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Can You Hear Me Now?

Friday, January 04, 2008

Carbs Gone Bad

You know how God sometimes has to drive a point home for us...at least I'm hoping at least more than one of us has experienced God's 'not so subtle' side. Several months ago God was talking to me about 'diet' and I was obsessing about losing weight through the typical 'starve-myself-til-I-can't-take-it-anymore-or-so-it-seems' only to lose a few pounds and find a few more.

God simply told me: "Give up sugar, all refined sugar."

"But God..." I started.

So needless to say life went on...with sugar...all refined sugar. I'm a bit of a sugar addict admittedly, and when you've tried every single diet under the sun (including by not limited to): weight watchers, diet Doctors, calorie counting, low-fat, low-sodium, low-food, acupressure, exercising daily, Gym visits, pills, books ( not eating them, but reading them)...and many more I don't recall. And when you've eaten food because it's supposed to create a 'new you', and all it does is make you hate the 'old you' even more, you know something isn't right. When anorexia and bulimia seem like reasonable diet options (and yes, I'm serious), it's time to re-evaluate your mindset!

Fast forward to January 2008...I was thinking about my own personal goals and I again thought about my desire to lose this weight that continues to haunt me. So...I asked God again, "What can I do to get this weight off Lord?"

"Give up sugar, all refined sugar." He said...again.

"I'm not sure I can do it, Lord. You know how I love sugar and bread and all things refined, processed, etc." I replied (with less whining this time).

"Remember the smoking?" He asked.

I did remember the smoking (wrote about it here). I remembered how when I gave it up for God...it was actually not that hard. Sure I still occasionally crave a cigarette, but it wasn't like the times I tried to quit on my own. I haven't had a cigarette since Super Bowl Sunday, 2005.

"Okay Lord, I'll do it. I'll give up sugar for 30 days and see where we are." Like I can 'make a deal with God'.

Not surprising I think I heard him chuckle as he said, "Okay, that's a good start. Oh, when are you starting?" He asked.

"I'm starting the day after my husband's birthday, January..." I started.

"I know when his birthday is, I created him too, remember?" He answered.

"Oh that's right..." I humbly replied.

And so, in less than a week, I will be sugar-free and detoxifying my body of this overload of the legal drug I have chosen.

If only I could get as addicted to God and the Bible as I have to all the 'bad stuff'...now there's a thought. ADDICTED TO GOD!

Have a SWEET weekend.

4 comments:

Becky Wolfe said...

You brave brave girl. I wish you all the luck with your new challenge. Though I'm not much of a sweet tooth type, if God asked me to give up salty stuff, I might have a MUCH harder time.

Right now, its all about - whatever I can stomach at the moment - diet!

Dawn said...

I'm frustrated with what I have gained in the last couple of years. I wonder if I'm just now hearing something I need to hear!

Rachel said...

I long for these conversations - but think we all hear God in different ways. Maybe you are a part of that vehicle. Rock on sister.

Becky said...

I was diagnosed as a diabetic about four and a half years ago. I gave up sugar entirely. I do make bread, but I use honey in it. Now that I am four years down the road--my weight has come off slowly, BUT it has stayed off--I sometimes miss it, but it's easier to pass it over now. I have learned to make good sweet things that have no sugar, but no artificial stuff either. Just keep at it, you'll make it.