Super Size Me

In response to the 2004 documentary Super Size Me a new Raw for 30 days film is coming out which will document the journey of five Americans subsisting on a standard American junk food diet and all suffering from Adult Onset Type II Diabetes. They undergo a radical 30-day raw food diet and lifestyle change in hope of reversing or reducing their insulin dependence.

The film will show the eating habits that led to the development of this disease and will posit an alternative approach to living and eating, one in which foods can heal and hold the potential to reverse Diabetes.

Should be interesting........

Bucking the trend in 2008

This is a cross post from my alter ego's site. Monica and I were both a little amazed, but not surprised. She was also a little hurt that she has to special order tall sizes even while new plus size sections are popping up.

Walking through Fred Meyers yesterday my wife realized we were in the junior plus size section. I thought plus size was the territory of Big & Tall or Lane Bryant. When did kids get a plus size section? I guess it follows from the supersize trend in America. Well bucking that trend is one of this year’s resolutions in the Wally household. Thankfully, we are continuing an effort rather than starting the tough road today.

Last year we embarked on a journey to change the way we view and consume food. Our goal; eat to live rather than live to eat. For us eating to live entails limiting refined sugar, refined flours, process foods in general and of course no gluttony. We and several friends have been pretty successful with this goal over the last 6-7 months, but it can still be a struggle for us from time to time. For our sake and the sake of our children, we pray for God’s continued assistance in 2008.

Happy New Year and may God bless you in all your efforts!

Words of Wisdom

John Boyle O'Reilly:

"How shall I a habit break?
As you did that habit make.
As you gathered, you must lose;
As you yielded, now refuse.
Thread by thread, the strands we twist,
Till they bind us neck and wrist.
Thread by thread, the patient hand,
Must untwine ere free we stand."

I like this quote in regards to unhealthy habits of eating, self sabatoge, etc. PRISM is all about diving deeper than our outward appearances and in doing that we are asked to deal with bad habits. Easier said then done but something worthy of striving for non the less. Actually........ not just worthy, but necessary in order for this to be a lifelong change.

Deadly Weapons

Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for God's glory.
1 CORINTHIANS 10:31

Disregard for the physical aspect of life can greatly contribute to spiritual dryness. This means that a certain amount of discipline must be introduced into our lives. But what kind of discipline?

Firstly, we need discipline in what and how much we eat. Every meal should be a sacrament offered on the altar of fitter and finer living. Doctors tell us that excess food - as well as too little food - destroys brain power. What is in the stomach often determines what is in the head.

Scripture says, "the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking" (Rm 14:17). But it is not a contradiction of that verse to say that often our food and drink determine our fitness for the kingdom of God.

Seneca, in an exaggerated statement made for the sake of emphasis, said, "Man does not die: he kills himself."Dr. R. L. Greene, a professor of chemistry and a specialist in nutrition, says, "The most deadly weapons used by man in committing suicide are the knife, fork, and spoon."

You may be repelled at the idea of committing suicide - and so you should be - but you may well be contributing to your death by choosing wrong ways of eating.

We need discipline also to ensure that we get at least the minimum amount of vitamins. Vitamins are necessary to vitality; they are God's gift to us. The divine Chemist has designed our bodies to work in a certain way. And if we ignore His prescription for health, we reduce our physical effectiveness, which can also reduce our spiritual effectiveness.

Daily Prayer

O Father, help me recognize that physical vitality contributes to spiritual vitality. May I respect the body You have given me and pay attention to the laws of health that You have built into the universe. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

Thanks Penny for sharing this timely devotion!

The Crazy Makers

Carol Simontacchi is the guest speaker for weeks 2 and 12. She is also my favorite speaker within the PRISM program. The Crazy Makers, How the food industry is destroying our brains and harming our children, is just one of several books she has written. It came in the mail this past week and I wanted to share a page out of it. It says when we reach our 20's our bodies may be done growing but they are never dormant. We are a dynamic organism, constantly changing, constantly repairing, and never the same one minute to the next. To better explain let me quote from the book.

If you could see your body as it really is, you would never see it the same way twice. Ninety-eight percent of the atoms in your body were not there a year ago. The skeleton that seems so solid was not there three months ago. The configuration of the bone cells remains somewhat constant, but atoms of all kinds pass freely back and forth through the cell walls, and by that means you acquire a new skeleton every three months.

The skin is new every month. You have a new stomach lining every four days, with the actual surface cells that contact food being renewed every five minutes. The cells in the liver turn over very slowly, but new atoms still flow through them, like water in a river course, making a new liver every six weeks. Even within the brain, whose cells are not replaced once they die, the content of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and so on is totally different today from a year ago.

Just a small excerpt from the book but for me it reinforces the importance of what we put into our bodies. We need the vitamins, minerals, enzymes, healthy oils, etc. They all work together and I'm embarrassed at what I considered food before learning from the PRISM program. I praise God for our complex bodies, capable of so much when given a chance!

Rebels with a Cause

I had an epiphany today after hearing yet another story in a long line of stories about childhood obesity, childhood diabetes, and just today reading about undiagnosed hypertension among our youth. The epiphany? We are rebels! The twenty or so of us in our two groups have chosen to rebel against the unhealthy momentum growing in our society. We are cool and we are getting healthy. We are like James Dean, only not dead! We are like early Christians in Rome, only not dead. We are like rebels, only we're not just like rebels; we are rebels!

Phase 1 Successes

Our Ferndale group completed Phase 1 of the PRISM guidelines this past July 10th. There are 9 people in our group following the weight loss guidelines and 2-3 additional support people that attend either to watch the videos or support someone on their journey. I'm happy to report that our group lost well over 100 pounds and inches. Because not everyone chose to weigh and/or measure themselves I calculated an average using the information I did have. On average we lost 17 pounds and 17 inches each. Other comments I've received throughout phase 1 include:

• I feel great
• Food Taste better
• I've lost 1 - 2 dress sizes
• My blood pressure medication has been reduced by half
• My blood sugar levels are well within normal; no early morning peaks
• I've gained a closer walk with God

If you know someone in our group please congratulate them on their success. It's a strict, tough program and everyone has worked really hard to get where they are.

Simplified version of yesterday's post

I'm reasonably sure that God didn't put me on this earth to eat, so I should spend my time here doing what He wants, rather than looking for more food.

Sustenance

So far the PRISM program has been very good for me physically. My blood pressure has gone way down, I am thinner and I generally feel great, but I am at a point that I can't seem to shake the idea that this is a temporary thing. It hasn't settled yet that I won't ever be eating the same way I used to. I have to admit that I haven't kept up on the readings on a daily basis. I play more of a catch up game a few times a week. I really want this program to be successful so I rededicated myself to doing the program the way it is laid out; reading everyday not just do every day's readings!

Today's reading starts with a verse which I've seen a few times already.

The good man eats to live, while the evil man lives to eat.
(Proverbs 13:25 The Living Bible)

A bent that I have is that I can't read a verse without wanting to read the verses before and after, or looking at what words were chosen, or looking at different translation, so I can really understand what we are supposed to learn. So I read and here is what I found.

I think PRISM chose the Living Bible translation because it is a bit more polished on the theme of eating to live vs. living to eat. While I don't find anything really wrong with the translation I do feel that it implies that the evil man can be satisfied by eating or that it is just the focus of an evil mans desire. Like it is just a choice to do this or that. After reading a few other translations I find that the message seems to be more of being satisfied by God both physically and spiritually when we choose Him or to go on with our life always in want or hunger if we don't chose His path.

The righteous eat to their hearts' content,
but the stomach of the wicked goes hungry.
(Proverbs 13:25 NIV)

The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul:
but the belly of the wicked shall want.
(Proverbs 13:25 KJV)

The righteous have enough to eat,
but the wicked are always hungry.
(Proverbs 13:25 GNB)

The righteous eats to the satisfying of his appetite,
but the belly of the wicked shall lack.
(Proverbs 13:25 LITV)

An appetite for good brings much satisfaction,
but the belly of the wicked always wants more.
(Proverbs 13:25 MSG)

So I read that no matter how much I eat, I will never be satisfied because the hole I am trying to fill is not in my stomach, it is in my soul. Feed my soul and my stomach will no longer hunger. Amazing how God and his Word are so timely. Food may sustain my body on this earth, but God is the real longterm sustenance.

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
(1 Timothy 4:8) KJV

Gravel Mouth

Week 3 lesson 5 really encouraged me and so I thought I would share about it with you.

Never been a closet eater. Yet when I read the verses from proverbs they hit me pretty hard. "The women folly sits at the door.... calling out...let all who are simple come in here! Stolen water is sweet and food eaten in secret is delicious!" So often we have this voice inside our heads that says eat it it's ok it won't really be bad for you. It really helped to give that voice a name... and that name is folly, it is sin, and not good! And Prov. 20:17 Food gained by fraud tastes sweet to a man, but he ends up with a mouth full of gravel. Unhealthy food does not satisfy. And I never thought of that as biblical.

I pray you keep up the good work, That you notice a difference. KNow that you have encouraged me by starting this group and I know many others as well. Don't listen to folly. Listen to our LORD.

You are blessed,

Laura May

This diet is for the dogs

Since we've been on this program my stomach has been feeling much better. No more clearing the room with unexpected gas problems. No more waking myself up at night with unbearable flatuence. As good as I feel right now I couldn't have done it on my own. I just don't have the will power. I eat what I see; burgers, corndogs, scrambled eggs, donuts. You name it I eat it. I'd eat the cat but Monica wouldn't be happy with me at all.

And I want her to be happy because if it weren't for her determination and will power, I'd be right back eating her leftovers and having an upset stomach. This diet truly is for dogs.

I am having a bit of trouble understanding the devotions though.

Sabre,
the dog

The Rocking Chair Method!

PRISM may have said put away your scales but it didn't say anything about rocking chairs and tape measures! My boys have a child size rocking chair in their bedroom. According to Garin's tape measure the width of that chair is 12.5 inches at its widest point and 11.5 at its skinniest point. What does this have to do with PRISM? Well, last night wanting to sit somewhere besides the floor for evening devotions, I tried to squeeze my caboose into that rocking chair. It's never worked in the past but last night I was surprised to find both caboose cheeks firmly planted (although uncomfortable) in the base of that rocking chair. And when I say firmly I mean it was hard to stand up without the whole chair coming with me. But who cares? Success is success! Even if I cant look at a scale, I do now have a place to sit for devotions.

Way to go Monica!!

Monica, your blog is so inspiring. I just went through and read everything to catch up. You make me want to try harder. I am totally struggling right now, but I need to start journaling and reading again. Thanks for the blog and all the support. Keep up the good work!!!

It's not about the 6 weeks!

This is a tough program. And we've been asked to quit a lot of things cold turkey without any exception, but it's the discipline someone like me requires. The reading from Week one, day 3 really spoke to me in that I do need to GROW UP, quit my little pity party about everything I can't have, and get over myself!

It's not about the 6 weeks, it's about getting control. It's not just about transforming our bodies, but our thinking. I would like to think a day will come when I can have cookies in the house without eating the whole pack.

Food is a problem for me and I don't want to struggle with it the rest of my life. I need to get a grip on it!

The first three days were tough and I missed my 7-Eleven family, but as the week went on I felt quite empowered and ready to grow up.

Monica

Show me the food!

It's break time (formerly cookie time) and I thought I would write in how it is going.

I am halfway through day two and yet it seams like only a week. I've eaten 1 cup of cottage cheese, a single 1.0 oz string cheese, 1 large banana, 11 almonds and for lunch I had 3/4 cup of healthy chili soup made by my lovely wife Monica. I must be sticking to things or I wouldn't be able to cite food and quantity from memory.

Really things are going OK, but I do wish that Moses would come and strike the Diet Coke rock for my wife.

bye

Congratulations to Jennie and her group!!

For those of you that were at the introductory meeting and met my sister in law, Jennie, I have good news! Her group down in South Prairie has completed the first phase of PRISM. Within her group of 9 people over 100 pounds have been lost. (Their are two more people still on vacation that have not been weighed yet. ) Jennie herself has lost 15 pounds and 15 inches. If you'd like to congratulate her, her email is jennie.gilbert@hotmail.com

I thought this was inspiring news as we are about to head into our first week of Phase I.

Monica's thoughts on starting PRISM

Hello and welcome to the PRISM blog!

I first learned about PRISM from my sister in law Jennie who is into her 4th week of phase 1. I was impressed with the program when I heard some of the daily devotions from her PRISM study guide. They hit the nail on the head for me and with devotions that would hold me so incredibly accountable, I thought loosing weight would actually be a secondary benefit of the program.

So, after finding out that there is not an existing group in Ferndale, I looked into starting one. I did not however want to lead it. Fears & doubts crept in on how I'm the last person that should be leading others into this arena, after all cookies are my friend. Then it dawned on me how arrogant that line of thinking was when it would have less to do with me and more to do with God working through me. It's his strength I should be relying on, not mine.

Today (as I continued the struggle of fighting off those doubts and fears) I was listening to Praise radio and thought to myself, wouldn't that be an undeniable sign if they were talking about PRISM on the radio today? Well, they weren't, but they did have a speaker named Robbie Zacharias talking about Daniel. (Read Daniel 1:8-15) I missed the point of the actual lesson but what stood out to me was the part where it said Daniel refused to participate in the king's lavish feasts. Doing this ran the risk of his upsetting the king whom he was a captive of. The speaker went on to suggest that Daniel did not participate because he knew an uncontrolled appetite could ruin a person and that he belonged to Christ first, not the king. I think Daniel stood up for what he knew was right despite his surroundings.

Prism's motto is to transform yourself into the person God created you to be and no food is more important than that. I also think we need to be reminded of two things: Whose we are & that no one can serve two masters. In my mind that master can be anything that distracts you from God including an over indulgence in food.

I have never done PRISM before so I'll be learning with everyone else. It's a strict program, in fact, I believe Jennie's group has nicknamed it "prison." But I don't think we'll regret the decision to do it. I also have not had much experience in leading a group so I ask for your patience and forgiveness as we move forward. I hope that after the introductory class, if you decide to join, that we can encourage and hold each other accountable in this journey.

I created this blog for our Prism group here in Ferndale, but anyone wishing to sign in and offer a few words of encouragement or support is welcome. If you are interested in joining this PRISM group or would like more information about PRISM email me at wallacecabin@earthlink.net.

Thanks, Monica