Listen, ladies, I’ve always heard the saying “you are what you eat” but I paid it little to no attention. In my younger years, I could eat just about anything and would remain nice and snatched. My high metabolism was on point! Oh, how I wish I could have that same grace now lol. Today, more than ever, it seems people are more conscious of their healthy eating habits and making total lifestyle changes – I made mine March 2016.
One Friday at work, March 11, 2016 to be exact (I remember the day like it was yesterday), I was so uncomfortably stuffed. I had finished a 6inch meatball sub from subway for lunch and felt so bloated afterwards, so much so that I had to unbuckle my pants and use a rubber band to keep them closed, smh! Now granted, I was probably borderline busting out of them when I got dressed that morning, but the rubber band was the last straw. I remember saying “that’s it, I’m starting a diet on Sunday” and my co-worker was immediately down to do it with me - come through accountability!! We initially agreed to do a sweets and meat free diet for a week but altered that plan to allow for seafood to start on Sunday March 13th. Today, 2 years and 4 months later I am pescatarian. But there is more. What started out as a weight loss diet quickly transitioned to a spiritual fast. How so – I’m glad you asked, hehe! I was about 4 days in to my diet when I started an 18-month discipleship/ministry at church and boy was I missing my bacon and oxtail already. However, I wanted to sacrifice something in lieu of my spiritual journey growing a deeper relationship with Christ, so I decided to sacrifice the thing I wanted the most at that time – yup, the meat was refraining from. Do you know how hard it was to vacation in Jamaica and not have any oxtail? Tuh! It wasn’t easy, but sacrifice is always worth it.
Testimony: Irritable bowel syndrome is another condition that embarrassingly taunted me and wouldn’t let me be great. I had to be very strategic regarding what and where I ate. I was so embarrassed at the times I couldn’t even finish a meal without feeling like a bomb was about to explode. The dreadful three-word comment “I’ll be back” in the middle of or right after a meal, was the absolute worst! It became somewhat of a routine while at the mall with my daughter, she already knew what was about to go down – no pun intended. Or, how about the times I was on a date and would only eat a few bites into my meal and/or play the I’m not hungry game to prevent potential bubble guts. It was so bad that I wouldn’t eat when traveling, especially when flying, to avoid a meeting in the mini airplane lavatory. Little did I know that those poop urges would significantly improve by removing certain things out of my daily diet. Had I not sacrificed meat during my 18-month spiritual journey, then I wouldn’t have known.
God works in mysterious ways, doesn’t He! Isn’t it amazing how things can improve once certain things are removed from our lives. Sacrificing meat ended up being a huge blessing in my life, in more ways than one. Not only did the fast help lead me into a deeper relationship with Christ, but it also allowed me to gain clarity, discipline and strength while on my 18-month spiritual journey. Additionally, I believe I received a healing of certain symptoms of my IBS. Look at God! Joel 2:12 – “Now, therefore,” says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weaping, and with mourning.” I will never return to eating meat as I’m a living testament to the positive effects abstaining from meat has on the body. In fact, I hope to go up a notch to a plant-based diet.
For those of you who struggle with Irritable Bowel Syndrome and that annoying sudden bowel movement, please consider changing your diet - if you haven’t already. I pray that you will receive much relief and comfort and if the lifestyle diet change doesn’t work for you, I pray you receive a healing soon. Don’t give up, stay encouraged!
Love you…be blessed!
