What I'm Reading..

I wasn't going to do another post so soon but I just have to.

Today, I started reading Candace Cameron Bure's book "Reshaping It All". I had already heard a lot of good things about it. I follow Candace on Twitter and I am a fan of hers on Facebook. So I'd read a lot of testimonials and such from people who had read her book. Most of you know that she was "DJ Tanner" from Full House. Even if you weren't born yet or old enough to watch it when it was on TV, I'm sure you know it because you can pretty much find a re-run of it on any day of the week. It's a classic. They don't make them like that anymore...wholesome and good for the whole family.

Anyway, I've always been a fan so when I heard about her book, my curiosity was piqued. Plus, her book is about weight-loss and doing it from a Godly perspective. And my web friend Clara was featured on the blog for her book. You should check it out. You can click the link above and search through the posts. It was about a week ago, I think. So yesterday, I looked for it while out shopping but of course, Walmart nor Target had it. I was tempted to go to the mall today and look for it at Books-A-Million but I decided to check and see if it was available in e-book format for my NOOK. And it was! And it was cheaper than buying it in the store! Yay!

I ordered it and downloaded it today while Abigail was painting. I immediately started reading it. When I got to the second chapter where she really got into talking about the way we deal with food and how it effects us, I began to wonder how she knew so much about me. I mean, there was a couple of times that I felt like she was talking directly to me. I wanted to share with you an excerpt from the book that really stuck out to me because it totally summed me up, called me out, and convicted me. Here it is,

"As a result of this mind-set, many of us spend our lifetime searching for a miraculous way to keep the binge and lose the bulge. Instead of taming our uncontrolled appetite to behave like it should, we continue to nurture and spoil it over time. The morning starts off with a longing for lunch and a yearning for "just the right thing," till we get it. We complain how bloated we feel after lunch, and then within an hour we're back to discussing what dinner will be. The cycle continues until it ends somewhere around 11:00 p.m. with another snack on our lap. Sound familiar?"

I can't begin to tell you how many times in my life that this had described me. The most vivid memories are from high school. I was not "fat" in high school. I was a normal size and in my junior year, I was as fit as could be thanks to Coach Aziz and Body Sculpting class. But the behavior that led to the body I have now, started way back when. I distinctly remember sitting in homeroom, next to my best friend Whitney. Class hadn't officially started. It wasn't even 8:00 in the morning yet and we were already talking about and salivating over food. We talked about what we wanted for lunch and what we dreamed about eating. I can't tell you how many of our conversations that year in homeroom were about food. We were obsessed. Now, I must tell you that Whitney has a great body. And she does a good job of keeping it fit, eating right, and working out. Plus she's amazingly gorgeous and tall! And I just love her to death. But yeah, Candace, I'm right there with you. I can remember gorging myself on a Sunday lunch only to discuss what was for dinner before we ever got up from the table. Kinda of disgusting, right?

She goes on to say,

"One problem with our overweight society is that we've been trained to look at food as the problem rather than our approach to appetite. Food has become the focus of our culture with fast-food signs adorning every street corner. In hopes of fixing this obsession with food, we find diet plans that offer twice the binge at half the calories, or we reach for pills that will quickly shed the pounds. Sounds great when one finds out that she can still eat till her eyes are leaking and not gain a pound, but what she isn't learning in the process is how to behave as a disciplined eater, or that God calls us to moderation in all things."

Thanks Candace! Way to call me out in front of everyone! Ha! I was floored by her dead-on interpretation of my relationship with food and dieting in the past. But even more so, I was happy that the person she was talking about, was in reality, no longer me. I used to be that girl, but I'm rapidly leaving her in the dust, and finding the new me. I don't have it all figured it but I'm positive that I'm on the right track.

I can't wait to read more of her book and find out what else she has to say. I can't vouch for the rest of it but so far it's so good. Plus on NOOK it's a lend-me. Now, I'll be lending it to my mom first but if you have a NOOK and you personally know me and are interested in reading it, let me know. If not, go get a copy. I'm sure it will be worth it. She even shares some recipes.

That's all for now.

Peace, Love, and Healthy Living,

Jessica

*excerpts taken from Candace Cameron Bure's Reshaping It All e-book format, page 19. Copyright 2011 by Candache, Inc.