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For most of us, struggling with our weight has been and will be a life-long effort. That’s why I’ve got a special category on this blog just to talk about weight, health and food issues. Not that I need worry about that sort of thing as my weight is always in that narrow window between 230lbs -330lbs. Hardly ever fluctuates up or down from that!
My friends are pretty nice about this subject. They tell me things like “yeah, but you’re 6’5” tall, so you can carry a lot of weight,” and “you’re big boned, you wear it well.” Those are all nice things to say and all are well-intentioned, but it isn’t really something I buy into none-the-less. I mean, when the doctor tells you that for your weight you should be 37ft. tall, it sort’ve gets your attention!
So I did the inevitable, of course, and ask him to prescribe me some human growth hormone supplements… I mean, it just didn’t seem I’d get that tall on my own.
As doctors are paid to be masters of the obvious, he suggested another path – start moving, work out more and start eating less, eat a better balance of foods, blah, blah, blah. (Did he really need a MD to dispense that sort of health-speak?)
I finally came to the realization that if things were going to change, if I was going to lose weight and come to some sort of peace about living with food (and not ‘good’ food) everywhere I looked, I was going to have to reframe the way I envisioned a whole host of issues.
So, these days I’m telling a different story when the sun creeps into my room, reminding me that another day has dawned and more fun and adventure lay ahead. Now I know that part of the fun and adventure necessarily includes working out. I don’t try to reframe the work as something easy or even pleasant, because some days it just isn’t – but I DO tell a much different story about why I’m doing it – I’m cleansing my brain by moving enriched blood through it, I’m increasing the strength of my core muscles so I can read more, write more, spend more time in thought and contemplation without being interrupted by unnecessary pains. I’m moving (even if not far or fast) because it oils my joints and puts fuel in my tank. I’m voting ‘yes’ for life rather than beginning my day with a forfeit and the hope of just hanging on.
Maybe you can relate to some of this and would like to share a bit of your story. If so, I and others would love to hear it. Let’s begin a conversation about our ‘food frights’ in the comments below (or on your own blog – trackback here so I’ll see it) and see where it takes us. Many blessings lie ahead… welcome to the struggle journey.
10 comments to “Consistently Inconsistent”
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Some ways that have been fun for me (when I can get over procrastinating) are yoga, walking while talking. It’s easy for me to forget to eat, but for some reason that doesn’t help. :/
I thought this morning about how many distractions I think I require to be happy. And did some yoga which was very good for centering this morning. That wore off fairly soon even though it set a good tone for most of the day, which was really good. So that was today and inspiration for tomorrow .. when it becomes now.
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The Spirit is such a fun, unexpected Being! In my Order, we do special reports 4 times a year during the “Ember days” of the Church Calendar.
This Ember Day report (among other things) has a fast on Saturday (the day I am reading this) and directs us to meditate on these following things, based on the concept of the Stewardship of our selves. The care of our bodies being essential to our well being. It is also integral to our ministry to others.
So, during the Saturday fast, we are directed to be aware of our body’s response to hunger and to recognize its dependence upon our care.
Offer up our body’s response as a prayer to God for those who hunger without choice
There are other things, but I don’t want to hog the blog.
Food isn’t just about eating, there is a whole world of intentionality to it.
Lord, help me to be aware and to pray for all those who hunger.
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Hi Tim, I am looking forward to your many insights. You and Kevin have a unique ability to put into words, thoughts that if I were to try, would and do get lost in the writing part.
Anyway talking about weight issues, my dad was a pretty hefty fellow and I am built in the same mold as he was, so for me it is my body makeup, it seems like I can just look at food and gain weight. I don’t really know if weight loss or gain is any great mystery. I just don’t think many folks realize just what they eat day to day. It isn’t ever easy because there is so many good things to eat all around us. A lot of folks make fun of Dr. Phil l but he has a great philosophy. you can’t eat what you don’t have. you would be amazed with what you can do without once you don’t have it.We just quit buying alot of the junk food stuff.Thanks Tim for all you do, I am looking forward to interactng with everyone on your blog………Andy -
Congratulations Tim, you will not regret any progress you make. I am 235 and a two heart attack guy, at 50 and 58, so anything I do is late, but the walking, the eating more wisely, (which has been difficult at the last two millenial conferences by the way). I love the look of your new blog, and I get it, I got it during your last talk this summer. Every week as I lead our congregation I know that all the recent teaching about inclusive love and living and the newness of the new covenant just pisses off my people who just want to do battle with evil, especially democrats. The nonduality issue is the big key for me in my recent reading.
Back to weight loss.
I am starting week four back in the gym and we have a treadmill in the bedroom. All the glycemic index teaching in South Beach and elsewhere is good, as is your core strength work.
With Respect, Don in AZ
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Chiming in WAY late here, FWIW…
I had a 21 year enslavement to bulimia, so I can certainly attest to experiencing a struggle with food, body image, etc. Been enjoying freedom from that insanity these past 9 years.
For me, I’ve come to know and appreciate that my body is “awesomely and wonderfully made” and it *does* know what it needs, what it requires — and it will “call for” that very thing. I’ve learned to heed the wisdom of the body, rather than the clamoring of the “brat in the brain” who just wants-wants-wants … I’ve learned to savor the intensity of smaller, flavor-rich, fully-present portions of food, rather than the mindless gulping of heaps of empty & dissatisfying faux-food. As I eat, I’m very cognizant of the connection between what I’m eating, and how I will feel later, both physically and emotionally … the moment of “bliss” of downing that greasy-whatever isn’t worth the lead-in-the-gut feeling that stays with me, and the sluggishness of mind that comes with it. I much prefer enjoying the body I’m wearing, than to feel the weight of suffering that comes with choosing cheap-thrill foods.
Telling myself another story has been huge … once I saw the lies I was believing, that enslaved me to bulimia … once truth came in like a Light that absorbed those lies, living out in health became second-nature … and the struggle evaporated.
I can honestly say it has never once occurred to me, in the past nine years, to resort back to the behavior that consumed me for the previous two decades. Freedom means no more struggle … victory means the battle is over.
And I don’t for a minute believe that I’m some sort of elusive exception ….
Shalom, Dena
L’shanah tova! which is to say “Have a good year!” as we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and the launch of your expanded Presence in cyberspace.
Great narrative. It stands on its own re: our physical life. It works also as an allegory re: our spiritual life. It refers to your inner life-wisdom and awakens our own. It tells your story even as it tells the story of us all. It is a contemplation aspiring to an action that will both transform and empower you and us.
You issue a challenge not to over-rely on institutionalized medicine, especially since your formation has truly prepared you to take cognizance of and to do what is required. You also swore off the easy path trading the cheap grace of external supplements for the costly grace of internal self-renewal. You did not buy into the delusion that it would be easy but you did change from a dreary obligational to an inspiring aspirational storyline.
This is rich and I look forward to the pearls others will find in this field of yours, which you apparently purchased by sacrificing much else that you previously owned — or did it own you? Now your wealth resides in Whomever possesses you …