On the way there we drove by thousands of acres of corn and soybeans and boy do they look great!! According to estimates I read in the paper, this year potentially will break the record for corn and soybean harvests, thanks in no small part to the record rainfall we’ve had this year.
I’ve always contended that there are far more “gamblers” in middle America sitting in farmhouses and running ag-related businesses than ever see Las Vegas in a years time. It takes a big gamble to invest in the equipment, seed and chemicals just to plant a crop with no guarantee of any return on the investment each year.
Often times there isn’t even much in the way of visible results for months after the farmer plants his crop, let alone if the weather cooperates along with all the other potential pitfalls that comes with the business of farming.
So what’s this got to do with weight loss?
Six months ago, I began to “plant the seeds” of weight loss by joining Mercy Weight Loss Center in Dakota Dunes, SD. It took a lot of faith on my part to believe that planting those seeds, (ie. changing my lifestyle in order to begin weight loss) would show any results.
It took a lot of faith for the people surrounding me to believe that I would carry out this new diet regimen with anything close to resembling success. Of course I’ve failed enough at dieting that I didn’t really broadcast to anyone that I was starting a diet again! The odds really are against someone weighing close to 400 pounds to ever escape morbid obesity, that’s why they get their pictures spread around if they are succesful. Mind you, it’s not the diet plans that don’t necessarly work, it’s just damn (I don’t usually swear but I made an exception here for emphasis) hard to lose and then keep off the weight and stay motivated to keep that up for the rest of your life!
But I digress….I just wanted the weight loss to be apparent first and let people notice as they would notice. Let me tell you, when you weigh close to 400 pounds, it takes awhile for people to notice!
Of course I had my close circle of family and friends (and the great folks at the weight loss center!) who were aware of what was going on, and were polite to notice unnoticible differences in my size to keep me encouraged and motivated.
I didn’t really get my first compliment from someone outside that circle of people until I had lost around 70 pounds.
Now that it is closer to 100 pounds, I am looking far more “streetable” than I used to and I get regular compliments…and yes they are as SWEET to me as you might imagine! They’re so sweet, I might have to start checking them for calories!!
In the Apostle Paul’s writings he spoke of sowing seed. Sowing to the Spirit reaps spiritual benefits and eternal life. Sowing to the baser elements of your physical self reaps corruption:
“Don't be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he'll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God's Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.” Galatians 6:8 The Message
So I planted a continuous excess of food into my mouth that caused me to reap the “weeds” of morbid obesity.
God really made our bodies efficient. We really don’t need that much food to survive and thrive.
If you use food as the tool it is meant to be, it nourishes our bodies and keeps us healthy. The added benefit is the social events surrounded by food. Nothing much better than good food and good friends to share it with in my opinion. (That and washing it all down with diet A&W root beer!!)
However, if I am hurrying to eat the three pieces of pizza that I snatched off of the cardboard round, only so I am sure to be able to be first back for seconds so as to grab two or three more pieces before someone else does, what does that say about enjoying food and friends?
You cannot enjoy food that is “inhaled”.
One of the fruits of the Spirit is self-control. Do I enjoy each bite of food I eat? Do I taste each bite of food I eat? Do I enjoy the fellowship of the people I’m with while I’m eating? (Savoring each bite of food is another blog entry coming up.)
These are skills, and it takes lots and lots and lots of practice! )Thankfully we get to eat everyday and practice them!!) What a smart-aleck I am!
One of the tricks I need to rememeber is that when I fail,(not if!!) that I get back up and practice some more. I call my mentors and support team…(if you don’t have these in your life why not??) and I force myself to get “back on the horse” of controlled measured eating.
Up to this point in my life, when the going got tough, the tough got fat!
I would throw in the towel, say that’s it I’ve blown it, it’s no use!
Sometimes that is so tempting!
But that is sowing to the corruptible flesh, not the life-giving Spirit.
So, for now, I am focused on sowing seeds of life & health, working thru my heavy thoughts and letting them lead me (by faith!) to lighter living!
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