Battle of the Bulge (Part 3)
In the previous blogs I mentioned a couple of the “inner games” (mina to link previous posts) that operate when people have issues with weight control: not being concerned and being overly concerned. Regardless of the camp that you or a loved one fall into, the Catholic Church has resources to take you to the next level.
For the sensual person who doesn’t want to be bothered with any food restrictions or clamors to exercise, the Catholic Church’s call to universal holiness can be the hook to snag you in. As Christians we are called to be the salt of the earth. When we settle for foggy emotions, poor clarity, and laziness that not moving and eating more than our body needs can engender, we are taking the punch out our salt. We’ve lost the zip, the edge that can take us and those around us from good to great.
The recipe for the sensual person is to just do one thing. And the Church has already figured this out with an entire liturgical season called Advent. By setting one goal to do something additional or sacrifice something, we are on our way to getting out of the mediocrity that feeding the beast without recourse begets. That little bit of “mortification’ — aagh what a horrifying word— can actually be your friend. When Advent is over or when you have mastered that habit (whichever comes first) you focus on the next habit to conquer, and the next, and the next, etc.
For the self-critical perfectionist, learning to love oneself exactly as you are is key to successful weight control. The foundation work is to create a healthy eating plan with the help of an objective dietician combined with determining —either alone or with a health professional—what is an appropriate exercise plan for you. Once that is done, the focus should be on creating and nurturing loving relationships with the people in your life along with setting boundaries with those who have not been so loving. Learning to explore in moderation, non-caloric pleasures such as reading, taking bubble baths, naps, etc. lifts the overly concerned woman into a life filled with self-acceptance, joy, and love.
We are all unique with our individual issues. A one-size-fits-all approach does not work. Taking time to honestly evaluate where you are with weight control and what you need to do with it continues the transformation process God invites you to cooperate in every second of your life.
The Catholic Women’s Guide to Healthy Relationships Tip: Don’t let excess food and pounds interfere with the mission God has for you. Honestly assess and take action.
