The Fat Battle is Real by AChuckAllen
Seriously, I’ve been fighting fat for more than 40 years! For 90% of those years I lost the skirmish, the battle and the war! I have, over the course of four decades, lost the equivalent of a few boy bands in weight. And then found the equivalent of an NFL offensive line.
I’ve heard of every gimmick, read every book, tried every supplement, and at 58 years old, I’m ready to go to war again!
I recently read a great article about people like me. It made so much sense. Well, let me back up. One sentence and two bullet points made sense.
The (paraphrased) one sentence? “If you are stubbornly trying to diet, you’ll forever stay in the battle.”
YIKES!
And the the bullets:
- You must transform your thoughts and actions regarding seeing food as fuel, not comfort.
- If you are 50 years of age, or older, eat 5 small meals and limit carbs and move more.
All of this isn’t easy. As a matter of fact, many of us that are fat, really don’t need your attempt at motivation. We need a bit of grace and a ton of understanding.
I’ve heard some pretty harsh words regarding my weight. Most, I’m sure are not intentional.
Almost every Sunday, somebody feels the need to share the incredible insight that I am overweight. I hear, several times a week; “Hey Big Man.” Not cool. Please stop that.
I hate shopping for clothes. I can’t stand the frumpiness that comes with being fat. I also recognize my need to take this seriously.
So, I’m working on training my mind to approach food as fuel and redirect that desired pleasure of a Waffle into my desire to finish my book and serve our church for many more years.
So, sorry for the rant.
But if you’ve never been fat, give us a break. Your supplements aren’t our key. Stop poking fun at us. We are already insecure. And please, stop assuming that it’s as simple as ordering rice cakes instead of cup cakes.
But isn’t this how we see folks spiritually? We size them up by what they look like, or how they carry themselves, or how they don’t look the part.
Maybe “food as fuel” could also be understood as “serving others is a choice to live more like Christ.”
We don’t walk up to people and say; “Hey big, godless, non-serving person.”
I know, it’s all a matter of perspective. But I also believe that it’s also a matter of the heart. How about you?
–AChuck
