4 mile run yesterday
Once in the gym this week
So, despite the fact that I was able to exercise this week I must my admit that my eating has been way off. I destroyed a thing of Pringles this week and there was Halloween candy laying around and I just had this desire to fill my stomach. I also grabbed a "Mexi-burger" from this place called Toast around the corner on Tuesday and then met a friend for lunch on Wed. and had a Philly Cheese steak. It was definitely challenging to stay "Fit over 40" this week.
My inner desires ruled my flesh this week and I allowed it to happen.
I've mentioned a few times on this blog about my faith and this week I was thinking about the intersection of my faith and my physical well-being and how and where they meet up. When I'm not staying fit or not eating well I can feel it. I become apathetic, slow, slothful and weak. I end up with zero energy. The same can be said when I'm not working out my soul. This week as I was thinking about all of this I came across a reading of St. Augustine from his "Confessions" book and it was about food. He discusses his inner motives, desires, needs, pleasures and his hunger for things that are good and how he can take it to entirely different level when he indulges.
He said , "Now, let us be honest, eating and drinking are pleasurable, and good food is healthful for the body. But I may sit down to eat and drink for the sake of health, and then for pleasure go on to eat and drink far more than I need or over what is healthful. Often it is so difficult to tell the difference, whether my body has a healthy appetite or whether I am being deceived by my own overwhelming greed until I am seduced into thinking that I really cannot control my appetite. So then I eat for the reason of gluttony and not in thankfulness to God."
First off I'm just glad to know that someone who lived that long ago struggled with the same "food" issues that I struggle with now in the year 2013. Augustine goes on to admit that he struggled daily against his "sinfulness" in his eating and drinking. He believed that our weakness was found in human delight. We can take good things and rip them to shreds. When we move from being hungry to having a full stomach there is that place in between where opportunity to delight in greed take over. He even went so far as to call it "self-seeking evil". He took this stuff pretty seriously because for him it wasn't so much about eating this or that but what over-eating revealed about himself, who he was and what he believed about himself. For Augustine food "triggers" came from this darker place in the heart.
So, here's the take away for myself (You can decide if you want to take this perspective with you today or not). I am a spiritual being. I believe that I was created, even knit in the womb by GOD almighty himself and not only given life but created in "His" image. He gave me desire and he created things that are just awesome - like chocolate, pasta, cheese, bread, beer, Philly cheese steak sandwiches and Mexi-burgers. When I lose the "health" battle it is not because I ate something that was "bad" for me. Ultimately it's because I lost sight of my identity. My health is tied to my spiritual health. So, something new to think about as I consider exactly what "Fit" over 40 means.
So, be honest with yourself when you make your list of food triggers. Is it really boredom, T.V or that it's gloomy outside that is causing that inner drive to pick up that thing of Pringles? Consider that you were created by God, that your body is a temple and to take care of your body now possibly an act of worship and that staying in shape and being healthy brings Glory to your Father in heaven. Then decide if you really want to eat that entire bag of Pringles. That picture at the top of this blog is from a spot on my longer 6 mile run. I pass it every time and it's a reminder that being healthy and staying fit brings Glory to God. I think it makes him smile to see me run.
Thank you St. Augustine
Thought/Quote for the day: "Today, Father, I will be strong with myself - and honest. I will not call any drive a need, when it has grown into an appetite that takes over and becomes a demand."
St. Augustine
