READINGS: Genesis 1-3, Matthew 1
Mom is such a health buff that for as long as I can remember, we had been drilled to "push away from the table before you feel stuffed."
I never got around to really doing that because I NEVER felt stuffed. My metabolism was, is and always will be the most well-meaning of culprits-she's a real fast one.
So, among all of us in the house, I'm the one who's always got mountains of food on hand because of hunger. And reed thin I always was, Mom could find no issue with me except that I had to get my chores done; food should not be too much of a distraction! I, of course, also had an active lifestyle that helped with the burning of all that fuel, so there!
Fast forward to present date. I'm a wife and mother now and somehow, my metabolism is still the good friend that it has always been. Although I find myself not getting any heavier after weaning my youngest angel, despite the amount of food I eat (and despite never finding the time to exercise anymore from the time I first got pregnant, and later on because of the little ones), I find that I am unable to shed the pounds I had accumulated from sensitive pregnancy to sensitive lactation to sensitive pregnancy again and sensitive lactation again. During these times, exercise was a no-no and my trusty metabolism couldn't really keep up anymore.
So here I am, not gaining weight after all those mini-events in my life (no regrets though) but unable to shed the fat stores that had gathered up. If it were only for aesthetic reasons, I'd be vain and say I don't really see any need for body contouring. Hubby likes me the way I am and Mom gave me a lot of clothes (that could pass for a young one's; what can I say, she's the elegantly fashionable sort?) that I don't really lack for ensembles! But GERD came along and now, with all the pain I've had to go through, I'm willing to reconsider another lifestyle change: diet and exercise!
There must be a gazillion things that we have all been used to from childhood. But, like Adam, Eve and Jesus, and whether it's through our own doing, or no fault of our own, we will need to adjust to those changes and make the best of everything. Life shouldn't have to end while we're still alive and kicking!
Adam and Eve sinned and were kicked out of the Garden of Eden. Jesus left the splendors of heaven to be born as suffering man. Radical changes all of them. Rather than weep at a corner and just wait until our end comes, like them, let's do something about it and, who knows, turn out to be blessings ourselves!
As for me? The diet. I am incapable of starving myself. So NO to all the weight loss plans out there; I don't like the feeling of being told NOT to eat certain foods, thank you very much. And I have an inherent fear of diet pills, drinks, teas and whatnot so NO to those, too!
So where does that leave me? Small plates! Yup! Small plates of what food I've been used to eating. No food type changes, just a change in the amount of food that I've been eating. Still not feeling sated? Go ahead and drink milk, juice, green tea and/or water! You'll feel full enough, I promise.
And the results? These and about a half-hour exercise twice a day (with rest days every fourth day, of course) and after almost two weeks, I've lost a lot of body fat! Do I still miss the amount of food I've been used to eating? Heck, yes! But, I've been assured that once I've developed abs again, GERD will be a long-lost memory so by that time, I can go back to my food romance.
Here's to hoping that all that happens before 2015 ends!
And for the rest of us out there: Take heart! Happiness is a choice. The state of being sated is also a matter of heart attitude. Choose to be happy and sated! Like our Lord!
gummygunk
kianamaiart