Being Content

Last week while my mother was visiting we had some really good times of one-on-one talking. Some of it was even pretty deep conversation and something I really needed. One thing she mentioned that has stuck in my mind was when she said, "You just need to be content." This wasn't in regards to my weight loss, but she did include my health and weight in general.

Now, she wasn't talking about being content with being overweight and giving up on losing any more, but with being myself and not living up to the stick-thin examples of "great bodies" we see plastered in the media. She also was talking about a few other personal issues.

She is so right, both in general and in weight-related issues.

I'm always looking for the latest fix to help me lose the weight. Yes, I admit it..I do look in magazines and at those crazy ads once in a while. When I'm vexed with my current situation I just wish I could find the "magic" plan, workout tool, exercise machine or diet that would make the weight drop off easily.

But I know none of that would give me lasting results and they wouldn't deal with the deeper issues; one of which is being content. I tend to want more in many areas, and food is one of them.

So, to know what to change and how to be content I started with looking up scriptures on the subject and then the actual definition of the word. In my search I came across these definitions:

con·tent

1.	satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else. Ready to accept or acquiesce; willing:

con·tent·ed,

To make content or satisfied: contented himself with one piece of cake.

I found it interesting that the example given for "contented" included an example with food. Somehow the dictionary knew what I was looking for.

Notice how the second definition for "content" says, "ready to accept or acquiesce; willing:" ? It's almost as if I have to be ready to accept that less food or healthier choices are enough and be content with that. I know to acquiesce is to give in without protest, but look at that through my mind...I'm not giving in to be overweight, but giving in to what I know I must do and I'm not going to protest anymore.

Along the same lines, the definition for contented says "to make content or satisfied". I have to make myself be content. It doesn't say ' the natural instinct to be content'. It says to make it happen.

Ah ha!

I need to

* stop protesting smaller portions and healthier options

* be satisfied and not want more

* make myself be content, because it won't come naturally

* be content with the food I eat and stop when I'm satisfied.

You know how Dave Ramsey teaches on living within your means financially, and being content with what you have? Well, I need to learn to eat within my means and be content with only the food my body needs as fuel to keep going.

This is not easy for me, but I know it can be done. I have decided to make it my goal daily to work on being content, because I know there is nothing to lose but the weight if I do.

1 Timothy 6:6 (NIV)

But godliness with contentment is great gain.