Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control (Proverbs 25:28).
Self control is a spiritual issue. When we lack discipline, we are open to every invader that can come our way, whether it is what we watch or what we eat. I’ve mentioned in previous posts that I am working on my personal discipline where eating is concerned.
In my case, another part of the problem is that I need to better educate myself what kinds of foods I should eat. My friend, Dr. Steve, has been helping me in that regard. specifically, he has been teaching me about sugar/insulin/carbs etc. You can click over to his site to read more.
At the same time, an Atlantic Essay considers why America’s obesity is a very complex problem. It is written by a young man who had bariatric surgery because of his weight problem.
By 2015, four out of 10 Americans may be obese. Until last year, the author was one of them. The way he lost one-third of his weight isn’t for everyone. But unless America stops cheering The Biggest Loser and starts getting serious about preventing obesity, the country risks being overwhelmed by chronic disease and ballooning health costs. Will first lady Michelle Obama’s new plan to fight childhood obesity work, or is it just another false start in the country’s long and so far unsuccessful war against fat?
HT: Crunchy Con
I am working on this every day! I’d love to stop in to see you on this little tour I’ve got going. We could split a salad! =)
I told Kristi that I’d weigh 400 pounds when I get back if I didn’t have a plan. I’m doing WeightWatchers which makes me write down everything I eat and plan what I’m going to eat. All part of being more intentional in my life (self-control). This is bleeding over from my ‘ministry life’ where I keep asking myself questions about what is most important for me to do and am I doing those things.
I’m serious about getting together sometime in the next couple of weeks.
Thanks for this Chris, and for your candor. I’ve just finished one of the most important reads in a long time by Gregg Ten Elshof titled I Told Me So: Self-deception and the Christian Life, which I will be doing a review on at my blog shortly. It has tremendous value for this issue you raise, among many, many other sins that so easily beset us.
Blessings and grace to you!
The problem I usually have is in the winter. During the Spring and Summer months I am out and active and I tend to watch what I eat so I can run longer, or this year, play softball better. The winters in Illinois are brutal so the only thing I want to do is sit inside and eat. It is a self control issue though, that’s for sure. J. Mac said he sometimes says no to certain foods just to train himself in self control. Thanks for the reminder right before dinner!
Jess, it is the same for me with Illinois winters. This afternoon I was able to take a writing break and go for a walk.
I have been thinking about this so much recently as we’ve been working on it in ourselves and in our kids. We are constantly frustrated by the jokes that make light of gluttony even within our church. Why is this sinful behavior something that we feel comfortable laughing about? Recently, there was some teaching about God’s sovereignty and our responsibility. It didn’t seem as though there was a good balance between the two. The idea was, “God has our days numbered, so go ahead and eat that piece of pie because you can’t add any days to your life.”
Erin, Jamie and I have been discussing the fact that we need to prepare our children now for being disciplined. Of course, some of us grew up in a context where discipline was modeled given that our mother worked so hard at this area. Seriously. But, I have not been setting the right example. And, it is a spiritual issue.