Is healthy eating necessary with LoA/IM?

[moonrambler]

On this forum there's a wide range of personal development and a fair bit of attention to different types of diet. Many people are adopting diets that become more and more restrictive . . . people move from vegetarian to vegan to raw food only, and even do water fasting. From a LoA/IM standpoint, none of that should be necessary for perfect health, should it? A person would be able to declare, "In my universe, it's very healthy to eat meat and sugar and processed food," and experience it for real.

[Jennihul]

I think they are completely separate motivations.

People who are open minded and those who shun conventional wisdom tend to congregate in places like this and it's by sheer chance that LOA and diet get discussed in the same forum by the same people.

Don't let the experiments of some make you feel like you are "less than" because you enjoy a diet without restrictions. That's limited thinking.

Jennifer

[Malazan]

I think that if you really hold to the idea that your every thought helps create your reality, and nothing but thought shapes the reality, you're probably right. But then beliefs would probably become an issue. Do you believe deep down that you can eat nothing but junk 7 days a week and still be healthy?

And maybe if you view it in that light it is easier to actually regulate your diet vs. convincing yourself that a non-restrictive diet is healthy and using IM for health that way.

But then maybe if you start intending perfect health and such you'll start attracting less meat so the problem will automatically be solved.

[moonrambler]

My question really is more about extremes. If people truly believe in subjective reality and IM, that we manifest our own reality, that thoughts create reality -- then why would they go to extremes in diet like water fasting, restricted diets where only raw food is allowed, and so on? What would be the benefit of that, if we could make a declaration about food that fits within what more people would call reasonable guidelines?

Yesterday I picked up a tome by Gary Null which is about 300 million pages long, and it's about living forever through diet. I tried to take a look at it today but it makes me feel immensely tired. Is it easier to jump through all those hoops, 300 million pages of guidelines, a truckload of supplements, gallons of (fresh, organic, home-squeezed) juice every day, gallons of water every day, no meat/dairy/wheat/etc. . . or is it easier to eat a diet which most people we know would agree is a reasonably healthy one, and declare as reality, "I am in excellent health and I feel great!"

If we are creating our own reality, why are some of us, for instance, creating a reality where a raw food diet is the healthiest one, when it's so utterly restrictive?

Jennihul -- what about the blood-type diet? Why, if we can create any reality we desire?

[dave marshall]

Hi,

what you see here is simply the power of beleifs. We do create the effects that food has upon us and have strong beliefs about the food we eat.

For me, I choose to beleive that all that I eat enhances my health, that allows me to have alot of freedom about my diet and its effects. I also eat what I feel like eating, some days I will get a sense that certian types of food would suit better and I try to follow the feeling.

The power of belief is absolute and enourmeous and the various diets that people undertake are driven by their beleifs and ideas, change those beleifs and you can change the diets.

dave

[Dharma]

Originally Posted by moonrambler

What would be the benefit of that, if we could make a declaration about food that fits within what more people would call reasonable guidelines?
...
If we are creating our own reality, why are some of us, for instance, creating a reality where a raw food diet is the healthiest one, when it's so utterly restrictive?

We create through consciousness, not thought. You can think "bacon and Red Bull are great for me" all day, but until consciousness un-links food from health, you'll have to stay within the boundaries of diet you believe in.

The linkage that food creates health is the problem. If I want health then I have to eat these foods. If I don't eat these foods, I will not have great health. That's all a crock.

Food does not create health.

The choice for health creates health. Period.

Consciousness has got health linked to food, vitamins, exercise, sunlight, stress... a ton of stuff. And it plays a game of denial with it. You can deal with it or not. It's not wrong to play with this programming, it's just what you're playing with right now. If you want to begin the process of unlinking the choices and enjoy your eating for eating's sake, you can do that too. You'll need to focus your consciousness differently.

Originally Posted by dave marshall

Hi,

what you see here is simply the power of beleifs. We do create the effects that food has upon us and have strong beliefs about the food we eat.

For me, I choose to beleive that all that I eat enhances my health, that allows me to have alot of freedom about my diet and its effects. I also eat what I feel like eating, some days I will get a sense that certian types of food would suit better and I try to follow the feeling.

The power of belief is absolute and enourmeous and the various diets that people undertake are driven by their beleifs and ideas, change those beleifs and you can change the diets.

dave

well said.

[Jennihul]

Originally Posted by moonrambler

Jennihul -- what about the blood-type diet? Why, if we can create any reality we desire?

Well, in my opinion you can't actually create any reality you desire. I disagree with many of the "magical thinking" LOA proponents on that topic. Not on the level in which we currently reside in this spiritual universe.

I believe you can, in conjuction with existing physical laws, create a reality that fits into "reality" as we know it. Not that man can fly if he believes it hard enough. Or that cancers can automatically revert. Or that eyes can switch color. Or that allergies can miraculously disappear. Or that human blood/immune systems can stop reacting as they have for thousands of years to substances they deem as foreign and hence dangerous.

Jennifer

[JorgeHTQH]

You are what you eat... junk in junk out... I've heard that all my life and now I believe it with all my heart. Try eating super healthy for at least 1-2 weeks and see if you then can think more clearly, concentrate better, meditate better and have better control over your thoughts.... you won't know unless you try..

[boat]

I doubt anyone can truly, 100% believe that they live in a subjective reality. Maybe Steve Pavlina and a few "exceptional" people can, but for the most part, no. For most of us, there will always be an objective, physical reality. If you eat ****, you will feel like ****, and get fat and tired.

[nightdiamond]

Hi moonrambler, and everyone else....

I would like throw in something...

A very simillar idea exists with money. The more you have, the less spiritual it can make you . Or some would call it distracted.

So, as a result some very noted gurus and swamis have made negative statements about possessing money. Then a bit further, some have suggested to stop being concerned about bills, rent, and retreat into the caves to meditate, ect. Then more extreme, the idea you can't possibly ever become enlightend as long as you live in a house in a city with any type of modern convenience. And finally there is the image of the guru wearing nothing and owning nothing except a loin cloth sitting peacefuly in the sand, eyes closed in meditation.

Not a guru sitting on his porch wearing a t-shirt or jeans but usually just that.

It gets more and more extreme and even the gurus and scriptures tell funny stories about the obsession.

The ironic thing is that it may be easier for a wealthy person to approach enlightment simply because he or she has the time and place to meditate in peace. And in order for meditation to give benefit, one has to focus.

On the other hand the working class or poorer person may have a harder time meditating when he or she is distracted by thinking of paying the bills, fixing the car in order to get to work, ect...

Even the wiser gurus have admitted leading a lifestyle of self denial and meditating doesn't always mean one reaches their goal.

I think one way of looking this is it's ok to care of physical and emotional needs first in order to be able to meditate, focus or follow a spiritual practice in peace without distraction.

That one way I have of seeing, what does anyone else think?

Take care........

[doogatyee]

moonrambler:
I agree that it shouldn't matter what we consume diet wise. I believe if one is content in their food choices and happy with what they eat that will in turn create a happy more relaxed person.
I know for myself that my mind is clearer and free for other things when i eat a diet of things i enjoy and love - they do include sugar, caffenie, meat , & fats. I wish I could say lots of vegi's but the gag reflux hasn't quit that I had as a child.

There have been times in my life where I forced myself to eat a"healthy" diet without the sugars, caffenie, fats, ect. I ate lots of vegis - my mind was cluttered, I thought about my next meal all the time, my focus was on food. I wasn't happy and my body composition wasn't all that different. After the birth of my third child (I gained an average of 60lbs with all four) I decided to eat 'my way' and be happy. I was happy. My mind was fre to think of other things, the weight all came off.

I believe I am a better, clearer channel for whatever when my mind is free of thoughts about food. I eat a wide variety of things and don't limit myself to what others think is "healthy". I believe that I create good energy, whne i love what I put into my body. In three years of allowing myself to be me - I have been way more in tune to the universe than i ever have before in 32 years of life.

Having The freedom to be "me" is the best way i can live. Do what's right for you.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by moonrambler

Many people are adopting diets that become more and more restrictive . . . people move from vegetarian to vegan to raw food only, and even do water fasting. From a LoA/IM standpoint, none of that should be necessary for perfect health, should it? A person would be able to declare, "In my universe, it's very healthy to eat meat and sugar and processed food," and experience it for real.

Basically, all your beliefs rank in some kind of hierarchy. Some are more fundamental and are difficult to change (assuming that you wanted to change them). Others are held at a more superficial level and are easier to change.

Sometimes the key to using the LOA is to know which belief you want to change or build. For example it may be easier to keep this belief:

"Fruits and vegetables are good for my health; while meat, sugar and processed food are not"

and build this new belief:

"I really like eating fruits and vegetables"

rather than change this belief:

"Fruits and vegetables are good for my health; while meat, sugar and processed food are not"

to this belief:

"Fruits, vegetables, meat, sugar and processed food are all good for my health"

[moonrambler]

Originally Posted by Jennihul

Well, in my opinion you can't actually create any reality you desire. I disagree with many of the "magical thinking" LOA proponents on that topic. Not on the level in which we currently reside in this spiritual universe.

I believe you can, in conjuction with existing physical laws, create a reality that fits into "reality" as we know it. Not that man can fly if he believes it hard enough. Or that cancers can automatically revert. Or that eyes can switch color. Or that allergies can miraculously disappear. Or that human blood/immune systems can stop reacting as they have for thousands of years to substances they deem as foreign and hence dangerous.

Jennifer

But some of the things you mention do happen. Some people have cancers that disappear without (conventional) treatment. And sometimes allergies miraculously disappear.

[moonrambler]

Originally Posted by boat

I doubt anyone can truly, 100% believe that they live in a subjective reality. Maybe Steve Pavlina and a few "exceptional" people can, but for the most part, no. For most of us, there will always be an objective, physical reality. If you eat ****, you will feel like ****, and get fat and tired.

And Steve, who is a big proponent of subjective reality, has a diet which is becoming extremely restricted, and says he feels much better eating this way. I don't understand the choice to have a subjective reality where people feel much better if all they eat is raw food.

[moonrambler]

Originally Posted by JorgeHTQH

You are what you eat... junk in junk out... I've heard that all my life and now I believe it with all my heart. Try eating super healthy for at least 1-2 weeks and see if you then can think more clearly, concentrate better, meditate better and have better control over your thoughts.... you won't know unless you try..

See though, this doesn't manage to separate out whether it's true because it's a physical necessity, or whether it's true because you've heard it all your life and now you believe it with all your heart.

[moonrambler]

ABC News: One Man, 40 Years, 21,292 Big Macs

Then there's this guy, who's eaten two Big Macs a day every day since 1972. And that's pretty much all he eats. Some tv news magazine did a story on him maybe 12 years ago, and he's still going at it. I remember this guy in particular because the news magazine had him go in for a full physical and there was absolutely nothing wrong with him, even though he'd been eating almost nothing but Big Mac's and Coke for 15 years. This sort of story can get people irritated because it's not "supposed to" be like this.

[jeff3]

Originally Posted by moonrambler

ABC News: One Man, 40 Years, 21,292 Big Macs

Then there's this guy, who's eaten two Big Macs a day every day since 1972. And that's pretty much all he eats. Some tv news magazine did a story on him maybe 12 years ago, and he's still going at it. I remember this guy in particular because the news magazine had him go in for a full physical and there was absolutely nothing wrong with him, even though he'd been eating almost nothing but Big Mac's and Coke for 15 years. This sort of story can get people irritated because it's not "supposed to" be like this.

That's funny, and it does irritate people when someone breaks from the "mass mind" and has a mind of their own, historically they are shunned or killed. Since I'm not a 100% believer in subjective reality I think people have to not only change their own beliefs, but in some cases overcome the inertia of "mass belief " , kinda like the 4 minute mile thing.
When I was kid I lived on cocoa puffs, ice cream sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs. I eat much better than that now and am in much worse shape, Of course back then I never stopped moving from the time I woke up till when I went to sleep.

I have done some fasting in the past and can say that I did feel it was beneficial spiritually, partly I think it's the fact that digestion of food requires enormous amounts of blood, and your brain also needs lots of blood to do it's thing, this is part of the reason you get sleepy after a heavy meal. I also think intention plays a part in this too, like when someone fasts for a "breakthrough" or guidance or whatever, it's not the fasting that does the work, it's the intention.

There's another thread about eating meat in the spirituality forum where I mentioned that I think a lot of the veganism being pushed here is about guilt over taking life and if you do things that make you feel guilty, I believe it will hamper your ability to manifest. I think it's about being congruent, and when you go against your own values you are essentially at odds with yourself. So, yes, I think your diet can influence your capabilities, but not because it really does, it's because you make it so. I raise beef cattle and have most of my life so I have worked through all the issues about the food chain and I'm not one to get bogged down by the "anti meat" crowd.

[Rose of Cairo]

Originally Posted by moonrambler

I don't understand the choice to have a subjective reality where people feel much better if all they eat is raw food.

That's because you have a belief about eating only raw food saying that it is restrictive, boring, very difficult, terrible and many more bad things. You could choose to change this belief and find going raw wonderful, the most natural and delicious diet ever and the best thing that could possibly happen to you. In such a belief system, feeling much better when you're raw is logical

[boat]

Originally Posted by moonrambler

And Steve, who is a big proponent of subjective reality, has a diet which is becoming extremely restricted, and says he feels much better eating this way. I don't understand the choice to have a subjective reality where people feel much better if all they eat is raw food.

Well, I obviously don't know what's going on in Steve's head, but maybe he prefers eating healthy foods. Or maybe he doesn't 100% believe in subjective reality. Or maybe he does but he believes that changing even your subjective reality isn't as easy as 1-2-3. Who knows? Just eat healthy if you can, because if you eat unhealthy I guarantee there will be negative effects no matter what your belief.

[moonrambler]

Originally Posted by Rose of Cairo

That's because you have a belief about eating only raw food saying that it is restrictive, boring, very difficult, terrible and many more bad things. You could choose to change this belief and find going raw wonderful, the most natural and delicious diet ever and the best thing that could possibly happen to you. In such a belief system, feeling much better when you're raw is logical

But why? If in subjective reality you could choose any diet and have it be healthy and wonderful and delicious, why choose one that really is restricted?

The only upside I can see to that is if your social circle mostly are raw foodists, or if those are the people you tend to like best. Otherwise, what's the added value, if we can choose health and feeling great with any diet we like?

[Rose of Cairo]

Originally Posted by moonrambler

But why? If in subjective reality you could choose any diet and have it be healthy and wonderful and delicious, why choose one that really is restricted?

Again, you're believing that a "restricted" diet is not as good as one allowing you to eat whatever you want. For you not eating everything is a loss. This is a belief of yours that you could change.

For example for me, eating raw is not "restrictive". Raw food is for me truly living, alive, energetical, high quality food. What do I need more? So when you ask why on Earth I choose not to eat hamburgers, it's like me asking you why on Earth you don't want to eat toilet paper. Why do you choose such a restricted diet??