I was classified as Obese 2, diabetic and worse, I was stubborn and lacked self control. With my loving junk food and having a sweet tooth, how could I say no to chips, ice cream, and pizza? My friend would see me gobbling these yummy treats and say enough already since my cravings had been satisfied. Did I listen? Noooo! I had to finish the entire bag of chips! Or would have a double portion when one would have sufficed.
It was not as if I did not try dieting or exercising. I tried swimming 3x a week. Treadmill every other day. HCG diet for a month. Cohen diet for 2 months. On and off for many years but to no avail. On all four activities, I got sick and the momentum of losing weight would stop.
I remember crying out to God and asking for help again and again. Others may be addicted to porn, gambling, smoking, drinking, or drugs. I was addicted to food. In my self assessment, I was also stress eating and had an instant gratification mentality. When the workload was heavy, I'd leave my desk to find something to eat thinking I was hungry or that I deserved to reward myself (in my case with food). If some people were called Anorexic, I guess I was the opposite of that. This was really more of a mental and emotional problem rather than a physical one.
Sometime in the 80's, there used to be a toothpaste commercial showing a set of false teeth being dropped into a drinking glass half filled with water. The voice over would say, "Sandaling pangangalaga o panghabang buhay na pagsisisi." My sister and I would remember that commercial and laugh whenever we were too lazy to brush our teeth before going to bed. That commercial was shown almost 3 decades ago.
Going back to the present, I have lost 40lbs. in a span of four months. I also have breast cancer. Apparently, I did not pay heed to the message of the commercial as much as I should. As our pastor would say, you are free to choose but you are not free to choose the consequences of your (poor) actions.
Opting for naturopathy instead of chemo therapy, I don't eat as much as I used to anymore. I shifted to an all natural diet without processed food. Organic veggies as much as I can. Nuts for protein. Root crop or kamote for carbs.
Am I sad or depressed? Honestly, no. Am I regretful? Of course.
But am I happy? YES! Because I am no longer a slave to food! The bible says in Galatians 5:16-17 - So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
I know it is only by the Holy Spirit that I am able to say no to the cravings of my palate. Even up to now, I am amazed of how I can turn down lechon, leche flan, kare-kare....etc. laid down in front of me during parties or get togethers. This is a testament of the love of Christ that He will indeed send a helper (through the Holy Spirit) for those whose trust is in Him. All glory to Him and Him alone.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
