There is much talk from medical experts about an epidemic of obesity. There is no doubt that most of us in America eat too much and burn too few calories. In some rural counties of NC where poverty rates are high so are body weights.

What once was a sign of wealth - being over-weight - is now largely a sign of being poor. It isn’t just about being poor in money but also poor in spirit to borrow a phrase from the Sermon on the Mount.

I am not entirely sure what was meant over 2000 years ago but I mean a lack of understanding and the will to do something about what you do understand. I have been sponsoring a seminar during which I help a group of people with their journey toward better health. We have been meeting every Monday and Thursday. It has been so well received that I will continue to do it in 6 week cycles on Thursday night through the end of the year.

We have been reviewing a workbook - The Beck Diet Solution Weight Loss Workbook - on Monday nights. It is a review of cognitive therapy techniques that Dr. Judith Beck has used with her clients to help them successfully lose weight and keep it off.

During the process of losing weight, the dieter must gain some perspective and skill on continuing to do what worked. Dr. Beck and other experts emphasize the need to do something you can stick to long term.

The real diet secret isn’t what you eat but what you think. Your most important diet is what you feed your mind and who you associate with regularly. It is also important to have some life skills that allow you to interact with people that who purposely sabotage your efforts and not get thrown off track.

Our hardest task it seems is to decide what we want and then to ignore all the messages sent to us by people and companies who want to influence our behavior. You must decide how you will act and what is best for you. Then you must develop through practice and group association what is best for you and do it. This is overcoming a poorness in spirit.

It is probably not the only set of tasks to do or skills to learn.  You develop faith that you can achieve and then do what you have.  This is all part of the process of losing weight and of living your spiritual faith. If you are over-weight or obese then no matter how much Knowledge you have you are poor in your ability to exercise that knowledge in practical ways that benefit you.

I believe it was the Apostle Paul that is quoted as saying he considered himself in a race and that like a top athlete he must subject his body to his will to win the race he was running just as an athlete does to win his event. I like to think of life as a long journey. We are vagabonding our way. It is the journey that must be enjoyed and the every day tasks and our ability to do them. What happens to you is determined by what you think and what you do about what you believe.

Let me know more about your journey in the comment section here. Join my group of Thursday cooks as we discuss our Recipe to Look Better Naked. Let me and my group of enthusiasts assist you in developing your own personal Recipe for your own benefit. Sign up in the right hand column of this blog. Talk to you on Thursday.

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