Have you been to the library lately or your favorite book store? Or, pursued the internet or Pinterest for what is is we are supposed to eat to be healthy? This morning I was at our local library’s annual book sale. If you saw what I did, you would be overwhelmed too.

Six months ago I had a baby. Prior to that it had been seven years since giving birth to my older daughter. Prior to having children I was able to naturally lose weight. Upon, having children, like a lot of women, I gained a lot of weight.

I was told if I breastfed my babies, it would make the excess weight gained melt right off. Well, what if you aren’t able to breastfeed? That was me the first two times. The first time I ended up right back in the hospital from having pulmonary embolisms and was hooked up to so many things I couldn’t get a baby near me. The second time, I really tried, but my mother wasn’t a resource as she didn’t breastfeed me. Lactation consultants were not helpful.

The third time around I was pretty successful in breastfeeding. Now, if I had been a really healthy weight before I was blessed with this third pregnancy, breastfeeding would have made me to lose what I gained. However, I was overweight when I started off my pregnancy.

So what am I supposed to eat to be healthy and lose weight?

I have no idea! However, I believe God gave us every thing we need to sustain life. So, with that said, I believe we should eat fruits, vegetables, and the closest to nature protein that we can find. Whether that be beans, nuts, meat, or fish. Stay away from all processed foods. You’ve probably already heard or read if while reading a nutrition label if you can’t pronounce it, don’t eat it. Another thought on that is, if it has a nutrition label don’t eat it. Eating the food God provided us with, will come from nature and not a factory so, it won’t have a nutrition label.

God's bounty

I have a book from the 1950’s called Staying Slim for Life. It is all about counting calories and not eating more than 1,000 calories a day. Now, I did try this a few weeks ago. I ate what I wanted in moderation. Meaning, I ate only the serving size. Example, I had a blueberry bagel with 2 oz of cream cheese for breakfast. I could eat a sweet as long as I stayed under 1,000 calories for the day. When I ate 1,000 calories a day for one week and I lost four pounds.

If you don’t have time to count calories…

Then stick to what God has provided you! You don’t have to count calories when you are only eating fruits, veggies, and protein and the fat that God provided. Fat… like chia seeds, flax seeds, etc. I have about a hundred pounds to lose, I’ll let you know periodically how it is going.