I have a lot of scriptures that are favorites as my lifeline for each new morning when it’s time to start over on the food battles for the day. Some days are uneventful; even peaceful, and for those I’m thankful. Other days are simply challenges from the moment I wake up---from that first bite at breakfast I’m ready to eat anything that hasn’t moved. Those are the days where this ‘starting over’ concept is most helpful. The next morning and the new start is always a blessing.
Starting over is colorful, like the colors of a rainbow. The rainbow scheme reminds me of the emotional ride through the day that can accompany the new day’s eating regimen. Let me travel through the colors with you:
RED – the starting over is bold, and daring, like this bold color; there’s some pain involved. It’s here I can remember how I went off track with my eating the day before and need to accept it and move on.
ORANGE – next I sense the brightness of a new harvest; it’s time to cash in on a new experience for the day.
YELLOW -- I’m joy-filled and excited for these new chances in this new day.
GREEN – As the new day continues I can feel mellow/ calm and steady; I maintain the refueling that a new start brings.
BLUE – I feel peaceful; as the day proceeds, I can either maintain this peace, or start to feel ‘down’
INDIGO – a dark color reflecting a darker mood as I reflect on this day’s events and how I handled food choices accordingly. I’m either melancholy or reflective.
VIOLET – the deepest but possibly the most beautiful color of all; this color represents the beautiful complexity of emotions that accompany the eating cycle of the day.
It’s God and his grace that keeps me going. Psalm 5:3 (NLT) “Listen to my voice in the morning, LORD.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.” Yay, God!
Tip of the week:
Restart every day, every meal, or every hour if you need to. But simply restart. The only way to fail is to quit.
Striving to increase my faith each day, a little at a time, and lose the things that weigh me down.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Moderation Schmoderation
Still on the rollercoaster ride—not the amusement park of the beach resorts or any of the Great Adventure parks, but my own Great Adventure on the ride of moderation in my eating habits.
Food is still an addiction for me. It’s like an old friend and an enemy at the same time. The worst kind of enemy is one who hangs closely with me, every day; I cannot choose to knock it out of the park and skip it altogether—which is why I constantly struggle with figuring out how to live with it. The all-or-nothing discipline doesn’t work with food in the long run; the need to face moderation head-on becomes necessary for success. The skills for losing these 100 pounds are different from the skills I’m using to maintain the loss. One of those skills is this dreaded “m” word: moderation.
Moderation is not fun to me. It requires more discipline than any all-or-nothing training can provide. I realize, however, after all these years of regular exercise, which I honestly don’t enjoy, that I have learned the skill of moderation by continuing to stick to a routine. Perhaps, just perhaps, this skill can be transferred to eating food. If I can engage in something I generally dislike (exercise), and still continue to participate in it, then maybe I can use these same skills with something I love (food)!
A fortune cookie saying I mentioned in a prior blog and I’ll mention again: “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” Now that’s another concept altogether. Time for a snack.
Tip of the week:
Water! I have found that there are many times when I think I’m hungry that I’m not---I’m actually thirsty instead. This is another reason I will grab a drink of water first before diving into the meal or a snack; it helps clarify whether my body ‘needs’ the food or simply ‘wants’ it!
Food is still an addiction for me. It’s like an old friend and an enemy at the same time. The worst kind of enemy is one who hangs closely with me, every day; I cannot choose to knock it out of the park and skip it altogether—which is why I constantly struggle with figuring out how to live with it. The all-or-nothing discipline doesn’t work with food in the long run; the need to face moderation head-on becomes necessary for success. The skills for losing these 100 pounds are different from the skills I’m using to maintain the loss. One of those skills is this dreaded “m” word: moderation.
Moderation is not fun to me. It requires more discipline than any all-or-nothing training can provide. I realize, however, after all these years of regular exercise, which I honestly don’t enjoy, that I have learned the skill of moderation by continuing to stick to a routine. Perhaps, just perhaps, this skill can be transferred to eating food. If I can engage in something I generally dislike (exercise), and still continue to participate in it, then maybe I can use these same skills with something I love (food)!
A fortune cookie saying I mentioned in a prior blog and I’ll mention again: “Everything in moderation, including moderation.” Now that’s another concept altogether. Time for a snack.
Tip of the week:
Water! I have found that there are many times when I think I’m hungry that I’m not---I’m actually thirsty instead. This is another reason I will grab a drink of water first before diving into the meal or a snack; it helps clarify whether my body ‘needs’ the food or simply ‘wants’ it!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Who's the Cop Chasing?
It’s time to drive more cautiously; y’know—stay within the speed limit. No, no speeding tickets for me recently, but SOMEone out there got them.
Two driving occasions: the first one—I was driving along on a highway, just around (okay, above) the speed limit, but going with the flow of traffic. I’m somewhat attentive but somewhat mindless. My attention span increases exponentially with the bright flashing lights of the cop car in my rearview mirror. Not a fun sight. The ‘uh-oh-did-I-get-caught’ thoughts went flying through my mind; admittedly, the ‘oh, man, how much is this going to cost me?’ thoughts were in there too. Seconds later, the police car passes me on the left to chase someone way out in front. Whew.
Second driving occasion: inching slowly on a congested road in town; again, I’m somewhat attentive but somewhat mindless. A police car is off to the right shoulder of the road in front of me. Within seconds, he puts on his flashers and cuts out in traffic in front of me to go after someone up ahead. At least this time I was sure I wasn’t speeding.
I am still thinking about these incidents because they remind me that the rules haven’t changed; I simply didn’t get caught. How many of us are living like this---somewhat attentive but somewhat mindless? The rules I speak of here are the speed limit signs; decades of driving experience dictate that I am aware of speed limit signs and what they mean. Decades of driving experience does not change the fact that I am to adhere to these signs. Even when I’m staying within the rules, as in the second example when I was driving slowly, I could still be more attentive to the signs.
Why mention all this? I know it’s the same with my weight loss journey and with my faith journey. Like the driving, I need to continue to be alert with my weight and faith; to be more than somewhat attentive and not at all mindless; to not only know the rules but to follow them too. The wakeup call of a police officer’s flashing lights are occasionally needed as reminders, but I’m planning to make sure I don’t need too many of those reminders. God is there every morning and so am I, talking with Him. That should be enough of a reminder.
Tip of the week:
Keep it simple! In these summer months, preparing and cooking meals can be challenging for our schedules as well as our heat levels! I find salads, quick-fix sandwiches and simple fruits and vegetables to be a helpful resource, particularly now.
Two driving occasions: the first one—I was driving along on a highway, just around (okay, above) the speed limit, but going with the flow of traffic. I’m somewhat attentive but somewhat mindless. My attention span increases exponentially with the bright flashing lights of the cop car in my rearview mirror. Not a fun sight. The ‘uh-oh-did-I-get-caught’ thoughts went flying through my mind; admittedly, the ‘oh, man, how much is this going to cost me?’ thoughts were in there too. Seconds later, the police car passes me on the left to chase someone way out in front. Whew.
Second driving occasion: inching slowly on a congested road in town; again, I’m somewhat attentive but somewhat mindless. A police car is off to the right shoulder of the road in front of me. Within seconds, he puts on his flashers and cuts out in traffic in front of me to go after someone up ahead. At least this time I was sure I wasn’t speeding.
I am still thinking about these incidents because they remind me that the rules haven’t changed; I simply didn’t get caught. How many of us are living like this---somewhat attentive but somewhat mindless? The rules I speak of here are the speed limit signs; decades of driving experience dictate that I am aware of speed limit signs and what they mean. Decades of driving experience does not change the fact that I am to adhere to these signs. Even when I’m staying within the rules, as in the second example when I was driving slowly, I could still be more attentive to the signs.
Why mention all this? I know it’s the same with my weight loss journey and with my faith journey. Like the driving, I need to continue to be alert with my weight and faith; to be more than somewhat attentive and not at all mindless; to not only know the rules but to follow them too. The wakeup call of a police officer’s flashing lights are occasionally needed as reminders, but I’m planning to make sure I don’t need too many of those reminders. God is there every morning and so am I, talking with Him. That should be enough of a reminder.
Tip of the week:
Keep it simple! In these summer months, preparing and cooking meals can be challenging for our schedules as well as our heat levels! I find salads, quick-fix sandwiches and simple fruits and vegetables to be a helpful resource, particularly now.
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