Need a Little Insight?
Good Morning Girls! I have a friend who has been on one diet.....ONE.....that's it. It was a 30 day intense diet/exercise program. She was doing it not because she thought she was fat, but because she was turning 30 and wanted to see just what her body was capable of. She did the thirty days without cheating. During the 30 days, she never called me saying "Jen....I want this pizza so bad....help me say no." She never complained when we were all together, unless someone asked her how it was going. Then she would simply respond "It sucks. I am starving." And that is all she would say. But she did it. She was fit and thin to start with. She was more fit and more thin at the end of 30 days. She claims she will NEVER, EVER go on a diet again.
As I watched her during the 30 days, it became clear to me....She is different than most women on a diet. Of course I always knew there was something different between me and her and our relationship with food. Don't get me wrong, she loves food. Loves healthy food, and treats. But ever since I have known her, she has been fit and thin. Though she may each too much every once in awhile. Her idea of too much, and my idea of too much are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy different.
I have another friend who realized her unhealthy eating habits needed to change. She was very thin, but her cholesterol was high and she was experiencing some health problems. She knew she had to change her eating habits. She read one book and voilà! she followed the food plan and still does. She was excited about the new things she was doing. She did not whine about the things she had to turn away from.....and she did have to turn away from some things that she loved. I had a hard time at first understanding why she would change her diet. I mean,to me you only give up things if you want to lose weight. At the time I could really care less about my cholesterol. If I could be thin, I would be happy. People would say things to me like "you look so strong and healthy" I would respond with "I don't want to be healthy....I want to be hot!"
Then there's me. Whenever I was on a diet, I usually obsessed about it. First of all, I would try to enlist someone else to do it with me. I did this so I could have at least one person who would not mind my obsessive behavior, as they would be reciprocating the obsessive behavior. I would talk at lengths about what I was doing, what foods I could and couldn't have. I would find a hard time talking about anything other than "the diet". It consumed me. Food consumed me.
It bothered me that I had so much knowledge....but so little results. I knew what to eat, and how to eat. I knew how to exercise. I knew all of the practical tips and tricks to feel full when limiting calories. I knew enough to write a book. The only thing is they couldn't include a photo of me because no one would want what I was selling! I had knowledge, plenty of knowledge.......what I lacked was wisdom........and insight. Insight in to what I really needed. Insight into my relationship with food. Insight to what my body needs.
Last summer I got to a point where I could not take it anymore. I called my friend crying and said "I can't take it anymore! I try so hard. I follow the program, yet I get nowhere!" What she said to me scared me to the core. She said "Maybe it's time you don't follow any programs. Stop doing what others say to do and start doing what you know to do." The thought of not being on some type of diet rocked my world. I was a serial dieter. For years I had either been planning, starting, following, quitting, or researching a diet. I had not lived "diet free" for years. the very thought of it was terrifying ....yet exciting and liberating. I valued her advice. I knew she was right. That day was the last day of my dieting life.
Two weeks after that moment, Pastor Jim preached and gave us all an assignment. He told us to pray the Pauline prayers daily for a year. I started doing it and loved it. I saw things happening. I experienced things that I knew were in direct response to these prayers. One of them being the insight, the wisdom I had been lacking in regards to my "diet knowledge". I believe with all my heart it was the beginning of my new life. My life without "diets". I still pray the Pauline prayers daily.
Colossians 1:9 WE (I) ask God to give you (me) complete knowledge of his will and to give you (me)spiritual wisdom and understanding .
Love you all-
Jen
As I watched her during the 30 days, it became clear to me....She is different than most women on a diet. Of course I always knew there was something different between me and her and our relationship with food. Don't get me wrong, she loves food. Loves healthy food, and treats. But ever since I have known her, she has been fit and thin. Though she may each too much every once in awhile. Her idea of too much, and my idea of too much are wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy different.
I have another friend who realized her unhealthy eating habits needed to change. She was very thin, but her cholesterol was high and she was experiencing some health problems. She knew she had to change her eating habits. She read one book and voilà! she followed the food plan and still does. She was excited about the new things she was doing. She did not whine about the things she had to turn away from.....and she did have to turn away from some things that she loved. I had a hard time at first understanding why she would change her diet. I mean,to me you only give up things if you want to lose weight. At the time I could really care less about my cholesterol. If I could be thin, I would be happy. People would say things to me like "you look so strong and healthy" I would respond with "I don't want to be healthy....I want to be hot!"
Then there's me. Whenever I was on a diet, I usually obsessed about it. First of all, I would try to enlist someone else to do it with me. I did this so I could have at least one person who would not mind my obsessive behavior, as they would be reciprocating the obsessive behavior. I would talk at lengths about what I was doing, what foods I could and couldn't have. I would find a hard time talking about anything other than "the diet". It consumed me. Food consumed me.
It bothered me that I had so much knowledge....but so little results. I knew what to eat, and how to eat. I knew how to exercise. I knew all of the practical tips and tricks to feel full when limiting calories. I knew enough to write a book. The only thing is they couldn't include a photo of me because no one would want what I was selling! I had knowledge, plenty of knowledge.......what I lacked was wisdom........and insight. Insight in to what I really needed. Insight into my relationship with food. Insight to what my body needs.
Last summer I got to a point where I could not take it anymore. I called my friend crying and said "I can't take it anymore! I try so hard. I follow the program, yet I get nowhere!" What she said to me scared me to the core. She said "Maybe it's time you don't follow any programs. Stop doing what others say to do and start doing what you know to do." The thought of not being on some type of diet rocked my world. I was a serial dieter. For years I had either been planning, starting, following, quitting, or researching a diet. I had not lived "diet free" for years. the very thought of it was terrifying ....yet exciting and liberating. I valued her advice. I knew she was right. That day was the last day of my dieting life.
Two weeks after that moment, Pastor Jim preached and gave us all an assignment. He told us to pray the Pauline prayers daily for a year. I started doing it and loved it. I saw things happening. I experienced things that I knew were in direct response to these prayers. One of them being the insight, the wisdom I had been lacking in regards to my "diet knowledge". I believe with all my heart it was the beginning of my new life. My life without "diets". I still pray the Pauline prayers daily.
Colossians 1:9 WE (I) ask God to give you (me) complete knowledge of his will and to give you (me)spiritual wisdom and understanding .
Love you all-
Jen
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