Diet and Health

So, anyone who's ever been overweight, or downright fat, knows what I'm talking about. We've all tried to diet. I know I've tried! So many times to practice a good diet and exercise, but for some reason it never worked. i think, maybe, I finally found something that'll work for me. After much meditation, and talking with a counselor and close friends, (it's taken me a while but) I've come to the conclusion that my downfall is that I believe food is a means to pleasure, stress release, relaxation, and a cure for boredom - none of which is the *reason* for food. Now, food can accomplish those things, as I've found out, but food exists to nourish and maintain our bodies. It is a blessing from God that food brings pleasure, but it is not the reason for eating.

So here's what I've done. I've committed to (and it just so happened to coincide with Lent) eat only rice, eggs, apples, broccoli, milk, SlimFast, coffee, and water for forty days. The point is to eat what will bring good nourishment, but at the same time, cause me to hate the food I eat. I've been doing it for a week, and so far it all seems to be going to plan. I really don't enjoy very much what I'm eating. I'm tired of it. This is causing me to eat only what I need to when I'm hungry, thereby creating a new habit of eating only when I'm hungry and saying no to eating when I just have an appetite. Once the 40 days are over though, I will continue the diet, but add in new foods, and progress to a more normal diet.

I'm finding it a challenge, when I am stressed or distressed, to not eat for pleasure. I mean, it's really challenging, but I'm glad I'm going through it. It's important that I learn to turn to God in my times of trouble and not some other source that dulls the pain, which I've done many times. So, this particular diet (which I just came up with myself one night) may seem strange, but it has many purposes and is contributing to all areas of health (physical, mental, and spiritual). Pray that I will continue to rely on Holy Spirit for my strength, always drawing strength from Him when I am weak; and that this will really create new habits of health and I won't relapse back into pleasure or stimulus dependence.