Roseau Times-Region - Serving Roseau County for over 100 Years - The Official Roseau County Newspaper

If your goal is losing weight, how does your mindset fit in to the mix? And then, there are your motives. If your happiness depends on how you look, you are going to be frustrated as you age.

There are so many products that promise a wrinkle free face and ageless beauty. I know one thing, a smile goes a long way. What does a smiling heart look like? It kind of seeps through your face and makes the grace of aging a deeper reality. A quiet spirit is another deep thing. Below the surface like in a pond, the stillness of life dwells.

1 Peter 3:4 Amplified Bible

...but let it be the inner beauty of the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality and unfading charm of a gentle and peaceful spirit, one that is calm and self-controlled, not overanxious, but serene and spiritually mature which is very precious in the sight of God.

Many times I have been distracted by anger, or anxiety. This is when I go to the Lord first and ask Him for his point of view. It is amazing how my thoughts become redirected after prayer. Are you willing to have another point of view? Anger, vs Love. Vindictiveness, vs Forgiveness.

What scripture says, or that still small voice, and God's "still small voice," will always agree. If that voice in your head says, be vindictive, this is not Godly counsel. God does not speak like that. We are always to crosscheck our thoughts with what we know is the character and will of God.

Other voices from people or cravings, may sabotage your goal. It is good to have a back-up plan. I can be easily sabotaged in the evening. I say or feel, "I really need a pint of ice cream!" Now what do I do? Sometimes, my backup plan is a Luden's Cough Drop. They are in a drawer by my couch and at work. I have a sweet tooth. Something else you can snack on is a banana, or an apple or orange. How about a hard boiled egg? Always have a backup plan when it comes to snacks. Never let your backup snack run out!

My backup plan in relationship to scripture is: I write verses in a notebook. Or, like Joe did, on index cards. I pack them with me or tack them on my refrigerator. It is really helpful to have this kind of reminder.

Don't just concentrate on your outside, what about your inside? What is inside will show on the outside. Cleaning up your inside will free you up to make awesome changes to your outside!

Philippians 4:8 Amplified Bible

Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God's word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart.

Added thought: Eating out will add salt, sugar and fat to my plate. This kind of eating will increase my weight the next day as much as two pounds. After thinking through this I have decided not to bring pizza etc home to eat. I can go out to eat with friends, or go to someone's house for dinner. BUT..AT HOME, I will stick to my plan to stay under 1,300 calories. No buying that pint of icecream or having a saved pizza in the freezer. I can't keep this kind of food in the house.

Next week: Making your plan Chapter 4

Blessings, Julie