Not on a Diet

I should be doing a few other things, but I just have to blog while I have that first cup of coffee this morning. It's too good of a revelation not to share. I have lost 10 pounds. If you want to be technical 9.8 pounds - but I feel comfortable rounding to 10. I got on the scale this morning and it confirms what I have always believed - that you don't have to diet to lose weight. Diet, as in seriously restrict your food intake till you're starving all the time.
I did the Weigh Down Workshop years ago with my friend Carol, and we both lost a lot of weight. We also learned a lot of scripture. There was a big hoopla in the Christian community when the founder was outed as a Unitarian - which I didn't bother me nearly as much as her hair! More recently I had started to participate in a similarly Bible based weight loss program online that I failed at rather quickly. I learned something from both of these studies that I have applied with success this week - that God designed our bodies to work a certain way. He created our bodies to function properly under certain conditions. The problem for me was that these programs also required a great deal of Bible study.
Whoa - before anyone gets offended or feels I just made some sort of shocking revelation about an aversion to the Bible, please understand - I love the Bible. But, I personally refuse to use it as some magic formula to get me from point A to point B as far as my weight loss. I just can't do it. I personally don't like it when someone seeks to get close to me with ulterior motivation, and I personally can't imagine God does either. This is not to diminish in any way the successes that others have had - but for me, I know that all the scripture memorization and Bible study had an ulterior motive. Which is why when it ended, I gained all the weight back, and failed. The Bible study was a stumbling block for me - a program of guilt and obligation - when I didn't get to it or stay consistent with it, how I ate and the numbers on the scales reflected it.
But recently I have been thinking so much about what we are supposed to eat and not eat. I have also pondered the all things in moderation - meaning that nothing need be eliminated but put in its proper place. I have had the hunger pangs of an empty stomach. I have experienced the joy of eating cake again, and still been dropping pounds here and there. When I realize that my body is working the way it was designed, I am worshipful towards a Creator who made me this way.
No secret formulas. No guilt and obligation. Just me and God. He is teaching me all about His marvelous creation of the human body - my own.

Tightening the Belt

There are two ways that the title of this post applies to my life right now. The first and never-ending thing is that I have GOT to do something about my weight. I can't even stand to look at myself. There are various avenues of attack - all of which I have tried before and failed. The crux of the issue is that it is a spiritual problem - and yet I struggle with praying and drawing closer to God with the manipulative goal of losing weight. I know that others do not feel this way - but for me - this is how it feels. I wish I could get my head on straight about it - because it is what continues to pave the road of failure.

Secondly, I am making some changes to tighten my belt in the area of grocery expenses. (I know this will thrill Leslie to no end!) I continually go to the grocery store and overspend what I have budgeted. Part of the reason is the consistently rising food prices. One way I am attempting to tackle this is to go to the store without my debit card, and only take the amount of cash that I intend to spend. This doesn't allow for me to make concessions, or impulse buy. I am also going to attempt to use less meat in our meals. This is always difficult for my husband - who is a total carnivore, but it is one way to stretch things out so that we can get the most for our money. It is so hard to eat healthy and plenty of fresh food - and so much easier to buy cheap processed, junk food that passes as meals but leaves us malnourished. I am determined to find ways to stretch our money to feed our family without compromising on a healthy diet.

How are you tightening your belt?

Addressing Questions of a Commenter

I got this comment from "Lia" earlier today - and since there is no blog linked - I thought I would take some time to address her concerns here - and maybe we can all learn.

Lia says >>

Isn't it a bit of a contradiction to say that a diet is slavery? Isn't overweight slavery too?
When the Bible tells us that everything God created is for our enjoyment, do you think God also meant eating so much that 25% of all Americans is overweighted and obesity is becoming a major health problem?

My response>>
It is definitely slavery to be overweight. No doubt. But it is no contradiction to say that dieting is also slavery. I was not saying dieting was slavery and obesity is not. However, the diet industry proves that rules and regulations have no impact on righting our hearts. That’s why the average woman in her mid-thirties has been “dieting” since her teenage years in one way or another. What we are coming against here is gluttony – pure and simple. The premise of this Bible Study is to learn to eat the way God intended – not excluding any particular type of food, but enjoying everything in healthy proportion. We will also be learning to recognize the symptoms of hunger and fullness.

I don’t want to get ahead of ourselves – as much of this is explained through the weeks of study. Anyone interested is invited and welcome, but know that it is settled in the hearts and minds of those of us leading the study that what we will learn is truth.

Thanks Lia - great questions! Hope to see you there!

More of Him, Less of Me

Years ago, I went through a Weigh Down Workshop. I lost 30 pounds while doing the study, but more than that, I realized that dieting was a lie. In God's word over and over again He tells us that food rules don't restrain our appetites, and that everything He created is for our enjoyment. Dieting is slavery - and it is likened to being stuck in the desert after being freed from Egypt. This was amazing stuff. I totally got it.
Then there was "the controversy". Don't you know that is just what the old devil needed to try and steal truth from me. But just like my friend, Helen says, (insert Kentucky twang here) "The truth is the truth even if a liar speaks it!" Let me clarify that I am not saying that anyone is a liar - I am just saying that the truth is still the truth, regardless of what is thought about the one speaking it. So, around we go again.
I blogged about my struggle with my weight not long ago, and my friend Sandy told me about a lady who had put together some of the concepts of that study, and we conspired to work on it together. Having support is super. Having accountability is even better yet. So here we are, wanting to get started - and then there were three - my non-blogging friend Carol wants in too.
Anyhoo, we want to start a yahoo group for support of this Bible study, called More of Him, Less of Me - or maybe Less of Me, More of Him. I am certain it is not More of Me, Less of Him - although sometimes isn't that the case?
The study is free of charge, and we want anyone interested to participate. I am hoping that we get started this Tuesday or Wednesday. Please comment here and leave your email to let me know you want to participate. You will have to have a yahoo account in order to do so on the Yahoo group site.
Here's looking for more of Jesus in you!

Weighed on the Scales, and Not Found Lacking

I got on the scale yesterday and almost croaked. It isn't that I didn't know that I have continued to steadily put on pounds - but it was just almost THE highest number I have ever seen. It was a pretty huge wake up call. I have got to do something. I started out this week walking with my neighbor - we have been walking every day even in extreme humidity. I am glad I have been doing that but the bottom line is that I love to cook and I love to eat! But I feel yucky, tired, heavy, worn down and worn out. I was prompted to weigh myself because even the "fat" end of the clothes that I have are getting tight and short and frankly look like I'm wearing something I took out of my daughters' closets. Usually I tend to think - I am NOT buying any more clothes until I lose a few pounds, hoping my hideousness will be a motivator. This time I decided that if I feel bad about myself - it will exacerbate the problem, so I went shopping. I bought some new clothes and a bathing suit. I don't like shopping and especially hate clothes shopping, but found some nice things and didn't spend too much money. I also went alone - which anybody that knows me will know what a tremendous accomplishment that is!
Please pray for me - and share with me any advice, suggestions, scripture, etc. that you think may help me here!

Random Thoughts of a Late Night Blogger

I was thinking earlier that the busier and more full my life is the more I have to blog about - however, the less time I actually have for blogging! Isn't that just the way it is! Sheesh.
Also - Texas may hold hope for my weight loss efforts yet - as the southern accent does something indescribable to the word for my favorite frozen dairy confection - instead of saying "ice cream" it comes out sounding like a slang for Preparation H - say it out loud if your children aren't in the room "ais-craym". Sorry to be shocking - but this is really turning me off. I am sure I will be over it shortly!
Oh yeah - and um I almost kept this under wraps because I am totally hoping to win some of that yummy Canadian chocolate - but I figured that I should share it, because it's only right, and since my friend Fatty asked if there was chocolate involved if she voted for me at TopMomma - I figured if I at least pointed her in that direction, she may consider it! Head on over to Coffee Mom's blog and check out the awesome contest where you could win a chocolate bar.

Bored with My Wardrobe

I have gained weight through the winter and it shows. It doesn't help that I made a monster sized batch of cookies to take to the co-op thingy today - and ate my fair share of what was left for the family. Blech. Now I feel sick. Anyway - this may be why none of my clothes are fitting right, ya think? I actually did very well while we traveled - and didn't overdo it. We also stopped at places like Cracker Barrel and ate instead of fast food. A good portion of their menu is smothered in gravy - but I tried to eat lighter things like a chicken breast sandwich on toast, and vegetables! I have got to get my butt in gear - before I have too much butt to get in gear - and do something about this.
And speaking of wardrobe, I found this post on a friend's blog about a cool way to spruce up t-shirts. I think even I could do this one. In case I never mentioned it before, I hate crafts. I break out into hives. But these shirts I think even I could make.
Hope you're having a great weekend!