Peggy J. Hughes - The Diet Solution: Weight Loss, Wellness, and the Word of Wisdom

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Hughes, Peggy Jordan, 1948 The diet solution: weight loss, wellness, and the word of wisdom / Peggy Jordan Hughes. p. cm. ISBN-10 1-57345-656-X (pbk.) ISBN-13 978-1-57345-656-2 (pbk.) 1. Weight loss I. Title RM222.2+ 613.7dc21 00-028809

Printed in the United States of America

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Foreword

In more than twenty years as a registered dietician, I have worked with hundreds of people who are trying to manage their weight. For them, a common pitfall is focusing on quick fixes rather than on long-term lifestyle changes. Quick fixes are snazzy, very different from normal eating patterns, and generally successful for only a short time. Lifestyle changes focus on overall health, bring about gradual change, and are intended to last a lifetime.

In The Diet Solution, Peggy Hughes focuses on healthy lifestyles. Her book integrates current findings about nutrition and health with scriptural counsel regarding care of the body. While individuals with specific medical conditions need to follow the advice of their physicians and dieticians, the vast majority of people will find sensible, sound guidance about eating and exercise in The Diet Solution.

The gift of a mortal body is most precious. Care and keeping of the body is not supposed to be the primary focus of our time and energythe primary focus should be on relationships with others and accomplishing good works. Without some attention, however, the body will not be healthy enough to allow us to do what we are on earth to do. The Diet Solution examines both the spiritual and physical dimensions of life and shows how the physical can support the spiritual. Through practical pointers and concrete examples, Peggy Hughes provides help for those wanting to improve their lifestyles.

Nora Nyland, Ph.D., R.D.

Acknowledgments

I am grateful to Nora Nyland, a registered dietician and the director of the dietetics program in the Food Science and Nutrition Department at Brigham Young University, for her guidance, suggestions, wisdom, and support in reviewing and consulting on this project.

I would also like to thank Shawn Fluharty for her assistance with the exercise portion of this book. Shawn is finishing her Ph.D. and is an instructor specializing in biomechanics in the physical education department at Brigham Young University. She reviewed the two exercise chapters and let me videotape her doing all the exercises to ensure that the photographs accurately depict how the exercises should be done.

Finally, I would like to thank my daughter Jenny Slingerland, who modeled for the pictures, and Alan Blakely, who photographed them.

Introduction

A Spiritual Solution

It was a cold winters day in February 1833 when Joseph Smith and other leaders of the Church met in Josephs Kirtland, Ohio, home to hear instructions on Church doctrine. The windows were shut, and the air was thick with tobacco smoke. Several of the men in the little room were chewing large plugs of tobacco and aiming the brown spittle at brass spittoons.

When the meeting concluded later that day, the air was stale and the floor covered with the mens missed attempts. Josephs wife, Emma, came in to clean up and was disgusted by the sight and smell. She went to see her husband. I can almost hear her saying, Who do you expect to clean up this mess?

The practice had been troubling Joseph for some time as well. He was familiar with verses of scripture that said the body is the temple of God: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are (1 Corinthians 3:1617).

Joseph took the matter to the Lord and received the Word of Wisdom, recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 89:

A Word of Wisdom,...

Given for a principle with promise, adapted to the capacity of the weak and the weakest of all saints, who are or can be called saints.

Behold, verily, thus saith the Lord unto you: In consequence of evils and designs which do and will exist in the hearts of conspiring men in the last days, I have warned you, and forewarn you, by giving unto you this word of wisdom by revelation

That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.

And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.

And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.

And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.

And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.

And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man

Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.

Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;

And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.

All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;

And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.

All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground

Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.

And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;

And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;

And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.

And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen. [Vv. 321]

Simply put, the Word of Wisdom is this:

No

strong drinks liquor, wine, beer

tobaccoin any form

hot drinksdefined as tea and coffee

drugsexcept recognized medicines (a later addition)

Yes

wholesome herbsincludes vegetables

fruitsespecially those in season