I am finally getting my diet and exercise road back on track. Last week I finally dropped two pounds ! I managed to walk five days last week including a four mile hike which even surprised me. It Felt good. Unfortunately, Friday, I went shopping and was helped by a store clerk for a hour with a phone bill whose partner was sick and coughing the whole time I was there. I walked out of that store wondering...24 hours later...and here I sit a few days latter feeling a bit haggard. My fever has broken now, but I'm definitely not going to exercise or lose any weight this week.

Last month I was away from he computer and CK. We had s much going on the week ends and I was just too tired ant the end of the day to get on the computer. I like traveling, but never for the reasons for which we had to, except for my MIL's birthday. Food wise, I learned I didn't let myself relax enough to calm myself down. I let FOOD be a calming agent. Of course this is bad. I now realize after the fact that this is what you are not suppose to do especially in times of grief or high stress. It is during times like this it is most important you find something to relieve your stress. For me it is walking with my Praise music and praying, or reading with my dogs next to me, or eve sitting here at the computer. It is not at the refrigerator.

One day last week something went wrong in my life and I got upset. It was definitely a FOOD moment. Instead of going to the frig, I decided to take my memory verse of the week to heart, "I delight myself in the Lord, I rejoice greatly in the Lord." OK, I thought, I don't feel like rejoicing to the Lord rejoicing or being in a good mood right now. I'd rather make an excuse to eat something. That usually makes me feel better until I do it, at least. Then I thought, That verse said that person took delight in the Lord. Then I realized, what it meant and how delighting in the Lord could help me at this moment. The Lord provides such satisfaction to my soul even in times of high stress that I can rejoice greatly. When I rejoice, it takes that stress away. I started off admitting I didn't feel much like rejoicing over my circumstances. I asked God for satisfaction only He could provide. I took my delight in Him and received great satisfaction and soon found myself happy again. When I was finished with my little time alone with God, I found myself wonderfully filled with joy again and not craving the rig run. I think I had learned a powerful lesson. For me, there are ways to live without emotional eating.