An amazing thing happened this weekend. We crossed the border to the Great White North, Canada. The "old me" would have taken this opportunity to overeat. The new me had no desire to overeat. I wanted to shout from the mountaintops!
There were a couple of occasions where there was ample opportunity to make poor eating choices. The first was when we were informed that the small town we were in was famous for their "honey doughnuts". Oh my goodness.... these were regular donuts that were then soaked in honey and then deep fried again. Several of us moms walked to the bakery to get some for the rowers who were rigging all the boats. When we brought them back, other moms were trying them. I wasn't tempted, even then. Then Meg asked if I wanted to try a bite of hers. I said I would take a small morsel. And here's where the amazing thing happened. I put the tiny bit of donut up to my lips and the flavor was so oversweet it was not enjoyable to me - I didn't even eat it! I realized that my weeks of nutritious eating had caused my palate to change - HALLELUIAH!!
The other occasion was when we went to a really amazing restaurant for dinner. In the past I would chose off the menu based on "comfort food" or "really yummy food". This time, however, I evaluated choices based on what I thought their calorie count would be. I searched for the healthiest thing I could find. I chose a Mediteranean pasta dish with grilled chicken, feta cheese, olive oil, Kalamata olives and grape tomatoes. It was DELICIOUS and even though it was more pasta than I've had in awhile, it was a fairly healthy choice.
The outcome? I did not lose any weight over the weekend, but I didn't gain! In the past I could come home from a weekend trip like that and have 5 extra pounds on me! I was overjoyed when I weighed in on Monday morning.
I've been giving a lot of thought to why this weekend didn't derail me. It was clear that my habits had changed, and that my mindset was fixed firmly in making healthy choices. I realized that because I have surrendered all of this to the Lord, that he was my "Border Patrol" in keeping me on track. In asking him to guide me, I am allowing his power to guide me in keeping unhealthy foods out of my body. The Border Patrol is at work in keeping me from overeating, from "thinking" I'm hungry even when I'm not. My passport - the Word of God - is what allows me to travel safely into dangerous territory and return to my safe zone without abusing my body with food.
Thanks be to God!
Onward!
