Battling Demons -- Faith Based Post
I am a Christian believer. I always have been. I believe in the power of prayer. I believe that I am never alone and am being watched over even when I am struggling -- especially when I am struggling. The thing that I am not, however, is a good listener. I am not talking about listening to my hubby or my children or my grandchildren, I am talking about listening to God. Maybe I don't sit still long enough, maybe I am not quiet enough, maybe I am just looking for somebody else to fix my problems. However, this weekend, something changed. I think God must have been screaming at me because I finally heard the answer to all the prayers, begging, and pleading of late. I don't "think" I heard it, I know I heard it. This has happened before so I know what it feels and sounds like.
For a while now, by "while" I mean about five or six years, I have been battling several demons and they all seem to circle one central theme -- my health and my weight. In the course of that time I have had heart palpitations, some bouts of what I feel are afib, anxiety, depression, low self esteem (ok, this has been all my life) and severe allergies. It all pretty much began when my parents got sick, I nursed them and then they died -- I am only child -- very traumatic. Then, it all got significantly worse when my husband had quadruple bypass surgery in 2005. He got well, I got sick. Top this all off by the fact that I have a horrible phobia about doctors due to my parents experiences and you have a pretty miserable person.
So, as per my usual method of operation, I went to God in prayer first and, as usual, didn't listen. I figured I could take a supplement -- lots of them, in fact -- and somehow override the copious amounts of trash I was eating and somehow be saved. Well, I couldn't even take the supplements on a regular basis but I could devour tons of sweets and soda and just junk on a regular basis with no problem. I sit and wonder why my hair is falling out, why my fingernails peel off, why my joints ache constantly, why I have no energy, why my heart flops around erratically from time to time. So, the other evening, as I am want to do, I was surfing around the internet researching "symptoms" and found a few things that quite honestly, scared the life out of me. (WebMD is evil, I have decided). But, somewhere in my reading there was a voice in my head -- yes, an audible male voice -- that said "plant based". As I read on in whatever it was I was reading, it said how many symptoms or ailments could be treated and, sometimes, even reversed by being vegan or vegetarian. Now I have tried this before with absolutely no conviction and, clearly, no success but somehow I was compelled to read on.
I prayed. I said that, as always, God's will prevailed but if it was his will that I get better just show me the way -- again, "plant based". Had I heard this before and just not listened? Probably.
So, the next evening Hubs and I went to Zoe's -- a health related restaurant new to the area and I had some lovely soup and slaw -- neither vegetarian but clearly more "plant based" than the cookies I usually eat. We then went to the bookstore across the street and I walked straight to -- as if being led by the hand -- to this book
I came home, read the book -- not in its entirety as yet -- there is a ton of information -- and I decided I could do this. Why? Well, "plant based" was still booming in my head and I was kinda tired of being yelled at and I figured I could do it because there are large amounts of food involved. Whole foods, mostly raw, and the promise that the cravings would be gone and I would not be hungry. I mean, there is something compelling to be said about eating all you want of something, even if it is kale. I don't like kale but I am going to give it a go again.
So, I began on Friday. According to Fuhrman salad -- and a lot of it -- is your main dish for lunch and supper and you should eat a cup of beans a day. This is not a problem for me as I love that sort of food. Hubs looked at me as I sat down to these meals -- he laughed. He also said he was going to read the chapter on diabetes. After eating these meals I had the oddest sensation. I was full -- trust me -- I was full but.....I didn't have that feeling that I couldn't walk across the floor. I felt light. I haven't felt like this in .....well, I don't know that I have ever felt like this. I feel "clean". Now I know the meaning behind one of my favorite magazines about clean eating.
I get it -- I GET IT!!! I feel like I am one of those people you hear about -- overweight yet starving to death. I get it. I listened. Do I think that I was given a divine directive? You betcha! And, when I get that sort of directive, I pay attention -- I am just sorry that I have been a defiant child -- I could have been doing this a long time ago.
I have been exercising as well. I have one of those Tony Little Gazelle things that are supposed to be gentle on your knees -- well, maybe if you are IronMan but me, yeah, not so much. But, thirty minutes a day -- thirty five today. I am not going to try to kill myself but stay consistent. Another thing that helps -- I am accountable to my daughter. I am not writing any of this down but I am reporting to her what I am eating and how I am feeling. A support group is important. I think she is giving consideration for herself what I am doing. Hubs even said he was going to read the chapter on diabetes. Now, THAT is a breakthrough!
I figure after possibly six months to a year of this I will be able to say that some of my "issues" have left me. I am hoping so, anyway. I can't imagine that this life plan will be detrimental as I have been led here by the One who loves me the most and has never left me. So, I am back with a new vision and a new goal -- to be healthy so I can get on with what I need to get on with because I am pretty sure that I still have purpose and need to be able to fulfill that purpose.
So, as an appropriate project to go along with this stage in my life I am stitching this
I think it is adorable -- more difficult than it looks -- and is sort of representative of my "demons". When I am done I am hanging it where I can see it on a daily basis to remember to stay vigilant in battling my demons. It also helps that I am of Welsh ancestry and I just love little dragons!
6 comments:
Well, this Christian vegan just said 'Hallelujah'!!
Jane xx
Jane -- when the author of the book said the cravings would be gone and so would the hunger I thought it would be a good test to see if he was right. He is right. I am not hungry and usually by this time of the day I am looking for something to keep me going until dinner. I have no desire to scour the pantry for cookies or candy or anything. I am not used to this feeling however I am looking forward to more beans for dinner. Actually looking forward to it.
When I became vegan, I lost my sweet tooth, my taste for rich food, and carb cravings.
Way to go, Melissa...there are plenty of good recipes on line for you to try...remember you still need a balance diet.
Jane x
Jane -- I am trying to keep things balanced by adding a few nuts to my meals, adding some flax seed to my oatmeal, and eating about four fruits a day. I have always been a veggie eater but never a fruit eater so that is new to me but clearly the fruit is satisfying my sweet tooth -- who knew? Hahah! Mushrooms and brown rice seem "meaty" to me so that is working. Truth is, I have been going off meat for a while -- easy to do with the horrible news reports of our food sources. My deal is, I don't want a "diet" - that implies something you go on and off of. "Diets" also give you very little food and I do get hungry. I am looking for a way to eat a lot, lose weight and feel like I am taking care of myself and so far, this week, I am feeling all of those things. I also want a lifestyle that will keep me from wanting all the junk -- I am definitely an emotional eater -- my mom believed in "comfort food" for sure. So, for the four days I have been doing this, I am not hungry, I am not craving sweets, I have not felt light headed, I am not nearly as anxious, my chest doesn't seem to be quivery all the time and I almost feel normal. I realize that probably 90% of this is in my head but the rest is definitely in my body and it is feeling better! It is a strange feeling but I almost feel like this food is medicine.
wow, I have the same symptoms you had/have, I should give this a go....
What dressing do you use, if any, on your salad?
Gill
Gill -- I am using just vinegar. I really love the Alessi pear infused vinegar and I also like just plain ol' balsamic vinegar. I can't believe I feel different after just four days of this but what I can say is that I feel FULL -- but not like that horrible can't-walk-across-the-floor feeling like I usually feel after I eat. I really had no idea that I would feel such a difference, especially so immediately.
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