So… in an effort to be less sad on this poor blog, and hopefully incite some sort of comment from some of you ;) I will write about something exciting that’s been happening in my life…or at least I’ll try!
I was asked again today what “plan” I’m on in regards to my weight. I never know how to answer that question. The change in my life isn’t temporary, and I haven’t followed anyone’s plan. Perhaps that’s why its been working…because its the real “me” cooking and eating…not someone else’s idea of what I should be. I didn’t start “dieting”…actually quite the opposite. I decided that I never wanted to diet again. Instead, I wanted to be healthy. In a decision to love myself, and be honest about who/what that actually is, I accepted my body for what it was…and began to work on health instead. Once you start paying attention to what’s healthy, you start reading labels. (I never buy something just because it says “organic” on the label. “Organic” does not mean “healthy”) Once you start reading labels you realize how much sugar, salt, etc. is actually in the foods you’re eating. So I started making more and more things from scratch…so I could control what was in it. Less salt, sugar, etc and more vegetables. I have fallen in love with my magic bullet, and fear that it is nearing the end of its life span already! I puree vegetables and hide them in everything (mostly the ones that Jesse and Ephram don’t love to eat) and then also load my meals up with visible vegetables that I know they like. I think that even if I like a certain vegetable, it doesn’t hurt to load every meal up to the max! And then I began to think about a balanced diet. How can I possibly incorporate all the vegetables, fruit, protein, etc. that I actually need in a week into my diet? If you have a good long look at all the nutrients we need, it translates into a lot of food! So, you have to make your food count! I probably eat more than I used to, but I’m eating more of the things my body needs, which makes it function better and I have more energy. As my good friend Alana got me out walking more and more, the eating continued on the healthy path. This hasn’t even always been a conscious choice, I just ended up choosing foods that made me feel good instead of sick and tired…and began to crave healthy things. My taste buds have been revolutionized!
So walking grew to be 10km at times, to keep the boys napping so we could keep visiting. And months of that (in the dead of winter I might add!) turned into a triathlon. Which has now turned into another one in July (yikes!).
Its hard to describe this new awareness about food without its context. We all know the trend towards green living, blah blah blah. But a wholistic awareness of the world around me set the stage for this change in my life. Recycling, fair trade, reduced consumption, reduced waste, etc. are all things that are on my mind as I go through the day. And the funny thing is, I’m not at all burdened by it! Rather the opposite, I feel great, and I actually enjoy reading and learning about these things. Along with this came a deep gratitude to God for everything He has provided, and not wanting to take it for granted. My ability to live in the moment and fully live that moment has been dramatically increased by this. Which you would almost think should be the opposite.
When I think about what the word organic actually means, I think “natural.” And I keep coming back to this quote from Romans–The Message “learn the unforced rhythms of grace.” When I describe myself as living organically, I think of myself as “going with the flow” of what things naturally are. And learning to love people as they naturally are. Learning to know and love myself as I naturally am. Learning to love God for who He naturally is (and not who I try to make Him). There is a trend out there towards green “organic living” that is legalistic and burdened. But not everyone who values organic living is doing it in that way. This whole process has been more about discovering the beauty of God’s creation in the world around me, and in others, and in myself too! And I love it.
