Patiently Waiting on the Lord

 

"But they that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength...." 

Isaiah 40:31 

 

Our culture daily feeds into our tendency to be impatient.  When we have to wait for our computer to boot up and it takes more than 30 seconds we get frustrated.  When someone doesn't respond right away to a text message we sent it can make us anxious.  When food doesn't heat up fast enough in the microwave it makes us mad.  We want things to happen immediately because we really don't want to wait.  Even fast food restaurants aren't fast enough-we want those double lane take out windows so we can get our food faster! At most check out lines you will see magazines touting the newest weight loss scheme that will help you lose 20# in 2 weeks.  Personally I would like to be able to lose 20# overnight!  Healthy eating and weight loss take time unlike many weight loss schemes suggest.  It takes determination, patience and perseverance.  For some of us it is a lifetime battle with some wins and some losses (no pun intended!).  

As Christians we are called on to "wait on the Lord", NOT wait on the right job, the right weight, the right person, the right situation. No matter what area in your life you want to improve make sure you first wait on the Lord.  Kneel before His throne, rest in His love, fill your mind with His words, focus on His truths.  God promises that when we wait on Him He will give us strength, His strength to handle whatever situation we are in.  It takes a daily effort to keep your focus on the Lord not on people, things or goals.  As we wait on Him only He will provide for our every need.  May God give each of us the strength to wait on Him. 

Amy L. Stacy, MS, RD, CDE, CDN

 

 

 

 

The Key to Avoid Being Mislead

"My people perish for lack of knowledge..." (Hosea 4:6 NIV)

It's spring break, so what do I do? Read, of course! While I was reading I came across an article on a news network that discussed nutrition myths. One title that caught my attention was "Myth: 'Cutting Calories to Lose Weight.'" Catchy title, right? Does it make you think calories don't matter? 

The article went on to say that COUNTING calories ignores hunger signals and the dietitian prefers a more holistic approach. This article said that it's more important to focus on why and how to eat as opposed to what.


Thoughts

1.) What you eat is still very important. Certain combinations of sugar, fat, and salt delay your "off" switch so you end up eating more than you actually needed. Not to mention, fruits and vegetables are still king. (Genesis 1:29)

2.) Some people have hormone imbalances that affect their hunger signals.

3.) Many individuals prefer tracking nutrition and this approach works better for them. Others do very well with a more holistic approach.

4.) This article has a misleading title. A calorie deficit is still needed to lose weight. That's physics.


The Gist

All of this to say, be careful what you read. Media is a business. Catchy titles and controversial topics bring more readers. More readers, more advertising income. I'm grateful that news networks bring in industry professionals, however, some things still slip through editing and the meaning of articles can be misconstrued, leading people down a misinformed path. This is why knowledge is so important. If we understand the principles that get results, we can stay on the straight and narrow and avoid pit-falls. Knowledge is key!


Love God, love people.

-Chris Finley, ACSM CPT

Meet Amy Stacy!

 

"Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." (Proverbs 15:22 NIV)

As the Bible suggests, we are adding to the FitChurch team! Meet Amy L. Stacy, MS, RD, CDE, CDN, CPT    

Amy is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator having worked in the nutrition field for over 30 years. Her specialties and certifications include diabetes, weight loss, cardiac health, nutrition counseling and life/listening skills for all ages.  She has been an adjunct professor at Roberts Wesleyan College and the program coordinator for the Brockport area Diabetes and Nutrition program. She is a graduate of Cornell University and SUNY at Brockport. Amy currently works for the Unity Diabetes Center at their Brockport facility. Her passion is helping people deal with their health issues using sound nutrition principles.

 

I am very excited that Amy has joined our team! She has a clear love for God and helping others improve their health the way God designed. 

Welcome Amy!

Mindless Eating

"A very interesting, eye opening read!" -Chris Finley

2 Corinthians 10:5

"...we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ"

It is so very easy to sit in front of the TV in the evening with your favorite snack and munch away in the glory of a lazy moment.  Why is our sinful nature so easily enticed into laziness?  Not that we can't enjoy a peaceful evening and there may really be something worth watching on TV but all too often it turns into a slightly damaging habit that we fall into.

If you are trying to improve your eating habits this might be an area you should consider changing.  Being more alert to what you are putting in your mouth really will help to improve your overall health.  Instead of trying "not to think about it" and then feeling guilty later, why not plan ahead and have a healthy snack, go for a walk, send a card to someone in need or watch that favorite show while exercising on your living room floor?  It does mean that you have to plan healthy snacks ahead of time and think before you act on the natural desire to eat whatever you feel like.  The experts refer to it as "mindful eating".  It's a process of planning what you are going to eat, thinking about how healthy and good the food is while you are eating it and congratulating yourself for having eaten something healthy when you are done.

As Christians we know that God desires for us to allow Him to guide our thoughts-even in the area of food and caring for our body in honor of Him.  The nutrition experts may think that they were the first ones to come up with the idea of being mindful about your actions but really it is a principle that God established in His Word.  Taking every thought captive in obedience to Christ includes the thoughts we have about food, exercise and relaxation.  If you have a sense that God wants you to gain control over your eating habits then I challenge you to consider quoting this verse whenever you have those times of temptation to eat more of something than you should or to choose a food that is less healthy than an alternative.


By Amy L. Stacy, MS, RD, CDE, CDN, CPT