Little Addictions (Sugar)

I have a confession to make!  I am addicted to Social Media and Sugar!  Surely, I am not the only one but I am finding it to be more of hindrance the longer it goes on.  People may think, “oh well, that’s common” or “no big deal” but it’s really becoming a big deal as it saps my time and my energy and feeds a self loathing that paralyzes.  I know it’s not an addiction that is going to kill me like hard drugs or severe alcoholism with a rock bottom sad story (unless you count the fact that sugar feeds cancer cells, causes diabetes and is the biggest factor in the obesity crisis) but it is sucking away my joy and my dreams.  

I am, and probably have always been an emotional eater.  Chocolate and home baked goods are my chosen poison and I am a great baker, if I do say so myself.  That afternoon energy dip, that stressful situation, PMS, bad night’s sleep or even that celebration are all reasons to eat something delicious and insulin spiking.  I have tried different sugar alternatives and found most of them wanting in taste or just plain disgusting.  I know you can change your taste buds and it’s all about what you get used to but I am not up for weird after tastes.  

Of course with that inability, or perhaps determination, to not change comes the extra weight.  I did my BMI (body mass index) measurement the other day and was disappointed and embarrassed to say I am considered obese.  Overweight, yes.  But Obese, that was a surprise!  I know people can say it’s not an accurate assessment and all that jazz but it really was a bit of a “Wow” moment for me.  

Vanishing Excuses

In the past I could use lack of time, lack of energy, little kids, etc. as an excuse.  But I have more time than ever now that my kids are back in school, my energy levels are up from some improvements to my health and my youngest is nearly 10!  My excuses are all dried up and the real reason is all “up in my face”.  The problem is me!  The problem has always been me!  Of course those reasons made things harder of course but if I really had wanted it maybe I would have done it.  

This year I turned 40.  I have begun to think about the future and my and my husband’s health a little more.  I want us to be active, healthy and our midlife and later years to be without one health problem or another. No one wants to feel as though they are a burden to their spouse or their kids, but a blessing instead.  

So, saying all this means I have to do something.  Honestly, I feel like a kid kicking and screaming being dragged away from something I love.  I remember when I was young and exercise was easy.  It is not easy anymore, I am shamefully out of shape.  Walking up a flight of stairs is breathtaking!  Literally!  But then this quote I saw on Facebook the other day really stood out to me.  

Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.

Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard.

Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard.

Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard.

Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.

-Sean H

Choosing the Right Hard

So, being overweight and unhealthy is hard but so is being fit,  What am I going to choose?  Obviously, the wise choice would be to get fit.  I need to learn how to control my desire for the quick pleasurable hit of sugar for the lasting benefit of my health.  Not a fad diet but a lifestyle change.  I need to consistently make the right choices, day in and day out.  From my point of view, that is very simple but very hard .  I am not one to be considered very self disciplined!  I am in battle with, (and find myself angry at) myself on a regular basis for my constant distraction and inconsistency.  External motivation gets my mojo going but my internal motivation is the pits.  My only hope is Jesus!  I am so thankful I was raised in a Godly family and was too scared for any risky types of behaviour as I might have ended up a drug addict had I experimented.    

Abundant Life

We as Christians have all heard that the body is a temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17) but the thing that gets me in my conscience is all the things I won’t be able to do if I am unhealthy and sick.  I can’t be the mom, wife, daughter, community member and hopefully someday, nanny (grandma to most of you) that God has called me to be.  God wants us to have full and awesome lives as John 10:10 says, “I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly”. Sure, Jesus heals but wouldn’t it be better to avoid sickness in the first place?!  Isn’t that just being a good steward of what he has given us? 

I don’t know about you, but I really need a deeper closeness with Jesus to make those good choices, day in and day out.  Instead of emotionally eating, I need to bring my emotions to Jesus for soothing. He is better than the sugar high and crash of chocolate any day. I realize I cannot and will probably never be able to do it alone.  That is the beauty of his presence in our lives.  He is always, always, always there and as we walk in the Spirit we will not fulfill the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16).