Help for This Moment Right Now

I was today asked for some encouragement from a fellow healthiER living warrior. Here’s what I’ve been thinking about lately. Why was I able to finally go down a size in clothes when I failed so many other times?

Our bodies are amazing. God made them to do so much on just a smidgeon of nourishment. If cars could work so well, gas tanks would only be measured in table spoons and not gallons.

You’re probably not encouraged yet. It’s OK, you’re not supposed to be. I’m not there yet.

Consider stories of starving people who go days with nothing, not even water. But the body continues to operate, living off stored energy from fat, and then when that runs out, muscle, then when that runs out, not even doctors understand from where the human body gets the carbs, amino acids, or anything else to stay alive. They do know however, in every documented case, it was those with the strongest will and most optimistic nature that lived when all others died.

You may now begin to be a little encouraged.

One’s propensity to eat when the body doesn’t need food is entirely a learned behavior. This is a known fact and not up for interpretation. God, in His infinite wisdom tied the act of eating to our emotions, and not another part of our brain. Being a function of our emotions, our eating pattern is a part of our character, and not a part of our physical nature.

Therefore, it is a learnable trait, and as such can also be modified.

There are a few things that are such. Eating is not the only important function that is required for survival of the human race, but is driven by character instead by need.

The two obvious ones are sex and eating.

If sex and eating were not enjoyable, our race would probably not have lasted much longer than Adam and Eve’s life spans in the Garden.

But, God decided anyway to build us in this fashion. He knew what He was doing. The lord even had to warn us not to over indulge in pleasing these two human passions. Those who over indulge in the sexual realm have their own problems, usually much worse than those who only over eat.

I think it is really interesting that there is a natural ascetic connection between over eating and desiring sex. One who over eats will not enjoy natural sex with one’s spouse near as much as one who is more fit. So, God knew that there would be a natural balance of sorts as far as natural survival of the race in procreation. But, for the individual who has over eaten to obesity, like me, this is no help today, right now, this moment in the area of fighting the food battle every time I’m hungry.

For that, I need practical planning that works for the long haul.

Knowing that my eating desire is a learned thing, I am encouraged every week that I lose weight, because I know that it is getting easier, and will at some point become almost second nature. I have been battling seriously in this food war from the trenches, for over a decade. It has gotten easier, much easier.

I really enjoy riding my bike, working out, doing physical things around the house and working on physical projects whenever I can. I used to avoid exercise.

I really enjoy eating healthier: salads, fish, chicken, pork (the other white meat). I used to avoid salads and joke about rabbit food as I downed whole pizzas and packages of chips and cookies.

       “OK, get ready to be both encouraged and strengthened.”

During the difficult moments, I tell myself a short list of reoccurring truths; almost like a mantra, and it ALWAYS helps during those moments.

OK, get ready to be both encouraged and strengthened.

-God, please help me right now.
-I CAN eat right now, just a very small amount. A very small amount right now is OK. One small bite and just walk away.
-I’ve lost so much weight; I don’t want to waste all that effort over this one moment.
-If I pass this test, it will strengthen my resolve now and in the future, prove the naysayers wrong and me and God right, and I will lose weight again by tomorrow by acting now upon my desire to be thinner forever.
-Besides, I can always eat a little more later if I am truly hungry. Just one small bite and just walk away.

These are my daily and sometimes hourly tools to eventual weight loss.

OK, now you can be encouraged.

See you after that next scale date.
Stu@283