Lose Weight with Spiritual Practice (Seriously)

Ever since my "Lint" in January, I've been wanting to write a follow-up post about the benefits of Spiritual Practice. Prayer, meditation, fasting, self-denial --I find that practicing these types of things allows my mind to turn away from myself and be guided more clearly by God. Here, you can also insert Divine, Universe, Love, Holy, Allah, Jesus, Flying Spaghetti Monser, whatever you choose. I don't really quibble with the names people have for the force that created and flows through the universe. 

The point of Spiritual Practice is not, to me, to "tap into" God. The point of Spiritual Practice is to create a channel, an open space, that allows God to tap into me. Prayer, meditation, service, worship are all wonderful ways to do this. But sometimes it's really helpful to do a little more, to become a pilgrim for a time. I suppose that's why some type of Spiritual Practice is a component of every major world religion. Since I was raised Catholic, I found it very natural for me to pattern my own pilgrimage of the soul on the Lenten practice of abstention and reflection. It is a way to honor my roots but not be bound by them.

One reason it has taken so long to write this is my seeming inability to nail down specific benefits. This all sounds great, but is it really helpful? Is it worthwhile? My answer is certainly yes, but if pressed, I am general: clarity of thought, a new perspective on my journey....and then I realized that I'd made at least one specific change directly as a result of my spiritual focus during Lint. I changed how I approach exercise.

I've somehow finally grown to realize that it is a lot easier for me to incorporate something into my daily routine -- to make it a true habit -- if I start small. I resolved to forget about trying to find the perfect hour-long exercise routing to fit into my day, and then struggling to find the hour to exercise...at home...with two kids under five. My goal was only to Exercise Every Day.

At first, I thought I'd do 30 minutes a day, which I didn't do at all. Enter Zen Habits, a blog I really find inspiring, and the idea of starting with only five minutes a day. It did not escape my notice that five minutes a day would be better than the nothing I was doing currently.

Now, in August? It is rare that a day passes without me engaging in at least five minutes of exercise. Most days I get in 10-20 in 5- and 10-minute increments. It's not a lot. But it is certainly better than nothing and it is a great example of how little changes can make a big difference. I've lost 15 pounds since January and my energy levels are higher than they've been in a long time. I'm gradually increasing my weekly average "workout" time, but my only goal is still to exercise at least five minutes a day. Well, that and do a pullup unassisted, something I have never been able to do.

Spiritual Practice is my way of listening to that still, small voice. And that voice is not one of judgment or condemnation at my weakness. It is a voice of Love and Compassion urging me to have the courage to find the way that works best for me. And now I'm going to urge you to start small on that next new habit you think could change your life.

Peace Be With You.

Pictures were taken in Franconia Notch State Park.

Lint comes after Festivus and before Oyster

Anyone raised in a Catholic family is familiar with Lent, a forty-day period of penance, reflection and fasting leading up to the Easter celebration.  As a child, I thought Lent was kind of silly.  I didn't really understand how not eating chocolate had anything to do with Easter.  But as an adult, I began to appreciate the value of having this period in my life.  I began loosely observing Lent, most effectively by adding something (thus "giving up" time) instead of just stopping something.

When I finally left the Catholic church, I also left Lent behind me.  In recent years though, I've begun to try to find a way to incorporate this tradition back into my life.  I was initially inspired by Kevin Gillespie, who shared on Top Chef that he and his wife went full-on vegetarian each year for Lent.  I felt a twinge and realized that I missed the positive growth I had found during Lent. Then one of my neighbors announced she would disappear from Facebook "for a while," and I suddenly saw the obvious: I didn't have to do "Lent" to have a period of reflection.

And so, this year -- today, in fact -- Lint was born.  I had already decided to observe a 40-day period and said, "I should come up with my own name," when my husband immediately suggested "Lint" and once I stopped laughing, I knew it was the perfect moniker.  Instead of Fish Fridays, we do Meatless Mondays.  Observation of Lint in our home comes just after Festivus and is followed by Oyster; of course precisely where Lint falls on the calendar is a very personal choice, so timing varies greatly from one individual to another.

This year, I am giving up all adult cocktails, wine and beer, beginning today.  My husband plans to begin his Lint tomorrow.  I'm excited about my "Linten" journey and do plan to cap it off by eating Oysters, possibly with champagne!  It is my intention to use the next forty days to reflect on ways to be healthier, to give more of myself to my community and others and to make time for quiet and prayer in my daily life.  I will also practice discipline, self-denial during my own season of conversion and simplicity.

It doesn't matter if you're Catholic or Methodist, Pagan or Pastafarian.  Lint is for everyone!  Join me if you dare!

I'd love to know what others are giving up or doing for 40 days, whether it's Lint or Lent.