Jewish Musings Monday 11/6

[hollygail]

What’s on your mind – how to make kugel? This week’s Torah reading? Life goals? Prayer? We are all engaged in weight loss/weight maintenance journeys and we are all Jewish or at least interested in Judaism. We like to eat, we like to discuss. It is our goal here to provide each other support on our journeys, to share experiences, to call on our rich cultural heritage and texts, and to help each other grow spiritually.

Some of us take weekly turns starting the thread:

Angelika
Holly
Lee
Louise
Lynne
Peachy

[hollygail]

This week’s Torah portion is Lech L’cha, Genesis 12:1 – 17:27. For those who follow the triennial cycle, this is the first year. We read Gen 12:1 – 13:18. Here is the breakdown:

1: 12:1–3
2: 12:4–9
3: 12:10–13
4: 12:14–20
5: 13:1–4
6: 13:5–11
7: 13:12–18

And here’s the first reading (aliyah)

1 And the Lord said to Abram, "Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your father's house, to the land that I will show you.

2 And I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you, and I will aggrandize your name, and [you shall] be a blessing.

3 And I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse, and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you."


If you’ve been living your whole life not necessarily in one geographical location, the same as your family’s location for several generations, but in a particular way, say, for instance, overeating, or overindulging, or whatever, and one day you perhaps “wake up” (feel free to substitute your own action verb or phrase here) and decide you want to make a significant (not just “a”) change, how do you go about it? (one example: join Weight Watchers) Do you expect something that would parallel a “blessing” at the other end of your journey? Describe the anticipated journey. How about your family and/or friends? How supportive do you anticipate they’ll be? How supportive have they been?

You get the idea.

I’m teaching three different classes today (the first two are bnai mitzvah kids, the third is an adult bnai mitzvah class). So you will have to excuse me from responding as fully as I’d like. I’ll be back tonight.

[peachymom1]

Good morning everyone, shavua tov, and I hope you enjoyed an extra hour of sleep! (I did, and it was wonderful.)

I have found in my life that when I have made the kind of significant change you suggest, some people have been supportive, some have not, and sometimes people have surprised me, in both directions. For example, when I joined WW, some people cheered me on, some people became food saboteurs ("One cupcake won't hurt you, here, have one" and "I made your favorite cookies, aren't you going to eat any?"), and some went out of their way to either compliment me on my progress or remind me of the low success rate of "dieting."

What I have learned is that I am responsible for my own change in identity, and that some people are going to feel threatened by it, while others are going to be supportive, and I have to keep my focus with or without them. It's not easy to be that strong, and I don't always succeed, but looking back, I believe it does get easier with practice.

My new goal is to take advantage of the time change and get up earlier tomorrow morning and work out before I go to work. Anyone got some pom-poms to cheer me on?

[happysavta]

I've lived in Austria, Chicago, Jerusalem, Kibbutz Kerem Shalom, Tel-Aviv, Skokie, St. Louis, San Diego. That's 3 countries, 6 cities, 1 rural kibbutz, 1 refugee camp. I've lived in nice single houses, dense apartment buildings, and in converted barracks where families separated their living quarters with sheets for doors. In every case, I packed my overweight into my baggage and schlepped it along. My bags were heavy and so was I.

There's a wonderful old movie with the late Robin Williams called "Awakening". Holly asks if we ever had a time when we "woke up". I had an awakening when I was 30. My 2 boys and 1 girl were all out of diapers, and I felt it was time to do something for ME. I wanted to lose weight and be free of the guilt of overeating. Before, I had dieted for my wedding, or for a graduation, or some other special occasion. But this time, I did it just for me, because I wanted it, because I believed I could. I knew I was a good mother, a good wife, a good daughter, a good sister, now I was ready to be a better me. So I restricted calories and ran up and down my basement steps for 30 minutes a day and after about 9 months, I was at a very good weight. I think it was around 140 lbs. And in my awakening, I dared to try some things I enjoyed, writing, teaching, mentoring refugees, volunteering, taking on leadership positions.

But just like in the movie, it didn't last. Without food, life has some very sharp and jagged glass edges. DH was in a post-grad environment that required him to work 100 hours a week, often away at night. He wasn't able to give me much support. I knew I needed counseling, perhaps medication, but I was afraid to appear weak and needy. We Israelis have to be tough in public. I was very slow and awkward in making friends, reluctant to open myself to possible judgements and comparisons. We didn't have much money in those years and our house was always too shabby and cluttered to entertain. I had no relatives in the city. And then I got unexpectedly pregnant with #4 and my time of Awakening ended and I slipped back into the fog. Once it became apparent that raising #4 was going to be super-challenging, I wrapped myself in that fog and stayed as still as I could. It's been a long sleep.

I think it's time for another awakening. I have friends (you all), I have meds, I have counseling, the kids are all grown, finances are stable, DH is independent, there's still a good couple of years ahead of me, so why not?

[happysavta]

I forgot Tucson in my list of cities lived in. How could I forget Tucson? It was great!

[peachymom1]

Frieda, if you're ready for another awakening, I'm ready with the pom-poms! GO YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

[savtele]

Shavuah Tov All! Sun is shining, the woodpecker is eating bugs off the side of the house again - I love her!

Growing up, my mom cooked very healthy foods, in very healthy ways. Almost everything was steamed, as that was considered to be healthier than boiling for frying. And she wasn't adventurous with spices & herbs, so everything was bland.

Suddenly I was an adult. Fried foods, doused in hot sauce, all manner of international cuisine....and I ate my way up to 300 + pounds.

My 1st "awakening" came after my accident. I had to relearn to walk. This was easier as the weight came off. Then came the day the facility sent me a boiled potato, a piece of steamed cod, & a chunk of cauliflower for lunch - on a white plate! I started to cry, refused to eat - and ordered a chocolate milk-shake. Which started my slippery uphill climb, back to 300 + pounds. (in fairness, it took some time to get there)

And then a co-worker started WW, within a few months she actually had a neck, and most of the office started going too!

The "blessing" is ALWAYS in the form of less pain, more stamina, better sleep, less heartburn, more energy. The # s from my lab work make my Dr. happy - and me too! & it's nice to shop in the "not-OMG" sizes! (ok, at this time, some clothes are in those sizes, but you know what I mean)

I'm going for a walk this afternoon. More rain is surely on its way - need to take advantage of this when I can!

Have a good day everyone!