Diet & Wisdom Appetizers

Flipping through my calendar recently I happened to notice that not only is the summer half over, but the calendar year is officially half over. How on Earth did that happen?

With more of the year gone than there is left, I was thinking that perhaps this might be a good week for a resolution inventory. Because I started my New Year’s resolution on January 1st and six full months have come and gone, it’s a good time to take stock of any success we may be enjoying.

First if you’re like me and began a healthy eating program January 1st and you’re still sticking with it … CONGRATULATIONS and HURRAY for you! If you’re still on a weight loss program after six months, you’re in the minority and you deserve a round of applause.

Many of us know that if we don’t see some sort of immediate progress when it comes to losing weight we tend to ditch the program and revert back to old ways. Perhaps like me, you’re success is measured very slowly and you’re not seeing the results you’d like, but you’re still following a program. That’s huge! Don’t give up because you haven’t lost as much weight as someone who started the same time as you. Hang in there!

Success isn’t necessarily measured by total pounds lost. If you’ve only lost a few pounds but you’re blood pressure or cholesterol is improving – that’s progress. If you’ve kicked some bad eating habits and eliminated unhealthy sodas or fried foods from your diet – that’s progress. If you’ve only lost a few pounds but you’re exercising three or more days a weeks and making better food choices – that is progress.

If you can look back to where you were six months ago and see positive changes in your attitude, what you are eating, your exercise program or the way your clothes are fitting – that’s all good and that’s all progress.

Ideally it’d be great if in six months from now I was at my goal weight. I’m hoping in six months from now it will be more about me laying down my obsession to exercise, my addictive behavior towards food and being obsessed with weight in general. To me success isn’t about the number on the scale but what’s going on in my head. Success for me is about having my head on straight and maintaining a healthy attitude about food. Success for me is being closer to God than ever before because I’ve submitted my unhealthy attitude about food over to Him.

In six months from now I hope I can declare unequivocally that I eat to live rather than live to eat. I hope you’re all still on the journey with me!

If we’re not willing to settle for junk living, we certainly shouldn’t settle for junk food. ~Sally Edwards

7 After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. 8 So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content. 1 Timothy 6:7-8 (NLT)

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord, I thank you that I’m past comparing my progress with that of others. I thank you for the lifestyle changes I have made in the past six months. I thank you that I’m making better choices regarding my food and my exercise. Even though I may not be where I want to be as far as my weight goes, I thank you that I have made progress. Please help me continue to make wise choices. I pray you bless me with wisdom and common sense regarding food and weight. Give me the strength to finish this journey with excellence. I ask all these things in your name, Lord Jesus. Amen.