July 13, 2007 9:51 AM
My Diet Journey
Dear BarbaraI've been meaning to post more about this since I went back on this diet 6/28 to lose the final 32 pounds in my goal to lose 102 (though I may end up losing another 10 after that). At my top weight I weighed 252 pounds. I'm not going to embarrass myself by publishing a picture here, but you can see one here. Suffice it to say I am horrified at this point that I allowed that to happen to my body.
A few days ago you mentioned the Fast Track Detox diet and how much that has worked for you. I was motivated (still am) and bought a copy. As I'm reading through it (maybe I'm dense) I don't understand how to follow this diet.
Can you describe what you did during the 11 days, each phase and what you ate? Also it sounds like you referenced this book for your entire weight loss. Is that right? Did the detox give you the push to eliminate flour/sugar/etc and that caused you to shed pounds? What are you doing for exercise and when (you sound like an incredibly busy gal!)?
Thanks for sharing. I really enjoy your blog.
B
My Body. I like the way that sounds. It seems like for a number of years it wasn't my body at all. I did not feel proud of my body - and despite my denial and thinking it really didn't matter, it mattered a lot. It made a tremendous difference in our family that I was so overweight and so not myself. Of course, I wouldn't have admitted it then.
I think inside every fat person is the natural body screaming to be free. Losing weight has been a spiritual journey for me - I've discovered many things about myself. It's truly been like breaking free of another bondage - my long-ago history includes drug addiction and alcoholism - and that always is worth the cost.
The cost is high, but not unreasonable. It just means not making food an idol in your life. For believers, this is right up there in the first commandment: Thou shalt have no other gods before me. If you are seriously overweight, then you are putting food before God. Period. Does that make you a bad person? No, it just makes you a sinful human being – and if you get honest about it, you’ll understand that no matter how perfect the rest of your character, this is your struggle just as other people have theirs. But the point of our life on earth is to struggle with sin to become more conformed to the image of Christ. If I were addicted to pornography or shoplifting or gambling, I would strive to overcome that sin. If I am addicted to food, the call on my life means I must overcome that addiction.
What if we don't eat a lot but tend to gain weight (slow metabolism, maybe)? First, there’s the fact that many people are in denial about how much they eat. Until I actually went on a strict diet I had no idea how much I was eating.
But the bottom line is: As long as our food intake is too great for our bodies to metabolize properly, then we must simply cut back to what our bodies can handle. Claiming life is unfair because Sally can eat more than I and get away with it is just ridiculous. I have kids with disabilities who must work MUCH harder to achieve what their typical peers achieve with ease - things like buttoning shirts and fastening pants. Life is not an equal playing field - you deal with the raw material you've been given and you do your best to create something beautiful and meaningful out of it.
Being fat is like wearing a big sandwich board sign that says "I'm Self-Indulgent." Does that make you worse than other people? No. Other people have sin in their lives too - pride, unforgiveness, lust, envy, whatever. It's just that theirs is more easily hidden.
My advice to anyone who is overweight - from someone who has crossed over the mountain and is on the downhill side - is to just do it. Make a decision and commit it to the Lord. Confess to Him how fat has interfered with your life. Take personal responsibility for the character flaws (sin) that your fat signifies. Surrender your will and your life AND YOUR BODY to Him. Throw yourself on His mercy and grace.
I'm not saying this sanctimoniously or judgmentally. As a normal human being who struggles with sin, I am not judging anyone because they are overweight - I'm just calling out to you as someone who's rediscovered the wonder of life lived in a more normal-sized body. My way of showing love may be different than others – mine comes out in trying to be honest about my self and calling others to personal responsibility. I hope my readers understand that.
Wow. This is not what you asked about is it? But it’s been so long since I wrote a diet post, I’ve really been trying to find some time to put together a piece on what I’m doing right now.
Here are the facts: Between February and September last year I lost 80 pounds on the Fast Track Detox One-Day Diet, a variation of the Fat Flush Plan. The “One-Day” Diet is actually 11 days – seven days of prep, 1 day fast, 3 days of post-fast. I just recycled the first 8 days – on the prep diet for seven days, fast one day, prep seven days, fast.. . .
During that time I did not get into fancy recipes. I simply cooked myself some of the vegetables and chicken or fish. I also had hard-boiled eggs and canned tuna. One apple a day.
It was very strict – I even had to give up coffee and diet sodas. But that was what I needed personally to break my addiction to food. See, for me the point wasn’t spending a lot of time thinking about what I was going to eat and looking up recipes and food prep. I needed to disassociate myself from my messed-up relationship with food. I also needed fast results so I would be motivated to persevere.
It’s hard to explain to someone who hasn’t been through it. I will say the first five days were the worst. You have to understand that I am responsible for feeding nine other people who do not have weight problems (hubby and 8 kids because my 2 college guys are home for the summer). That means I go to the grocery store and Costco. I keep the refrigerator and pantry full and in order. And I cook all the meals. So the whole time I’m dieting, I’m cooking normal meals for my family and not touching their food. It’s a discipline – and I believe it’s been very, very good for me.
Once the first five days are through, though, it does get easier. I’ve seen this happen twice now.
Between September and June 28 I maintained my weight – give or take five pounds. This spring I made several false starts on my diet. I found it was harder to gear up when I had only 32 pounds to lose as opposed to 102. I was worried that my addiction was starting to creep back in.
I’m now on Day 14 this time around. I’ve lost 10 pounds (5 were the extra five I was fluctuating on) so I still have 22 pounds left. And the possibility that at 150 pounds I may decide I need to lose 10 or 15 more. What I'm doing now is the Fast Track Plan with fasting every Friday.
I think the reason it was harder this time was because I’m so pleased with my appearance compared to where I was. But my son Zachary (who, like me is an ENTJ and knows I appreciate honesty) suggested I get busy on finishing what I started. And he’s right.
I am also exercising more now – and as I get thinner, it seems unbelievably easier to move. I feel so young and alive and free.
Which is why I want to urge anyone out there who’s ready for a challenge and a change to Just Do It! Read my diet archives, starting with the oldest entries. Look for before/after pictures of people who’ve succeeded (just google before and after diet). Think of the example you will be to your children of discipline and sanctification. Imagine the journey as you depend on God to get you through it – and how much better you’ll be prepared to be a witness to His working in your life.
And just remember: If I did it, you can too.
Comments
Remembering a comment you made awhile back kept me from getting too lax about my weight, and even helped me get down to a healthy weight before getting pregnant again. You made the comment that it is much easier to lose that extra 10 or 20 pounds now than it will be to lose the weight when it turns into an extra 100. I also made this comment to my husband recently (kindly, I hope) when he began to rationalize his weight gain as no big deal. He thought about it, and realized that he didn't want to struggle with it when he can simply make better choices now.
Posted by: Vida | July 13, 2007 11:59 AM
Go Barbara Go!
It's great when you so frankly talk about these things. I just had baby #3 and it's easy for me to get into whining and excuses with weight.
Keep on living in the truth!
~Melissa
Posted by: Melissa | July 13, 2007 1:59 PM
Thank you, Barbara, for sharing your testimony with regard to your weight loss. Your candid approach to the topic and your desire to be honest in a loving way are wonderful. Your weight loss is inspiring.
May your motivation grow as you see your goal weight inch ever closer!
Posted by: Jana (sidetrack'd) | July 13, 2007 4:26 PM
Thanks for the info. I'm starting this next week, while most of my family is gone to camp. I'd appreciate prayers as I once again begin this journey of confession/hopeful repentance in the area of food.
Posted by: Barb | July 13, 2007 6:57 PM
Being fat is like wearing a big sandwich board sign that says "I'm Self-Indulgent."
Ouch. I'm going to have to tape that one up somewhere. I've never been overweight, except the month after my babies are born, but feel I'm gluttonous nonetheless and have moments of self-pity involving chocolate and ice-cream.
Posted by: carrien | July 13, 2007 11:40 PM
What I don't understand is how a one-time activity (your more-than-one-day diet) results in permanent change.
Sure, I understand needing to have "sensible eating habits" but I don't understand the how/whys dropping and holding.
Is that explained in the book?
Posted by: Amy Jane | July 15, 2007 2:17 AM
Hi Amy Jane -
Actually, it's not MY one-day diet - I just used the Fast Track Detox as a template. The basic Fat Flus has a maintenance section. I didn't read it. I know what good eating habits are - as most of us do - and don't have time to read something I can figure out on my own. But it's there for someone who needs it.
The most important issue for me was breaking the hold food had in my life and learning self-discipline. I maintained my weight for 10 months - within a five-pound stretch - by simply not consuming more calories than my body could handle. This meant saying no to my desires DAILY. I do know people who've lost the same amount of weight and put it back on (I even know people who've had gastric bypasses and managed to gain back after losing weight!).
I was -am - just bound and determined that I will never be fat again. There is no way that I would put food before the energy and vitality I have now. No way.
Self-control is what it's all about.
Posted by: barbara | July 15, 2007 9:40 AM
