Every Journey Begins With the First Step

If you are serious about changing your diet to preserve your health, go meatless one day a week. If you want to begin to change the eating habits of your love ones, but wonder how to create a desire in them to make healthier choices, introduce them to “Meatless Mondays. Because every journey begins with the first step, slowly integrate new flavors into their lives every Monday.

 

The “Meatless Monday” campaign is nothing new. You simply cut back on your meat intake, starting on Mondays. According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, “Meatless Monday is an international campaign that encourages people not to eat meat on Mondays to improve their health and the health of the planet”.

29 countries had joined the world in empowering families to participate in “Meatless Mondays”.  More than 100 schools, food service companies and restaurants joined the commitment to offer “Meatless Mondays” options, in the United States. The Food Network Iron Chief Mario Batali joined the movement and is now offering “Meatless Mondays” in his restaurants.

 

According to Eliza Barclay of NPR news, “Why Monday? Because several studies have demonstrated that people are more likely to try to quit smoking, begin a diet or exercise regimen, schedule doctors' appointments or adopt other healthy behaviors on Monday than any other day”.  It’s true, I always make a commitment to change or start some on Monday, and I splurge all weekend so that I can get it out of my system. Kristie Middleton coordinates Meatless Mondays across the country. 
 

 During an interview at the Sonoma County School District said, “On a recent Monday, students didn’t seem to notice that meat was missing. They ate their watermelon, cheese sticks and even broccoli with zeal. Some devoured their bean chili and others pecked at it, but nobody complained about the missing ground beef”. Children are more adaptable and flexible. Yes, they may complain but there are so many delicious tasting foods that you can substitute for the meat. Eventually they will realize meatless meals on Mondays are not the end of the world.

For me, being a beginner learning how to shop without buying meat was very intimidating. Combine that with being a new plant-based eater was daunting because I had never eaten a meal without meat before. But, I was determined and I joined the “Meatless Mondays” campaign.  I slowly weaned myself off of processed foods and l learned to read labels. I watched documentaries about eating healthy.

I was introduced to “Forks Over Knives” by a friend who was critically ill.  He changed his diet, lost weight and decreased the possibility of death 100 percent. Doctors from a hospital and the VA told him to prepare to leave this world.  He was so excited about a second chance to live, he would share the information with everyone whose paths he crossed. I was one of those people and I watched the documentary. When you get a free moment watch this video, it will change your outlook!

Forks Over Knives examines the profound claim that most, if not all, of the degenerative diseases that afflict us can be reversed. Because I was open and receptive to new possibilities, I too have rewritten my life’s story.  Watching this could possibly be the turning point in your life, and in the lives of your love ones.  Even if you are not ready to make a change, remember, the seed will be planted and one day those seeds will take root. Never forget, every journey begins with the first step. How I started making small changes to my diet.

•  started replacing meat with vegetables (Veggies have a lot of protein), fruit, grains, legumes (Beans), nuts and seeds


• I pulled my magic bullet out of the closet and began making smoothies which helped me begin to decrease my sugar intake; especially since diabetes genes have been passed down from other generations


• I began to watch YouTube videos about “Meatless Mondays”

Whatever your inspiration is: weight loss, increased athletic performance, feeling your best, increasing your health, or saving the life of your love one, every journey begins with one step.  Why not take the “Meatless Mondays” challenge? Learning to eat less meat is a journey not a destination. Don’t give up, take it one day at a time.  You will keep growing healthier and possibly extend your life and the lives of your love ones as you continue on this life-changing path.

               Peace, Love, Joy and Good Health!!!  God Bless You. 
                                          Wanda Ross, A Woman of Prophetic Destiny

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

Cravings for unhealthy foods can sabotage the success of your weight loss and healthy eating diets

If junk food is so bad for us, why do people keep saturating their bodies with it? Most of us know that junk food is unhealthy but it can be a real struggle to let it go. In spite of the fact we know that poor nutrition is related to heart problems, high blood pressure and a host of other health ailments, many of us eat it anyway.  My own personal experiences have mirrored this. I have been addicted to eating unhealthy food which are foods that have no nutritional benefit.  Withdrawing from them is just as powerful as withdrawing from mind altering chemicals like drugs and or cigarettes. But, changing our old eating habits is possible. It's a process and taking small steps towards the desired changes increases your chances of being successful.

Once I was honestly committed to changing my eating habits, I removed all processed food from my cabinets.  I know me, if it’s there, I’m not going to eat some of it, I will eat all of it, at that moment!  Next, I started reading labels to make sure I wasn’t defeating my goal by buying different food with similar, or the same ingredients.  These are very important steps if you are really ready to make a lifestyle change.  As I slowly began to eat healthier foods and stopped buying processed foods, I noticed I didn’t want pizza, candy, ice cream, cakes and cookies as much. I found ways to gradually incorporate more fruits and vegetables in my daily regiment and I cut out all fried foods. 

Next, I went on the Daniel fast with my Church for 30 days and we ate fruit, veggies, nuts and baked or broiled fish.  Once those 30 days were up, I noticed a dramatic difference in the way I felt inside. I felt lighter, I felt healthier and I was having more bowel movements than I have ever had before.  During the last week of the fast, I started reflecting on all of my favorite foods I love to eat. I could hardly wait to be able to eat all of the foods I was accustomed to eating. I couldn't wait to go back to eating foods that had no nutritional value. My body ached for sugar, salt and fried foods.  Before I realized it, I was constipated again and bloated from all of my favorite foods that had no nutritional value. 

The blessing is, I could tell the difference in the way my body felt (inside and out).  My body experienced a dramatic difference between eating healthy foods and non nutritional foods, and I wanted to experience those healthy feelings again. It was a process for me to enjoy eating a large salad every day because I rarely at vegetables.  I incorporated salads into my daily eating regiment and started loving how healthy I began to feel inside.  I gave up processed salad dressing with lots of sugar in it and I gave up cheese.  Many of the salad dressing in health food stores are organic, but many of them have organic sweeteners in them. For me, sugar is sugar and sweet is sweet.  My brain can not tell the difference between health sweeteners and unhealthy sweeteners.

Like I said in a previous blog, I eat (SOS), no added sugar, no added salt and no added oil. I plan to begin making my own salad dressings soon.  Ninety days after I completed the 30 day Daniel fast, I took a HDL (Low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins) test that focuses on low and high cholesterol numbers.  These test determine your health level and your susceptibility to heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure and other illnesses. This was my turning point because I needed something to shock me into reality so that I could stop playing “Russian Roulette” with my life.   Although I have none of those illnesses, the doctor told me I had an extensive amount of plaque which would eventually restrict the blood flow to my heart. I was told I would experiences all of the illnesses listed above and so many more within a 10 year period; if  I did not change my eating habits immediately. 

The Word of God says in Isaiah 53:5, “…..By His Stripes we are healed.” At that very moment, I realized this was my healing as promised by God. I realized this was the evidence I needed to validate the Words in the Book of Life, the Bible. I was given a 2^nd chance at life and it was up to me to take advantage of the blessing.  There was something required of me. Something I needed to do to make my 2nd chance at life possible.  I had to be willing to do whatever it took through prayer and fasting to get rid of that spirit of self-destruction so that I could claim my healing. That spirit of gluttony that always led to over eating and eating unhealthy foods had to go and it would not be easy to get rid of because it had been with me most of my life.

The Word of God says it is only through prayer and fasting that I can break some strong holds that kept me bound to a life of overweight and eating unhealthy foods.  Learning what to eat and how to eat it was my struggle. But I came out of that doctors office determined to live a healthier lifestyle. I came out of that doctor’s office and I have not given my old eating life style a 2^nd thought. I don’t want to spend my later years struggling mentally, physically, spiritually and financially. Now I realize,  healing simply means I have a choice to do it now or suffer the consequences later.  I am the head and not the tail.  I am first and not last. I am the apple of Gods eye. My body is the temple of the Living God.  It all makes so much more sense now and I choose to live a healthy lifestyle now and not suffer later because I wasn’t willing to embrace God’s opportunity to be blessed beyond my “Wildest dreams.”

So, I stopped eating all meat and seafood, all dairy, all fried foods, and all white flour products.  If anything would have been hard to give up, it would have been cheese because I ate a bag of it every week.  To my surprise, it wasn’t a struggle because I know now I can prevent heart attacks and strokes.  I gave up all of my favorite unhealthy foods and I lost a lot of weight.  I used the bathroom so much, I thought something was wrong. The things I ate that clogged up my digestive system stopped interfering with my elimination process. My body started functioning properly again and I started going to the bathroom regularly. After 6 months on my plant based regiment (Fruits, veggies, nuts and grains), I learned how to eat to satisfy any cravings I had.  I have grown to love beans and rice and I just incorporated quinoa in my diet.  For flavor I added no sodium pure organic vegetable flavoring.

I started making my own veggie flavoring out of mushrooms and a variety of other vegetables.  For a beginner like me, its helps make the food more enjoyable because psychologically I can sabotage my new eating life style.  I know, because I have sabotaged so many times before. I needed to learn how to include more protein that comes from a plant based eating regiment to get a balance that will eliminate any cravings. Determined not to go back to my old habits, I practiced savoring that natural taste of fruits and veggies so that I could learn to enjoy each  flavor.  When it came to sweets, I hardly ever craved them because fruits satisfied my need for something sweet. 

Too my surprise, guacamole satisfied my sweet tooth one night.  I took my time eating it and I savored the very essence of that dish.  Afterwards, it was unbelievable. I was highly satisfied.  Ice cream, omg! I use to love homemade ice cream, but I gave it up without regret. I learned how to make creamy nondairy banana ice cream and I wondered, why I ever ate ice cream when this was so good. I froze some grapes and added fresh pineapples and not only was it very good, the fiber from the fruit cleaned me out as if I took a colonic irrigation. 

 Peace, Love, Joy and Good Health!!!  God Bless You.  Wanda Ross, A Woman of Prophetic Destiny

Eating at least one meal of fully raw fruits and veggies per day during the 40 day miracle/42 cleansing program

OMG!!! I made homemade guacamole with fresh garlic, cilantro and onions. I used English cucumbers (no seeds inside) to put the guacamole on, and the combination was unbelievably good. Wow, it was so tasty and more important, it was 100% raw.  The guidelines to follow during the 40/42 day prayer, fasting, cleansing and exercise program is as follows (Copied from DO42.com)

Days 1 through 42 ~ Water

The proper amount of pure water is consumed during the entire 42 days.

Drink at least ½ of your body weight (Pounds) in ounces daily. For example, if you weigh 100 pounds, drink at least 50 ounces of water per day. If you weigh 150 pounds, drink at least 75 ounces, etc. Distilled water is best for cleansing. It is best to drink your water at room temperature, not cold. Use bottled water if you cannot get distilled.

 

Week 1 through 3 (Days 1 through 21) Super Clean Food

No animal products of ANY kind.

No dairy, no honey, no fish, no chicken, nothing derived from an animal.

No cooked foods except for steamed.

No baked, fried, grilled, microwaved, flamed or boiled.
This also means no bread

No pre-packaged seasonings. No salt, pepper, etc. You may use fresh garlic or other herbs.

The first 21 days allows only steamed and raw food. Veggie patty

 

Peace, Love, Joy and Good Health!!!  God Bless You.  Wanda Ross, A Woman of Prophetic Destiny

Happiness is an Inside Job

One of the guideline for the fast from the 7 deadly sins is to abstain from negative thoughts, actions and/or deeds. The truth is, I couldn’t make it 24 hours without those unconscious thoughts dominating my positive thinking. My problem is not what I say out of my mouth, it’s my subconscious thoughts that is causing me so many issues. In my mind, I unconsciously complain more than I was aware of.   The Word of God in Psalm 142: 1-2 (NIV) says, “I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble.” OMG! Consciously, my thoughts are extremely positive, but in the back of my mind I am unbelievably negative. I tried really hard to control them, but they were much more prevalent than I had imagined. Especially for a person like me who takes pride in being so positive and self-empowered. Ask anyone who really knows me and they will assure you, “Wanda is so self-assured and so positive. She inspires so many other people.” And, for the most part, it’s true. But, self-empowerment, self-acceptance and happiness is an inside job. What you really feel about yourself on the inside is a true reflection of what is happening in your life on the outside. If you want to change your circumstances and situations, give prayer and fasting a try.

Click here http://www.40day.com/7_messages.html to listen the 7 deadly sins.  With this fast, you get a chance to take a good look at who you are, deep down inside.  This fast will help you  begin to see the things that the Holy Spirit is revealing to you that drastically needs to change. Determined to succeed so that I could clearly see whatever it is that God was revealing to me through this fast, I cut off all communication with people I frequently communicate with. I can honestly tell you that 99.9 % of the conversations over the telephone I have are complaining sessions. Either I am complaining, they are complaining or we are complaining.

 Do you know that the Word of God said that the Lord angered when the people complained? Read it for yourself in Numbers 11:1. Ok, so that’s why the old adage says, “Stop telling God how big your problems are and start telling your problems how big your God is.” I have one person that I communicate with consistently who rarely; if ever, complains. Abstaining from talking, in person and over the telephone has really opened my eyes-it gave me an opportunity to listen to the vice from within. Yes, once the negative subconscious thoughts began to disappear, I could hear God clearer! If I could just slow down and listen, any questions I have, God will surely answer. What makes the sacrifice of praying and fasting so awesome is I would actually hear what He is saying to me, and instantly get answers to any challenges I am experiencing. That’s just one of the many benefits you get from committing to the challenge of praying and fasting. 

Prayer and fasting has helped me bring the Word of God alive in my personal life; which is a major benefit for me. Yes, I read the Word of God but I really didn’t understand how to apply it in every area of my life. Yes, I know what sinning is and I know there are consequences because of my behaviors. I know those behaviors will manifest repercussions. I know that the cost I would have to ultimately pay for being disobedient will be devastating. The turning point for me, the point when I decided wholeheartedly I was going to give my mind, my body and my spirit to the Lord was when I realized I had tried everything else and nothing worked. Nothing else actually brought lasting satisfaction. Nothing else promised me everlasting life. Nothing else gave me a sense of peace that surpasses all understanding. I became willing to surrender my life but confessing Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior was the first step in getting saved. Old things are passed away and I must be willing to change all of my old thoughts, actions and deeds. God does give us an opportunity to choose and it’s up to us to make the right choice. You see, my lifetime quest has always been to learn how to trust and believe in God’s Word.

I abused my body with gluttony. I over indulged in everything excessively; especially when it came to the 7 deadly sins. Under the illusion I really trust God’s Word, I continued to destroy my body knowing one day I would be haunted by my past behaviors. If I really believed my body is the temple of God, why did I do everything I could to destroy it? Why did I continue to poison my body, mind and spirit? In previous blogs I mentioned generational obesity. I had no idea over indulging is a spirit. I tried everything I could to stop over indulging, and although I would be successful, it was never permanent. When I made a decision to trust God’s Word. When His Word said some things can only be overcome but through prayer and fasting, my whole life began to change. Remember, change is a process and if you want to see major changes in your life, find a group fasting in your church or join the 40/42. Your life will never be the same. Peace, Love, Joy and Good Health!!!  God Bless You.  Wanda Ross, A Woman of Prophetic Destiny

DID YOUR PARENTS PASS A TORCH TO YOU TO LEAVE A LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS?

I encouraged my oldest brother Pete to share his experiences by inspiring us to be motivated enough to overcome any obstacle placed in our paths. I remember telling him how I wished someone in past generations would have left some kind of manuscript outlining the steps needed to believe myself. My mother died when we were very young and, both Pete and I realized she passed the torch holding the keys to our families’ legacy. The responsibility to create a legacy other generations would ultimately benefit from, was passed down to us. So, we declared we would make sure present and future generations had something written to use as a frame of reference when faced with life’s challenges. We realized both of our parents left a legacy but it was in the form of instilling morals and values in us. Mesmerized by the love displayed by TV parents, I would compare my parents and get disappointed when our lives didn’t emulate those families.

My parents are from the “Old school generation” and the word “Love” was not spoken in our household. We were not the touchy-feely kind of family and I resented that for a long time until I did some serious introspection. I discovered I had the best parents in the world. You see, both my mother and my father were dynamic men and women. Each one of them instilled moral and values in my life that helped mold me into the woman I am today. I remember growing up watching my father work two jobs to provide for us, and then, he would make sure fatherless children in our community were not hungry. He would bring extra food home to distribute to those families. He was really committed to helping others and when he swept the pavement in front of our house, he would do the same for neighbors on both sides of us. My father could fix everything and the quality that stands our most about him right now is how he taught his sons and his daughters to be able to fix anything. I use to think my father was too hard on me, but hindsight revealed a father who wanted to make sure I was driven to succeed, against all odds. I didn’t understand then, but I really understand now. I don’t know about you, but all I ever wanted and desired is for my parents to tell me that they loved and appreciated me.

I went home to spend quality time with my father during the onset of a lengthy illness and he told me, “You have grown into an awesome woman.” But, my mother didn’t get to see the woman I evolved into because she passed very early in life. My mother didn’t understand me because I was so different from her other five children. I was also very different from my peers because I had already developed an entrepreneurial spirit by the time I was 13 years old. At a very early age I already knew I was going to leave Baltimore. I already knew I was going to travel and work for the Lord. And every opportunity I got, I told others because I wanted someone to validate the visions I had. Because she couldn’t see the vision God gave me, I thought she didn’t believe in me. That was the farthest thing from the truth. My mother not only loved me; see really believed in me and she believed in my dreams too. No matter how many mistakes I made in life, my mother was always there for me. She had so many young people at her funeral because she always opened our home to people, young and old. I thought she was weak because she would give food to anyone who came to our house hungry. On many occasions, we hardly had enough for us to eat but she would feed them anyway. In her own way, she was a community activist and she would help anybody. For a long time, my brothers and sisters and I thought she was too vulnerable, but years later, we discovered we were just like her. Our parents taught us to be of service to others. Both of them taught us that being of service is not a weakness, it is a strength.

Instead of focusing on the fact were never told we were loved, we started telling our dad we loved him and a miracle happened. Before my father died, he told me that he loved me. Now what about you? Are you too busy to give back to your parents the things they so freely gave to you—love that can only be exhibited by spending quality time with them? Don’t you know that parents get lonely too? Is mother’s day, father’s day or other holidays the only time you go and spend quality time with them? Peace, Love, Joy and Good Health!!!  God Bless You.  Wanda Ross, A Woman of Prophetic Destiny

Heart Attack Grill is a restaurant

This is my 5th day and OMG I am blown away. I was creating a website for my brother Pete and I gathered a picture entitled: quadruple heart attack triple bacon cheese burger. I never really thought it was a real restaurant. The restaurants branding statement is, “A taste worth dying for”. Please go to this you tube page and see it for yourself. This one burger is 9,982 calories with 20 slices of bacon; this is the equivalent of over 30 big macs. When you enter into the restaurant, you have to wear a hospital gown and an arm band so that they can get you prepared for heart surgery (eating the lard saturated food). If you weigh over 350 lbs., you get your food free. The onions, bacon, fries and burgers are all cooked in lard. The fries are called flat liner fries and they are unlimited. This restaurant is all over the nation and people flock to the restaurant to eat food that literally shorten your life span. There is a sign on the front door warning you this food is hazardous to your health. The waitresses who wear nurse’s uniforms escort you out of the restaurant in a wheel chair.

This burger has so many calories and so much fat, it won its place in the world book for the most calories 9,982. ABC news you tube interviewed the owner and over 3,350,763 people viewed this documentary.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAalTacfdEM.  Within two years their spokes persons one 29 and the other 54 who could eat free every day, and both of them died 60 days apart. The 3rd spokesperson had a heart attack but he didn’t die. Several customers actually experienced heart attacks while eating the food. My grandmother use to cook chicken wings in lard and people came from all over to purchase them every Saturday. Years later, I asked one of my aunts if she still cook chicken in lard. She said, “No, because I had a heart attack”. I was home in Baltimore visiting family and my sister Rhonda tried to cook chicken wings like our grandmother cooked in lard. Not only did it smell funny, I didn’t like the taste and I thank God I didn’t. Hindsight has taught me I embraced the eating habits of past generations and I have struggled with obesity all of my life too. I passed those same eating habits down to my daughter, but I made a commitment to break the generational chains of unhealthy eating.

My mother was overweight, I was overweight, my daughter was overweight, and my nieces are overweight. Overweight people are not the only people susceptible to heart attacks, but strokes and so many other illnesses. Both of my grandmothers had by-pass surgery and they were women of small stature. It’s all about your HDL numbers (high-density lipoprotein) that can increase your cholesterol. This is the blood test I mentioned in the previous article that resulted in my decision to eat a 100% plant based diet. LDL is called “bad” cholesterol because it can build up in the walls of your arteries and form plaque. Plaque build-up in the arteries can reduce blood flow and increase your risk of heart disease. The owner of the Heart Attack Grill is doing the same thing as all of the other restaurants-making money off of people’s vulnerabilities. But the real responsibility is ours. Once I watched documentaries listed in a previous article, it was easy not to eat a lot of that stuff. Don’t think I don’t crave things I ate from my past, but the fact that I have spent most of my life eating my way to the grave motivates me.

Most of the people either associated with the Heart Attack Grill or had heart attacks while eating at the Heart Attack Grill spent their lives eating foods that ultimately resulted in the death. I have been given a 2nd chance too live a healthy life-I have the power to change my life forever, and so do you. I use to love bacon cheese burgers but they are hazardous to my well-being-they are deadly. I fed my daughter McDonald because it was cheap and easy to get. I didn’t know any better. I have no more excuses, what about you? Do you choose to wait until the doctor tells you are sick to wake up and see the blessing God has given you, or take action now to not only change your destiny, but the destiny of present and future generations. Peace, Love, Joy and Good Health!!!  God Bless You.  Wanda Ross, A Woman of Prophetic Destiny

Reversing generational eating habits and life styles with a plant based eating regiment

This is my 4th day of the 40/42 day health challenge and I have been exercising twice a day. I started cleansing my system over a week ago, and since then, its been very difficult to sleep. I attribute it to the toxics being released so I will be patient. With the aid of documentaries on you tube like: Forks Over Knives, Vegucated, and Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead, we have the freedom to eat a cheese burger or die of a heart attack later, in life. When you get a chance, go to you tube and check out those documentaries, I did and my change didn't happen immediately, it was a subtle change that lead me here. I don't know about you but when I look around, all I see and hear are a bunch of people experiencing extreme health challenges. Many of them are young adults who adapted the eating habits of past generations. Although I ate whatever my mother cooked, I can honestly tell you I wanted shredded wheat cereal when everyone else want sugary cereal. I asked for wheat bread but we could only afford to purchase white bread. I hated mushy veggies because I wanted them crunchier; so I stopped eating vegetables altogether. Just look in your own family, I did and I discovered heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.

I explained to my beautiful nieces that obesity was prevalent in our family and if they did not embrace that fact now, later in life, it would haunt them. I know, they were just like me when I was their age. I remember saying, "It won't happen to me". But as the older generation say, "The fruit don't fall far from the tree". They are exceptionally beautiful girls but they are very plump; which scientifically means obese or over weight. My parents took me to a dietician at a very early age but those people could not reach me because they did not deal with the underlying causes. Later in life, my older brother Pete was the first to embrace a healthy eating lifestyle. He introduced us to fruits and vegetables, talked to us about eating to live; instead of living to eat, and he gave us books to read about health. Most important, he exhibited his commitment to break generational health challenges by practicing what he was preaching. Not only did he expose his immediate family to healthy eating, he spread the message to our friends, our relatives and our communities. And, although the seeds were planted a long time ago, its been a process for those healthy living seeds to sprout in my life. I have embraced the concept into my life several times but I did not stick to it-it wasn't a permanent life style changes. And like many young people, I was under the illusion I had plenty of time.

Looking around, still having time no longer applies to the younger generation anymore. Too many young people are plagued with illnesses' normally associated with older adults. Diabetes and high blood pressure permeates the lives of too many young people in our communities. Life, and the world in which we live has drastically changed and its important we take personal responsibility for our own lives. I had three things happen in my life within eighteen months that got me to plant based eating. First, I called an old friend from my home town and she told me she had a heart attack. Wow, I remember thinking to myself. Both of us were insomniacs and she told me the doctor told her the lack of sleep contributed to her heart attack. This is not the first time I've heard this, but this was my time because it would literally help change my life. The second occurrence that contributed to my lifestyle change was a conversation with my sister Rhonda. We talk about being bored with cooking and eating the same old things over and over again. How many different ways can you cook fish, chicken and or beef. After that conversation, I decided to stop eating processed food, and the third thing that prompted my lifestyle change was a HDL blood test

I took the test to see if I was susceptible to heart attacks, strokes and other illnesses. I thank God that the results of the blood test results revealed no illnesses, but the doctor told me I would eventually experience all of the illnesses listed above if I did not change my eating habits. He said I would begin experiencing them over the next ten years so I left his office and I changed all of my eating and drinking habits. I gave up soda and juice, dairy, all seafood and meat, and sugar and salt. I embraced a 100% plant-based diet right away . When the doctor told me I could decrease my risk of heart disease, lower my risk of cancer, help me and reverse so many other illnesses waiting to take over my body, I started reading about plant based eating. People often asked me if it was hard, and I can truthfully say no. Once he told me I had a second chance at life, that I could literally reverse the HDL numbers, it was a done deal. I have been back for my ninety day HDL blood test and my HDL numbers have decreased drastically. I can hardly wait for my six month blood test result because I have been diligent in my own personal commitment to live a very long and healthy life. You can too! The choice is yours. Would you rather have a cheese burger or a heart attack, later in life? Ask yourself this question. Peace, Love, Joy and Good Health!!!  God Bless You.  Wanda Ross, A Woman of Prophetic Destiny

Plant based eating regiment from a Christian's experience

Ok, this is the 3rd day of my fasting from the seven deadly sins listed in the Bible. The focus is on increasing your praying and the time spent reading the Word of God. I can honestly say I have been slacking when it comes to reading the bible. I have studied praying so it has become a way of life for me, but that will not make this fast easier for me. Fasting requires you to be willing to make some serious sacrifices. The 40/42 fast also focuses on eating plant based foods and cleansing your colon of toxins. The Ark of Salvation was the first church I had ever heard addressing the over weight issue many Christian's struggle with. They taught me how to pray and fast to regain self control to gain the power I needed to over come the spirit of gluttony (over eating). At this time God inspired Pastor Nathaniel Bronner to introduce the first 40 day praying and fasting from the seven deadly sins. http://airjesus.com/The fast revealed so many things but the most important insight was the need for deliverance because the spirit of gluttony had a stronghold over me. After that revelation, God revealed I was to be a deliverance minister but first, I had to learn what deliverance is all about.

The spirit of gluttony had an immense stronghold over my mind, my body and my spirit. So much so, I needed to go through several bouts of deliverance from the deadly sin of gluttony. I struggled with my weight most of my life and I learned I was eating based on my feelings. As a result of gluttony my weight has been up and down. About 5 years ago, I was laying in the bed listening to Yolanda Adams morning radio show. Her show had just started on the air with Radio One and she would open up with high energy music. At that point in my life I was going thru menopause and I had blown up like a big balloon. I didn't know the extent my body had expanded in size until I was 35 lbs. heavier. I was so depressed at the time and wasn't inspired to get up and exercise. I laid there listening and eventually I began moving my legs. It's been a process for me to change and I seem to fluctuate back and forth because I didn't know gluttony was a spirit. Listening to Yolanda Adams show daily inspired me to strive towards a healthy eating lifestyle.

And years later, I eat a 100% plant based diet so I started seeking information from various sources. I searched YouTube to learn about plant based eating. There was so much information and many of people on YouTube are at varying levels of this kind of eating regiment. Everyday I watched video's to see the types of food people following a plant based regiment ate. Many of those people I viewed ate a lot of fruit and veggies. I began to think I was not eating enough so I started increasing my daily intake. After all, they know because they have been doing this so much longer than I have. I am a compulsive over eater and I have had to learn how to eat in moderation. It didn't take long for me to see I was over eating again. I was eating through out the night too. I was eating way beyond fullness. My thighs were expanding and I knew I was eating too much, but more important, my spirit was telling me eating like others was not for me.

Part of being a Christian, praying, fasting and reading the word increases your relationship with God. It helps you develop such a personal relationship, if you listen (inwardly), and the Holy Spirit will talk to you and guide your path. Psalm 119:105 declares, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path.” Through study of the Word of God, the Lord is able to speak to us individually through the Holy Spirit. As a result of praying about over eating on a plant based eating regiment, I found the 40 day/42 day praying, fasting, eating plant based and colon cleansing program on airjesus.com. What a blessing! https://yolandaadamsblog.wordpress.com/about/ Peace, Love, Joy and Good Health!!!  God Bless You.  Wanda Ross, A Woman of Prophetic Destiny

Plant Based Eating Regiment Mixed with the 40 day Miracle Prayer and Fasting Program

Part 2 of day 2 of my 42 day Prayer, Fasting and Cleansing Regiment. Prior to finding the 40 day/42 day Program on http://www.40day.com/the_program.shtml, I had already started my cleansing process. I am sure you think this going to be easy for me because I have already been eating plant based, but its not. I struggled my first day because I had finally found stuff I could eat and enjoy. So, although I craved a veggie spring roll that gives me the satisfaction of something crunchy, I didn't eat one. I eat humus with blue corn chips and I thought I could not have that. After a considerable amount of introspection, I can not have anything processed; even if its organic plant base stuff. So my Ezekiel cereal and sprouted spring rolls are organically processed, and processed is processed. The instructions said the only thing processed that is allowed is veggie burgers and they were too mushy for me. I'm not eating fried food either so I bake, broil or microwave. You can only steam your food while on this life changing regiment.

Oh well, it was just my first day and I have sorted things out and was highly satisfied with my menu today. I ate fresh pineapple for my evening snack and its amazing how I enjoy the taste of fresh veggies and fruit so much more since I cut out sugar and salt. I use to love cold stone ice cream but I cut out dairy and watching you tube, I have learned so much from many of the plant based guru's. Last week, I didn't want my grapes to go bad so I froze them, added pineapple's and whipped them up in my magic bullet. OMG! Not only was it so good, but the next day it flushed me out like a whirlwind had gone through me. I was amazed how that natural fiber cleansed my insides similar to had a colonic irrigation or something. My favorite ice cream, and truthfully it taste so much better than dairy made ice cream, is frozen banana's with a little almond milk for moisture. One day I added nuts and another time I added ginger. Now, the 40 day/42 day regiment requires you add a little water for moisture, but either way I'm sure its going to be good. It is suggested you don't use a blender because you want the pulp for the fiber and blenders liquefy more. I have frozen mangoes (2 different types) I cut up. They should be exceptionally good.

I'm learning how to have fun with this plant based regiment and enjoy the natural flavors of food. So, if you are new to plant based eating or beginning the 40 day/42 day life changing program, I pray this information help you move to the next level. Gotta mention the most important parts. In addition to following the program guidelines, praying and fasting from past eating regiments, listening to the recordings, reading the daily proclamation, and reading the frequently asked questions are essential if you want to be successful. There is a daily routine including scripture reading, drinking water, steaming your food and exercising too. Its a suggestion, not a requirement to include a colon cleaning regiment. The area's I am slacking in is drinking enough water and exercise. I am working on both of those areas. Listening to airjesus.com, Pastor Nathaniel talked about fruits and veggies that are filled with water; so now, I make sure I buy the one's that have the highest percent of water. Every little bit helps.Peace, Love, Joy and Good Health!!!  God Bless You.  Wanda Ross, A Woman of Prophetic Destiny

The Ark of Salvation church 40 day Miracle fasting and Prayer Program is targeting the 7 deadly sins

Its combined with their "42" fasting and cleansing regiment that encourages you to eat a plant based diet in addition to cleansing your body. Go to http://www.40day.com/42.html to find out more about it. Today is my 2nd day of the 42/40 day prayer, fasting and cleansing regiment. Although I've been eating 100% plant base for 6 months, after the steamed meal I ate yesterday I did a little research to see what else I could eat. I steamed two veggie patty and they were too mushy for me, so I threw them away. The steamed veggies were OK but my body let me know I was going to need more. The regiment suggest you only use fresh garlic and herbs to season your food. I used fresh cilantro and fresh garlic to season my first meal. It was pretty tasty.

I went online to make sure I understood the instructions because I was still very hungry and I didn't feel satisfied inside. I needed to add something other than fruits and vegetable to help me feel satisfied enough to want to continue for 42 days. I do plan to eat totally raw one day but that is a process I am gradually working on learning how to gradually eat raw foods.    The instructions on the 40 day miracle the website clearly state you can only eat foods derived from plants. And for 6 month I have been teaching myself to shop, cook and eat only plant based foods that can only be steamed. A week and a half prior to finding the 40/42 regiment I just started stir frying my veggies. I just started making veggie spring rolls using Ezekiel wraps made from sprouted grains. I eat the Ezekiel brand cereal too. I decided not to buy or eat anything SOS (no added sugar, oil or salt.

Many of the organic cereal and other product are filled with added organic sugars. I needed something crunchy so organic sprouted wheat, barley, beans, lentils, mullets and spelt is designed as described in the Holy Scriptures. Blended with some fresh fruit and unsweetened organic almond milk is healthy and very nourishing for my body. Its all 100% plant based. The past 2 days I have been eating fruit for breakfast instead of Ezekiel brand cereal. Today, I ate dragon fruit which was my first time. It was as good as several people described on YouTube. One of the many benefits of eating a plant based eating regiment is the variety of things to eat available. I actually grew tired of eating the same old foods over and over again. I discovered most of the food I ate, I saturated them with condiments so that it would taste good. Otherwise, I would not have eaten it. Today, I ate a few mixed raw nuts, took my colon cleanser and I drank plenty of water. I just discovered corn does not digest properly in my body and then, Pastor Nathaniel explained how important it is to eat corn raw. I have tasted corn raw before and it was as sweet as he said it was. But being a new plant based eater, steamed corn makes any vegetable taste so much better since I am training myself to enjoy the natural flavor of the vegetables.

For the first time, I fixed some Quinoa which is another plant based super food and it was very good. My corn off the Cob, broccoli and Chinese snow peas were good. Overall, I feel satisfied with my meals for the day. I stopped eating all dairy, white flour products, chicken, seafood, fish and other meats 6 months ago. If its not derived from plants, I no longer eat it.  Peace, Love, Joy and Good Health!!!  God Bless You.  Wanda Ross, A Woman of Prophetic Destiny