Should we be more strict with gluttony?

[Not David]

A lot of fat people in the US and a lot of risk-related diseases. I say this as someone who is not in good physical condition.

 

[A_Thinker]

How would we do that ... restrict food ?

Make exercise mandatory ?

In our world, I think that this is an area or personal discipline ...

 

[timothyu]

I don't believe the problem should focus on over-eating or lack of exercise. The main problem is people have gone from a meat, potato, vegetable, dessert, diet of 60 years ago made from basic ingredients where obesity was rare, to a diet of processed foods comprised of mainly what was once known as the poor man's diet of starches and super sugars. Couple that with various diet sugar substitutes that the body does not know what to do with so it stores it rather than rejecting it creating a rise in diabetes 2, and you've got today's problem. Fake food creates a fake body.

The fact that kids who drink whole milk are slimmer than those who drink 1% (with sugar added no less) should tell us something. Processed foods are just a way for more people to get rich than limiting it to those who produce the basics. People have become unskilled and lazy. Foolish humans.

 

[Cimorene]

A lot of fat people in the US and a lot of risk-related diseases. I say this as someone who is not in good physical condition.

Are there are a lot of ppl in Ecuador who are overweight too?

I think gluttony is definitely destructive bc it can be so damaging to your health & shorten it.

I've never been overweight. I'm not skinny but also not overweight. I think my BMI is 21 which is like middle of the road for normal.

 

[dogs4thewin]

A lot of fat people in the US and a lot of risk-related diseases. I say this as someone who is not in good physical condition.

How would that even work? How do we police that short of rationing (which we do not want?

 

[bèlla]

I think the issue is largely ignored in the church. They have an opportunity to address health in a loving fashion and affirm the benefit of moderation. That applies to topics beyond our diet.

For many, it’s personal and can’t be broached without causing offense. There are a growing number of believers addressing nutrition and wellness from a Christian perspective.

I shared some resources you may find helpful on another thread.

~Bella

Please pray that I can overcome my disordered eating
I know I should be going to a doctor about this but...

 

[Not David]

How would we do that ... restrict food ?

Make exercise mandatory ?

In our world, I think that this is an area or personal discipline ...

Even though I am "Big Government David", I am thinking more about promoting a healthy lifestyle while showing the consequences of sugars, trans fats, etc.

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

In our personal lives it's always good to be strict with the amount of food we consume. I just think people don't realize what's a good amount of food to eat or drink to maintain a good weight and healthy.

Where people miss the mark is their lack of self control and so they go overboard and just over eat. I did this a while back and gained 5kg. I've reversed it by three since then but weight just piles on depending on who you are and what you eat.

The best reason for a Christian to not be beholden to food is so as to not be a slave to it. If I can't resist having a chocolate bar each day, then I'm a slave to my desire to eat it. If I have a desire to eat it but only eat a chocolate bar once a week, then I know I have control over my desire.

I'm still a slave to coffee though.

 

[Not David]

Are there are a lot of ppl in Ecuador who are overweight too?

I think gluttony is definitely destructive bc it can be so damaging to your health & shorten it.

I've never been overweight. I'm not skinny but also not overweight. I think my BMI is 21 which is like middle of the road for normal.

Yes, too much junk food (self-made) plus very few exercise and a lot of alcohol.

 

[Not David]

I think the issue is largely ignored in the church. They have an opportunity to address health in a loving fashion and affirm the benefit of moderation. That applies to topics beyond our diet.

For many, it’s personal and can’t be broached without causing offense. There are a growing number of believers addressing nutrition and wellness from a Christian perspective.

I shared some resources you may find helpful on another thread.

~Bella

Please pray that I can overcome my disordered eating
I know I should be going to a doctor about this but...

This! It is something that is ignored by Christian groups a lot of times.

 

[Gregorikos]

We ought to at least preach and teach on gluttony every now and then. But we rarely if ever do.

It should be between the individual and the Holy Spirit whether they have over consumed either food or beverage. But preaching God's word on the subject will raise awareness.

 

[JackRT]

I am 76 and I could still get into my age 20 military uniform. OK,OK! I would have to suck in my gut a bit.

 

[Josheb]

Should we be more strict with gluttony?

A lot of fat people in the US and a lot of risk-related diseases. I say this as someone who is not in good physical condition.

Strict? No. Responsible? Yes. Better stewards of our bodies? Yes.

I was born a beanpole with big ears. My nicknames were Toothpick Tom and Monkey Ears. I didn't break 100 pounds until I was a sophomore in high school. I got married at age 37 and weighed 185; had a 48 inch chest and a 32 inch waist. Spent two hours a day in the gym five or six days a week.

Then I got married, raised kids and at age 60 weighed 260 pounds.

I've been using a modified keto diet (high protein/nolo carb) and lost 43 pounds over the last ten weeks and plane to lose 10-15 more. Visceral body fat is down from 20% to 12. I've gone down two waist sizes and can fit into slim jeans. Surprises even me. I'm having a protein snack now before I jump on the treadmill.

I look good .

Yes, we should be more responsible about gluttony, especially in the wealthiest of societies. We could cure hunger if we wanted to do so and I suspect we will be asked about that when we stand before God in the end. The Bible says sexual sins are sins against the body and I suspect there are many other sins we commit against our physical body and gluttony is one of them.

I plan on demolishing a pizza buffet the day after my diet ends. Or maybe a steakhouse. Can't decide. I feel sad for the poor folks that get in the way.

I'll repent after my food settles .

 

[timothyu]

I guess my post about fake food needs to go unanswered because in the country we are referring to there are laws against libelling the food industry? So are people restricted to pretending gluttony is the cause?

 

[Ignatius the Kiwi]

Interestingly Dante placed Gluttony right after lust as the third circle of Hell. Lust feels generally shameful but maybe the reason gluttony is worse is because we become generally ignorant to it and don't think about it.

I guess my post about fake food needs to go unanswered because in the country we are referring to there are laws against libelling the food industry? So are people restricted to pretending gluttony is the cause?

Since you want a response, I'm not sure I agree with you on the nature of processed foods. To a certain extent yes, but I imagine it has something more to do with the portions and the amount we eat (calories daily) than the food itself. Trim milk is less fatty than normal milk, but maybe those who drink it are having more milk per day than those who drink whole cream.

To take my own case as an example, when I was loosing weight I still ate some pretty bad processed food. I just cut amount I ate down. I would argue that here is something to be said to coming up to a cooked meal instead of something pre-packaged.

 

[timothyu]

Lust feels generally shameful but maybe the reason gluttony is worse is because we become generally ignorant to it and don't think about it.

Or once we drop the lust we don't burn as many calories.

 

[ripple the car]

In our personal lives it's always good to be strict with the amount of food we consume. I just think people don't realize what's a good amount of food to eat or drink to maintain a good weight and healthy.

Where people miss the mark is their lack of self control and so they go overboard and just over eat. I did this a while back and gained 5kg. I've reversed it by three since then but weight just piles on depending on who you are and what you eat.

The best reason for a Christian to not be beholden to food is so as to not be a slave to it. If I can't resist having a chocolate bar each day, then I'm a slave to my desire to eat it. If I have a desire to eat it but only eat a chocolate bar once a week, then I know I have control over my desire.

I'm still a slave to coffee though.

Coffee's got me, too.

 

[A_Thinker]

Are there are a lot of ppl in Ecuador who are overweight too?

I think gluttony is definitely destructive bc it can be so damaging to your health & shorten it.

I've never been overweight. I'm not skinny but also not overweight. I think my BMI is 21 which is like middle of the road for normal.

You're young ... no other adult has a BMI of 21 ...

 

[timothyu]

When your metabolism is used to eating fat rather than hi carbs we stay leaner, just like in the old days. Fat doesn't begat fat. Sugar does. Today we are awash in hi carb starch and sugar and paying a sluggish metabolic price. People need to learn to eat meat, potatoes and veggies again. Grandma would be proud.

 

[A_Thinker]

I don't believe the problem should focus on over-eating or lack of exercise. The main problem is people have gone from a meat, potato, vegetable, dessert, diet of 60 years ago made from basic ingredients where obesity was rare, to a diet of processed foods comprised of mainly what was once known as the poor man's diet of starches and super sugars. Couple that with various diet sugar substitutes that the body does not know what to do with so it stores it rather than rejecting it creating a rise in diabetes 2, and you've got today's problem. Fake food creates a fake body.

The fact that kids who drink whole milk are slimmer than those who drink 1% (with sugar added no less) should tell us something. Processed foods are just a way for more people to get rich than limiting it to those who produce the basics. People have become unskilled and lazy. Foolish humans.

People also don't get the exercise they used to. We used to have to get out and plow, weed, and hoe to grow our food. I'm going to try and grow chocolate-chip cookies next year ...