Title: What Do Supermodels Eat for Breakfast
How do we avoid temptation? I like to look at the life of Jesus for inspiration, as his life is the one I try to model my own after. Jesus, though divine, was also human. He, by choice, was vulnerable to all of the harms which threaten us, including physical harm and obviously, death. He had the same urges we do and the same hunger and instinct for avoiding pain and discomfort. He had Satan, the world’s most accomplished tempter, focusing on him constantly. But he did not face these trials alone.
I recommend a book called Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young. The over-arching theme of this book is that God is with us always, and the passage I read each day of the year is focused on awareness of this presence. Jesus always had God with him. Thus he had access to power far superior to that possessed of his human form. We also have access to God. One of the challenges of my life is to continually improve this relationship so that I can use God’s power to improve my life and become a better person mentally and physically.
Habit is another way to avoid temptation. Our bodies and minds are very efficient, so by repeating good actions we can program ourselves to make doing these things easily. This is another source of temptation-defeating power, but be careful, it works for both good habits and bad habits.
Adequate sleep is important in so many things. I believe it is because it helps relieve stress and enable us to effectively deal with stress throughout the day. I know that being without sufficient sleep makes me more stressed during the day, and stress is a big trigger for resorting to the quick fix, the stimulation offered by delicious food that is quickly available, but often not a good logical choice for a healthy diet.
Think of the big picture. Think beyond the immediate pleasure of resting, vegging out, or indulging in whatever harmful activity takes you away from the path. If you’re tempted to drink twelve beers in one sitting, think about the last time you did that and the consequences. These takes practice, but is an effective way of avoiding harmful choices that seem like good ones. Recently someone at work who knew of my weight loss was wanting to bring in some food for our team. She asked very considerately, “So what do you supermodels eat for breakfast?” When someone brings in donuts, I usually don’t eat them, not because I don’t like donuts, far from it! But now I think of the big picture. What other foods am I going to have to give up to eat that donut? How much will it set me back on my health goals? That’s the difference, and a big way I deal with temptation day-to-day.
In summary, my three tips for avoiding temptation are:
- Get some help, maybe from the All-Powerful.
- Use habit to your advantage. Build it up in good times so it’s there when temptation strikes.
- Think it through, keep your eyes on the big picture.
Weight (change since Jan 2018): 212 (-62)
Workout time: 114 Minutes
Total Distance (total since Nov 2017): 4.28 Miles (119.51)
Steps: 16,177
Goals: (1) Run 10.5 miles in one day by 11/18/18 (2) Lose 100lbs by 12/25/18