THE INVISIBLE PEOPLE

If you have never fed the homeless, you have missed out on a great experience.

It will make you grateful. It will make you sad. It will make you feel useful. It will give someone hope. It will make you see people the way God does. Just like you but less fortunate.

Homeless people are not taken care of by the government. They are invisible people. Hoping for shelter but usually lying on concrete or sitting in wheelchairs in the same place day after day. The food lines are never long enough for everyone to eat. They will tell you how long it has been since they have eaten. They never take more food unless it is for someone who can't walk to the line.

They aren't greedy. They aren't mean. They are just like us. Just down on their luck. Most have no families that can or will help them.

If you or your partner were injured or got sick and couldn't work, how long would you be able to live in your home or apartment before you became homeless?

For most it is less than a month. Just a month away from being like the people who live on the outskirts of one of the most beautiful and successful cities in the world. And we don't even see them. Except when we go to an Astros game and we just don't want these dirty homeless people near the parking or stadium. Then we see them.

They hurt. They cry. They are embarrassed. They are hungry. They are dirty. They have few clothes. Many have no shoes. All they have are a few belongings that if they walk away for a few minutes will probably be picked up by the city and thrown away.

We are the homeless. They were once us. No matter where you live, there are homeless people. None of us can feed them all. But we can feed 50 or 30 or 10 or even just one. Even one will make a difference. And a difference in your life.

Matthew 25:35-40 New International Version (NIV)

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Brothers and sisters. That's what they are. Just like us but down on their luck.

copyrighted 2015

caryn Cannatella

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REALITY CHECK

Reality.  That is what I am dealing with now.   As most of you know, I have battled obesity since I was 8 years old.  I have abused my body trying to be thin as much as I have eating too much food.

For the first time in my life I have lost weight consistently for almost two years.  Skinny Fiber has been a great tool for me.  And yet, I still struggle.

Not every day but often enough that I have hit a place of not losing and having my weight fluctuate 10 pounds up and down.   I’m not feeling as well.  My energy levels are down. 

So what’s it all about, Alfie?  

I’m a diabetic and I take oral meds for it.  Now maybe some folks who are diabetic can just take the meds and eat whatever they want.   I can’t.   To keep my blood sugar low, I have to severely limit my carbohydrate intake.   I cannot eat more than 20 grams of carbs a day to maintain low blood sugar.   I do best between 10 and 15 carbs a day.   And I must tell you, I am not happy about it.

Sometimes you just want to eat a bag of chips, a sandwich on bread, a bowl (or two of ice cream), a stuffed back potato.  I’m ticked off that my body just doesn’t function very well when it comes to food and processing it.  I’m like that klunker of a car most of us have had that you have to pamper and watch all the time just to get back and forth to work. 

I want to be able to eat 2000+ calories a day and still be healthy and lean.  I can’t.  I have to eat less than 1500 calories a day just to lose weight.

When I was jogging 3-5 miles a day, 5 days a week, I didn’t lose a pound.   Oh, my legs toned up for sure but how the heck can you be expending 300-400 extra calories a day and the needle on the scale just sits there?

And then there is that thyroid problem.   I take one of the highest dosages because my thyroid just doesn’t work properly.   So my metabolism is very slow making it harder to lose weight which means less food.  The flip side is, if I don’t eat enough food, my body goes into starvation mode.  My body has me coming and going!

I had a diet doctor tell me once:  “I have good news and bad news for you.   The bad news is, you will never be thin.  The good news is, if there is ever a famine you will be one of the last people to die.  Your body is overly efficient.”  Thanks, Doc.  I already feel better.

Where does this lead me?  To the truth.  Acceptance. 

I don’t strive anymore to be thin.  I want to be healthy and just be able to buy my clothes without going to a specialty store.  I want to be able to move without hurting all over or being out of breath after less than a minute.   I want to control my diabetes instead of it controlling me.

And how does this happen?  By choosing every day to eat healthy, stay away from carbs, move my body, drink lots of water and take my Skinny Fiber. 

I admit some days I don’t want to do these things.  That’s my choice too.  But what I have come to realize is that I’m the only one who can decide.

Life isn’t fair.  It really isn’t.  But you have to play the hand you are dealt.   As Kenny Rogers sung in The Gambler, “you gotta know when to hold ‘em; know when to fold ‘em.”

I don’t want to die a young death.   I want to see my children marry and have children.   What is more important?  Crying over how life is unfair or just realizing that this battle is no different than many battles that others face every day.

I get up every day ready to face it all anew.   Some days I am a great success.   And some days, not so great.  I’ll be honest with you.   More times than not, it is a struggle for me.

But still I press on.  For me it is a reality check.   As long as I always get back up, I am making progress.  And that is what keeps me going.

Want help losing weight?  Check out Skinny Fiber!   It has and continues to help me in this battle for the best life I can have.

copyrighted 2015

caryn Cannatella

Skinny Fiber Sales:  www.caryncann2.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/Caryncann

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/Caryncann

Fan Page:  https://www.facebook.com/mylighterside

Weight Loss Support Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/CarynsChamps