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I Just Want to Eat

I like food. Whew, I'm glad I could get that out there. Has anyone who LOVES food (probably more than we should), and being "health conscious," ever fasted? It is very difficult. Sometimes, I confess, I have fasted for the most wrong of reasons (is that a phrase? Let's say that it is): because I over -indulged and I am "effectively" punishing myself for not staying on plan. Because depriving myself of EVERYTHING will get me back on plan, right? No.

Here's the thing, last week, I fasted with my church for a very right reason. However, I knew that in the past (and was heading toward this again), I had the wrong mindset around food. So, I fasted from social media and main meals. This meant that I had breakfast (6:30am) and snacks (the fast was 24 hours 8am-8am). It meant that I would not deprive myself of anything, I was just going to limit my time frames and was aware of my intake. There was still an evening struggle at small group with the snack table, but this did not take away my prayer time for the reason we were fasting.

This brings me to the point I am trying to make: What is the heart of the fast? If I am focused on health, wellness, fitness and calories, what does a fast look like? It looks like what works for you! Just like every other day. I have discovered a lot of things about myself. I am not willing to be deprived of things I enjoy and I am not willing to give myself over to temptations that I do not enjoy. When I am fasting, I am focused on the purpose I am fasting for. Which means, no, I do not fast weekly or monthly, I personally have the wrong mindset around food and am not strong enough in that area to do so. However, I do practice fasting from other things (FaceBook and Instagram) periodically.

On another note, the experience was quite exhilarating. I came understand a little bit more about the practices of intermittent fasting and intuitive eating. I do not think I am in a place where I can be on either of these fences completely, but I do think that I can combine them occasionally when I have rest weeks from the gym and HIITs/running are not a regular part of the routine.

I like trying new things and finding ways to explore what works for me. I feel strong enough to enjoy life and experiment with life as it comes. Plus, I am learning to be creative with my family and our meals, so that is fun. It is so freeing to be able to sit down with my family and eat meals without feeling guilty that I have deviated from a program in order to do it. It is also freeing that it does not detract from my goals but helps me accomplish them to do so.

THIS is what a real "lifestyle change" is. You know, when people say, "It's not a diet, it's a lifestyle change!" and they confess that they have been in a constant over-eating pattern for weeks because they don't really want to live the "lifestyle" they were trying to accomplish overnight? Yeah, I am not talking about that one. I'm talking about changing habits over time that will push you toward clearly defined goals that you want to reach over time. You do not go from junky to Whole 30 overnight. Sorry.

PS. I am down 77 pounds and I had pancakes with real maple syrup, a fried hash brown with ketchup and some pretty sweet protein coffee for breakfast. I am also having chicken tacos for dinner. This fitness and health conscious thing is really not so bad!
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