Don’t we all wish we could eat anything we wanted and still lose weight? I think we can — Here’s where you roll your eyes and wonder what’s up. Maybe you’re even questioning my mindset – thinking that I’ve fallen for a get thin easy scheme or some kind of new fad diet. — I assure you that couldn’t be farther from the truth. I haven’t given up on my belief that clean, healthy food combined with portion / self control and exercise is the way to lose weight as well as to live a healthy lifestyle.
I do, however, think the key in that statement is the word “want”. As we take small steps toward a fit life style, our “want” will begin to change. When you are putting in time at the gym and working so hard, the last thing you “want” to do is sabotage your efforts with junk food. As you feel better, more alert, and more alive with energy than ever before after eating several days of good, wholesome food and moving your body, your “want” for something less than what’s best for your body lessens.
…Now hold up a minute, are you really saying that you never “want” junk or “want” to just pig out? I might as well stop reading right here because I know you are lying….
No, that is not what I’m saying at all. Those days do come and sometimes I do give in (more often than I wish). But it is funny that after a “pig out” meal (or day or weekend or season), the aftermath is awful. Some of that is due to the sluggish, slimy, greasy feeling that the junk food leaves and another part is the guilt that I feel for breaking my commitment to myself and God to eat right and live healthy. No matter what the cause, it just feels bad. I have often said that if I could bottle that icky feeling and open it up when tempted to eat junk, I would probably never eat junk again. But I found something better. I found a scripture that I can really grab hold of and claim when tempted beyond my control or when faced with eating choices —– Wow!! Using scripture to fight temptation. That’s a novel idea! Now, where have I heard of that one before? Oh yeah, isn’t that what Jesus did when the enemy tempted Him? So that basically answers the question of “What would Jesus do?” in this situation.—– The scripture was mentioned in a Bible study I recently attended based on Lisa Terkeurst’s book Made to Crave (highly recommended reading) and it really just hit me between the eyes. I have it posted on my fridge.
“Everything is permissible but not everything is beneficial”
1 Corinthians 10:23
1 Corinthians 6:12 basically says the same thing but ends with “I will not be mastered by anything.” I love the thought of food no longer being in control of my life! It is not my master! I can eat anything that I want. I’m in control. Everything is permissible on my diet. As long as I stay within the confines of my daily calorie range, I will allow myself to eat anything I want. But first, I have to answer the question, “is it beneficial?” Is it bringing something to my body that I need? Is it paying me back with nutrients, fuel and good energy or is it debiting my account by sending my blood sugar into a spike that will eventually have to come crashing down (just like a bad economy) bringing my energy level with it? Is it going to help remove deposits of fat from my body and build muscle or is it going to add to the fat that I want so bad to shed? I have to count the cost and decide if I really “want” it. Do I “want” to pay the price for it? If the answer is yes, I eat it. It’s that simple.
Enjoy your journey.
