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You can do ANYthing for three days.
Camping with a boatload of kids.
Having twelve in-laws invade your house.
Taking care of your friends’ pets.
ANYthing. I know you can!
This is no exception.
The idea for this three day challenge was inspired by something that my friend, Barb Raveling, said at her blog on her “Careless Eating” page. She issues a challenge there about staying within our boundaries for just three days. Can we do it? I know we can.
Here is what I propose:
1. Eat only when at a 0 – physical hunger
2. Stop when you are at a 5Β or sooner.
3. Drink sweetened beverages only with a meal…when you are at a 0. For instance, if you drink a Chai Tea Latte in the morning on your way to work, can you plan it so that you have it when you are at a 0? Or, wait until you are at a 0 and enjoy the beverage with your breakfast?
4. Daily, select from the following toΒ keep your focus on the Lord and exalting him:Β Add to your God List, have a Praise Fest, add to a Gratitude Journal.
I recommend that whatever you do, do it OUT LOUD. There is something powerful about writing it, seeing it, speaking it, and hearing it as you speak it.
If you want to keep yourself accountable for each hour of the 3 – Day Challenge, you can use this pdf file:Β Fire the Desire 3 Day Challenge. It is a pdf that looks a bit like this:
Please PRAY about doing this! If God says YES, then let’s start tomorrow…well, officially tonight at midnight. If you feel like now may not be the time, be sure it is the leading of the Holy Spirit and not just a preference of the flesh. π
How About You?
So are you going to give this a shot? What questions or concerns do you have as you consider this?
What might be a GREAT reason (or 5!) to DO this!
What might you need to be cautious about?
I’m in!
Yay, Tina! Praying for you! π
Hi Heidi, just wanted to thank you for all of the work, prayers, and love you pour out into this blog on our behalf. God is using you in a big way, and I, for one, am very thankful. In fact, you and Barb are one of my points of gratitude!
I think I may start an instagram hashtag for my gratitude list.
π
I agree with you Kathy, I am very thankful for Heidi and Barb! I am interested to know what you mean by hashtag for your gratitude list? What would that look like? If you don’t mind I might copy…
Hi, Kathy. Thank you so much for your kind words. It means so much to me!
Me too! π
π
I am on board. I keep thinking I need to try something drastic, but The Lord keeps bringing to my mind the 20 lbs I lost 3 years ago and the joy and peace that came while I followed Thin Within principles. I know The Lord is really gently urging me to lay this emotional eating of mine down at His feet again, to stop doing and just BE once again. Time to stop making excuses. This post has inspired me.
Hi, Johnna. I haven’t seen you on Facebook in forever! Did you quit or unfriend me? LOL! Just teasing. To be honest, one of the things that motivated me to issue this challenge was one of my coaching clients…I told her we needed to do something to “shake things up!” This seemed like a viable possibility and I figured why keep it to ourselves! I hope to hear from you and others that this is making a difference! π
I’m in! Taking 3 days to laser-beam focus on my commitment to 0-5 eating sounds like just what I need .
Yay, Brenda!
I am going to do this. I am in a terrible struggle.
Praying for you, Jane. How is it going?
I want to play! π Love this blog and the TW books.
Hi, G.A. So glad to hear from you! Yes, come on along!
I’m here and with you all on this three day challenge. Have had my three grand girls for this past six days….We take them home tomarrow. So far WE ALL have stayed to eating when hungry and eating healthy….praise God for his grace and strength. I’m up for our three day challenge. = )
WOOT!
I’m committed to doing this…I am feeling so much better already..and I am sleeping better at night..Thanks for much for your dedication for so many years to help others by your love, wisdom and sharing!…Luv N Hugs..Barbi
Oh, Barbi, girl. One of these days, I WILL link up with you in person and hug your precious neck. You and I go way back, don’t we? To like 1999? I am so glad you are here!
We sure do…We almost got to meet at a conference. I think at the last minute something came up and you couldn’t go..but yepper..we have been brushing each others lives since then, in various arenas..I am so proud of you, and the way you have always followed the Lord’s leading, even when it painful and difficult..The Lord has given you a powerful testimony! Luv you!
Oh Barbi. What came up to prevent me from getting to that conference in Nashville was I broke my leg and dislocated my ankle in a violent roller blading accident! I wasn’t healed up by July like I had thought and couldn’t bear the thought of traveling by myself in a wheel chair. Turns out I was NEVER so glad NOT to go to a conference after I heard about what went on there…but that is another story. I just wish I could have seen YOU! I may be coming your way sometime within the next year. If so, I will definitely be looking for you to hug you good. π
I’m in for the challenge. I’m struggling, so the timing is perfect. I found out, tonight, that I can even overeat salad – same overly full feeling in my tummy. I am re-evaluating to see what needs tweaking. Reading my truth cards, earlier this evening, showed me that I definitely was outside my secondary boundaries during supper. I ate fast and did not savour each bite. I haven’t posted here much since starting Workbook #1; but, I’ve been dropping in to read, learn, and be encouraged. I am grateful for this blog. I live on the west coast, so will be a few hours behind many participants. God will honor our commitment to eating within godly boundaries.
Hi, Sheila. One of the things my husband mused about was how he discovered that when eating salad, he would justify consuming a larger quantity, temporarily throwing out the notion of 0 and 5 because it was “healthy” food. He realized that by eating salad consistently this way, he was training himself back into the larger quantity mentality for ALL foods! He was able to recognize the lie he was believing. Good for you for doing so, too!
Thank you so much Heidi! This was exactly what I needed right now! Im in!
YAY!
I’m in for the challenge and actually did it yesterday – even with Mexican takeout for dinner! I was very tempted to eat in front of the tv last night (after dinner, not at 5) and even made plans in my head to do it. But I kept resisting -even when I had to walk through the kitchen twice to help my daughter in her room. I am sure that the time I spent reading psalms and adding to my God list was the reason I resisted. James 4:7 kept going through my head – submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. I was very happy that I resisted and went to bed with an almost empty stomach.
Awesome, Carrie! You are on a roll!
I’m on it! π
I just found the 3day challenge and decided to start now. I have been on a see-food diet for the past 2 months after a victory period of eating 0 to 5. I need to set a fire to desire to believe for victory again and get back to being obedient in this area. I have been eating without any boundaries. Now I feel bloated and fat and seriously uncomfortable. Plus, I feel like this thing has kept me in the pit. Thin Within deals with the real issue behind being overweight. Thank you for
your help. God is using you in a powerful way.