My Metabolism Retired Before I Did!

By Kathi Macias 

I don’t get it.  I used to be able to skip lunch and lose five pounds.  Now I skip lunch and just end up scarfing down dinner at two in the afternoon.  What’s up with that?  And hey, I know I’m not the only one!  A friend of mine recently lamented, “Inside me there’s a skinny lady crying to get out, but I can usually shut her up with chocolate.”  The late Barbara Johnson used to quip, “I’m still a perfect size 10.  I just keep it covered up with a couple layers of fat so it won’t get scratched.”

It doesn’t seem that long ago that I could laugh at such statements; now I just cry because they describe me.  How did that happen?  Seriously, it isn’t really that I’m eating more—most of the time, anyway.  And I try to get as much exercise as my aging body and ridiculous work schedule will allow.  But the calories simply refuse to burn.

Can you relate?  (Please tell me you can!)

For example, my husband and I recently went to Big Bear for a lovely week-long getaway.  One of our sons and his wife joined us.  (I will leave my daughter-in-law out of this equation because she lives on twigs and sprigs and everything organic, plus she’s only 31, so weight is NOT an issue for her.)  My husband and son, however, spent the week eating everything within a five-mile radius, while I did my best to stick to eating as healthy as possible.  Want to guess who gained the most weight?

The worst part is that my husband can lose weight by limiting himself to one cheeseburger instead of two; I, on the other hand, must restrain myself from any sort of burger and be satisfied to munch on one stalk of celery, rather than two.  (What I really want to do is load up those celery stocks with lots of creamy peanut butter and make that boring rabbit food worthwhile!)

So what’s the solution?  Wish I had one, but I don’t—not in this life, anyway.  My metabolism has gone the way of all things, and there just doesn’t seem to be much I can do about it—except buy bigger clothes.  But in the midst of this losing battle, I’ve discovered something important—and rather exciting, actually.

This ain’t it!  Ever hear that statement?  The late and beloved Rev. E.V. Hill was famous for saying it, and I’m adopting it as my motto from now on.  This life is NOT all there is, and this aging-fast physical body is going to be upgraded to a much better model, including a metabolism feature that never rusts, rebels, or retires.  Cash for Clunkers hasn’t got anything on the heavenly trade-in program I’m opting for!

Besides, I might be getting older (and I hate to tell you, but so are you!), but I’m also getting better.  My metabolism may have retired ahead of me, but my retirement plan has the best benefits anywhere!

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21).