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