I’ve gained weight on the world race…it’s embarrassing but it’s the truth.
In my journeys I have quickly discovered that the universal language of love is food…both serving it and eating it. I knew that coming on the Race would require many sacrifices. I’d be leaving behind family, friends, my possessions, the comforts of America. But it wasn’t until a few months back that I had the tough realization that I was sacrificing my body too!
There is no such thing as dieting in third world countries. No low fat, low carb, 100% organic, vegan, low cal foods to choose from. No fancy health food stores or even grocery stores for that matter. There are no gyms or personal trainers. No one is a vegetarian, pescetarion, or any other type of -arion.
It’s either you are fortunate to have food or you’re not.
And even though I know this to be true, we have yet to experience any of that as World Racers. It’s almost kind of comical how much you get fed when coming into each country. If finishing your plate at every meal were an Olympic sport I swear I’d take home the gold! Future racers… I promise you won’t go hungry on the World Race!
I have countless stories that involve food on the Race. Most of which start with my team and me being fed while a room full of people gather around us to watch, excitedly waiting to see the reaction on our faces as they serve us their delicacies. Water buffalo dumplings, chicken liver pasta, fish eye soup, and questionable meats of every kind, all served with scoops and scoops of rice of course…just to name a few of my favorites. I have many stories of my teammates and me trying to slyly pawn our food off onto one another, snickering when someone gets stuck with a second plateful of rice and then biting our tongue when they come to you next with even more rice. Countless stories of women standing over us as we eat and literally refilling anything we took a bite or sip of, insisting that we eat and drink more.
But in all seriousness, it’s been amazing to see how everyone has gone out of their way to welcome us into their homes and countries; that people who have so little can give so much.
And I wish I could say that I’ve always had the most appreciative attitude about it. I wish I could say that I’ve always had the most grateful heart. But as a young woman who was raised in Southern California, where body image is everything, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t cringe after platefuls of rice were forced onto my plate, with the thoughts of how many calories I was consuming and how I was ever going to fit into jeans when I get home.
But with God’s grace I’ve been able to see how much eating the food that was lovingly prepared for me truly blesses the hands that made it. Because sometimes I can forget how much us being here, wherever here is, means to them. And sometimes, most times, the only way they can show their thanks is by preparing us a nice cooked meal. A meal that could probably feed their family for a week. And with that my attitude has changed. And my heart has changed as well.
And sure I may have gained some weight. But I’m determined to become a woman who cares more about people and loving them well than how many calories I’m consuming in a day.
And while I still have my rough days, the smiles on the faces of our cooks, after we’ve cleaned our plates… makes it all worthwhile. So I will continue shoveling platefuls of rice down. I will continue eating till it hurts, so I can continue to show our thankful hosts, just how thankful we are as well. Because in addition to a few pounds, the amount of love I’ve gained on my journey around the world, has blessed me in more ways than I could ever express.
So future Racers, yes it’s possible to diet on the World Race. It’s possible to refuse food and choose to only eat the foods that you’re comfortable with. It’s possible to do the Race and not gain any weight. But I want to encourage you to check your hearts, check to see if you are loving others well in the process. Because that’s why we come on the Race…to love well the people and the countries that we journey to. And to grow closer to Our Creator, the One who grows us, usually in the places just outside our comfort zone.
