It’s pretty obvious that this thing is starting to normalize so unless something drastic happens I’m going to stop discussing the weight.   This morning I weighed in at 186.6 so that is right in line.   I will report the overall weight changes at the end of all this.

 

More importantly I want to start discussing the mental and emotional changes.   I’ve read tons of stuff about the “spiritual awakening” that is brought on by fasting. Although not all the books are specific (Mark, Mathew and Luke) but it is implied that Jesus’ dialog with Satan is after his 40 day fast. It is also implied that he dealt with several temptations during the fast itself. There are several accounts of important decisions and awakenings during fasting in the Bible.

 

I have to admit I am noticing two things; first often times satiation or being satisfied is unknowingly done through food.   We’re depressed; we’re stressed, etc. so we eat. This is because eating and digesting have a very calming and comforting physiological sensation as it should, because the intent of eating is to nourish our bodies.   Because of this we have created another issue in which we associate eating with celebration. Nourishing our bodies should be celebrated but what we do is celebrate other events through the attempt to nourish our bodies. None of this is bad but we as a culture don’t tend to eat “healthfully.” In addition we normally add alcohol to those celebrations. And as we all know alcohol has huge calories that we don’t burn effectively.

 

Again please note I am not passing judgment on anyone. In fact that is why I’ve gained from 162 lbs to 197 lbs in the past 7 years.  Life has been incredibly good to me in several ways and maybe I have been celebrating in unhealthy fashions! Yes although I doubt anyone as every seen me drunk, I know I drink a lot more often in the past 7 years. Additionally Starbucks has been an over indulgence during that same time frame.   With the Training Center, we have had several events all centered around food.   One of the reasons we stopped offering snacks at Graduations. 

 

So where is all this heading?   Well this is a huge awakening. While fasting one has to find other ways of being satiated. This can be strangely difficult.   Additionally, now celebrating is also as difficult.   Do you know how hard it is to watch an exciting football game without something to eat? How hard it is to watch a movie without a coke and popcorn? Now you have to find satiation in the activity itself. You have to learn to truly appreciate the game, movie, etc. for what it is. The time you spend socializing is now not spent around the food but actually around the people you are with.   Yes, this is becoming a huge awareness. Hey- you know I think I kind of like Miss Jea. Ha! Kidding!

 

Well, I’ve rambled on enough… tomorrow the “Conversations in My Head…”