Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Results Typical

You've all seen the adds for weightloss products on TV, or heard testimonials on the radios for the newest "metabo-booster." Every single weight loss advertisement has one thing in common: everyone who actually lost weight while on the program or taking the supplements was not typical!

Wait a minute, how inspiring is that? To know that the chances of you succesfully loosing weight is stacked against you. I want a program where the results Are typical.

Back in September of 2004, I had the top left photo taken of me while on vacation in DC. It was an eye opener. I had climbed upwards of 252 pounds and was already taken cholesterol medication samples from my doctors office to see how it would affect my liver. Not even a week after that photo, I walked into Weight Watchers, and started my flex diet.

I had been trying to loose weight for several years. I had tried everything from Atkins to E-Diets, but I think deep down, my heart wasn't into it. But, the people that I knew in my life who had lost weight, and kept it off, all came from Weight Watchers. It also helped that we had a group leader who makes me laugh, and made me want to come back for each meeting (well, except when I was the only guy there, and they all started talking recipies). But, I got down to 195 in march of 2006 and have kept it within two pounds of that goal (again, except after this past christmas, I enjoyed my dinner a wee bit too much).

Yesterday, I was studying Galations 5: 22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

This verse talks about a mysterious transformation that begins in one who believes that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Your body becomes the Temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Cor 6:19), which is to say, that God lives within you. This abiding with God begins to produce changes in your life. And the results are typical. Does this mean you check your brain in at the door and get that glazed look in your eye? No (seriously, ask anyone who knows me).

Temperance means moderation; particularly, in eating and drinking as opposed to gluttony and drunkenness. Now, I am not saying that all Christians are going to all of sudden stop over eating and over drinking (and I am well aware of medical conditions), but, in my walk that was a fruit that the Spirit produced.

Now, I pray for longsuffering, because heaven knows, I am short on it.

2 comments:

Todd R. Vick said...

Way to go Carlos! You look great. I have gained 34 pounds in the last 2 years. Yesterday I just bottomed out. I got a good look at myself in the mirror. I am a whopping 237 lbs, and I have set a goal to lose the 34 pounds in 6-8 months. Maybe we could encourage one another in this.

Chuck said...

I can testify that loosing weight and having your spouse in with you at the same time helps because both of you are eating the same food. But, WW has really worked for me and I highly recommend it.