Day 3 AM

Today is day 3 of my 40 days - 40 carbs - 40 prayers.

Weight: 166 pounds
BFI: 28.5%

In my study of scripture I always try to find a way to be obedient to the word of God. So when I found this one, I felt the need to clarify what I am doing on this blog in accordance to what the Word says.

Matthew 6:16-18
"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

I will start by sharing the fact that none of the names in the blog are true. They have been changed to protect the innocent. This includes mine. I am sharing a journey of obedience, not a display of my own sacrifice or glory. This is all for God's glory and that is why I am posting under a pseudonym.

I want to share how great our God is through testimony of what he has done for me, and not what I have done for myself. In the past Atkins was extremely difficult. What you are doing is going through detoxification from a carbohydrate addiction. Within 72 hours your body will start craving food it doesn't need.

However, with prayer and keeping this as a God-centered fast there have been no cravings. This is day 3 and I don't feel like a desperate crazy woman driven to eat junk. That's God's power, not mine. If I were doing a fast on my own with no scripture to support and guide me I would not be this successful.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

However, there is a personal gain to this. Some might say that the numbers at the top are shrinking and that I will get to look great in that bikini. I say to you that this is for God's glory. My body is a temple that houses the Holy Spirit. It has been against God's will that I allowed his temple to fall into disrepair. This shell is also temporary, because I am in the world not of the world.

As my pastor once said, this body is like a vacation home that I am borrowing from a friend. Would I stay in his house and tear it up, or would I care for it and leave it looking nice and clean.

Keeping oneself fit and healthy is obedience to God's will for us. It is not vanity, although it can be. It is not pride, although it can be that too. God wants us to be healthy so that when he calls on us to serve him we can say, "Yes, Lord" Not so we can tell him we are too big to fit on the airplane, or that we have a health condition brought on by gluttony.

So today is day 3, which means it is the last day without exercise. The Atkins regime recommends that you relax for three days from exercise while your body adjusts to the new diet. Some people feel sick, tired or just plan out of sorts. However, within the first few days you should start some form of physical exercise. I looked it up and typing doesn't count. (shoot!)

Diet - Exercise = Not healthy.

All for God's Glory! Praise be to God!