God vs. Food?

This is a topic for those who consider their spiritual life a main aspect of their days. I am a pretty active Christiian and my relationship with food has always been a topic in my spiritual journey. The importance of that topic ebbed and flowed alot. One of the reasons that i went to Overeaters anonmyous was because it helped get my food in the right spiritual perspective. I stopped worshiping food, and started to worship God. I find I do better on my food when I pray about what I am going to eat for the day and have a plan. I am on the verge of the date and I am wondering how this will change my spiritual journey. My questions are these. When you are banded--or whatever WLS you are into--- How do you use your faith in the day to day working of you new stomach? Do you pray about your food? Has your WLS given you perspective so that food is not the MAIN thing--and thus your faith has grown? Has your faith grown because now you have this WLS and you feel like your relationship with food is a partnership? An adversary? A non-issue now? For years food and God have been at odds in my head. I.E. when I eat I dont feel very spiritual. What are your experiences? i dont care your faith system (Muslium, Budist, LDS, Christian...whatever)

Cynthia I am a christian and I am dealing more with my food issues than before I had the surgery - the head hunger and the love of food is an issue I think all who have a weight issue have to come to grips with or we will loose the struggle - with or without the surgery. I have found that God is using my struggle with food to help me focus more on Him. I try to fast at least once a week (protein drinks only) - and spend the time asking God to help me still - 19 months after surgery - to stop this addiction - this love of food. An alcoholic can quit drinking alcohol and survive - a drug addict can stop taking drugs and still live...a food aholic can't stop eating. We must eat to survive. I was listening to a well known preacher two weeks ago who said that food started the whole thing - when Eve ate from the tree of knowledge...food started the whole thing and therefore has a strong hold on us...I'm still thinking about that statement - all I know is my desire to stop this love affair with food is helping to push me closer to my God... I had no problem with the food issues until about the 13-14th month past surgery - I thought I had it whipped...the head hunger came back and I am still having to deal with that monster...but food and God are not at odds in my head - it is the love of food over God that is at odds in my head... Just as alcohol will always be an issue to an alcoholic - food will always (I feel right now) be an issue in my life...

That was very well said Alice~food is definitely a "stronghold" in my life. I don't know that it has changed my relationship with God in anyway (I'm a practicing Christian) but there have been many times when I have prayed to God to give me strength to fight off the food demons, to guide me in the right direction for the day with my food intake, to help me to stay focused on good foods and not have the cravings, etc. They say nothing is too large or too small to pray for so I use prayer when needed~I actually wi****ook the time to pray more on it! Cynthia, Good Luck to you on your journey! Tracy B 328/150 5'9"

Tracy, your new picture is lovely, you look so happy and peaceful! Laura

Alice, I replied to Cynthia's post on the main board, where she also posted it, but I wanted to let you know that your post SO hits the nail on the head with me! I feel like I could have written it--but you did it better! For nearly the first year, I was very, very compliant with my food choices and portions. In no way did I feel "superior" or that I was "above" stumbling, but I really felt pretty confident that I would continue as I had been. But boy, did it gradually get harder after that, and little by little, I let some poor choices creep back in. Now, at almost 2 years post-op, I'm really working hard to maintain my weight loss (with about a 5-lb. leeway). I definitely have some really crappy days that humble me. I most definitely pray for the mental/spiritual strength to continue the fight. (Sometimes I rebel and DON'T pray because I know I'm stubbornly making bad choices.) I'm in awe of how God gave me this surgery and how it's changed my life in big and little ways, and I know He is mighty and WAY bigger than my weakness! Just wanted to let you know your message struck a chord with me! Jo 295/150-155 (at goal)

Faith has always played a big part in my daily life. This is a very intersting post. Just this morning on the Today show, they had a story about this. One couple had lost a total of five hundred pounds using a faith based diet. They had them and the founder of the program on the show. I believe it was called "Weigh Down" but not sure.

I say you got to love yourself enough.............................to be strong enough to say no to the old life you had before. To get the weight off you got to set goals and keep them........for me this is not an option. You can mix God with anything, I suppose....but bottom line you do the work...you set the goals...you get off your butt and move (excercise)---if you want God there i guess that is your business. i just know I did the work to get 192 lbs off by determination not by blind faith God was going to help me. I made it happen.

Cynthia: I am a christian as well. Really, the only difference you will notice for probably the 1st year is how much this surgery will change your life physically. If you are strong in your faith now and you do not let your new outside affect your inside, you will enjoy your new freedom to get around better, do all those things you have not been able to do as a heavier person. My relationship with my family as well as God has only improved as I have felt better about myself. I think when you feel better, your whole perspective on things have a tenancy to change for the better. You can still pray about what you are going to eat for the day and thank God for helping you throughout the day to make wise food choices. Those food choices get even more important once you hit that 1+ mark as you do get to the point where you can eat more junk than before and you can start to regain if you are not careful. I thank God everday for this life saving procedure. If you have time you can read my journey. I have lost 111 pounds and am 1 year and 5months out. God bless and I know you will do great. This tool is such an amazing blessing to us. Use it wisely and enjoy the ride. Rita