Holidays. Birthdays. Vacations. Baby showers. Anniversaries. All of these and many more things will present a challenge for any weight-loss focused dieter, but for the person who is living a healthy lifestyle, they do not present such a grand issue. The reason for this is that the dieter sees all foods found at events like this as "off limits," and therefore covets them even more. This person will likely dive head first into the vanilla cake and not come up until completely over-indulged. For the person who is focused on living a healthy lifestyle, they realize that there will be special occasions where less than ideal food choices will be available, so they will opt to eat as best as possible with what is given, allowing for their special item of desire, and enjoying every bite! They do not feel any need to over-indulge in this item because it is nothing off-limit or coveted. It is an accepted and enjoyed food choice, so who wants to end something savored with a stomach ache from overeating?! This person will not get burnt out from bland and redundant meal or food options, because everything is acceptable, but in moderation and portions. This person learns to love and yearn for their fruits and vegetables, because they know the immense nutritional value they hold and how great they feel when their foods are encompassed by them. The dieting, weight-loss guru learns to despise and resent their fruits and veggies because they are "forced" to have them to "keep the calories down." This person eventually gives up and loses control, gaining right back whatever weight was lost, if not more. No mindsets have been changed. No lessons have been learned, so nothing sticks. The perspective is wrong.
If we want to make changes that will last a lifetime we must always be focused on creating a lifestyle that allows us to ENJOY life, NOT let it pass us by! If that means incorporating sweets, fried foods, etc. into the mix, let's do it, but knowing that this will be an allowed food option to be enjoyed within reason! Having a pile of fried chicken every day of the week would not be a wise idea, but enjoying one fried chicken breast with dinner one night a week would be great! Eating a tub of Cold Stone each week would likely not be the smartest idea, but enjoying 1/2 cup of low fat ice cream each day would be an acceptable treat! Substituting healthy alternatives for the foods that are not that important and enjoying the delicacies that we truly enjoy and savor are a wise and balanced approach to allow the concept "everything is permissible- but not everything is beneficial," (1 Corinthians 10:23).
In addition to making wise food choices with special allowances for special food items, we should be engaged in daily physical activity to keep our bodies strong and healthy. Though eating well may get the body to a certain level of fitness, physical exercise is the other part of the equation that must be met to truly offer optimal health. 1 Corinthians 9:27 says, "I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should...." It is in both our and God's best interest for us to maintain physically healthy bodies, and our physiology dictates the immense benefits to doing so. God designed us for just such a thing! I mean, who has not heard that exercise releases endorphins, which make us happy? God wants to bless us, but when we are getting in our own way through laziness and lack of control or discipline, we cannot experience the true freedom He wants for us. Take control! Discipline your body and your life to reflect your commitment to achieve a healthy and fit lifestyle! Work at it daily, and get back up on the horse when you fall! Never give up! Stop making excuses, start doing...the results will follow.
