Giving Up Aspartame

I'm back...has anyone missed me? I haven't written in so long and I have a lot to tell, but I would have to write a book, not a blog to fit it all in. So for now, I will let you know that I am making good on one of my New Year's resolutions. I'm giving up Diet Dr. Peppers (and all caf. drinks) once and for all!

I am now on my sixth day with NO Aspartame. I pushed through the headaches and the temptation (except for one momentary lapse on Monday when I had half of a regular Dr. Pepper, but still, no Aspartame). I am drinking water, water, and oh yeah...more water. For those of you who do this all the time, you may say "what's the big deal?" The big deal for me is that 1) I don't like water (but I'm learning to), and 2) Here is just a little sample of how many Caf. free Diet Dr. Pepper's I was drinking...

This is a recycle bin almost completely filled with Diet Dr. Pepper cans from yours truly. Seriously, no one else in my house drank them but ME! We have 5 recycle bins on our deck and almost all of them filled with my nasty habit. I would drink anywhere from 5 to 8 a day on average.

The reason for the makeover...it's a new year, and I turned another year older this month. But not just any year...a BIG ONE! I thought it was high time to lose weight and get in shape. I recruited my good friend Beth at I'm Heading Towards My Destiny to help me out. She holds me accountable, checking in on me everyday. To prove how serious I was this time about staying committed, I actually told her my weight - something my hubby doesn't even know. Keeping me on track and motivated is a tough job and she has her work cut out for her. But she's been a true friend, caring about seeing me whip this bondage. Which reminds me, thanks to all my blogging friends who have encouraged me, and I know you'll continue to do so.

I see this new year, and new season in my life as a step toward being free from every type of bondage. It's almost as if God showed me that this one area where I appear to be in control (because I would never surrender my eating habits to the Lord) is actually one area where I'm totally out of control (because I'm in total bondage to addiction of foreign substances in my body; as well as the vicious cycle that it creates. The cycle of indulging in comfort foods only to lower my self-esteem as I watch myself grow bigger & bigger). It's what I call an "Esau spirit" where you live for the momentary satisfaction, only to regret it later. I finally told the Lord, "I won't hold anything back anymore. I won't say you can be Lord of everything...except this one thing. I'll give it all to You." Now, I've confessed it to ALL those who dare to read my blog. So I have no excuse. I must walk this out to total freedom.

I encourage you all to search your heart and see if there is anything that you know deep down you hold back from giving to the Lord. If so, please consider surrendering it completely and letting Him replace it with something far greater.