::Earth-Shattering Distinctives::

:: Tuesday, May 03, 2005 ::

Caution: More American Dietary Overload

I rented "Super-Size Me" when it first came out on DVD, and was fascinated by the contrast between the subject's girlfriend's vegetarian diet with his MacDonald's diet. I thought, "How can he eat like that with all of his girlfriend's wonderful food around him at home for a month?" I couldn't do it. As surely as I'd succomb to a rich dessert or creamy cheesy casserole sooner or later after a strict diet of tofu, lentils and cucumbers, I would have to dive into veggies and whole grains after that much fast food for even a couple of days. My body will simply scream, "GIMME!" like a fussy newborn.

I was a vegetarian in my early years in college for a lot the same reason a lot of college students become vegetarians - the environment, New-Age enlightenment, etc. I didn't stay with it long, 1. Because of Biblical food liberty which is diametrically opposed to the Eastern concept of vegetarianism improving one spiritually and 2. Because I simply love meat. Bill and I both strongly prefer our steaks rare. I always laugh when he says, "Rise, kill and eat!" after his blessing of the meal. And I always make jokes about how I want my meat to make hoofprints in my potatoes.

I was having a talk with our downstairs neighbor recently, and we both came to the conclusion over hot tea that the reason America is so fat is because we can get virtually ANYTHING we want to eat ANYTIME of the day INSTANTANEOUSLY. If I want Chinese food at 2:00 AM (I'm not saying I do, at least not today!) I can get it. There's a twenty-four hour grocery store down the street where I can buy stuff from the deli or in the frozen food section if I want something right away; or if I feel like cooking in the wee hours of the morning, I can buy some staples and some Chinese spice packets. An equation with any variables works:

Food + Hour = instant palatal satisfaction

On top of that, add holidays, our church and club potlucks, All You Can Eat buffets, huge portions at restaurants, fellowships in each others' homes which center around the table... etc.

I have found that the eating of whole foods works best for me for weight control - lean meats, whole grains, vegetables, and only four servings of fruit a day because of the sugar. Sometimes my diet includes vegetarian meals when I want less fat calories. In my twenties, simply controlling my portions of any food I want worked, but now that I'm 37, I can't just eat anything I want to anytime I want to like our culture allows. I've fought it, but I can't fight it anymore. I have to wake up to reality and my metabolism and change with my body. If I want to lose a few pounds, I have to have a strategy, and work at it. That means chopping veggies and stir-frying when it's just easier to throw a veggiless (neologism alert!) casserole with mushroom soup together. It means having a piece of fruit or vegetable before bedtime when I really want cookies and cocoa, peach cobbler or ice cream.

Just like with my post about cleaning house, I've found that looking at the whole picture just exhausts me, and it's better to eat the elephant in tiny chunks - so to speak. Developing one or two eating habits is enough of a goal, even if you still have a lot of bad ones. Be happy about developing one habit! Maybe it's eating a piece of fresh fruit instead of a rich dessert at bedtime, maybe it's baking instead of deep frying. Perhaps it's substituting sugar for Splenda or molasses for iron. It could be eliminating calories from drinks during the day and drinking more water with meals. Always do everything day to day with the basic knowledge of your salvation in Christ - as the Heidelberg Cathechism says - "all things must be made subservient to my salvation". You are his precious daughter. He loves you and He'll never stop doting on you or let you go. When you establish one tiny habit, be happy and thank the Lord for it. If you mess up one meal, or one day, just start over again - sort of the way sin and repentance work. Once you've started over with a new moment, don't bring up the mistake again, even to yourself.

I'm fortunate to have a husband who constantly tells me how beautiful and sexy I am, no matter what my hormones tell me, what my favorite outfit shouts at me, or what the bathroom scale says. I know a lot of women are not affirmed that way, and it makes it even more difficult to lose weight if they have to. Even if I didn't have my husband, I have the Lord who is my Husband, and His word tells me that He's satisfied with me because of Christ. What a beautiful promise, no matter what we eat or drink. No wonder Jesus told us not to worry about it.

:: Mal du siecle 6:53 AM |