The Secret to losing weight naturally, and for good!
 

God is so good, He has shown me that it's not the overeating that makes one fat, it is the obsession with dieting.

Dieting, counting calories, carbs, weighing my food, making list about what I eat... All of it, creates an unnatural desire for forbidden fruit. When I tell myself, "I will not eat that candy bar", my thoughts naturally focus on the thing of my desire, and that's all I can think about.

I didn't start to have a problem with food, until I started dieting. That is the whole secret. The sooner you stop dieting, thinking about being thin, thinking your fat... the sooner you will stop being obsessed with food, and you will stop gaining weight.

Here is how you do it, it's simple, every time you think about weight or related topics, just capture your thoughts. Think about something else, your obsession will subside, and you will naturally lose weight, without any effort.

Jesus, says all over the new testament that we are not supposed to be caught up in rules, in fact he specifically says "diet rules" and yet we feel righteous when we are being "good" on our diets. We are all doing exactly what the pharisees did. Telling each other about our diet, asking them about their diet, feeling judged when we are not being "good"... WE ARE FREE!

Well, I am an Atheist but this is a valid point. Just be good, free and roll with it right? I still say its less about fad diets or dieting at all, but calorie counting has helped me. Some of us have such bad habits or psychological issues with food that we need to stay accountable and feel proud of our progress or that we tried at all. But like you I stay away from diets and focus on lifestyle change, wellness and wholeness.

But if this works for you, I applaud it completely! <3

Hi Nebuchadnezzar, that is an interesting name... Thank you for your compliment, but I didn't just come up with on my own. The Bible is full of dieting advice, that is just as relevant for today, as it was in ancient times. Such as... Hebrews 13:8-9 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

Hi Kelli, like always girl I am so glad your back, please stay! I been looking into this more Kelli and I totally agree with you but it is so hard to let go of the habit of diet. I have been dieting all my life since I was 11 years old and it is so hard not to count my calories or eat what I want when I feel guilty eating it. How do you stop dieting so easy and loose? How do you capture what your thinking on dieting so easy for it is not easy thing to do for me?

HI KELLI ~ nice to have you drop by again -- I do agree with your philosophy in that we must be careful not to obsess about what we eat or drink or wear, as JESUS said in the bible in Matthew 6:25. That scripture is one of my favorites and I remind myself of it often.

However, I am MINDFUL to eat healthy, wholesome foods that are good for my body. For a while now, I have just been eating three healthy meals and a few small snacks; but just choosing nutrient-rich, whole foods.

For me, if I am not at least mindful of what I choose to eat, then I eat things that cause me to gain weight. I do think there is a big difference between being MINDFUL and obsessing though. Our spiritual health should be our #1 priority, and then we do need to take care of ourselves, our families, etc the best we can.

It is true that so many people believe the only way to live a healthy lifestyle is to "diet" (as in denying ourselves food in some way), but I think that is incorrect ...

I am reading a book right now that says we don't need to diet or starve ourselves; obsess about our bodies or exercise like maniacs, etc in order to get healthy again. I love this book called "Win the Food Fight" by Sam Grossman, as it calls for us just to eat natural, healthy foods, in moderation -- no calorie-counting, no measuring, no special foods, etc.

It is funny that he and those who have studied him and his lifestyle, believe that Sam also has found The Secret to losing weight naturally, and for good too ... as it says in the book. :lol:

I really like this way of living: it's simple, easy, uncomplicated, economical, and just plain healthy ... :D

Hey you guys!! I missed you so much too! Rosebud, I think that I had become so obsessed with dieting and measuring myself by Hollywood standards that God had to take me on a journey of letting go. At first I did gain about 20 lbs, but then it stopped. I still have to capture my thoughts, when they turn to dieting, and comparing myself to others. How I capture my thoughts Bootsie, is whenever I think the diet, calorie, I am fat... thoughts. I immediately change my thought. I say in my head or out-loud if I am alone, "II Corinthians 10:3-6 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,"

When Gary wrote that post about being only able to think one thought at a time, that really was a revelation for me, and helped me so much!

Rosebud, you probably are not as obsessed as I was, but I know there are others out there who are as addicted as I was... Not to food, but to dieting.

By the way Rosebud, you were right when you gave me the advice about my Bible study. Do you remember when you told me that I was wrong about "communing with demons" (It was right after my pecan pie story) Anyway, God has shown me, that once I give my weight loss to Him, he will give me a new heart. He is the one that will supply the faith I need, when it is time. I am not idol worshiping if I can't stop overeating... I am hurting. I love God, I wouldn't Idol worship. It took a long time for me to let go of the guilt and condemnation that Satan has used against me. I am in the process of rewriting it to be even more grace based.

I haven't been here for so long because I started to be a stumbling block for me. It was hard to keep my mind off of the things that were tripping me up... I am so glad to talk to you guys again!

Love, Kelli

I'm a believer and I'm not sure I agree with you. God speaks to people differently though. We were all made different for a reason. I don't feel like I'm obsessing with my weight by eating a healthier diet. My method is not as extreme though as other people's methods of weight loss. I have lost 60lbs so far without counting a single calorie or starving myself. 8 months ago I decided to become a vegetarian, limit sugar and limit fatty foods. 3 months ago I became a vegan because dairy was making me sick (I'm most likely lactose intolerant) and I cut out eggs because they were starting to gross me out. I've never been a big fan of meat anyway so turning vegan was not hard at all.

God does tell us to have self control. As long as we have control of our diet (by not overeating or starving ourselves) then that is the best way to go about it. I've focused on foods that God made. I've really tried to cut out a lot of processed foods because really, the fruit, veggies, nuts, whole grains and lentils He's made are perfectly nutritious. :)

:hug:KELLI ~ there was a time when I did slip into that; and the LORD helped me nip that in the bud, so2speak ... :lol: ... obsessing about my weight and dieting (when I was in my twenties). We all can slip into that if we are not careful. Then I went through a "jaded" time; and a "not being mindful enough time" ... where I gained a lot of weight ... but sometimes, I think that I may have dieted myself right into obesity ...

Oh, the flesh is so weak ... so we have to be careful & mindful at least a little bit; but as JESUS said in 2 Corinthians 12:9, "... my strength is made perfect in weakness." We have to keep our focus on GOD first -- out of that will flow the healing we need for our body, minds, and souls ...

That scripture would be a good one for the EMOTIONAL THREAD about how we think ... Indeed, we need to capture our thoughts and replace them with positive thoughts from the Word -- that can help us to heal and overcome many things in this life!

We are a constant "work in progress" aren't we, Kelli? We all are ... :hug:


KERIELAINE ~ I have some same issues as you; I had to cut down my dairy for the same reasons. I was just thinking about what you said; some of us can't eat lots of sugar, dairy, or high-fat foods; they make our bodies sick, so we have to be mindful of what we eat to some degree.

I lost my weight on the simple plan I shared above using portions only (no calorie counting). I started that for awhile but abandoned it, as it wasn't making any difference for me. I'm back to where I started and it's working for me, so why change it?

My main goal is to be healthier, and if I lose weight during the process, that will only make me healthier; and visa-versa. Your whole post is very good ... :)

Aint that the truth Rose Bud.

kerielaine, Please, please don't let what I am saying trip you up. I don't mean that anybody should just go insane and eat anything they want. What I am saying is that maybe we need to look at this differently.

For those of us who have been on this stupid roller coaster for so many years, and are so sick of dieting and worrying and thinking about what we look like... how would it feel to give up dieting all together??? Have you tried giving up dieting and without feeling guilty?

I know it goes against everything the WORLD tells us, but the things of God usually do. The more you try to abstain from something the more obsessed you become it's like a forbidden fruit. The Bible even talks about that. The following scripture is long but it perfectly illustrates what we have been doing with all our diet rules.

This is a long scripture, but worth it!!

Romans 7: 4-6 (The message) So, my friends, this is something like what has taken place with you. When Christ died he took that entire rule-dominated way of life down with him and left it in the tomb, leaving you free to "marry" a resurrection life and bear "offspring" of faith for God. For as long as we lived that old way of life, doing whatever we felt we could get away with, sin was calling most of the shots as the old law code hemmed us in. And this made us all the more rebellious. In the end, all we had to show for it was miscarriages and stillbirths. But now that we're no longer shackled to that domineering mate of sin, and out from under all those oppressive regulations and fine print, we're free to live a new life in the freedom of God.

7 But I can hear you say, "If the law code was as bad as all that, it's no better than sin itself." That's certainly not true. The law code had a perfectly legitimate function. Without its clear guidelines for right and wrong, moral behavior would be mostly guesswork. Apart from the succinct, surgical command, "You shall not covet," I could have dressed covetousness up to look like a virtue and ruined my life with it.

8-12 Don't you remember how it was? I do, perfectly well. The law code started out as an excellent piece of work. What happened, though, was that sin found a way to pervert the command into a temptation, making a piece of "forbidden fruit" out of it. The law code, instead of being used to guide me, was used to seduce me. WITHOUT ALL THE PARAPHERNALIA OF THE LAW CODE, SIN LOOKED PRETTY DULL AND LIFELESS,

*(MY Note here, this is what food has started to become to me... Dull and lifeless)

and I went along without paying much attention to it. But once sin got its hands on the law code and decked itself out in all that finery, I was fooled, and fell for it. The very command that was supposed to guide me into life was cleverly used to trip me up, throwing me headlong. So sin was plenty alive, and I was stone dead. But the law code itself is God's good and common sense, each command sane and holy counsel.

13 I can already hear your next question: "Does that mean I can't even trust what is good [that is, the law]? Is good just as dangerous as evil?” No again! Sin simply did what sin is so famous for doing: using the good as a cover to tempt me to do what would finally destroy me. By hiding within God's good commandment, sin did far more mischief than it could ever have accomplished on its own.

14-16 I can anticipate the response that is coming: "I know that all God's commands are spiritual, but I'm not. Isn't this also your experience?” Yes. I'm full of myself—after all, I've spent a long time in sin's prison. What I don't understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise. So if I can't be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God's command is necessary.

17-20 But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can't keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help! I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it. I decide to do good, but I don't really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway. My decisions, such as they are, don't result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time.

21-23 It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

24 I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question?

25 The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.


I really believe that we have been going about this all wrong. We need to stop the dieting and worrying about food and our weight. Capture our thoughts by using scripture, then the obsession will go away and we will naturally lose weight. You say you have tried everything... take a year and do this, what is there to lose. Pray about it. Ask God to show you the truth. How will that feel to be totally free of food... calories, weight, dieting, all the stuff that we become so occupied with. How will it feel for food to become DULL AND LIFELESS!!!

I feel like this is a promise and I am going to claim it. That God will make food, dull and lifeless.

Kerielaine how awesome, 60 pounds, in 8 months!:carrot: You are so right we are all different. What might work for one may not work for another but thank God we have each other for support. I been giving up sugar and yeast because I feel so much better without it. I feel like I must be doing something right because I do feel better. I tried to drink some green tea with honey last night and it was just horrible to me. I love eating healthy foods and it makes me feel bad, not body wise but soul wise when I eat something I feel I should not eat. Maybe that is not a diet thing with me but God giving me guidance?

HE!HE! Kelli we must of posted at the same time. I will try, but like Kerielaine and Rosebud Kelli , yeast and sugar , well to me is like poison and I still will do with out them. My health has improved without them so much as for indigestion ect... I eat natural foods, but I think a-lot of my weight problem may be for I am going through menopause, and getting the old hen spread. I think I need more work on my soul than my body right now.

This thread makes me so sad! Every time I try to start a thread to discuss giving up dieting, I get a lot of replies about the diet of the week, and what you eat and don't eat.

I know it's scary, dieting is like a security blanket, but I know we all know that Jesus needs to be our security. If you don't agree with me, find me scripture to back it up. New testament scripture, under the new covenant. If you follow any of the dietary laws in the Old Testament, you have to follow all of them.

Hebrews 8:13 13 In that He says, “A new covenant, ” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Please pray, this may not be for you yet... don't worry about it. Just make sure you pray and ask God to reveal the truth for you personally.

I really feel like Jesus want's all of us to stop running after the flesh. I know so much of my time was spent on the latest diet, I wasted so many years, worrying about my body. Our body is not even close to as important as our spirit, in fact compared to our spirit our body can be thrown away. God says that if your hand causes your spirit problems, cut it off. If we all spend the time we spend on dieting, discussing diets, making list, watching food programs on TV, etc., and get busy doing the tasks God sent us here to do, we would stop thinking about food, and before you know it, it will become an annoyance at times.

I hope I haven't hurt anyone's feelings, I speak from one who has suffered. It is not me to be so bold, God enables me, because I love you.

I really don't know what to say here. I am torn to even say anything because it no way shape or form do I want to hurt anyone here.

I wish we could all sit around my dining room table and have this conversation :hug:

Earlier today I decided to stay out of this thread so as not to upset my friend Kelli....but something she said has me thinking I need to share my thoughts on this matter.....and that is when she says she hopes someday for food to become dull and lifeless

I will try very hard to be brief here as so much is going through my head right now :)

First I am so happy Kelli that you are reaching your goals and foremost that you are going through Christ. God reaches us in so many different ways :)

I "think" you are telling us not to "diet" because our focus then is not on Christ, it is in fact on the diet.

Our Lord has blessed us with common sense, resources and knowledge. Just as we seek Him, if we are true to his WORD, our knowledge with diets and nutrition will become clearer.

I feel our Lord wants us to have healthy "diets"....healthy eating habits. He provides those options to us.

Unfortunately, many times, we fail at eating healthy....we fail ourselves, parents fail us, our government fails us. we find ourselves running to junk and away from healthy foods.

Just as we do in life...we run away from Jesus sometimes to "life"...the junk in life.

Jesus feeds us with His WORD....Jesus feeds us with blessings of food He has given us.

If we take God's WORD and ask Him for understanding, as we study and seek, we will receive blessings beyond our imagination...however, if one takes God's WORD and then adds a bunch of stuff to it....things that people claim they were told...and only them...then you have junk!

If you take an apple from a tree grown with water and sunshine, you will have a very special treat.....however, if you take that apple, cut it into pieces, add a bunch of chemicals and put it into a crisp on a TV dinner then you probably will have junk!

Many people have come here and lost weight that don't know Christ. Many more have come here and did not lose weight.....some of them do know Jesus as their Savior.

My personal feeling on this is that God wants us to eat healthy....to be the best we can be in body and spirit to share the Message He commands us to.

I am not a fan of folks dieting...I do think you have a point that people become preoccupied with the "rules" of dieting.

For some of those counting calories helps, others find giving up sugar works, so many different ways.

I think if a person lost weight in a healthy way that God would want them to share that with others. He created us all different and unique.

He wants us to interact and share our experiences with others...at the same time giving Him the GLORY...because, as Christians we know ALL good comes from Him and only Him.

Kelli, God wants us to focus on Him as He leads and guides us on our journey to better health and eating habits...but at the same time we need to use His resources and share with others....

I may be wrong...I am a lot of the time ;) but I really-REALLY feel God wants us to love food....to appreciate the gift of it...the times we have sharing and breaking bread with others.

The washing of Jesus feet....the feeding of the people with loaves of bread and fish....The Last Supper....manna from heaven....

all of those events God blessed those present with food.....

Nothing dull and lifeless about those events....

I am sure He doesn't want you to feel food as such.....God wants us to "feel" and enjoy all HIS blessings....

in moderation of course! ;) :hug:

Hi Gary!

Do you have scripture to back that up???

I am sorry, and this may not be for you, I am really talking to those who are addicted to dieting. They are the ones who were like me, dieting themselves to death. Frantically dieting finding no peace whatsoever. We all respect your opinion so much. I do, you have helped me immensely, but this is too important to not ask you to please back up your claims with scripture.

Oh by the way, sorry I didn't address this in the last post, but you talked about food being joyful, it is... when you have a healthy relationship with the food. Which God will give you when you let go and let him have control of your eating. Did you read the scripture verse I put in the post you are talking about? The one that talks about sin becoming dull and lifeless. That's what I was talking about. The "sin" being unhealthy eating.

Love you brother, and am so very glad we are having this dialogue. The worst thing it could do is get us all looking in the Word... :carrot:

Although I am disagreeing with you, I do not mean this harshly. This is just my understanding and interpretation of the topic.

I think you have found a way, but I don't think you've found the one and only way (not even for all Christians).

As you said, "Jesus, says all over the new testament that we are not supposed to be caught up in the rule of law," but that doesn't mean we're obligated to break any of the rules/laws (either religious or mundane). If rules make your life easier, you're perfectly allowed to follow them (as long as you're not overblowing the significance of the rules, or considering yourself morally superior to those who aren't).

Many early Christians did, and some modern Christians do continue to keep the dietary laws. Some argue that while all food is allowed, that not all food is healthy and wholesome and that God's original laws did and do serve a higher purpose. That God wasn't telling us what we HAD to eat, but was telling us what we SHOULD eat, so there may be health advantages to following the old law, at least more often than not.

Science even backs some of this up. Following the "old laws" do (even today) significantly decrease the liklihood of foodborn illness (which was even more true before modern sanitation and cooking practices). A Christian isn't obligated to eat pork and shellfish, but pork and shellfish even today are more likely than beef and other old-law foods to carry potentially harmful illness.

Also for some people, even some of us Christian people, the structure of a food plan (a diet), allows us to obsess LESS about food, so a diet can help us give food it's proper attention, and no less or more.

For myself, I lived as you suggest for many years (some of those years as a practicing Christian, and some of those years were during times when I wasn't living my faith). Whether I was in Christ or not, "not dieting" did allow me to stop gaining weight, but it didn't allow me to lose weight. It was a peaceful way to live, not letting food control my every thought. Dealing with food only when hungry, and trying most of the time to choosing healthy foods as close to God's creation as possible, but doing so allowed me to maintain, not lose. To lose, I had to restrict my food intake, and to do that I had to know what I was taking in.

Calorie/food intake monitoring is not inherently incompatible with Christian doctrine. The Christian program FirstPlace4Health uses an exchange based program, and focuses on putting Christ first, using a biblical approach to weight loss and overall health management. The "diet plan" doesn't prevent people from doing just that.

http://www.firstplace4health.com/about/

I couldn't find a FirstPlace group in my area, so I chose a TOPS group (which although it's a secular program, also encourages an exchange plan). I'm diabetic, and my doctor also recommended an exchange plan.

I believe in callings, and different people are called in different directions. I believe in gifts, and people are given different gifts, and God asks us to use those gifts in service. How we use those gifts, and how we balance the secular and sacred is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. It comes in many shapes, sizes, and flavors.

That is so great that restricting your food has helped you to lose weight, however most people who diet, or restrict what type of food they eat, will fail. This creates a strong desire for the restricted food, so they eat too much of the restricted food, knowing that when they start to diet again they may never get another chance to eat that food. Also, if what you are saying is true, can you explain what this Scripture means.

Hebrews 13:8-9 (New King James Version)

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.9 Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

Especially the part that says Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

the definition of Occupied is, to engage or employ the mind, energy, or attention of...

Really, I am not talking to everybody here, but there are people who are compulsive dieters. (I was one of those) If you are not one, I am not talking to you. If you are... In the last ten years, God has given me an amazing amount of Scriptures and I would love to share them with anyone who would like freedom from dieting, and food issues through Christ.

Bootsie, you didn't hurt my feelings at all! And you go with what God tells you to do. However, I am not sure if you were saying that I am tearing apart the work of God for the sake of food??? Like I said, I am just talking to those who are habitual dieters. Those who are like I was, I would try a new diet, have some success, then fail, then start all over with the latest diet. It was an unhealthy cycle.

Bootsie, but please don't go with how you feel, God says in the Bible that Satan can give you feelings (can't find the reference tonight, I will find it tomorrow). You like Joyce Meyers, she talks about how Satan always works in your emotions, and God always works in your brain.

Pray about it, ask God if dieting is taking too much of your time. I know this is a radical idea that doesn't go along with what the world has preached to us. But the Bible has always been contrary to the world. I am not saying go crazy and eat all you want to eat. I am saying, don't worry about what you eat, pray before you eat, ask God to stop you from overeating, and have faith that He will, then... and here is the hard part, trust Him.

Actually I was a compulsive dieter. I was put on my first diet at 5, and spent most of my life on the diet rollercoaster. I've learned that food doesn't come first as long as I'm using my foodplan and avoiding overindulging in "addictive" foods (just as I avoid overindulging in alcohol and other seductively addictive behaviors). Where food is concerned, my food plan just helps me decide whether or not I'm overindulging.

As to Hebrews 13:8-9, I am not a biblical scholar, but it's my understanding that this passage is very specifically talking about religious food observances, both the "old law" of the Old Testament, and pagan food rituals, such as foods being offered to idols and then consumed by devout followers of the particular religion. The issue is muddying Christian religious beliefs, by adopting the religious practices of Jews and pagans in terms of food rituals out of superstition or partial-belief in the religion. It's reminding us that there's no value to be gained by following non-Christian religious/ceremonial food practices.



Modern translations make this more clear such as in

(New International Version)
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

9 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.

(Good News Translation)
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Do not let all kinds of strange teachings lead you from the right way. It is good to receive inner strength from God's grace, and not by obeying rules about foods; those who obey these rules have not been helped by them.




To me it seems very clear that this Scripture applies only to religious food observances, not to diet for health or weight loss (unless you make health or weight loss YOUR RELIGION). Only you can determine, with God's grace whether you have elevated your food "rules" to that position in your life. If you had to choose between God and your food rules, would you choose your food rules? If you can say "of course not," then you're in the clear. If you would say "Gee, I'm not sure," then you have a problem.

Also, I think it's important that the emphasis in the scripture is that these practices are of no benefit to their practitioners. I understand that to mean "this is not doing for them (the people who believe in the food rituals), what they think it is" (that is benefiting their spiritual growth).

That doesn't mean it's doing physical harm to them (or necessarily spiritual harm). Rather the Scripture is reiterating that there is no spiritual merit to the food you take in. You do not spiritually benefit from food rituals (and it's fairly specific that the Scripture is talking about religious food rituals, not habits or secular food choices, it's only the religious food observances that are being talked about).

That's my understanding. You may find it helpful to talk to a pastor who has studied Scripture in the original Koine Greek. Our church has had some amazing bible studies discussing Scriptures that are difficult to understand without understanding the original language of the Scriptures. Sometimes the culture of the time is needed to understand the Scripture too. It's very clear (to me) that the first century apostles were not discussing weight loss diets with new Christians. I'm not saying that bible passages can't speak to modern situations which were not a concern to early Christians, but I do believe that stretching the message to specifically fit modern issues in a different way than was intended in the original is, well a stretch.

Since it is clear (to me) that the original was talking about Judaic and pagan religious food ceremonies and rituals, it also seems clear to me that to say that in the modern world it means dieting (and not religious observances from non-Christian religions) would be a huge, and illogical leap. If you've elevated your diet to a religion (and some people do) that's a problem, but it's because you've replaced Christ with the diet. You can follow Christ and follow a diet, just as you can follow Christ and be a sports-team fan. If you love food more than Christ, or if you love football more than Christ, then you've got a problem. If you're on SouthBeach and watch the Packers game, that doesn't mean you're not following Christ.

You didn't explain the part that says, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever"

Kelli, I apologize....I misunderstood you (I think)...I was assuming you wanted food to be dull and lifeless forever....

Also, (I think) we all thought that your thoughts on this were the ONLY way at first....(I think) you cleared that up.

I do have scripture and commentary on a couple of things you mentioned that I would like to share. As it will take me time to write it out I will share it later today.

GREAT COMMENTS EVERYONE!! Keep them coming....Peace be with you!

I found this last night on our church (LCMS) website.....I think you can change the word hymn to diet and get pretty much the same message.

Why Learn New Hymns? (Part 1)


By Rev. Dr. Paul Grime

Part One of Three Parts

Part 1: Why change?

Change and decay in all around I see.
O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!
(LW 490:2; TLH 552:2)

Only the spiritually blind can deny the truth that we are surrounded by change and decay. Let's consider the second one first.

Decay
Decay is all around us. Put a new car on the road, and it isn't long before it loses its pristine condition: A chip in the windshield, a bit of rust on the door, a noisy muffler. Or build a new house, and see how long before it requires maintenance. Everything in this life will eventually wear out or decay. Most of our possessions will go the way of the junk heap, and our bodies will one day return to the dust and ashes from whence they came.

In response to this rather sobering reality, the triune God enters our decaying world with a message of hope. The few times that the word "decay" is used in the Scriptures, it has one of two meanings. The first is the common understanding that we've been considering? things decay and fall apart.

The second use of that word, however, is the complete opposite. In his Pentecost sermon, the apostle Peter made very clear the following point concerning the crucified Christ: "His body did not see decay" (Acts 2:31). In His death and resurrection, Jesus provides the antidote to the decay of this sinful world. He overcame death and won the victory for us. That doesn't mean that we get to escape this decaying world; rather, with Job, we can confidently say, "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God" (Job 19:25-26).

Change
We also said that change is all around us. Is that ever true! Have you ever sat down to balance your checkbook and suddenly realized that the bank has completely redesigned your bank statement. You were comfortable with the old design, and it worked fine for you. So why did someone at that bank find it necessary to make the change?

Or consider the fast-changing world of computers. It's simply taken for granted that when you buy a new computer, it's out-of-date before you leave the store. And just as soon as you become comfortable with a computer program, the manufacturer releases a new version that supposedly offers all kinds of improvements.

There are all kinds of change in our fast-paced world. Some are mostly cosmetic, like putting a new face on an old product. Quite often we adapt to change without even realizing it. Other times, however, change can be downright frustrating, especially when we don't know what's going on. Change can be scary, especially as the world around us goes faster and faster. And so we live with the fear that if we don't keep up, the world will pass us by.

Our Unchanging God
Change and decay in all around I see.
O Thou, who changest not, abide with me!

What does it mean that God doesn't change? And what does it mean to have a changeless God in such a fast-changing world?

In Malachi 3, God says, "I the Lord do not change. So you, O descendents of Jacob, are not destroyed." That was a tremendous word of hope that God gave to His people. These were the exiles who had returned from Babylon to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple. They had plenty of obstacles to overcome, including their own stubbornness. Yet, God repeated His covenant promise to them. As surely as it was true that God doesn't change, so was it equally true that He would not abandon them, but would keep His promise to be their God.

In the last chapter of the letter to the Hebrews, we hear the same assurance of God's changelessness: "Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb. 13:7ó8). Whether it was our grandparents, the Saxon Lutherans who came to this country and formed the Missouri Synod, or even Martin Luther, they all believed in and preached the same Christ. He has not changed, and He never will.

And that brings us to the heart of the matter: If God doesn't change, why should we? And more specifically, as the title of this essay asks: Why should we learn to sing new hymns?

New and fresh expressions of God's Word
Your pastor doesn't preach the same sermon every Sunday? at least you hope not! Rather, he brings the Word of God to you? freshly interpreted and applied. In his preparation, he wrestles with the biblical text, reflects on the current state of affairs in the community, the nation, and the world, and takes into consideration the many concerns of the members of the congregation. He doesn't preach a new truth every Sunday, but instead opens up the treasures of God's Word to show how it speaks to us in every situation in life. The truth doesn't change, but the expressions of it are beyond counting.

Consider this illustration. When a jeweler inspects a diamond, he holds it up to the light to see how the light refracts into a dazzling array of colors. As the jeweler peers in from different angles, the colors shift, revealing an ever-changing hue. It's the same jewel, no matter how you look at it. But it's a jewel that never ceases to amaze us and to entice us to look again and again to enjoy its beauty.

The Word of God is our jewel, and it is full of surprises. As pastors study that Word to preach on it, they uncover new insights that they share with us. The same is true of those who prepare Sunday School materials, devotions, and so forth. And the same goes for hymn writers. Through their craft of rhyme and meter, they put the Word of God into words that we can not only understand but also remember.

So why do we learn new hymns? For the same reason that we listen to new sermons or read newly written devotions. Through Christian poets, God is blessing His church with fresh expositions of His Word that call us to deeper reflection and devotion. Of course, not every hymn is of the same caliber. Some, in fact, are theologically incorrect or poetically inferior. For every good hymn, there are dozens that never make the cut.

What he (EZMONEY) said LOL.

I didn't explain "that part" because I didn't realize that was what you were asking. To me it seemed the only part of Hebrews 13:8-9 that is self-explanatory and perfectly clear (to me). It just goes to show one of the challenges of bible study. Different people can't help but come up with different interpretations, because you bring yourself to bible study, and there's no way around that. You bring your experiences to the table, so to speak.

In my eyes, because the passage is talking about Christians drifting into Jewish and pagan practices (following the religious food practices around them), within that context, I believe "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever," is a reminder of the danger of allowing Christianity to morph into a hybrid religion. It's a very natural thing for people to do. In general, people find it easier to blend new beliefs with their old ones, rather than "convert." I think the passage is warning for Christians not to incorporate other religious beliefs and practices into Christianity.

It's a bigger challenge than it seems. Because it's such a natural impulse for people to incorporate the traditions of the people around them. Look at decorating and hiding eggs for Easter - originally a pagan custom. Taking the custom isn't un-Christian, but if we had taken the pagan meaning and incorporated it into Christianity, that would have been wrong. That the original meaning has been lost (except possibly to historians) means that we didn't incorporate the pagan religious significance of the egg into Christianity.




I like discussing Scripture, but after a while my head starts to hurt, because I do see so many ways to interpret them. It's why I don't often try to interpret Scripture entirely on my own. I'm too "creative" for my own good, and I can often come up with at least a dozen possible messages for some passages (some of them at odds with each other - they all can't possibly be equally true). That's why I like group bible studies better, especially if they're pastor-driven, because it's good to have some guidance form someone with theological training. I'm not saying I can't think on my own, but I've so often in the past felt "devinely inspired" by a passage only to realize later that I clearly had misinterpreted it. So it wasn't God speaking to me, it was my human ego (I AM NOT accusing you of this, just stating my own personal experience).

Hey All,

I must admit, I am a bit confused by your answer Gary, are you saying that it's okay to compulsively diet because it's like a... new hymn? Or a new sermon? Or are you saying that it's okay to explore new things, like letting go of the security blanket of dieting and just give it over to God.

Bootsie, I wasn't upset at anyone when I said it makes me sad that every time I start a thread every body starts telling me about their latest diet, (although looking back on how I worded that I can see why you would think that) I wasn't sad for me, I was sad because it seems like we are so in bondage to food and dieting. I love you! you are my sister. I have actually laughed out loud at some of the stories about your animals, you have the best personality ever, and I really think you need to write a book.

Kaplods, Hummm. I guess if you think that Hebrews 13:8-9 is only for the Old Testament laws and not for today, how do you pick and choose which ones were for the time they were written and which ones are for us today? You said
These are the people I am talking to, I was one of these people, I dieted compulsively, My weight and what I ate or did not eat was the first thing I thought of, when I woke up and the last thing I thought of when I went to sleep. It was always at the top of my brain. I was either depressed or happy, depending on what point of the diet, success, fail, cycle I was at. That is no way to live. So if this is not you, then don't worry about it, this thread is not for you, however... I am not saying you should stop posting. I just don't want you to worry that I am talking to you if this does not apply.

I am talking to those of you who are tired... so tired, Jesus loves you and He offers you freedom from this madness. Matthew 11:28 (New King James Version)

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

It's not will power that will give you freedom, it's His power. Trust Him. Pray, ask God if it's the food that has made you overweight or if it has been the dieting rules. I know it's scary, God has just this week confirmed this to me. I have been fighting with Him about this for months! How scary is this! To just let go. Give it to Him. If I just trust Him, and eat whatever, and whenever, just praying that God will not let me overeat, will that work? I am scared! But I know, that I know, that I know, that this is what He has revealed to me through His Word, and I know, that I know, that I know, that He has told me to tell others.

I don't know if you know this, but I am a very timid person. I have always hated controversy. One of my worst fears was that somebody might yell at me or get mad at me, but God told me last night that my ministry will cause a lot of controversy, but when I got scared, He reminded me that His did too.

Proverbs 27:6 (New King James Version) 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Hi Keli and all, just wanted to check in. I did not weigh this morning first time in a long time, but what good would it of done never went to bed last night. Since 1 PM yesterday have walked 13 miles mainly in the house cleaning and have a long way to go. I decided I am going to put our Christmas tree up in my Mother in laws kitchen where the Siamese twins (cats) cannot get to it but I have to put a lock on the door for they have learned how to open the doors! I have to get to bed tonight and get some rest, for I have to go to town tomorrow. You know I am not hungry but I feel like road kill have had no supper at all, just wore out.

You misunderstood what I said completely. I did not say or mean that Hebrews13:8-9 is not just as true and applicable today as it was when first written, but the meaning has not changed. The scripture was about religious food practices (foods eaten to gain spiritual benefit), and that's still what it is about (in fact, the scripture even stresses the unchanging nature of the message). It was about religious food rules then and it STILL is about religious food rules (not secular ones. It's only your spiritual outlook on food, not your secular one that's being addressed). It is still every bit as true today that Christians should not incorporate other religion's religious food practices into Christianity.

If you want to give up pork because you believe it's unhealthy, that's fine. But if you want to give up pork because you think maybe Muslims and Jews are correct that we are disobeying God if we foods the Old Testament forbids, then you're wrong, because Hebrews13:8-9 tells us so.

If you want to follow Jewish kosher law, because you think it's physically healthy, God does not forbid it (as far as I understand). You just need to know that following kosher law (even for health) doesn't have any effect on the pureness of your soul or the level of your devotion to God.




You said, "If I just trust Him, and eat whatever, and whenever, just praying that God will not let me overeat, will that work?"


I think the answer is maybe, but not necessarily. I pray that it does work for you, but it didn't work for me. I had to find a different path to put food issues in their appropriate place in my life. Thoughts of food and dieting no longer occupy my mind constantly (because I learned that when I keep carb levels low, they don't trigger the hunger and cravings I experienced most of my life).


For me, the physiological was very important. The carb-addiction. To some degree what you're saying seems to me like telling an alcoholic that if they trust in God they can drink whatever alcohol, and whenever, just praying that God will not let them overindulge.

And there are Christians who do believe that, and even a few who have found it true, but others have failed at it, and have had to impose external (secular, non-religious) rules along with their prayers to help control their behavior.


I wish you the best, but I think I will stop posting, because I don't sense that our conversation is going in a helpful direction.

I must admit, I am a bit confused by your answer Gary, are you saying that it's okay to compulsively diet because it's like a... new hymn? Or a new sermon? Or are you saying that it's okay to explore new things, like letting go of the security blanket of dieting and just give it over to God.


Hummm ~:?: I am confused Kelli as to how you got that out of what I posted. My feelings of the commentary I posted was that it was saying that Jesus has never changed but as a society we change...we change on how God's WORD (even though it doesn't change) changes in how it is presented to us.

I thought the commentary was useful in the understanding of Jesus never changing...even though it was about hymns.

For example if our Pastors were teaching us that our bodies are Temples created by God, with which to glorify Him, and we are supposed to take care of them in ways to be pleasing to Him then a pastor from the 1800's surely wouldn't be talking to us about the hazards of fast food.

Anyway moving past that.....I feel it is very wrong to try to compare what the legalistic Judaizers were teaching on ceremonial foods (Hebrews 14: 9-10) and what foods and diet restrictions some people are trying to follow.

I totally understand and agree with you that some people...Christians...make food and diets their "jesus"....and focus on that instead of Him sometimes.

People that choose to follow diet guidelines are not returning to the law of the old covenant.

In Romans 14:1-4....

The Weak and the Strong

1 Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters. 2 One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3 The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand

Kelli, Paul tells us here that the strong Christian's understanding of the Gospel allows him to recognize that one's diet has no spiritual significance.

I think when most of us read your original post we felt you were trying to include everyone into your thinking on this matter. You have since clarified that :)

Because of the love Jesus has for us He wants us to share our faith...we all share in different ways.

The important stuff is what HE did for us....there is no arguing that....IT IS FINISHED!

the rest of it we will debate for earth's eternity ;)

:hug: to you all. :)

We love you KELLI :)

And don't you ever leave us! :nono:

:hug:

1 Timothy 4:1-8 (New King James Version)

The Great Apostasy

1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, 3 forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; 5 for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

6 If you instruct the brethren in these things, you will be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed. 7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

The more willpower you use, and the harder you have tried to lose weight, the heavier you will be. Dieting creates two obsessions. One, you become fixated on food and two, you become fixated on your weight.

Believe me when I tell you, you are strong! It’s not about changing the food you eat. It’s about understanding and fixing the reasons you overeat. It’s about changing your wrong thinking into right thinking.

You have a problem with your weight because you eat more than your body uses, so… stop eating more than your body needs. Don’t you wish it were that simple?

Diets try to convince us that we need to change the food we eat. They over simplify, and, over complicate the whole process. Wouldn’t it be easy if we could all simply decide which diet was best for us, and then do it? If it was that clear-cut, obesity wouldn’t be the second highest preventable cause of death in America. I knew all that, but I couldn’t stop myself from overeating. I needed to find the reason I was overeating and why I couldn’t stop, that’s why I started my Bible study. I was desperate.

Read Colossians 2: 20-23 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

I was so frustrated for years, because being addicted to food, is not like being addicted to cigarettes or alcohol, because if you want to break the addiction to those things, you just stay away from them. You can't stay away from food. The more I read the Bible, God started revealing to me that it was the addiction to dieting that created the love for food.

for so many years I didn't want to believe what I was reading. I had the worlds idea of clean and unclean foods (we call it healthy and unhealthy now) those ideas were ingrained in my Psyche, that I resisted for ten years!!! :frypan:

I have been studying the Bible about this subject for ten years. I now believe the diet God wants for us is to eat in moderation. You can eat anything you want, as long as it is in moderation, and it doesn't make you sick. If it does make you sick then it shouldn't be hard to resist. On the other hand, If certain foods make you sick because you have been stuffing so much down your throat so the pain won't bubble out, then eat it, but don't stuff it down so hard, you will get to eat it again! If you do stuff it past the point of satisfaction, tell God you are sorry you overate, and LET IT GO!!!!!

There is something you can do! Just like the alcoholic can't be around alcohol, You can cast down every thought about dieting food, and especially you need to cast down the thoughts that make you feel like less of a person or that you are worth less than a thin person.

There are no rules. I know that is a hard concept. I know it's hard to just stop dieting. I was afraid if I did, I would just eat and eat and eat, and to be frank, the first few weeks I did, but I had been doing that anyway. I would fail on my latest diet and Binge, I would stuff so much food down, the whole time feeling, shame, regret, self revulsion...:cry:

You have to just let the guilt go. When I stopped dieting, every time I felt the guilt, I cast it down with a Scripture like: 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ

I found that after a couple of weeks, without dieting, or feeling guilt for overeating, food just didn't have the same fascination for me as it had. It is such a delight to sit here with a bowel full of homemade mashed potatoes and gravy, and I have actually forgotten they where there! It didn't take that long at all to break the addiction! Maybe two weeks at the most. Just try it for two weeks! You have tried everything else!

Love, Kelli

I do have a couple of suggestions about eating (Remember, these are not rules!)

Scientists have begun to trace the link between portion sizes and increased obesity in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, between 1971 and 2000 American women increased the number of calories they consumed by 22 percent (from 1,542 to 1,877 per day), while men increased their intake by 7 percent (from 2,450 to 2,618 calories). Government recommendations, by contrast, are a mere 1,600 calories a day for women and 2,200 a day for men.

I heard an interview the other day, it was with a man who said he was moving into his 1940's house. He started putting his dinner plates away, and they wouldn't fit! He thought, "What idiot would make a cupboard to small to fit a standard size dinner plate". Then he realized that the dinner plates in the 1940's were smaller!

I know I have heard people say that you should use a smaller plate, and I happen to have some old dinner plates, so I thought I would try to see if there was a real difference. I was surprised!!! So I took pictures.


http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/DSCF8980.jpg


Here is my dinner on the smaller plate. I thought this looked like plenty of food to eat for dinner... UNTIL, I put it on my standard size dinner plate!




http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q...6/DSCF8984.jpg


All I did was scrape the very same food from the small plate to the bigger one. It is the exact portion as the smaller plate! I don't know about you, but if I was using this bigger plate, I would of kept filling it up. It looked to empty!

Well I don't know about you, but I am going to use my smaller plates from now on, it is a huge difference.

Love Kelli

Even though I had been a Christian a long time, and reading my Bible almost every day, I never thought to go to the Bible to resolve my weight problem. I didn’t consider it a diet guide. I would pray, asking God to help me with a particular diet, but I never thought of the Bible as the starting place. The more I read the Bible, the more I realized it is a rich source of knowledge, and insight for every known problem. The Word is our guide for living every aspect of our life. This ancient document is just as practical today as it was thousands of years ago, when Solomon wrote:

Ecclesiastes 1:9, 10 That which has been is what will be, That which is done is what will be done, And there is nothing new under the sun. 10 Is there anything of which it may be said, "See, this is new"? It has already been in ancient times before us.

Read Psalm 118:8-9
It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in man, 9It is better to trust in the Lord Than to put confidence in princes.

In whom should you put your confidence, to overcome your obsession? ______

Read Colossians 2: 20-23 20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

This scripture nails it. It’s exactly what we have been doing with our frantic dieting. Why are we living as if we don’t have all this knowledge and wisdom at our fingertips?

It’s not a food issue. It’s a head, and heart problem. The trouble starts when we make the act of eating, into a forbidden fruit. An addict is someone who can’t get enough; they want more, and more. How many people do you know who are addicted to water? We are rebellious. I don’t have a problem praying for help finding my keys, yet somehow I always conveniently forget to pray for help resisting the last of my Mucho Grande Over Stuffed Big Fat Burrito.

In a recent study done in Switzerland, participants were blindfolded while eating. They ate less and felt just as full. It was determined; when they couldn’t see what they were eating, they paid more attention to their inner cues.

After I read about this study, I decided to do this myself, I blindfolded myself and ate very slow. My cute daughter kept track of my bites with hash marks so the number wouldn't influence me. It only took 24 bites for breakfast and 18 for lunch and dinner (I think it took more on the breakfast one, because it had been a longer time from my last meal) I started taking only 18 spoonfuls of food and found I was completely satisfied with that most of the time.

Love, Kelli

PS, I am not counting spoonfuls anymore tho, I have completely given up dieting, however, I know that's not for everybody.

Great "awareness" with the pictures of the plates Kelli!

I agree with you but getting there seems hard.

Boy, this post seems to have generated a lot of rather emotional responses. I don't think anyone has intended to be contentious, but rather that misunderstandings have occured. I pray that everyone posting understands that & also understands that what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for another. I know this may sound harsh & it is not my intention to create anymore contention, but here's my 2 cents worth. There was a time before I was saved when reading a thread like this would make me laugh at the hypocrisy of supposedly loving Christians.

I am a born again child of God and this is what I believe; For all His children, God uses everything in our lives & works it for our good (Roman's 8:28). He teaches us individually as we grow closer & closer to Him in our very personal relationship. Jesus is more than our best security, He is the only true security. Everything I am & everything I have belongs to God & He is my all sufficiency in all things. I praise & thank God for the wonderful, abundant variety of delicious & healthy food He has provided for our enjoyment, and I am so grateful that this has caused me to raise my voice in prayer & thanksgiving to Him & to seek His guidance in how to be a good steward of my body, which is His temple.