A Morning Of Random Thoughts

• I started intermittent fasting protocol of eating on February 16 of last year.  I've been really hoping to get to a total loss of 50 lbs. before the 1-year anniversary.  I don't know if I'm going to make that.  I've got about another 8 lbs. to lose, and that's a lot now that losing weight has become a slow thing.  I'm okay with that because officiating and long days presents a battle of nutrition and willpower.  Sometimes I just come home after officiating at night, and I eat things I shouldn't - chips, cookies, which I now know is a big mistake and really isn't from my body's need of nutrition but my brains mixed up signal to my stomach.  Still, the challenge is real.  I need to do better planning and then just get a little more mental toughness.

• Related to eating were two stories on the Today show this morning.  One was a feature story of a female comedian, and she was a large woman.  I struggled with the story because a segment of it discussed her struggle with her weight.  My struggle is that because of her weight, she often receives more laughs...she makes money because of her weight, so why struggle emotionally.  My other struggle is whether or not she's healthy.  There isn't a perfect body type, but there is "healthy".  And if "healthy" is a larger body weight than someone else, then that's fine.  But if larger is unhealthy, then I don't know if the proper message is for that person to accept who he or she is.  I don't mean to sound unfeeling or disrespectful, I just wish the message was for all of us to accept ourselves at a size or look that is healthy, even that look isn't a glamour fashion model slim and trim look.

• The other food related story was the trend of "meatless" burgers.  Honestly, I've been eating meatless burgers for awhile.  It's not an "everyday" thing, but my ex-wife was a vegetarian, so I would have veggie burgers, veggie corn dogs, veggie chick nuggets, etc...  And those foods really weren't a big deal.  Recently I've tried Burger King's Impossible Burger and Hardee's version (I can't remember the name).  I liked Hardee's better, and I think the protein used in the Hardee's version is suppose to be better for you.  The doctor interviewed on the story segment suggested that even these plant-based burgers are processed, so it's not like they are necessarily "good" for us.  These plant-based burgers may have different nutritional values that are just "different"...good in some ways and bad in others.  I'll have to do more research on this.

• Should I be excited about a "snow day" canceling Sunday school?  I am.  This morning, temperatures are very cold, so Sunday school was canceled for the day, and I am pleased.   I think I will still plan on attending service, but I'm really uncomfortable with Sunday school - for me.  My faith journey is a little unconventional, so leading a class is something I'm uncertain about.  I've only done it once, and I really felt awkward.  I don't like the idea of leading a group of students when I'm not really sure of a lot of things myself.  I'm suppose to lead two more classes (one per month), and I think when that tour is over, I'm going to back away from the job.