Eliminating spiritual carbs.
Eliminating spiritual carbs.
What my weight loss taught me about my soul.
Sometimes you learn an important lesson in the most unexpected way. That's what happened over the last two months with me. And it's changed my outlook on a lot of things, especially my struggles. Maybe it will change yours.
Over the Fourth of July weekend I was sitting with my family at the lake and I was frustrated. The previous three months I was supposed to have lost 20 pounds to get ready for my kidney transplant. I had lost five. Five measly pounds. That was it. In 2013 I lost 50 pounds running every day and tracking what I was eating. The weight flew off. I tried to mimic that, but I learned that your metabolism in your 20s versus your metabolism in your 30s is very different, and that "cheat days" are much more costly the older you get.
So that weekend I made a big change. A friend told me about a personal trainer, a guy named Tony, who had kicked him into shape. I texted him from vacation and asked for help. Tony was a Godsend.
Immediately, Tony went to work. He asked me questions not even my doctor had asked me. He had me pick myself out of a body shape lineup. He confirmed whether I like salty or sweet treats. (For the record, it's sweets — thanks Grandma!) He asked how much caffeine I consumed and if I'm an anxious person. At the end, once I had answered all his questions, he came up with both a workout plan and an eating plan.
It's the eating plan that ended up feeding more than just my stomach — it penetrated to my soul.
See, one of the most important things Tony did for my diet was to severely cut my carbohydrate intake and severely increase my protein consumption. Drastically. Being the curious person I am, I asked why.
His response? Because protein is a higher-quality energy source, it takes longer to digest than carbs. And because of that, you feel fuller longer and are less likely to snack. Here's how Merck, one of the leaders in health science, explains it: "Because proteins are complex molecules, the body takes longer to break them down. As a result, they are a much slower and longer-lasting source of energy than carbohydrates." Carbs taste good and burn fast, sure, but they don't give you a lasting sense of satisfaction. It's why you can eat a bag of chips and an hour later be "hungry."
So what does that have to do with something deeper? I'm glad you asked.
A few weeks ago I was having breakfast with a friend. We were being really open about our struggles. As we talked, I told him how I've leaned that a lot of my struggles can be traced back to one big one: turning to cheap, quick-fixes to address anxiety, stress, hurt, pain, and anything else that makes me uncomfortable. For example, instead of turning to Christ and my faith in difficult times, I take the easy way out and gorge myself at the Chinese buffet (true story), let my eyes wander, find something to buy on Amazon, or use the classic, "I just need a drink." In other words, I turn to the junk instead of turning to Jesus.
That's where the carbs come in. See, all those things that I so quickly turn to are spiritual carbs. They taste good in the moment and give me a quick, immediate fix, but not long after I'm left feeling empty. I find myself wanting more, and sometimes a lot more. I find myself hungry for something truly satisfying.
The answer to my issues, then, is not keep feeding on those carbs. Instead, it's to drastically and dramatically increase my consumption of spiritual protein. It's to turn to the only one who can truly sustain me during those times of famine. Listen, I need soul food, but not the kind that's loaded with butter and gravy. I need the kind that comes with surrender and prayer.
During this weight loss journey I've found myself having to tap into a level of discipline I forgot I had. I force myself to eat a protein-rich breakfast in the morning, a meal I've skipped for decades. I limit my consumption of incredibly tasty bourbon. I skip the bun when I eat a burger. I choose the chicken instead of the Chinese. Why do I do that? Because I know ultimately it's good for me. Because in the long run, it's those choices will sustain me and fill me up and lead to better health.
And if I can have that type of discipline for my stomach, there's no reason why I can't have it for my soul.
So here's to eating more protein-rich soul food. It will be more fulfilling, trust me.
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