipes and lots of protein because I do have some health issues.  Later, I will add more vegetables, tofu, and fruit.  Liz went with me to the grocery store today and helped me in my hunt for the vegan/non-preservative food that I need.  Tonight I will prepare as much as I can and package it into individual servings so that temptation to overindulge is limited.  It was an expensive trip to the store, but with practice, I should be able to figure out what I need and ways to get it more cheaply...buying my vegetables and fruit at the roadside stands, for example.


My first week on the fast will be something like this:


~Take my morning medications
~Read the Daniel Fast Daily Devotional
~Breakfast of Apple Pie Oatmeal or Banana Wheat Bran Cereal
~Begin my first 32-ounce container of water


~Lunch of vegetable soup or navy bean soup
~Rosary
~Begin my second 32-ounce container of water


~Snack--apple, strawberries, or pear
~Begin my third 32-ounce container of water


~Dinner of Black Bean and Brown Rice stuffed Peppers or Vegetable and Bean Paella
~Rosary
~Begin my fourth 32-ounce container of water


~Snack of Garden Fresh Bean Salad, Persian Salad, Chapatis, or Roasted Chickpeas
~Devotional reading from "Wisdom Writings for Women" which I downloaded on my Kindle.


John and the kids have said that they would support me in this effort...so I hope that I can finally find some peace and some better health.  I love my family dearly and if I continue the path that I am on now, I won't be around as long as I would like to be.  Eating mindfully and healthfully should end up in a healthier body to go along with a healthier soul from prayer and devotional reading....at least that is my hope...........