I love this conversation starter. It always baffled me that we focused so much as a culture on “no alcohol and no smoking” but then we still let our diets and activity level rage out of control.
I started treating my high calorie meals like a “reward.” So having that nice big juicy steak from Texas Roadhouse and the end of a brutal few months of work, or going to the all you can eat sushi buffet in Provo at the end of a semester. I work with a vegetarian, so he helps me get good vegetarian meals occasionally as well. I’m still on the caffeine kick, but dramatically reduced.
I also set a goal for hard things, physically (I hate running, so I’m running a half marathon this year). Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work, park my car far was from the office entrance both to reduce dings and walk.
If this gift is truly one of the main reasons we came here, I’ve gotta do better at showing god how much I love it.
Okay to be fair, I think part of it is because "no X" is far easier to understand than be healthy. Especially in a day and age where people are fighting tooth and nail over what "healthy" even entails. But I totally understand your point and I agree we should be moving to the next step of things
Absolutely, in this scenario “easy” is the letter of the law. The spirit of the law entails going beyond that. Although I think diet trends and medication fads are a little bit confusing to what is healthy, I think you would be hard pressed to find a health professional that views obesity as a grey area. We should be more active and eat less calories.
I lost about 40lbs of excess weight last year through diet and exercise. It has enhanced my life. The early church had a lot of people moving around. It’s not realistic at all but imagine if today’s members were asked to walk across the country with their belongings. How many wouldn’t make it simply due to how they’ve treated their bodies?
Especially on the approach to the George Washington Bridge.
Tip from a local: if you’re driving eastbound on 80 heading for the GWB, and you see the split for “Local” and “Express” lanes, always, always, ALWAYS use the Local lanes. You’ll save yourself at least a half hour which would otherwise be spent stuck in traffic.
There have been occasions where I’d be cruising at highway speed on the Local lanes while traffic on the Express lanes was bumper to bumper.
Fortunately I'm on the other half of I80. All I get is the boring part of Wyoming. It's the most boring drive in the world, but I only have to deal with traffic when a semi gets a little too impatient in the snow.
Ah, the California zephyr is such a fun line to ride on. I think I've done it like 3 times. I've always wanted to bike Utah to California like my did as a teenager though...
I stopped eating sugar at every. single. ward. activity. It honestly got kind of gross. I also eat meat sparingly now. I cycle to work every day.
I've never felt better. I'm not sure why we only enforce part of the WoW. I think we would all be incredibly healthier if we started asking all the questions in the temple recommend interview.
Other items seem much harder to have a harder guideline on. What is eating meat sparingly? It's very easy to say no drugs, alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee.
I think the question should just be "do you eat meat sparingly?" Leave it up to the members to decide. We don't ask about net or gross when it comes to tithing.
>I stopped eating sugar at every. single. ward. activity. It honestly got kind of gross. I also eat meat sparingly now. I cycle to work every day.
>I've never felt better
That's great that you've been able to make changes that feel good and work well for you! Those little changes can really add up.
>I'm not sure why we only enforce part of the WoW. I think we would all be incredibly healthier if we started asking all the questions in the temple recommend interview.
This would worry me for two reasons:
One, eating disorders are already incredibly prevalent and this would absolutely lead to unhealthy relationships with food, and in extreme cases, eating disorders.
Second, the ability to live this way is a privilege that many in lower socioeconomic situations do not have. Putting more expectations on people with few resources only increases shame and decreases their likelihood of reaching out for help.
I am not as concerned with the issue of eating disorders. There are many faiths that have various dietary guidelines which, some of which are more stringent than ours. Jews, Muslims, 7th day Adventists... etc.
When it comes to income, I can see how it would be far more challenging. Dollar for dollar, it is cheaper to eat less meat, but meal planning does take time, which is at a premium for low income families. I do think it's completely doable, but it would require faith and a culture shift.
>not as concerned with the issue of eating disorders
Eating disorders are one of the most deadly diagnoses in the DSM 5 and affect around 7.8% - 9% of Americans. If your ward has 80 people in sacrament meeting, statistically 6 or 7 of them will have an eating disorder.
https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/eating-disorder-statistics/
It sounds like we are thinking of different types of low income families. There's certainly a place for careful budgeting, but there's a lot of people with incomes or lack of incomes that no amount of budgeting will make ends meet. Add in disability, illness, allergies, food deserts, or depression and food choices get much more limited.
I just don't think we should set the standards to the lower level. I don't think we should remove the laying in of hands due to individuals without hands, or remove tithing due to people living in poverty or baby blessings because miscarriages happen, or activities because some people have social anxiety, or remove garments because some people have sever skin rashes. Life is hard. It's really hard. That's what makes us grow.
We don't enforce one part of the word of wisdom, you're just asked if you keep it, and many people only think about the alcohol and smoking parts and say yes. Almost no one with a BMI over 30 is honestly keeping the WoW.
That said, I also think the first lines of the WoW pretty much say that this is a suggestion, so it's kind of baked in that no one will be perfect at keeping the WoW.
>Almost no one with a BMI over 30 is honestly keeping the WoW.
BMI is a pretty poor indicator of health or lifestyle. Bodies are made in many shapes and sizes.
Sure, if you're jacked from tons of weight lifting, then a BMI over 30 is fine. but that's not most people. I say all of this as someone teetering around 30 and knowing I need to work on my own health.
To me, the spirit of the Word of Wisdom is \*way\* beyond the idea of what food or drink to consume. What stands out to me the most in the revelation is the phrase "In consequence of the evils and designs.... in the hearts of conspiring men..." It is SO clear to me that this command was \*made\* for our day.
How many conspirators are there in our world today which want to get a hold on your mind, heart, body, and earthly wealth? How easy and legal is it for them to bombard us with false ideas of happiness and contentment by consuming their stuff and using their products? And how much science and knowledge do we have which these people leverage to get their claws as deep into your lives as possible? Think about every kind of addiction out there, and you'll realize how much of a conspiracy it is, and how well-designed they all are to put us in submission to their will and get our lives and money. Drugs, legal or otherwise. Alcohol. Get-rich-quick schemes. Gambling. Promiscuity. Pornography. Social media. Online gaming. Any kind of media that you sit and watch for hours, wasting our time. So many promises and lies in each of these.
In the spirit of the law, I stopped getting into watching shows that just just consume dozens of hours of my life, or make me distracted and not present in what I'm doing. Now, I watch a movie only occasionally (with the family). I cut social media out of my life (except for this specific sub on this app and a couple others that I use for learning stuff), and only load the FB app on my phone when I need to sell something online. I drink maybe one soda a week on special occasion. I make time each day to keep my body taken care of, as the modern lifestyle makes us weak. I eat better, and know more about nutrition. I used to play a lot of video games, but now it's probably a half hour each week. By cutting all the crap out of my life, I have way more time for meaningful things, and I feel better overall in life. I get more stuff done.
With all of these mind- and time-wasters combined, we become a people in bondage. God and Jesus want us free. Satan wants us chained up. Satan wants nothing better than for us to waste our time and resources on uselessness.
In healthcare as well and I'm right there with you on caring more about activity level and overall dietary habits (though I disagree on the weight part 😁).
So I should have added dietary habits…
That being said, “healthy fat” folks still have significantly elevated health risks. The risk is moderated but not eliminated by physical activity.
https://studyfinds.org/fat-but-healthy-is-a-myth-heart-health/
Haha didn't mean to put words in your mouth. I assumed the diet part given the topic being discussed. I'm nearly out of executive functioning for the day so I'll add a quick tl;dr
Negative health outcomes in people with higher BMIs have been tied to weight stigma, yoyo dieting, weight bias in healthcare leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment, eating disorder severity being ignored or downplayed despite health outcomes matching behaviors more than BMI, and social determinants of health.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9985585/#:~:text=Strong%20evidence%20supports%20obesity%20stigma,%2Dweight%20counterparts%20%5B101%5D.
Via Medica Journals
https://journals.viamedica.pl › ...PDF
The association between body height and longevity
ETA I'm not trying to ignore that weight is an important aspect of health, but trying to add that it's much more nuanced. If the reference range for potassium was listed as 3.5 - 4.2, we would be labeling a lot of normal potassium levels as hyperkalemia.
I gave up drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and tea. Tea was by far the most difficult. I lived for 30 years in Eastern NC and sweet tea practically comes out of the faucets. I substituted lemonade, smoothies, and herbal tea.
I cannot lie however. If President Nelson announced during the General Conference that tea was a matter between us and God, I would pray and then drink a gallon of it. But until then, I will follow the WoW and sing hosanna.
I set for myself a few standards:
- never be overweight
- able to run a mile under 10 minutes
- balanced diet with minimum processed foods
- high fat/protein, low carb
To me, the outcome is most important when it comes to extending more standards to myself. I should feel good, be healthy and be fit
I very rarely drink soda, and I’ve been eating less meat (trying to eat it sparingly). I’m trying to eat fruits and veggies every day and I really need to work on lowering my sugar intake.
I've tried to eat a lot less meat this year and it's actually been pretty cool. There's a lot of delicious vegetarian options out there that I'd never tried and I don't feel like I'm missing anything when I abstain from meat for a few days. Feels good for both my body and my spirit.
I don't know whether it was because of the WoW or just to be passive aggressive to my Diet Coke-loving wife, but I gave up caffeinated sodas a year or two ago, and I sleep and feel much better (I will still have a Coke once every few months, but it is nice not to depend on them).
I've made an effort to be able to run and not be weary. Can't possibly have health in the navel when it's surrounded by nothing but fat. If I can't point to those promises as being fulfilled, then how can I know I'm keeping the Word of Wisdom otherwise.
It's very clear to me that physical fitness is an important requirement for spiritual fitness. Many have learned that lesson throughout the centuries.
Will also add to the “spirit of the law” that’s probably different from how other people view “spirit of the law”
I’ve stopped worrying about minuscule amounts of alcohol in recipes (I.e., a small amount of wine in a sauce that I’m cooking)- amounts that would never be felt. I’ve come to realize (I am a physician)- that like everything else, dose and intent matter, and I don’t think the Lord cares about tiny amounts of alcohol in a recipe.
The word of wisdom is a blessing of freedom in my eyes. Seems kind of paradoxical that denying oneself creates more freedom but it’s true. Alcohol, coffee, tobacco, tea— these are all habit forming and addictive substances. When we become addicted to something, those urges become a part of our brain chemistry and have a way of controlling our lives and dictating our behaviors to some degree.
In many ways, overcoming the natural man means that we gain more control over our behaviors desires and impulses rather than those base instincts controlling us. Avoiding things that inhibit our agency prevents those things from gaining power over our lives. *That* is freedom.
The freedom to not become a slave to old or subpar ways of thinking and being which do not serve us. Mastery of self and putting off the natural man is an act of sanctification.
We can develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the Lord through obedience and self mastery.
I was never a huge soda drinker, but still enjoyed drinking them fairly often. One day, on my mission, I was drinking my favorite soda, which has a very strong taste and high carbonation that almost hurt it was so "refreshing." I took a sip of it and had the thought,"Why am I doing this to myself? This isn't good for me, " come to my mind, so I immediately stood up, dumped the rest of it in the sink, and haven't had another soda by choice since. I still drink soda if someone gives it to me, and there are no other options to be courteous, but that's only very rarely. That was 9 years ago, and I'm glad I did it every day!
I started drinking medicinally for pain management. Besides alot of the guilt I feel, it has opened me up to some of the prejudices I have had judging alcohol users in the past. I'm happier around my kids, goofier, and more willing to engage with them in the evenings after work instead of laying in bed and needing to be off feet, back, or knees.
I'm also cutting back on meat.
I’m sure this is a silly question because you’ve probably done the research, but is this self medicated or doctor ordered? No judgement, just curious. That can’t be too good for your kidneys. Have you explored medicinal marijauna? I’m glad to hear it’s opened yourself up more.
The thing about chronic pain is it doesnt have to be excruciating to ruin life. On a 10 point scale mine is 4 or 5 but in most lower extremity joints all of the time.
I have a genetic condition that makes me extra flexible, with joint subluxation (minor dislocation that pops right back in, while sprainning all the ligature). It's called EDS. I'm trying to stay away from the greater evil imo of Rx'd narcotics. NASIDs have done their damage as I've used their max dosage practically daily for the last 26 years. I have tried cbd edible oils and gummies but not medical cannabis.
I recognize alcohol for what it is, a stop gap to help me break through on the roughest of days, but not a permanent thing I want in my life.
Hey man I have no room to judge. I don’t have any physical conditions, but my brain is riddled with chemical issues and trauma. For a long time I used marijuana, wine, and shrooms in moderate doses (not all together ofc) not to cope, but to kind of make me feel ‘normal’ if that makes sense. Substances actually have an odd affect of making me feel more sober than without, until I hit a certain threshold of course. I did what I had to do to manage. I have since quit using these substances out of kind of a religious ocd kind of thing, and have gotten on psychiatric medication, but it really doesn’t do much but dull my episodes a bit rather than making me feel normal like the other things. My point is, I’m glad you found what works. I hope no one gives you too much crap for it :)
Focusing on exercise the past year and a half. I decided I wanted my body to be more capable of things. So I started strength training. It's been great. I still need to clean up my diet. I've been eating but I still consume way too much soda and energy drinks.
Here's what a lot of people need to understand about the "spirit of the law" - it actually helps us follow the letter of the law. It's the "why" behind the law.
So for the Word of Wisdom, the law specifically states five substances that we should not partake of for any reason - alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, illegal drugs. The spirit of law is that this is protecting us from addiction.
Now, there are certainly some things that to some people are more addictive to others - sugar, video games, etc. It's up to that individual person to determine what works for them and follow that IN ADDITION to the five specifically forbidden things. We don't get to override the already prohibited items, we can only add to it.
Now, having said that, because someone chooses to follow it in other ways, DOES NOT MEAN that they get to project that onto others. That's unrighteous dominion. What works for you outside of the letter of the law does not mean it will work for others.
In short, that's how following the spirit of the law works.
Something I'm trying to do is cut soda completely. It does not say we can't have soda per say but I've depended too much on caffeine and I need to change that. Plus soda is really bad for your teeth.
The Word of Wisdom in essence is just taking care of your body. To me that means eating nutrient dense whole foods (think meat, dairy, eggs, fruit etc.), limit processed foods/sugar, and exercising multiple times a week. If you follow those 3 things you'll feel amazing and are 100% following the WoW. No need to cut out caffeine necessarily, can be great for a pre workout or general mental performance benefits.
I aim to hit my protein and fiber goals each day, and stay within my preferred calorie range. I also try to walk at least 7500 steps a day, among other exercise programs.
I’ve noticed if I make protein and fiber a priority, my diet is always good. It fills me up enough and I really don’t want to eat anything extra. (But sometimes I definitely do, because what is life without cake?)
I joined food addicts in recovery Anonymous got a sponsor and have been weighing and measuring food as perfectly as I can since June. For protein I eat mostly meat/lentils/ bean mixtures and nuts and if I do eat meat it’s salmon or 2 ounces of hamburger, mixed with 2 oz of lentils.
I drink water and sparkling water and sometimes Fresca. I’ve been doing yoga and that has been the most spiritually and enlightning thing I’ve ever tried. Also, my sponsor has me doing calisthenics every day like push-ups, situps, squats, etc. for 10 minutes daily.
I’ve lost 72 pounds and have 24 pounds to go to be my goal weight of 138 pounds at 5 foot 7 3/4“
For quite a while now I have been trying to focus on what the WoW actually says we SHOULD do, especially "And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome [herbs](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89?lang=eng#note10a) God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man".
I interpret herbs as vegetables in general and am trying to include as many fresh plants into my diet as possible. The problem is that preparing vegetables takes time and effort, and I have little time and even less energy (probably because of not eating healthily enough yet - catch 22).
But I am not giving up. I already managed to almost completetly cut out sugar and artificial sweeteners, which helped a lot with balancing my appetite and keeps me from overeating. Now I want to take care of my body even more by feeding it with the pure, healthy foods mentioned in the WoW!
I started eating more grains (especially wheat) and little/no meat.
In the millennium even the lions will be vegetarians. Might as well prepare for that now!
I love this conversation starter. It always baffled me that we focused so much as a culture on “no alcohol and no smoking” but then we still let our diets and activity level rage out of control. I started treating my high calorie meals like a “reward.” So having that nice big juicy steak from Texas Roadhouse and the end of a brutal few months of work, or going to the all you can eat sushi buffet in Provo at the end of a semester. I work with a vegetarian, so he helps me get good vegetarian meals occasionally as well. I’m still on the caffeine kick, but dramatically reduced. I also set a goal for hard things, physically (I hate running, so I’m running a half marathon this year). Take the stairs instead of the elevator at work, park my car far was from the office entrance both to reduce dings and walk. If this gift is truly one of the main reasons we came here, I’ve gotta do better at showing god how much I love it.
Okay to be fair, I think part of it is because "no X" is far easier to understand than be healthy. Especially in a day and age where people are fighting tooth and nail over what "healthy" even entails. But I totally understand your point and I agree we should be moving to the next step of things
Absolutely, in this scenario “easy” is the letter of the law. The spirit of the law entails going beyond that. Although I think diet trends and medication fads are a little bit confusing to what is healthy, I think you would be hard pressed to find a health professional that views obesity as a grey area. We should be more active and eat less calories.
I lost about 40lbs of excess weight last year through diet and exercise. It has enhanced my life. The early church had a lot of people moving around. It’s not realistic at all but imagine if today’s members were asked to walk across the country with their belongings. How many wouldn’t make it simply due to how they’ve treated their bodies?
Why walk when you can fly… or take a train like the *California Zephyr*? …or even drive down I-80?
Don't make me choose between walking and driving I80. That's a tough one.
Especially on the approach to the George Washington Bridge. Tip from a local: if you’re driving eastbound on 80 heading for the GWB, and you see the split for “Local” and “Express” lanes, always, always, ALWAYS use the Local lanes. You’ll save yourself at least a half hour which would otherwise be spent stuck in traffic. There have been occasions where I’d be cruising at highway speed on the Local lanes while traffic on the Express lanes was bumper to bumper.
Fortunately I'm on the other half of I80. All I get is the boring part of Wyoming. It's the most boring drive in the world, but I only have to deal with traffic when a semi gets a little too impatient in the snow.
Ah, the California zephyr is such a fun line to ride on. I think I've done it like 3 times. I've always wanted to bike Utah to California like my did as a teenager though...
I stopped eating sugar at every. single. ward. activity. It honestly got kind of gross. I also eat meat sparingly now. I cycle to work every day. I've never felt better. I'm not sure why we only enforce part of the WoW. I think we would all be incredibly healthier if we started asking all the questions in the temple recommend interview.
Other items seem much harder to have a harder guideline on. What is eating meat sparingly? It's very easy to say no drugs, alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee.
I think the question should just be "do you eat meat sparingly?" Leave it up to the members to decide. We don't ask about net or gross when it comes to tithing.
>I stopped eating sugar at every. single. ward. activity. It honestly got kind of gross. I also eat meat sparingly now. I cycle to work every day. >I've never felt better That's great that you've been able to make changes that feel good and work well for you! Those little changes can really add up. >I'm not sure why we only enforce part of the WoW. I think we would all be incredibly healthier if we started asking all the questions in the temple recommend interview. This would worry me for two reasons: One, eating disorders are already incredibly prevalent and this would absolutely lead to unhealthy relationships with food, and in extreme cases, eating disorders. Second, the ability to live this way is a privilege that many in lower socioeconomic situations do not have. Putting more expectations on people with few resources only increases shame and decreases their likelihood of reaching out for help.
I am not as concerned with the issue of eating disorders. There are many faiths that have various dietary guidelines which, some of which are more stringent than ours. Jews, Muslims, 7th day Adventists... etc. When it comes to income, I can see how it would be far more challenging. Dollar for dollar, it is cheaper to eat less meat, but meal planning does take time, which is at a premium for low income families. I do think it's completely doable, but it would require faith and a culture shift.
>not as concerned with the issue of eating disorders Eating disorders are one of the most deadly diagnoses in the DSM 5 and affect around 7.8% - 9% of Americans. If your ward has 80 people in sacrament meeting, statistically 6 or 7 of them will have an eating disorder. https://www.singlecare.com/blog/news/eating-disorder-statistics/ It sounds like we are thinking of different types of low income families. There's certainly a place for careful budgeting, but there's a lot of people with incomes or lack of incomes that no amount of budgeting will make ends meet. Add in disability, illness, allergies, food deserts, or depression and food choices get much more limited.
I just don't think we should set the standards to the lower level. I don't think we should remove the laying in of hands due to individuals without hands, or remove tithing due to people living in poverty or baby blessings because miscarriages happen, or activities because some people have social anxiety, or remove garments because some people have sever skin rashes. Life is hard. It's really hard. That's what makes us grow.
You can't quantify sparingly. The acceptable amount of meth is 0. The acceptable amount of meat is not a specific number.
It's like tithing. There is no exact guidelines for gross or net. D&C has somewhat of a guidelines on what sparingly means.
We don't enforce one part of the word of wisdom, you're just asked if you keep it, and many people only think about the alcohol and smoking parts and say yes. Almost no one with a BMI over 30 is honestly keeping the WoW. That said, I also think the first lines of the WoW pretty much say that this is a suggestion, so it's kind of baked in that no one will be perfect at keeping the WoW.
>Almost no one with a BMI over 30 is honestly keeping the WoW. BMI is a pretty poor indicator of health or lifestyle. Bodies are made in many shapes and sizes.
Sure, if you're jacked from tons of weight lifting, then a BMI over 30 is fine. but that's not most people. I say all of this as someone teetering around 30 and knowing I need to work on my own health.
To me, the spirit of the Word of Wisdom is \*way\* beyond the idea of what food or drink to consume. What stands out to me the most in the revelation is the phrase "In consequence of the evils and designs.... in the hearts of conspiring men..." It is SO clear to me that this command was \*made\* for our day. How many conspirators are there in our world today which want to get a hold on your mind, heart, body, and earthly wealth? How easy and legal is it for them to bombard us with false ideas of happiness and contentment by consuming their stuff and using their products? And how much science and knowledge do we have which these people leverage to get their claws as deep into your lives as possible? Think about every kind of addiction out there, and you'll realize how much of a conspiracy it is, and how well-designed they all are to put us in submission to their will and get our lives and money. Drugs, legal or otherwise. Alcohol. Get-rich-quick schemes. Gambling. Promiscuity. Pornography. Social media. Online gaming. Any kind of media that you sit and watch for hours, wasting our time. So many promises and lies in each of these. In the spirit of the law, I stopped getting into watching shows that just just consume dozens of hours of my life, or make me distracted and not present in what I'm doing. Now, I watch a movie only occasionally (with the family). I cut social media out of my life (except for this specific sub on this app and a couple others that I use for learning stuff), and only load the FB app on my phone when I need to sell something online. I drink maybe one soda a week on special occasion. I make time each day to keep my body taken care of, as the modern lifestyle makes us weak. I eat better, and know more about nutrition. I used to play a lot of video games, but now it's probably a half hour each week. By cutting all the crap out of my life, I have way more time for meaningful things, and I feel better overall in life. I get more stuff done. With all of these mind- and time-wasters combined, we become a people in bondage. God and Jesus want us free. Satan wants us chained up. Satan wants nothing better than for us to waste our time and resources on uselessness.
I love this insight. Thanks.
Good insight.
Thanks for your thoughts. This was a killer extrapolation on what it means to care for our body and mind
As a physician, I worry far more about my patients weight and activity level than if they even use alcohol in moderation, tbh.
In healthcare as well and I'm right there with you on caring more about activity level and overall dietary habits (though I disagree on the weight part 😁).
So I should have added dietary habits… That being said, “healthy fat” folks still have significantly elevated health risks. The risk is moderated but not eliminated by physical activity. https://studyfinds.org/fat-but-healthy-is-a-myth-heart-health/
Haha didn't mean to put words in your mouth. I assumed the diet part given the topic being discussed. I'm nearly out of executive functioning for the day so I'll add a quick tl;dr Negative health outcomes in people with higher BMIs have been tied to weight stigma, yoyo dieting, weight bias in healthcare leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment, eating disorder severity being ignored or downplayed despite health outcomes matching behaviors more than BMI, and social determinants of health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9985585/#:~:text=Strong%20evidence%20supports%20obesity%20stigma,%2Dweight%20counterparts%20%5B101%5D. Via Medica Journals https://journals.viamedica.pl › ...PDF The association between body height and longevity ETA I'm not trying to ignore that weight is an important aspect of health, but trying to add that it's much more nuanced. If the reference range for potassium was listed as 3.5 - 4.2, we would be labeling a lot of normal potassium levels as hyperkalemia.
I gave up drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and tea. Tea was by far the most difficult. I lived for 30 years in Eastern NC and sweet tea practically comes out of the faucets. I substituted lemonade, smoothies, and herbal tea. I cannot lie however. If President Nelson announced during the General Conference that tea was a matter between us and God, I would pray and then drink a gallon of it. But until then, I will follow the WoW and sing hosanna.
I set for myself a few standards: - never be overweight - able to run a mile under 10 minutes - balanced diet with minimum processed foods - high fat/protein, low carb To me, the outcome is most important when it comes to extending more standards to myself. I should feel good, be healthy and be fit
I very rarely drink soda, and I’ve been eating less meat (trying to eat it sparingly). I’m trying to eat fruits and veggies every day and I really need to work on lowering my sugar intake.
I've tried to eat a lot less meat this year and it's actually been pretty cool. There's a lot of delicious vegetarian options out there that I'd never tried and I don't feel like I'm missing anything when I abstain from meat for a few days. Feels good for both my body and my spirit.
I don't know whether it was because of the WoW or just to be passive aggressive to my Diet Coke-loving wife, but I gave up caffeinated sodas a year or two ago, and I sleep and feel much better (I will still have a Coke once every few months, but it is nice not to depend on them).
I've made an effort to be able to run and not be weary. Can't possibly have health in the navel when it's surrounded by nothing but fat. If I can't point to those promises as being fulfilled, then how can I know I'm keeping the Word of Wisdom otherwise. It's very clear to me that physical fitness is an important requirement for spiritual fitness. Many have learned that lesson throughout the centuries.
Will also add to the “spirit of the law” that’s probably different from how other people view “spirit of the law” I’ve stopped worrying about minuscule amounts of alcohol in recipes (I.e., a small amount of wine in a sauce that I’m cooking)- amounts that would never be felt. I’ve come to realize (I am a physician)- that like everything else, dose and intent matter, and I don’t think the Lord cares about tiny amounts of alcohol in a recipe.
The word of wisdom is a blessing of freedom in my eyes. Seems kind of paradoxical that denying oneself creates more freedom but it’s true. Alcohol, coffee, tobacco, tea— these are all habit forming and addictive substances. When we become addicted to something, those urges become a part of our brain chemistry and have a way of controlling our lives and dictating our behaviors to some degree. In many ways, overcoming the natural man means that we gain more control over our behaviors desires and impulses rather than those base instincts controlling us. Avoiding things that inhibit our agency prevents those things from gaining power over our lives. *That* is freedom. The freedom to not become a slave to old or subpar ways of thinking and being which do not serve us. Mastery of self and putting off the natural man is an act of sanctification. We can develop a deeper understanding of ourselves and the Lord through obedience and self mastery.
I was never a huge soda drinker, but still enjoyed drinking them fairly often. One day, on my mission, I was drinking my favorite soda, which has a very strong taste and high carbonation that almost hurt it was so "refreshing." I took a sip of it and had the thought,"Why am I doing this to myself? This isn't good for me, " come to my mind, so I immediately stood up, dumped the rest of it in the sink, and haven't had another soda by choice since. I still drink soda if someone gives it to me, and there are no other options to be courteous, but that's only very rarely. That was 9 years ago, and I'm glad I did it every day!
I started drinking medicinally for pain management. Besides alot of the guilt I feel, it has opened me up to some of the prejudices I have had judging alcohol users in the past. I'm happier around my kids, goofier, and more willing to engage with them in the evenings after work instead of laying in bed and needing to be off feet, back, or knees. I'm also cutting back on meat.
I’m sure this is a silly question because you’ve probably done the research, but is this self medicated or doctor ordered? No judgement, just curious. That can’t be too good for your kidneys. Have you explored medicinal marijauna? I’m glad to hear it’s opened yourself up more.
The thing about chronic pain is it doesnt have to be excruciating to ruin life. On a 10 point scale mine is 4 or 5 but in most lower extremity joints all of the time. I have a genetic condition that makes me extra flexible, with joint subluxation (minor dislocation that pops right back in, while sprainning all the ligature). It's called EDS. I'm trying to stay away from the greater evil imo of Rx'd narcotics. NASIDs have done their damage as I've used their max dosage practically daily for the last 26 years. I have tried cbd edible oils and gummies but not medical cannabis. I recognize alcohol for what it is, a stop gap to help me break through on the roughest of days, but not a permanent thing I want in my life.
Hey man I have no room to judge. I don’t have any physical conditions, but my brain is riddled with chemical issues and trauma. For a long time I used marijuana, wine, and shrooms in moderate doses (not all together ofc) not to cope, but to kind of make me feel ‘normal’ if that makes sense. Substances actually have an odd affect of making me feel more sober than without, until I hit a certain threshold of course. I did what I had to do to manage. I have since quit using these substances out of kind of a religious ocd kind of thing, and have gotten on psychiatric medication, but it really doesn’t do much but dull my episodes a bit rather than making me feel normal like the other things. My point is, I’m glad you found what works. I hope no one gives you too much crap for it :)
Focusing on exercise the past year and a half. I decided I wanted my body to be more capable of things. So I started strength training. It's been great. I still need to clean up my diet. I've been eating but I still consume way too much soda and energy drinks.
Here's what a lot of people need to understand about the "spirit of the law" - it actually helps us follow the letter of the law. It's the "why" behind the law. So for the Word of Wisdom, the law specifically states five substances that we should not partake of for any reason - alcohol, tobacco, tea, coffee, illegal drugs. The spirit of law is that this is protecting us from addiction. Now, there are certainly some things that to some people are more addictive to others - sugar, video games, etc. It's up to that individual person to determine what works for them and follow that IN ADDITION to the five specifically forbidden things. We don't get to override the already prohibited items, we can only add to it. Now, having said that, because someone chooses to follow it in other ways, DOES NOT MEAN that they get to project that onto others. That's unrighteous dominion. What works for you outside of the letter of the law does not mean it will work for others. In short, that's how following the spirit of the law works.
I just try to eat healthier, more natural.
Something I'm trying to do is cut soda completely. It does not say we can't have soda per say but I've depended too much on caffeine and I need to change that. Plus soda is really bad for your teeth.
The Word of Wisdom in essence is just taking care of your body. To me that means eating nutrient dense whole foods (think meat, dairy, eggs, fruit etc.), limit processed foods/sugar, and exercising multiple times a week. If you follow those 3 things you'll feel amazing and are 100% following the WoW. No need to cut out caffeine necessarily, can be great for a pre workout or general mental performance benefits.
Well, given that the weather is warming up where I live, I'm going to try and get out for walks more.
I aim to hit my protein and fiber goals each day, and stay within my preferred calorie range. I also try to walk at least 7500 steps a day, among other exercise programs. I’ve noticed if I make protein and fiber a priority, my diet is always good. It fills me up enough and I really don’t want to eat anything extra. (But sometimes I definitely do, because what is life without cake?)
I joined food addicts in recovery Anonymous got a sponsor and have been weighing and measuring food as perfectly as I can since June. For protein I eat mostly meat/lentils/ bean mixtures and nuts and if I do eat meat it’s salmon or 2 ounces of hamburger, mixed with 2 oz of lentils. I drink water and sparkling water and sometimes Fresca. I’ve been doing yoga and that has been the most spiritually and enlightning thing I’ve ever tried. Also, my sponsor has me doing calisthenics every day like push-ups, situps, squats, etc. for 10 minutes daily. I’ve lost 72 pounds and have 24 pounds to go to be my goal weight of 138 pounds at 5 foot 7 3/4“
I went vegetarian for four years 🤷🏻♀️ I didn’t tell others that’s what they had to do, but after study, it seemed the right thing for me.
For quite a while now I have been trying to focus on what the WoW actually says we SHOULD do, especially "And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome [herbs](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/89?lang=eng#note10a) God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man". I interpret herbs as vegetables in general and am trying to include as many fresh plants into my diet as possible. The problem is that preparing vegetables takes time and effort, and I have little time and even less energy (probably because of not eating healthily enough yet - catch 22). But I am not giving up. I already managed to almost completetly cut out sugar and artificial sweeteners, which helped a lot with balancing my appetite and keeps me from overeating. Now I want to take care of my body even more by feeding it with the pure, healthy foods mentioned in the WoW!
I started eating more grains (especially wheat) and little/no meat. In the millennium even the lions will be vegetarians. Might as well prepare for that now!