Savor the Flavor

1Corinthians 9:27

27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected. (American Standard Version)

27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified. (New King James Version )

 27 but I pommel my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (Revised Standard Version)

Paul took care of his body.  I'm sure (99.9% sure) that Paul was not into self-mutilation; that's not what he's talking about.  Also he is not talking about going to a restaurant that has all those different "food bars".He also writes to the church in Corinth that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3 and 6).  I did not take care of my body and now I am "paying" for it.  Since I mainly use the New International Version, I did not realize how the Revised Standard was worded.  But when the Bible was written in English, a translator decided to use pommel.  Now from watching the Olympics, I recognize that word (and who says TV is not educational).  The apparatus used in Olympics named the pommel horse is due to the two handles the gymnast uses to hold on to while doing their routine.

So why all this rambling.  I am finally losing weight and consciously giving an effort to it.  When anyone loses weight, you usually here the question: "How are you doing it?"  So I wanted to share with you how I am doing.

First of all I am not doing a diet plan. No eating only protein as some diets say. No eating grapefruit (that was a diet several years ago). No giving up carbs, starches or sweets.   

I have given up a few things, well, not given up but replaced.  The first thing I did was stop drinking Mt. D*w.  That was my choice due to my heart getting out of rythym and beating too fast(dx: afib).  I had to have shots for this and they were extremely painful (they were given in the abdomen).  A friend of ours in Ohio had the same problem and she had to have surgery to fix it. Then...are you ready for this?  You better be sitting down to read this next sentence. I finally stopped drinking soda (pop) completely.  I substituded lemonade and tea for the soda.  Eventually after years of "preaching" from my mom, wife, friends and co-workers I started to drink water (there are people that are stubborn like me; the more you tell them they shouldn't do something, they are going to do it that much more; I may have given up soda earlier...who knows?).  I do not eat at fast-food places.  I eat tortilla chips (they're baked not fried) instead of so many potato chips (I still have occassionally).

Diets are not "cookie-cutter".  One diet does not fit all (pun intended).  But this is not a diet, it is a change in eating.  My wife Jane grew up in a family that nothing is thrown away.  We would not leave the table until every dish was cleaned out.  Now, I leave the table when I am full.  If there is food left over, it is warmed-up for another meal.  Once-in-a-while we will have a buffet meal where I will clean out the fridge and freezer and fix food that wouldn't make a meal by itself but served with other dishes makes a meal. 

Do you enjoy eating.  Some people eat due to pyschological tendencies.  They feel they have no control or are being controlled, so they eat to have control over that food.  Actually, they are still being controlled.  Some eat because they are bored.  I was that kind of eater for years!  So, change your thought process.  Instead of enjoying eating, enjoy the food you're eating.  It is kind of like going to a wine tasting.  You take a sip of wine and let it linger in your mouth (never done it; again learning from TV).  Somebody took the time to go grocery shopping, preparing the food and putting it on the table.  Enjoy it.  This is something new I am doing.  Everyone has their favorite food(s).  I take my time more eating.  I have heard it say to chew each bite 32 times.  I don't do that but I allow my tastebuds to enjoy what's going into my mouth.  Instead of stopping and smelLing the roses, chew the food and enjoy the taste.  The faster you eat, the sooner you are going to be hungry again.

My goal is 50 pounds. I have lost 36.5 pounds.  After I reach 50 pounds, I will set a new goal.  I don't know what the new number will be.  Maybe not as high.  Seems like forever to lose this much.  Maybe higher since I am have learned some "tricks" along the way.

If you want to lose weight and use what I am using, fine.  If you use what I am using and don't lose weight, you can't sue me because I do not have a medical degree and I am not giving medical advise.  I just want to finally share with you my accomplishment and how I feel I am doing it.  Maybe what I am doing is all "hog-wash" and is only a coincidence but I am going to continue to do what I am doing.

So in conclusion...

     you are not giving up (that mentality tells your body you are taking  something away; we don't like stuff taken away from us; observe a  child's reaction when you do that to them) but replacing

    leave the table when you are full

    enjoy what you are eating...SAVOR THE FLAVOR

Skinnier in Christ,

Jeff

PS: I apologize for the spelling errors in the last blog.  I used spell-check this time so hoplefully there are fewer spelling errors.