by Al Sears, MD, CNS

If you're drinking water to lose weight, good for you…

But if you're drinking the wrong kind of water, you could be sabotaging your good efforts.

That's because BPA (the toxic chemical used to make plastics) found in throw-away water bottles does more than put your health at risk. It also makes you fat.

But here's the good news…

By just avoiding plastic water bottles and other BPA-containing products, you could actually lose weight.

In a recent study, 24 women were divided into two groups. One group avoided foods, cosmetics, and other products in plastic that contained BPA. The second group didn't make any changes to their regular products.1

At the end of three weeks, the women who avoided BPA had much less of the chemical in their urine. And they lost an average of 0.6 pounds.

Compare that to the women who continued to use BPA products. They had much more BPA in their urine. And they gained an average of 3.6 pounds. In just three weeks!

The problem is that BPA leaches into your food and drinks from those plastic containers.

And it's not just in food and drink containers. BPA is also in cosmetics, PVC piping, plastic dinnerware, compact disks, toys, dental sealants, and medical devices. It's found in all currency throughout the world as well as cash register receipts.

How BPA makes you fat

BPA is just one of more than 85,000 manmade toxic chemicals in our environment. These toxins disrupt your hormones. They act like estrogen in your body and disturb normal fat metabolism.

They also suppress adiponectin, a hormone that increases insulin sensitivity. That can lead to insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. And that leads to weight gain.

Studies prove a strong link between BPA and obesity. A Kaiser Permanente study found that girls with higher levels of BPA in their urine had DOUBLE the risk of being obese compared to girls with lower levels of BPA.2

Over a hundred other studies link BPA to a long list of health problems, including diabetes, breast and prostate cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and infertility.

As consumers catch on to the dangers of BPA, manufacturers are advertising "BPA-free" products. But don't be fooled.

Some producers are substituting other bisphenols for BPA. They include BP-AP, BPF, BPS, BPP, BPM and many others. These new bisphenols are just as bad as BPA. Some are much worse. They stay in your body longer and cause even more DNA damage than BPA.3

Sadly, just about everyone is exposed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found BPA in the urine of 93% of people they tested.4

How to Reduce Your BPA Exposure

You can't eliminate BPA entirely from your life. But here are a few easy ways to help reduce your exposure:

• Use filtered water in place of bottled water. And drink it out of a glass or a glass bottle instead of plastic cups.
• Avoid canned foods whenever possible. As an alternative, choose food sold in glass jars or waxed cardboard cartons (known as Tetra Paks). But if you do buy canned foods, check out the Environmental Working Group's website. The group keeps track of producers who use non-BPA can linings. Check out the list here.
• Use glass containers to store leftovers.
• Don't use plastic bottles, cups, dishes or food containers marked with "PC" (for polycarbonate) or recycling labels #7 or #3. Choose plastics with a #1, #2 or #4 code instead.
• Don't microwave food in plastic containers or use plastic wrap in the microwave.
• Don't take receipts from stores. Or ask to have them dropped in your bag so you don't touch them.

References

1. Todd Hagobian, Allison Smouse, Mikaela Streeter, et al. "Randomized Intervention Trial to Decrease Bisphenol A Urine Concentrations in Women: Pilot Study." Journal of Women's Health, 2016; DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2016.5746

2. Li D-K, Miao M, Zhou Z, Wu C, Shi H, Liu X, et al. " Urine Bisphenol-A Level in Relation to Obesity and Overweight in School-Age Children." PLoS ONE 2013;8(6): e65399.

3. Sangwoo Lee, Xiaoshan Liu, Shunichi Takeda, Kyungho Choi. "Genotoxic potentials and related mechanisms of bisphenol A and other bisphenol compounds: A comparison study employing chicken DT40 cells." Chemosphere. 2013;93(2):434-40.

1 (16-oz.) can refried beans
1 (1-oz.) pkg. Taco Seasoning Mix
1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (4.5-oz.) can Chopped Green Chiles
1 cup Thick 'n Chunky Salsa (any variety)
2 cups shredded lettuce
2 cups shredded cheddar or Mexican cheese blend (8 oz.)
1 (2.25-oz.) can sliced ripe olives, drained (1/2 cup)
1 medium tomato, diced (3/4 cup)
Tortilla chips, if desired

Directions

by Dennis Rainey

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification.
- EPHESIANS 4:29

Kids today take "keyboarding" rather than typing, but when I was young, we learned to type on actual typewriters. In high school I struggled in my typing class, but I made a great discovery: If I could type 60 words a minute, even with 15 errors, I would get an A in speed and an F in accuracy. Round those together, and that would give me a C for the class. I could live with that.

But my gray-haired typing teacher, Mrs. Whittington, didn't like my logic.

Or my behavior. And one day in front of the whole class - exasperated with me over something I'd done - she pointed her very boney finger at me and said, "Dennis Rainey, you will never amount to anything."

I'm sure before the day was out, she forgot her comment. But I never forgot it. And when I graduated from college, I drove over to her house and rang her doorbell. When she came to the door, I said (kindly), "Hi, Mrs. Whittington, I'm Dennis Rainey. I wanted you to know that I just graduated from college and am getting ready to go into full-time Christian ministry."

In other words, "I'm going to amount to something, in spite of what you said." I'm sure she wondered why in the world I came to her house to tell her that!

Now, should I have done that? Probably not. But words can hurt. They go deep and leave a mark, for good or for bad.

That's why Paul instructed us to use our words for edification - to build up, to strengthen, to lighten the load of another, to give someone the heart to match the need of the moment. He wasn't talking about flattery, or false praise, but about speaking words of support and encouragement.

Because when we're not building each other up, we're probably tearing each other down.

DISCUSS

Share an example of something encouraging your spouse said to you once that you've never forgotten. Talk about how that made you feel.

PRAY

Pray that your hearts will be filled with grace and that grace-filled words will follow.

by John O'Leary

"The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear." – Rumi

Today, I want to share a few of the lessons my dad has taught me.

Although many of the lessons were taught through his words and actions when I was a kid, my dad's most significant teachings occurred more recently, without any words and with very limited actions.

As a kid, I was pretty sure my dad could do anything.

The earliest memories I have of Dad are school mornings. He'd come into my room singing a marching song he learned in the army to wake me up to get ready for school.

Then we'd have breakfast, he'd kiss Mom goodbye, shuttle six kids off to school, and work a full day. He'd always be home by dinner, smiling, engaged, and sincerely interested in our days.

Never once did I hear about the stress of his work as a trial attorney or the difficulties of running a firm. His focus was always on his family.

As kids, Dad taught us to: swim, waterski, ride bikes and then eventually to drive a car, use a stick shift, read a map and dock a pontoon boat.

He taught us how to love our spouses and made certain that each of us kids felt that we were his favorite.

In high school and college, I started learning more about who my dad was as a person through his stories of: family trips as a kid, his father's professional success and subsequent loss, and what it was like to be the youngest of six in the 1940's, attend school in the 50's, and lose friends in Vietnam in the 60's.

I learned that, unbelievably, he never missed a day of school (grade school all the way through law school). I learned how he met my mom and fell for her right away. And I learned that she was his first and only love.

Through his example it was clear that humor breaks tension, softens truth, lowers boundaries, and helps us to connect with others; that a real man goes to church and sings loudly while there – even if out of tune; and that serving others in their time of need fulfills our needs, too.

His example allowed me to see him not just as my good dad, but as a great man.

When my dad was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease almost three decades ago, his life began to dramatically change.

Stress causes the symptoms of the disease to progress more quickly, so he was soon unable to work trial law; then unable to work in law; then unable to work at all.

He slowly lost the ability to run, then walk, then drive, then speak.

Yet after decades of battling Parkinson's disease with the assistance of his first and only love, my mom, he maintains his ever-present humor and faith, and continues to teach and model what real masculinity, fatherhood and success look like.

Today, through his mostly silent days he continues to teach me that:

We are much more than the jobs we have, the status we attain, and the wealth we accumulate.
The quieter you are, the more you are able to really hear…and the better you understand.
God works through all things including massive challenges with kids, professional difficulties, tragic fires and deteriorating health.
Pursuing success is important, but eventually the day comes when we realize the most important things in life were already within us.

Today I have a wife. Four children. Deal with professional challenges, pursue personal dreams, long for greater faith, and hope to impact more lives through mine.

And hope to be the example to my little ones as my dad was to me.

At this point in my life I am more confident than ever that my dad can still do anything. His silent love continues to speak louder than his words.

by Ann Wells

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister's bureau and lifted out a tissue-wrapped package.

"This," he said, "is not a slip. This is lingerie."

He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. It was exquisite: silk, handmade and trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure on it was still attached.

"Jan bought this the first time we went to New York, at least eight or nine years ago. She never wore it. She was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion."

He took the slip from me and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment. Then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me.

"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you're alive is a special occasion."

I remembered those words through the funeral and the days that followed when I helped him and my niece attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death. I thought about them on the plane returning to California from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives. I thought about all the things that she hadn't seen or heard or done. I thought about the things that she had done without realizing that they were special.

I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life. I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting on the deck and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending more time with my family and friends and less time in committee meetings.

Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.

I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event--such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, the first camellia blossom.

I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for a small bag of groceries without wincing.

I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties; clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks have noses that function as well as my party-going friends.

"Someday" and "one of these days" are fighting a losing battle to stay in my vocabulary. If it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now.

I'm not sure what my sister would have done had she known that she wouldn't be here for the tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner, her favorite food. I'm guessing--I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew that my hours were limited. Angry because I put off seeing good friends whom I was going to get in touch with--someday. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters that I intended to write--one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn't tell my husband and daughter often enough how much I truly love them.

I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives.

And every morning when I open my eyes I tell myself that this is a special occasion.

Ann Wells

by Jennifer Rothschild

They do not turn to the Most High; they are like a faulty bow. (Hosea 7:16)

When we're operating as a faulty bow, we long for identity, but we land in crisis. We shoot for pleasure, but we end up requiring more and more to make us happy. We target acceptance, but we hit greater insecurity. We long to be seen and acknowledged, but we end up feeling jealous, envious, and invisible.

The first place a faulty bow can send an arrow is into the minefield of competitiveness. When we don't feel complete in Christ, we compete with others. But we don't need to do this. If you're tiptoeing through a minefield of competitiveness, try this…

Compliment Instead of Compete

Begin complimenting the women you would be otherwise inclined to compete against. Compliment someone for that quality in her that you're actually jealous of. Instead of thinking, I hate you because you're so skinny, say, "You really have a nice figure." Even if you never speak a word to the woman you've found yourself competing against, you can think complimentary thoughts about her every time that jealous feeling starts to creep into your mind.

You're aiming for personal peace and a healthy sense of self-esteem, aren't you? Well, if you're constantly competing, you won't get what you're aiming for. But when you choose to compliment instead of compete, you will actually begin to like yourself. You'll feel magnanimous for your kindness rather than mad at yourself for being petty. When you make that shift from competing to complimenting, your faulty bow transforms into a faithful bow and you find yourself where you want to be—comfortable with yourself and happy for others.

Encourage Instead of Envy

The next minefield to watch out for is in the territory of envy. Many of us experience envy even if we don't often admit this. I sure don't want to admit to all the times I've felt envy because I don't like what envy says about me. I feel ashamed when I'm envious of another woman. It's a hard thing to love a friend so much, yet, at the same time, fight against feeling envious of her. And it's even worse when we allow that envy to morph into just plain dislike or even resentment.

It's also possible that you think you don't like someone at all when deep down all you are is jealous of her. Sometimes when we are extra critical or resentful of someone, it's because we are envious of her. And the main thing this reveals is that we really don't like ourselves very much.

Here's the deal: Envy of a friend is really a symptom of insecurity and discontentment with yourself. If you find yourself constantly fighting feelings of jealousy, it's a clue that you may be operating as a faulty bow, misguided and unreliable.

Remember, being envious will always make you more self-aware and insecure, not less.

An envious person might say something like this: "I can't believe she got picked to do that job! She thinks she can do everything better than anyone else." What's really being said here is this: "I wish I had been chosen to do that job. I feel invisible because she got all the attention. And I'm filled with feelings of jealousy—not joy—toward her. Not only do I want her job, I also want all the attention and accolades she received for doing it so well."

Unattractive, right? None of us intends to live in envy of others, but when it happens (and it's bound to!) our thoughts can become downright ugly. And when we start to think this way, we're the only ones who lose. We lose joy and confidence and contentment as we grow in bitterness and anger and self-awareness. So how do you stop your jealous thought patterns and put a halt to feelings of negativity?

By encouraging! Say, "Way to go! You did a terrific job!" When you offer this kind of pure, no-strings-attached encouragement, you'll feel so much better. You'll develop a pure heart and a kind spirit—things that are actually worth envying! Being encouraging to others is a beautiful way to serve the Lord. And the more you serve Him, the less you will serve yourself. Your character will grow, and your pettiness will shrink.

Thank Instead of   Threaten

If you find yourself becoming overly sensitive or easily threatened, chances are good that you're a faulty bow. You aimed for the landscape of significance, but you've landed in the area of not-good-enough.

When you rest in the hand of God, you never need to feel less than. But it's hard not to think about how others have treated us, and then we start to feel threatened. Maybe you weren't shown the respect you thought you deserved. Perhaps you feel like someone is out to get you or others never treat you the way you'd like to be treated.

If you interpret every suggestion as a slap in the face, every correction as a criticism, and every insight shared with you as an insult to your intelligence, chances are you're standing on a minefield—and it's exploding every minute!

When you start to feel threatened, choose to be thankful instead.

How do you do this? Instead of taking everything personally, immediately take it to Jesus with a thankful heart. Say, "Thank You, Lord, for teaching me and helping me grow."

If you're threatened by someone you're a tad jealous of, thank God for your friend's good attributes. She is who God made her to be, and so to resent what is good in her is to resent what God has done in—and for—her. This might be difficult to do, but it's so important. I know that when I'm not being who I am in God's hands—when I'm focusing on what I'm not—I can never be satisfied with myself, my life, or anything else. I am threatened by others because I'm not thankful for them—and I'm not thankful for me.

Competitiveness, envy, and feeling threatened are just a few of the minefields where faulty bows send their arrows.

Do you too struggle with Faulty Bow Syndrome? If you do--and we all do--ask God to show you where you are, and then hand your faulty bow to Him because being our own archer never, ever works.

God doesn't create faulty bows. If we choose to accept our identity as a loved, accepted, and complete woman of God, we will rest in the hands of the Master Archer. We will conform to His will and His ways, and we won't twist and turn and bend and posture to get our own way.

When we are a faithful bow, we'll be comfortable with the imperfect us--comfortable in the skin we're in.

This article is adapted from Invisible by Jennifer Rothschild.