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Word of Wisdom - FAT! - Page 2

Interesting subject.

I probably have a slightly different point of view on this (surprise!).

When the Word of Wisdom says to eat meat sparingly, what exactly does it mean? Should we ONLY eat meat during times of cold and famine?

I have read a good bit about this subject, as I need to lose a few pounds. I am not hugely overweight, but since getting out of the military, I have gained some that I need to lose. My father is diabetic, my mother is hypoglycemic, so I have paid a lot of attention to how insulin reacts to the foods we eat.

I have a book called Potatoes, not Prozac that shows how harmful sugar addiction is (which includes other types of processed, simple carbohydrates). In this program, when trying to gain control of depression, anxiety, and weight problems, one of the first steps is to eat sufficient proteins. If a person is following a vegetarian diet, they must eat multiple types of protein in order to get what their bodies need. If they are eating meat, poultry, fish, and dairy, then each food has the necessary combination of amino acids that our bodies need.

Now, what struck me about this was that in order to get what my body needs, I need to consume about 130 grams of protein per day. Split this up over three meals, and you are looking at only about 37 grams per meal. Since I normally eat three eggs for breakfast, I only have to add a bit of cheese to breakfast to meet that requirement. What is interesting is that it only takes 5 to 6 ounces of beef or chicken to meet this requirement! If I were to eat steak at a restaurant, I would probably get a 10 to 13 oz cut! And a chicken breast is usually over 6 oz as well.

Now with this, I need to eat complex carbohydrates. Guess what they are - potatoes, grains, fruits and vegetables. I need to cut down on sugars (which isn't a terrible problem, as I don't eat TOO much sweet stuff, other than pop). Eventually, (sooner rather than later) I will need cut all sugars out of my diet. Alcohol (which I have been free of now for 20 years) is one of the worst sugars.

So, doesn't this read like the Word of Wisdom? Eating meat sparingly (5 - 6 oz), complex carbohydrates, etc.

And, if you are a smaller person, in the 140 to 150 lb range, you would only need to eat the equivalent of 2 - 3 oz of meat per meal. Isn't this eating meat sparingly? Especially when compared to what we normally eat, which is normally a couple of 1/4 lb beef patties, etc.

The problem is that it does take discipline. The discipline is in avoiding the simple, processed carbs such as sugar, white flour, even white rice.

The nice thing is that by following the plan to the little extent that I currently do, I sleep better and generally feel better. By simply eating a whole baked potato, including the skin, just before bedtime (about 3 hours after a meal with sufficient protein), my seratonin levels rise, and I feel less effects of depression. When I don't do this, I feel the difference.

Obviously, this type of lifestyle doesn't include the eating of massive amounts of bread, pudding, cakes, and pastries. But, from what I can see, it does promote living the Word of Wisdom.

(see: https://www.radiantrecovery.com/ for more information.)

NightHawk

FAT Wisdom Word

All commandments from God are considered spiritual, although they all havetemporal applications. On the main LDS web site, there is a link to a site called "Provident Living" https://www.providentliving.org/

It has the spiritual as well as temporal approach toward the Word of Wisdom. I tend to think along temporal lines first and struggle almost every time. If I approach a commandment by way of scriptures and what the prophets have said..and prayed...the entire process is so much easier. But of course, I still insist on doing the hardest way possible..but I'm learning slowly.

Word of Wisdom - FAT! Studies Doctrine Mormon

First, we shouldn't judge an obese person and assume they are weak, or gluttons etc. I think this has been discussed, some obese people are very light eaters. And studies show the fatter one gets, the easier it is to get even more fat. My wife is as skinny as you can be and she eats quite a bit and always has. My point is, a skinny person can be just as much in violation of the W of W as a fat person.

The best way for an obese person to trim down is to exercise. Fat cells need no calories to sustain themselves but lean muscles do. So, the more muscle you have on your body, the more calories you need for fuel. That's why we tend to get fatter as we age because we lose muscle mass as we age. That's also why teenagers can eat you out of house and home and stay trim, because they have lean muscles. Supposedly, the best exercise to put that muscle back on is aerobic exercise such as running, swimming, brisk walking etc. Something that is sustained for 20-30 minutes or longer and daily or almost daily.

Another point, is that muscle weighs more than fat, so some people will actually gain weight when they start exercising. But, this is good weight. The amount of pounds you carry is not the problem, it is the type of pounds. So, when someone says they lost 10 pounds on a particular diet, they should clarify what kind of pounds. Many diets will result in weight loss but you lose the good weight and keep the bad weight.

So, let's say you weigh 180 pounds and have a 38 inch waist. You start exercising and in about a year, you might weigh 195 but you now have a 35 inch waist. You are in beter shape than before.

Anyway, to follow the w of w we need to eat sensibly, moderation in all things and get the majority of our calories from plant food rather than animal. That's difficult indeed with all the fast food establishments around today.

Page 2 FAT Wisdom Word

I had a friend in the mission that talked about this lot. Whenever he would come home from a particularly large dinner appointment he would say "Oooh, we violated the word of wisdom tonight!" It was funny, but it made a good point.

I think a lot of weight problems in the church come from the fact that over eating is the only vice that we are 'allowed'. All the others will get your temple recomend revoked. I think it's definitely something that people need to think about more. When any part of your life is out of balance it makes it difficult to have the spirit with you.

I try to go jogging every day, and I feel like it has a huge impact on my spirituality. Too often people view that kind of thing as a purely temporal matter.

FAT Wisdom Word

That's so true. I never had a weight problem but I did enjoy exercising and it had a great impact in my life, I felt so much closer to God in so many ways because I had the health and the strenght to do even more that what I'm asked. Now, I stopped exercising when I started working outside the home and I will make it a goal to start doing it again, it makes me feel so much better.

Word of Wisdom - FAT!

"The condition of the physical body can affect the spirit. That's why the
Lord gave us the Word of Wisdom. He also said that we should retire to our
beds early and arise early (see D&C 88:124), that we should not run faster
than we have strength (see D&C 10:4), and that we should use moderation
in all good things. In general, the more food we eat in its natural state and
the less it is refined without additives, the healthier it will be for us.
Food can affect the mind, and deficiencies in certain elements in the body
can promote mental depression. A good physical examination periodically is
a safeguard and may spot problems that can be remedied. Rest and physical
exercise are essential, and a walk in the fresh air can refresh the spirit.
Wholesome recreation is part of our religion, and a change of pace is
necessary, and even its anticipation can lift the spirit."

(Ezra Taft Benson, "Do Not Despair," Ensign, Nov. 1974, 66)

Word Wisdom FAT - Page 2

Considering what the Lord said in Section 89: due to the evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days. I warn you and fore warn you......(Not an exact quote)

Most of us think of alcohol and tobaco when we think of the evil designs in the last days. And we are right. But also consider some other thoughts. With our busy schedues today, we don't take the time to sit down to many home cooked meals. Fast food restaurants are on every corner, and what do they serve? For the most part, food heavy in fat, such as meats and fried foods, along with sugary stuff. What do we find on our supermarket shelves? Sugary cereals with little nutritional value. Make a note next time you go to the store and see where the sugary cereals are. They are down low where your small children can reach them and throw them in the cart. The healthier cereals are up higher, out of their reach.

Througout most of the world's history, people have worked hard physically to put fresh food on the table, mostly fruits, vegetables, grains and lean meets. In most cases, they barely got enough to meet their needs. Today we sit at desks and get little if any exercise and stuff ourselves with food that kills us. Conspiring men know this, but they profit from it so they continue to push it.

We know enough to avoid cigarettes, alcohol, drugs, coffee and tea but for some reason, can't get the rest of it right.

Word Wisdom FAT Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 2

I appreciated your remarks, Gaucho, that we should not judge someone who is overweight, that some that are obese are light eaters. I can tell you that I am not perfect in my eating habits, but my weight is not in direct proportion to the fat/sugar/carbohydrates/white flour/ and other unhealthy foods I may eat. I have a disease of my endocrine system, which affects my insulin absorbtion, metabolism, and glucose absorbtion, among other things. It makes me heavy, and extremely difficult to lose the weight, and no, this is not just an excuse. Some people struggle with thyroid problems. When we look at a person, whether a person has physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual problems or abnormalities, we do not know what makes a person the way that they are even if features strongly suggest what we might know what the cause of their problems are; I.e. obesity, extreme thinness, mental illness, no faith or testimony. We just never know what someone struggles with that give them the challenges that they have. Another example is my 10 year old son. He is a special needs child suffering from mental illness; he has a form of autism, bi-polar disorder, adhd, and components of ocd. He is on many medications and sees plenty of professionals for help. At times when we are out in public, he may have a meltdown of sorts, and he may even scream a little. I have felt the piercing eyes of others, wondering why I don't discipline my child and get him under control, and what a misbehaving child he is. Of course, he is taught and disciplined, but at times he cannot help his behavior. Any way, I'm just trying to make the point that just because someone is overweight does not necessarily mean that he or she is not keeping with the spirit of the word of wisdom, that's all. Thanks everyone for listening and for your feedback.