I glanced down the cookie aisle at the grocery store — and felt a sense of loss.\u00a0 Remember the days when I could pick out cookies — any kind of cookies — and treat myself?\u00a0 I love reading and snacking on sweets.\u00a0 That set off a rush of regrets as I thought of all the goodies that were no longer a part of my life.<\/p>\n
And it made me mad.\u00a0 Losing extra weight is not easy for me.\u00a0 I can build muscle, but the flab still hangs on around my middle with stubborn determination.\u00a0 Why should I have to always be denying myself?<\/p>\n
Recognize that thought pattern?\u00a0 I did, and pulled myself up with a jerk.\u00a0 Those weren\u2019t treasures I was passing up.\u00a0 They are poisons.\u00a0 Yes, they taste good, but the taste only lasts for a short while.\u00a0 The aftermath hangs on for much longer. The sugars slow down my brain. I feel sluggish and crummy when I indulge. And I feel so bad about myself when the scale inches upward.\u00a0 It\u2019s not so much the numbers that bother me, but the lack of self control they represent.<\/p>\n
I pulled my mind away from the cookie aisle and thought about the clothes I have that fit — almost.\u00a0 A little more work and I can wear a smaller size.\u00a0 How good it feels to have the zipper slide easily up a skirt.\u00a0 To button a pair of pants without holding my breath.<\/p>\n
And how empowering to be able to run across the parking lot to chase a runaway piece of paper caught by the wind!\u00a0 To be able to hike and ride a bicycle.\u00a0 To have energy to do worthwhile things.\u00a0 To live.<\/p>\n
Which do I want more?\u00a0 I passed on the cookies and opted for life.<\/p>\n
My challenge to you this week is to keep your goal in mind. Think about what really matters to you most, and make your choices accordingly.<\/p>\n
Eating to live and living for Christ,<\/p>\n
Susan Jordan Brown<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I glanced down the cookie aisle at the grocery store — and felt a sense of loss.\u00a0 Remember the days when I could pick out cookies — any kind of cookies — and treat myself?\u00a0 I love reading and snacking on sweets.\u00a0 That set off a rush of regrets as I thought of all the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":423,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68],"tags":[198,13,574,196],"class_list":["post-1873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-encouragement","tag-cookies","tag-exercise","tag-goal","tag-life"],"yoast_head":"\n