I've been listening to the book of Genesis over and over. With each time, I always notice something that I had not before. Maybe with each different situation, something new is brought to my attention. Whatever the case may be, I am now at a point of really trying and desiring to apply myself from the inside out instead of the outside in like I have been in the past.
In Genesis, God gave man and animals every seed-bearing plant and tree with fruit to be our food. He doesn't mention meat, dairy, processed sugars, or cupcakes. Of course this was before the fall of man- when all was perfect with the world. It is no longer that way, no matter how hard we try to imagine or make it to be. Yet, there are still traces that I am finding of this access to life beyond the curse of sin and death. Never does life on earth stop at salvation.
Meanwhile, it amazes me how God never blesses off on progress being made in a permanent state when it takes place from the outside in. Humans judge primarily on the outward appearance; therefore, we look for progress and change in the same manner. That has and will NEVER last! Get it through your thick brain, Evelyn!! For example, I met a woman who had just become a member of Weight Watchers for the 25th time. Yes, 25th time. I didn't care about what the problem was until I first asked her what her goal was. Her goal was to be skinny. I threw up a little in my mouth when I heard that. I know of plenty of 'skinny' people that are in no way healthy. Some may think it's a blessing to be able to eat anything at any amount and not gain much weight. Personally, I consider that more to have the ability to become a curse because nothing good can come from a wild appetite in the land of American food. Imagine the havoc that is caused within the body.....nasty.
My Genesis is not about being skinny, thin, slim, or look 'normal'- whatever that means. I think diets are the devil, and despise them strongly. This is about me learning- VERY SLOWLY- what it means to become the body that I was created to use while on this earth. I can't use my body at it's fullest potential if it's being bogged down with a host of messy foods and mindsets. I know this much about myself, I have to start my lifestyle change VERY SLOWLY. I am not a cold turkey person, no matter how emotionally charged I may feel in the beginning. That emotion will fade once the first headache from sugar withdrawals comes up.
Once again, SLOWLY.
Slowly, I have worked out fast food. Next will be meat and dairy. Luckily, eating red meat is very rare for me, so that won't be difficult to remove should I choose to do so. Cutting out fried food, too. I hate seafood, so that's out. Oh, my boxes of wonderful PastaRoni and cans of soup- they've been cut out completely! While doing research, I discovered that the only good thing I got out of my boxed and canned processed foods was convenience. Convenience birthed a desire for quick gratification, which led me to some pretty disgusting choices. You may be thinking of junk food- nope- diet foods. Or at least I thought they were good for me. Not true at all.
Just like working out your salvation is a slow process for your spirit, so is learning to eat right. SLOWLY. Because of our hectic lifestyles, taking the time to prepare wholesome foods is not a priority or desire. Then, who wants to spend X amount of dollars on fruit and veggies when they can get 5 boxes of mac n' cheese for three bucks? Besides, how do you cook rhubarb? My cashier could not tell the difference between my cucumbers and my green zucchini squash. Lastly, what's the point of me eating the okra if I've fried the nutrients to death? Like I said, for me, this is SLOWLY.
Moreover, it's been a mental change for sure. Eating healthy because I crave it rather than have to has become less of a burden. Not judging others because they do not choose wholesome over quick is changing as well. Biggest of all, getting the time limit out of my head. You all know what that is. People who diet always set time limits- waiting for the day when they can celebrate their accomplished weight with a trip to Krispy Kreme. None of that diet mentality. No mindless eating in front of the television is a hard habit to break. It's like the fork and remote are made for each other! Hahaha. After a plate, I don't really remember tasting anything or getting full. If I'm going to eat, I want to enjoy it fully. Lastly, I will take advantage of the farmers markets that are so prevalent here in Colorado- the healthiest state in the U.S.- Mississippi has been the fattest for the past decade. Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas- ya'll aren't that far behind!
This has nothing to do with vanity, but everything to do with health. I'm not worried about how I will look or the number on a scale. Two people on this earth are defined by punishing numbers rather than their names- prisoners and dieters. I plan to become neither.
More veggies, please!
