Lap bands…..stomach stapling…….and now the "stomach pacemaker"…… each one is a device meant to stop over eating and (hopefully) cure obesity. Interestingly enough, each one comes with the same caveat; not guaranteed to (really) work and linked to life-threatening/dangerous warnings. At the core of each "device" is a predictable method; curb overeating via reduction of food intake. But what really troubles me is the fact that the overeating isn't just self indulgence or lack of control but a deeper issue. Obesity is often painted as a lack of self control, laziness and ignorance about one's health and wellbeing. But having been obese and knowing full and well that it's more than just over eating (or not eating regularly paced meals) allows me to share my personal point of view about devices and methods regarding wellness through my own personal journey and experience.
Before you can argue the pro's and con's first look at the core of the problem; poor nutrition. I've rarely known an individual that eats nutritionally, exercises regularly and is in poor overall health with the exception of someone who suffers from a disease they have no control over (i.e. Crohn's disease, MS, cancer, genetic heart disease, Type I diabetes, etc.) which in turn adversely affects their weight/wellness. What I typically see (and is heartbreaking to watch) are individuals who have tried everything they know to do (and have been advised to do by their doctors) without success. Seemingly, there's a disconnect that occurs between the stomach (desire and compulsion to eat) and the mind (the conduit between what we feel, think and do) that leaves us feeling powerless. Any relief (stomach bands to pacemakers) begins to look more and more appealing once we surrender our circumstances into the column of defeat.
So what really works when we have tried everything humanly possible? In my (humble) opinion and personal experience it was God (more than it was anything else). For those who might not want to hear that is the answer, I make no apologies. For those who've never thought about it before, I offer you some simple steps to take in order to help you along your journey.
Step 1: God loves you and wants you to live your life to the fullest. He has a plan for your life and it doesn't include you being in "bondage" to anything harmful or self destructing. When you surrender your will for His will you will experience a new life that is a God-given gift filled with many immeasurable blessings.
Step 2: Willpower is defined (by me) as me exchanging my "will" for His (God's) "power" in my life to overcome whatever obstacle has been placed before me.
Step 3: Detoxification. Your cravings and poor choices are "toxins" to your body, mind and spirit. You simply cannot break a cycle that repeats itself through cravings. Take some simple steps today to stop the cravings. Eat breakfast, lunch and dinner choosing nutritional foods. Eat healthy small snacks (i.e. fruit, veggies, healthy trail mix of almonds/walnuts) between meals. Visit a clinical dietician or nutritionist for an overall evaluation for your wellness. Attend a wellness seminar (I teach a monthly wellness seminar or you can attend many other wellness seminars throughout Tidewater – most are conducted at local hospitals – where sound nutritional advice is shared). You can contact me at info@prayfasteatlive.com for more information on the seminar I teach.
Step 4: Learn to love yourself; sounds corny but it works. I learned that I cannot love others unconditionally until I learn to love myself unconditionally. Better yet, I cannot give what I do not own.
Step 5: Start now. No device is going to change your nutritional mind set for life; it's only a temporary fix to a long term problem.
Quick Tip for today: Nutrition is at the core of wellness. Wellness produces weight loss. Weight loss produces a new beginning. Today is either just another day or the first day of the rest of your life (choice between the two is up to you).
No comments:
Post a Comment