Smilies2Go

The Blame Game

Gen 3:12-13 And the man said, The woman whom thou gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And Jehovah God said unto the woman, What is this thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

The dieter did not create the blame game. Adam and Eve thought of it first, but as dieters we utilize it the most.

I have heard the best and worst of excuses why someone cannot lose weight, and the majority of the time it is put upon someone else. The food pusher, the one that is not supportive, the result of childhood raising, a poor marriage, or living in conditions with others that are not perfect, and last but not least, the often repeated excuse, this is the most difficult thing I have ever had to face in my life, it is unfair. That really boils down to God placing a heavier burden on someone they can't possibly bear, and it is exaggeration to the max to think dieting is the hardest suffering one will be burdened with in their life.

When we cut the excuses, kick out the crutch, take full responsibility for eating far more than the body requires, we have to look squarely at ourselves and determine to do what we know needs to be done. We cannot lose weight by exceeding the feed limit each day. We have so much information available and often free on how many calories we need to lose weight, what the size of a portion really is, what foods boost health and what doesn't, and basic childhood remembrances of activities that burn calories that prevented the majority of us from childhood obesity.

No matter how much you have to lose, or how little, as long as you continue to play the blame game, the pounds will pile up and a year from now you'll wish you had done something sooner. And the next year, and the one after. You must invest time in exploring the thought that no one force fed you or held a gun to your head. Whatever you have done to your body, you have done it willingly. God will surely help you on your journey to weight loss, but not without an earnest and honest confession of your part in this and your plea to Him to break the bondage which has held you captive. There is no other way around it.

Following Fad Diets To A Tee

We see diet trends come and go. We hear them being touted. We once spoke to someone that had success. We buy and try and don't lose weight. Why do we keep on doing the same things that bring us the same failures?

I try to keep with with diet fads and diet scams. A new one advertised on TV is actually called, "Eat All You Want And Still Lose Weight". They said they couldn't say it on TV unless it was true. They bought an Internet domain name and added the .com after it. Many will remember URL although it is ridiculously long.

Today a new urban slang word was published. It is locavore meaning, A person whose diet focuses on foods grown and produced nearby, typically 100 miles. See also 100-mile diet. It is used like this, "Robin wanted to be a locavore, so he only bought food that was grown on local farms." Obviously Robin lives in a rural farming area that knows not the four seasons. If he doesn't this plan will work for lack of food resources. Obviously the only way to lose weight is to take in lower amounts.

It stymies me as to why we all seek an easier way than what God caused the body to react to. Moderate portions, and the common sense to quit eating before a stuffed feeling.

I rest my case if you have ever tried some of the more humorous diets like the grapefruit diet or the cabbage soup diet. That is restricting and cannot be kept up with at length. Find God's healthy plan for you. God is not a fad. He has been around forever, wouldn't you say? That is good enough for me and for you also.

editor

Bet You Can't Eat Just One

A well know slogan for Lay's Potato Chips was, "Bet You Can't Eat Just One." Pretty safe bet and especially for the overweight. Our weight crept up as we had more than our fair share of food. When we munched it wasn't a one or two ounce portion, it was always a whole package or bag. We see other thin members of our family be able to do this without consequence, but we can't get away from it.

For some it is genuine binge, and a genuine problem to be met head's on and overcome. We must accept that we simply can not eat this way and disguise the pounds, let alone the upset tummies afterward. Some reputable diet programs tell us to amputate offending binge foods from our lives. Others tell us we can eat all things if we do it in moderation. Both make sense, if you know what category you need to fall into.

If you are blessed enough to know what category you do need to fall into, then next time place a favor in your odds, Bet, You Can't Eat Just One and decide what an odds maker would ahead of the time. Be wise. We have to change certain habits and destructive patterns to lose weight. Next time you say that the munchies have hit, determine if it is a simple and reasonable snack or if it will be a binge. Only you know the answer.

The Complaint Department Is Closed

I'll be more than surprised if any reader might remember when department stores actually had a complaint department. That disappeared just before the lost and found did. I remember because I worked at May Company which actually had a service area for this.

So we learn from this complaints are no longer recognized or viable to the business man. And they should be a forsaken area to dieters as well. We can lodge all the complaints we want about the difficulty of losing weight and sticking to a diet plan, but no one is there to listen or care. Our voices bounce of an empty wall.

What is one to do then? Quite simply put we must bite the bullet and pay the price if we desire to lose weight. We must do an attitude adjustment and accept the fate of all dieters. A tad of inconvenience must be met with head on. They say a diet is the price one must pay for exceeding the feed limit. Those complaints lodged will in no way benefit and aid you in losing weight. Your acceptance and self-discipline is the only thing that will shed pounds. Perhaps inconvenient, yes, but the complaint department is now officially closed. Do your part to lose the weight and soon you will notice that a praise department has been opened as others see your effort extended and begin to congratulate you. Which department do you want to visit?

Scale Phobia

Scale phobia is not an actual diagnosis or affliction that we could run to a professional and receive therapy and counseling for. It is a fear and obsession many of us dieters have. We either worship the scale when it rewards us with a loss, or we let the scale torment us and dispose us to the poorest of moods when it doesn't treat us kindly. Scale phobia is not defined by how often or how little we step upon it. It is defined by how much it affects our well-being or lack of it. Should such an inanimate metal monster be our refuge or our tormenter? Has a scale become our source of affirmation or critisim so much so that we let it dictate who we are or will be?

Society may well judge you on your body size. The scale certainly does and now we even have scales that measure fat and water and what not to make our readings more in your face. You can be as some that I know that actually throw their scale away or at least hide it from sight, or you can be an obsessive who stands on it up to 5-6 times a day and languishes over the typical water weight and stomach content fluctuations each day. Either personality displays and out-of-order neurosis that needs attention. Perhaps that is what we should fix first. It is wrong to define ourselves as to what the scale's opinion of us is. When we can find real contentment in who we really are within, perhaps losing the weight will become easier to digest. Just a thought, as one of many that we will have on our journey to wellness. We are body, mind and spirit. Let us be whole in all areas.

Got Egg On Your Face?

Ever hear that old saying, "You've got egg on your face?" The grammar was poorly spoken but the intent was meant we have gone and embarrassed ourselves. And so it is for dieters. Literally we have too much egg or other food on our face, our mind, and our body. We were consumed with the thought of eating. We ate too much of too many things and now the scale even screams out to get our attention.

It is not easy scraping that egg off our face. We must truly be embarrassed by our weight before we set a plan of action into being. For some of us, we are embarrassed at a 10 pound gain. We see the too much egg on our face, if not on our hips. For others that might not alarm us until we have 50, 100, or more pounds that finally, through the mercy of a camera, a broken chair, or the good intent of a loved one, make us recognize that we need not dwell in the land of embarrassment over something we can take control of.

The desire has to be there. The humiliation must be great enough for a reaction on our part. We have to respond enough is enough. There is not only hope but a solution. It is my prayer that you find yours today and remove the egg on your face.

Foodtarded?

Welcome to my world where the youth of today finally invented slang for my previous eating condition. It is called foodtarded.

It is when you get lethargic, or even comatose, from eating too much good food. How it is used is, "Man, we were gonna go to the show, but we got foodtarded off of fried chicken and mac 'n' cheese at Chris's, and just wound up lying around, watching 'Dodgeball.'"

Yet, only way I could describe it was to say I got my food drunk on. I would become intoxicated with the emotional release an excessive amount of food brought on. I would eat until slumber would overtake me. There is much more responsibility in calling it a food drunk. We compound two sins together and accept responsibility for it as we try to forsake this type of bondage. And now it is called foodtarded as if we can not stop it from happening because of our genetic disposition. No matter what you want to call it, if you recognize a consistent pattern in your eating habits, you must label it, own up to it, and overcome it.

They say that turkey is one of those foods that make you sleepy. At least you rationalize when your entire household of guests at Thanksgiving go into the family or living room and dose off in front of the television after the huge feast you prepared. Or is that really the first symptom of the affliction of foodtardic seeking to master us at one turn in our life? May you have food drunk-free and non-foodtardic days ahead of you.

Growth, Not Girth

Just as the Israelites blamed Moses, we often are tempted to blame others for our problems and failures. Frustration on the job, emotional stress, discontent, finding fault with uncomfortable situations, hatred, jealousy, and fits of anger — these are all evidence of the self-centered life demanding its own way and are allowed by God in order to develop our patience and mature us spiritually. What--patience and maturity? Not a novel idea as we eat ourselves into our next binge.

Emotional eating must find another outlet. That can happen when we quit blaming others and circumstances for causing us to eat a container of chocolate ice cream or a full 12 ounce package of cookies. We do indeed need to mature and to find patience in the ups and downs of life. Food is not the solace we seek nor the solution for our emotional stress. The blame game is what we need to tackle. We have to learn to deal with responsibility and seek results that bring value to ourselves. We need to soothe ourselves with substance that will grow us and not our body side. We need to substitute exercise, meditatation, hobby, writing, or whatever else has been a source of pleasure or could be. We need to transfer an emotional roller coaster ride for something creative and beneficial.

We know it is true, and yet we remain entrapped in what is comfortable and readily available, and that happens to be food. Can you think about what I have said this week and see if there might be a form of substitution that you might consider? It might be as simple as two glasses of ice cold water. By the time you finish it you will have that full feeling that food brings you. It might also be a brisk 20 minute walk, where you might not feel you accomplished much, but the endorphins are released, and yes, I am sure you saw something interesting that you would not have seen hovered over a plate indoors.

Finding our "thing" is possible once food is no longer worthy of being worshipped. If your body size says that you have indeed worshipped it, find your "thing" that will cause growth, not girth.

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Yet, I Will Hope

If we are not depressed enough, read this:

Obesity Statistics
America's Five Fastest Growing Health Concerns
America’s Five Fastest
Growing Health Concerns
2001 1999
Obesity* 61.0% 56.4%
Diabetes 18.3% 12.0%
Depression 19.1% 14.8%
Impotence 9.2% 7.4%
Aging Related Problems 22.5% 19.2%
*Obesity rates 27% in 1991.
USA Obesity Rates Reach
Epidemic Proportions
· 58 Million Overweight; 40 Million Obese;
3 Million morbidly Obese
· Eight out of 10 over 25’s Overweight
· 78% of American’s not meeting basic activity level recommendations
· 25% completely Sedentary
· 76% increase in Type II diabetes in adults 30-40 yrs old since 1990
Obesity Related Diseases
· 80% of type II diabetes related to obesity
· 70% of Cardiovascular disease related to obesity
· 42% breast and colon cancer diagnosed among obese individuals
· 30% of gall bladder surgery related to obesity
· 26% of obese people having high blood pressure

There is hope for all, eternally: He will resurrect each and every one of our bodies.
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
It is a bad news from an earthly view, and it is a good news from a heavenly view. But we want those changed bodies now!

Think about this: If we set out certain types of bird feed, we attract certain types of birds. May be we need to go to different "feeder". Maybe we should take responsibility for what or where we are feeding each day. We want change, "a twinkling of the eye", but perhaps we need to do our part.

Breaking out of bondage is probably much like getting a tooth pulled. Not pleasant, not our favorite thing to do, but when it is done and over with, we realize the relief and comfort. Perhaps you are beginning to be motivated to break this cycle? If you are, pray with me.

Prayer: Yes, Lord, I see my faults and do not know how to break through them. But I do know Christ has come to set us free. Help me this day to not only break free, but to begin to live disorder free and in perfect health, in Him. Amen

Is an appetite out of control on its way to disorder/addiction?

Amazing how we do not really fear our disorders. Our addictions. Our obesity. We fear bad news, stress, loss of loved ones, but usually we do not fear the very sin that is dragging us down.
Proverbs 23:2 And put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.

We should be experiencing, anxiety, guilt and many other emotions when the scale, or mirror begins to alert us. But oftentimes we wait until it is a full blown disaster.

The Bible has warnings about one given to appetite. The outlook is grim. God will not punish as much as he pleads for you to get your appetite under control.

We need to be alert over our vices considering food, at the top of the list rather than the bottom. As Americans, we have an over 60% obese rate, yet it is not yet alerted as the fasting spreading disease in our country. Little is said. Most of the things we are anxious about never happen, yet we have a blind spot in this arena regarding the consequences.

Begin to dispel ignorance and lack of knowledge about eating disorders and obesity. Begin to acknowledge you have an appetite which has gotten out of control. Begin to see the log in your eye. Begin to react to the alarm signals your body is sending to you.

Turn to the Lord. Turn to others with knowledge. Turn to your inner man who has been trying to alert you. If you want to know the truth, let today begin with honesty.

Prayer: O Lord, I can trust You and turn to You, and yet I lag in this area. I want to be free from this burden. I don't want further entrapment. I cannot deny what is happening in my body. Set me free as I become educated. Help me to not only seek truth, but protect me from the consequences of my past denial, though Christ Jesus. Amen

Have you ever been in a food stupor?

Jonah 1:6 "What do you mean, Oh sleeper? Arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not."

When we come out of our food stupor long enough to realize we must react and recover from our problem with food, we absolutely need to call on God. And not merely a one-time 911 call. We must persevere. We are told in Scripture to pray without ceasing. That is a ready state of action. An awareness not only that we need help, but that God is ready to help us in need.
When we have been praying for a long time about something and don't feel as if our words are going anywhere, that is not the time to quit. That is not the time to return to our slumber. If God has given you the knowledge and revelation that you do have an eating disorder or a problem with bingeing, it is time to persevere in prayer.

Let it be known though that God is not a bellhop. He doesn't jump to His feet to carry your baggage. You have to be willing to leave go of that baggage you have been bearing so long. You have to fill in the void and loss that you will feel from missing a habit that has bound you for so long. You have to replace the disorder with healthy habits.

There is no shortcut. When you call upon God, recognizing your need you will be helped, but you need to seek avenues where that help will readily come to you. We first look outward to God, and then we look inward for the strength He will provide. God says, "Call upon me in your day of trouble and I will deliver you and you shall glorify Me." (Psalm 50:15) Your work then is revealed in those last for words. "You shall glorify Me."

Make it your goal to glorify Him, each and every day, each and every meal. Take the first step and you will see God is not a reluctant God to help.

Prayer: O Lord, it sounds like work is ahead for me, but I do desire to be set free, and I do want to honor and glorify You. Help me to do my part in my deliverance. Help me to do that, this very day, that which will please You. Amen

Is Food An Attitude Which We Are Driven By?

Satan lays out traps for us. They are land mines from a roaring lion.

1Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be watchful: your adversary the devil, as roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour."

We know that we should not covet food to the point of abnormality. We know we are too involved in our fixation with food. When a neighbor/friend/relative shows up with a new and delightful dish for us to "taste," we become insatiable. We sample and we binge. We are titillated by our taste buds. We desire more than what was offered to us.

That sums up an eating disorder. It is an attitude we are driven by. We have a problem with our desires and we never think to call upon the name of God to cease this dependency.
If we allow this addiction, with no thought of tomorrow, we will find ourselves trapped in a bondage that the scale will reveal.

Maybe you are only starting off in this trap, and cannot see the consequences. Perhaps, you will not make it a habit. We watch and see, but there is only one thing in life you need, and that is Jesus. Talk it over with Him, and explore if this is not a potential problem or a full blown problem in your life. You know what I am talking about. While there is a chance to examine yourself, do as the Bible exhorts: Psalm 26:2 "Examine me, O Jehovah, and prove me; Try my heart and my mind."

Prayer: Oh Lord, I suspect something is more wrong than what my scale tells me. I fear that food has even become more important than You. Clear my mind as I examine this issue and guard me as I explore why food has such control over me. In Christ's name I pray. Amen

Is unbelief and fear thwarting your weight loss?

Recovery work and sweat from an eating disorder or addiction may frighten us to the state of unbelief and the fear of the unknown. Wanting it, believing it, calling upon the Almighty God and trusting His steps and guidance are the first, very first, essential journey start we must take. Those are the steps to be taken to get to the point of receiving your miracle. Here is a perfect example from God's Word on the hump you must first get over.

Mark 9:22-24 "Have compassion on us, and help us. And Jesus said unto him, If you can! All things are possible to him that believes. Straightway the father of the child cried out, and said, 'I believe; help Thou mine unbelief.'"

Here was a man petitioning God on behalf of his young son. The man had a hump to get over. The man knew in his head Jesus could cure. His heart was the problem, because unbelief and faith cannot dwell together.

Jesus did deliver the young boy. The man had wrestled in prayer and heart-thought, and prevailed. So can you. You might be shaking your head right about now saying, that is too far out for me. I don't have the faith and I am not sure I want what may be the obligation that goes with it. Do not fret. Wrestle instead. Grasping straws if that is what you want to call it. God does the work. Yours is the job to sit back and receive. Now that is the kind of free lunch we can all eat without guilt, ridiculing, and calories.

Prayer: Lord, my faith may waiver, but I know that You can deliver me. Help Thou my unbelief as I start this journey and do the steps to receive wholeness. Send me guidance on how I can reach the promised land of delivery. Help me to do my part as I trust You to set me free, through Christ Jesus, the Deliverer. Amen

Don't eat a meal in anger!

Don't make a decision when you are angry. Don't eat a meal in anger either! Food is not our enemy, but it is a tool of anger that we misuse.

Proverbs 29:11 A fool utters all his anger; But a wise man keeps it back and stills it.

Many with eating disorders have developed it by stifling emotions. Our recognition on our way to recovery will eventually end the occasion of taking frustrations out on food.

For some it means contemplation and reflection. For some it may mean walking away from a destructive relationship or vocation. For some it means deep counseling. But if you recognize yourself as an anger eater, you need to bring it to the Lord and seek deliverance from your disorder.

Jesus said to his followers, "Come apart with me to a quiet place and get some rest." (Mark 6:31) His rest begins with confession, journey's on to repentance, and reaches the designation of recovery.

Do not be deceived that this is a carnival journey. It is not fun and gaiety. It takes time, Wisdom and patience. Begin thanking God that He is in absolute control of your life. Throw out the lifeline and follow Him patiently to the means He sends you on your journey to deliverance.

Prayer: Lord God, I can be an angry, inward person. I have possibly developed a disorder with food because it is a release. Help me to deal productively with emotions and quit being a victim of life. I will listen to You. I will learn. And Father, I change my focus of self to You, through Christ Jesus, I pray. Amen