I never had a weight problem until I turned 48 and went on life-time medication. Both meds had side effects of weight gain, and I was careless, but it is not medications that make you gain weight. Overeating, often accompanied with underlying issues, make you gain weight. Yes, the metabolism slows down as we age, and for women especially as they go through menopause, but we are to be alert enough to notice that and react after a few unhappy and persistent pounds start to pile on.
Perhaps none of the above scenario relates to you. You may have held onto this weight gain cycle since an early life. Or you might be a yo-yo dieter that has exhausted your body. Perhaps you have never seriously attempted weight loss before because you feel helpless to start. Perhaps food is a comfort you are not willing to give up and you will find that you will not be deprived of it.
I claimed that I watched helplessly as the weight piled on. I knew nothing about dieting or where to start. It was after seeing a church directory picture of myself that shocked me into reality. Enough was enough. God placed right in my path an online (pay) diet site that led me on the path of calorie restriction and exercise. I am still grateful to this day for all the information gained and the total loss of 85 pounds in one years time. The glory belongs to God though, because during this time I wrote a 31 day diet Bible study, The Weight Of Proverbs, for myself and then to share with others. It kept me ever so motivated and it caused me to look at the naked truth that I was not including God at meal mealtimes. I thought our relationship was just fine, but I discovered if He is kept out of one blaring area of your life, He wants it all, and if obesity is how He draws your attention, so be it.
So now to the day I reached goal, and I ran The Weight Of Proverbs 4 times for others during that time, who for the majority, received it with great success and new understanding. Problem with goal weight, however, I was down to 1200 calories a day and exercising for 3 or more hours daily, 6 days a week. When you think of that, you will know why after a year I exhausted myself and slowly lost my desire to maintain. I had left the online diet board to continue on with my diet ministry on my own, and quite truthfully I was looking for some Christian support on my own from someone who might find keeping weight off as impossible as I now was discovering.
Fast forward; I stayed with my ministry, but the next few years all the weight loss came back on me. Simply put, I didn't try. I knew it would be even more difficult this go round and my head was already filled with so much knowledge and chat, God had a difficult time catching my attention again. He did that for me with a very personal word from the Word, and walla, it all came together. He gave me a "plan," along with my The Weight Of Proverbs to update, and I found that I could do without feeling as if I were dieting. I was gently being corrected and guided The plan I named Inspiration Eating because it is simple and pure, and yes, inspirational that no one can be credited but God alone who had allowed me to go through this weight gain again to conceive it, and this time I credited no method but Him alone. I have lost 55 pounds this year and I have 25 more to go. I did not fall into the trap of counting calories, measuring portions, or exercise, although those are all worthy pursuits. What I did do each day will be summarized for you.
I said the Lord's prayer at each meal.
I ate when hungry (no more clock watching or mindless eating), and I stopped when satisfied (not the same as FULL)!
I did not eat snacks in between meals. If I wanted a snack food, even if it were a celery stick or crackers), I ate it at my meal BEFORE I became satisfied
I had NO second helpings. They were my primary reason for weight gain
I ate MODERATE portions. No more heaping on the plate of favorite foods or restaurant size servings.
I brushed my teeth after a meal to insure I would not face temptation to nibble.Drank water throughout the day to stay full and hydrated. I re-read The Weight Of Proverbs for motivation, conviction and prayer.
This is a plan anybody who truly wants to lose weight can follow. There is no sacrifice other than the start up few weeks where your mind wants you to return to bondage of your appetite. If you begin to faithfully eat only until satisfied and not full, and only to eat when you have genuine hunger, not thirst, or a taste, or a ritual, you will lose weight without realizing that you are dieting. This is a lifestyle change that can be a permanent way of living. On our message board I will answer concerns about struggling and regarding what hunger verses appetite and satisfied verses full mean.
I will be participating on this site (as well as my other ministry sites) to not only help others lose weight this way, but to take me to the goal line of my journey. I hope that you will let God take control for you and be amazed that when we put Him at the helm, He is an all sufficient Captain.
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Obesity is the fine we pay for exceeding the feed limit.
