What I Learned From My Fast

I dream BIG!! I started out to do a 40 day fast. I made it to day #17. It was hard! I’ve never really denied myself anything. I started to feel like a failure for not going the whole 40 days. But I decided that I had persevered and also that God created food to be enjoyed and I was going to enjoy it!!

I had several reasons for starting my fast.

1. We just moved from Oregon to Texas. My whole life has changed. I want to pray and seek God’s direction for our family here.

I have some business mentors and one of them shared with me that “my life isn’t falling apart, it’s falling into place. I’m not stuck, I’m just stepping into a new chapter.” I so needed to hear that. I still need time to process what she said and believe it.

2. I had cancer 3 years ago. I’m dealing with the after effects of chemo. My hands now have eczema. It gets worse when I eat sugar.

The fast helped me break my caffeine addiction and stop eating sugar. My hands did get better but they’re not healed yet. I’m working on making better choices in eating, but once a week, I’m going to just have what I want to eat on date night and enjoy a margarita too! 😉

3. After 7 babies and cancer, I’ve put on more weight than I’d like. I’d like to get a jumpstart on my weight loss.

I’m so tired of people asking me when I’m due with our next baby, especially since I had to have a hysterectomy and can’t have anymore babies.  Or the person who looked at both my husband and I and said, “Oh, your kids get their genes from their Dad – tall and skinny. That explains it!” Really? Are people so thoughtless? I’ve had 7 babies and cancer stretch out this stomach. Can’t we just focus on something else besides my stomach? Can you tell that it’s a touchy subject for me? 😉

I loved the weight that I lost while I was fasting! I lost 12.8 lbs total! I love how I look in the mirror with that weight GONE!! I had some goals: first one being that I just wanted to weigh less than my husband! I married a 6′ 4″ man who’s only gained 10 lbs since high school. He eats what he wants, doesn’t exercise much and looks INCREDIBLE!! It’s just not fair! Well, if I was 6′ 4″, I’d be skinny too! But, after the juice fasting, I now weigh less than him!! WOOHOO!! Now to keep it off and keep losing!!

4. I need to seek direction for my business. Do I continue with iWoman Magazine? Finish my book? Create apps? Teach my kids to be entrepreneurs? I’m such a visionary and I have so many ideas. I need to focus.

I’m still working on this one. I’m still trying to figure out what to do with iWoman Magazine and whether or not to continue it. I am definitely teaching my children to be entrepreneurs! My two oldest daughters are each writing a novel. McKenna’s almost done with her game book and Morgan wrote our family recipes in her cookbook. We are working on apps right now. I still have lots of ideas! 😉 I definitely need to focus!

I loved working through Jennie Allen’s study “Stuck Study- the places we get stuck & the God who sets us free” while I was fasting!

I also am reading Katie Davis’ “Kisses from Katie – A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption”. My daughters read it too and we are so inspired by her story and love for the children of Uganda! She is one of the speakers at Catalyst Dallas and McKenna and Morgan are coming with me!! I love for my children to be a part of whatever I’m doing! They are so excited for this time away, just the 3 of us!! And they are grateful I’m not fasting. There’s an In-N-Out Burger in Dallas and we’re going!! 🙂

Joshua 1:9 really spoke to my heart during this fast. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

I realize that no matter what I’m doing, if I’m eating or juicing, fasting or enjoying the food put before me, if I live in Oregon or Texas, I NEED GOD!! I NEED HIM!! I thirst for Him, like I thirst for water and I am parched and dry when I don’t spend enough time with Him! He is my best friend and I learned that He is always with me wherever I go and for that, I am so thankful!!

 

Scarlett Von Gunten. Wife. Mom of 7. Entrepreneur. Cancer survivor. Secret dance music listener. Writer. Collector of friends. Love laughing!  Scarlett’s mission is to inspire, motivate, connect and encourage people. She loves learning & being delight directed. Some moms like to scrapbook or quilt, Scarlett loves the computer & social media! Scarlett enjoys meeting people all over the world, becoming friends and helping others!

Scarlett’s supporting the dreams of her children and providing the tools they need to implement their business ideas. She encourages kids to start their own business. What are your kids passionate about and how can they turn that into a business to serve others and make a profit? How can they impact the world at a young age? She believes that children CAN make a difference TODAY!

Scarlett, her husband and their 7 children can usually be found traveling the country going to events together or on their Mac computers inventing and creating. Scarlett’s most quoted line to her husband is, “I have an idea!” When not reading a new book, she can be found shopping at Goodwill with her daughters.