Food Fight

Food is such an integral part of our lives.  Yes we need it to sustain us and it keeps us healthy, most of the time.  Lately for me food has become an unbearable struggle.  Growing up I never ate a lot but never really cared what I ate one way or another.  If it tasted good and I liked it then I ate.  I was always on the go and active so weight wasn't an issue.  Of course as all teen girls I was concerned with how I looked and wanted that flat even concave stomach but it was not a challenge for me to maintain.  I road my bike a lot and even had to buy pants to fit my thighs not my waist. 

Of course that didn't last.  Age, babies and a general lack of activity began the more obvious struggle with weight and appearance and of course I actually began to enjoy food more because my ex-husband was an incredible chef and made food even more appealing.  Left to my own devices, cooking and food have and always probably will be too much trouble in my book so when I prepare my own food it tends to be much more minimal. 

In the last year, however, I honestly feel that food is my enemy.  Mostly because I have discovered that I'm allergic to a large quantity of foods that I actually like to eat.  My current living situation is with my parents and again I am in the house with someone who likes to cook so there is far more food to contend with and the allergies have created a struggle.  It requires much more thought than any of us like to put into food and the ramifications of finding something I can eat have become more life altering.  Reactions to these foods can range from minor to more and more severe.  Nothing like being afraid to eat to help you maintain your weight. 

Add to that a new diagnosis in the last month of insulin resistance and man does that create even more challenges.  So now my body is not only fighting food but can't quite process certain foods correctly to allow me to burn it off and utilize it appropriately.  So now you see why food seems to have become the enemy.  It's a fight to find something that doesn't make me break out in hives or have trouble breathing and doesn't cause my carb and sugar levels to go crazy.  So food seems to be more trouble than its worth. 

Okay, I'm done whining.  I'm trying to cling to this verse in Philippians 4:13 (NIV) I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Also Psalm 139 - especially verse 14 reminds me that God created me and knows exactly what I need.  I just need to rest in Him and be diligent about what I put in this body that He gave me.