A Lhasa’s View on Whether to “Weight” on Exercise

I really appreciate my veterinarian. She’s a fantastic woman with old-fashioned values and sensible practices. She doesn’t jack up her prices to build a new wing onto her clinic and she doesn’t push medication for every little illness.

We’ve left our two dogs in her kennel from time to time. As many do however, the kennel has prices based on weight. Their cut off is twenty pounds.

Our little Lhasa, Jewel hasn’t an ounce of fat on her because she gets lots of exercise! If she were a woman she’d be a swimsuit model. (Granted she’d need new teeth, but she’d still look great in a bikini.) She stays fit because she fetches her toy down the hallway at full speed, chases birds and bunnies in the backyard with her brother, Sebastian. We also walk over a mile and a half each day.

A few months ago we dropped our dogs off at the kennel before flying off to our son’s wedding. Our little Lhasa weighed in at 19.3 pounds. It was suggested that her food be reduced.

“But,” I protested, “I only give her 1/3 cup of food each morning and afternoon. She’s not fat as you can clearly see. She’s pure muscle!”

“Well, she’s  really close to the top weight,” the assistant cautioned.

Sigh. I have several choices here.

I can reduce her food even more. In the past, she will whine and pat my leg begging for more.  But I’m more stubborn than she is and pay no attention to her plea because it is not in her best interest. In other words, her prayers go unanswered. Similarly, God knows what is best for us and will not reward our pleas for selfish requests either. Her food isn’t too much, in fact it is less than recommended. She doesn’t eat if she’s not hungry and has adjusted to less food.

Second, I could relax our exercise standards, therefore allowing her to gain fat while reducing muscle because muscle weighs more than fat.  Never! This pup is never ill and only incurs one visit to the vet every couple of years for her physical. Health is more important than the number on a scale and healthy habits create a fit and vibrant lifestyle.

Likewise, God is pleased when we care about the body He gave us! Never compare yourself to someone else’s idea of beauty. The world’s standards of what healthy means, changes periodically. During the Victorian age, it was curvy and well rounded while during the ’60s, Twiggy was every teen’s aspiration. Neither was healthy. Health begins from within with sensible eating and exercise, then it shows on our skin and demeanor. God cares about our temple of the Holy Spirit.

Or lastly, I simply accept her as she is and pay the increased fee if she gains weight. I know truth. She’s the best she can be! I’ve trained her not to bark outside or at other dogs as we pass them. She knows the consequences of an house ‘time out’ if she does  (And to her, not chasing birds is the equivalent of life imprisonment.) She gets plenty of praise and belly rubs when she’s good. (I wish she didn’t “woof” down her food so quickly but nothing will break her of that habit.)

So I encourage you, if you are doing everything right in your healthy lifestyle, keep on doing it or recognize you can do better and DO IT! Either way God loves you.

“I will never forget your commandments, for you have used them to restore my joy and health.”  (Psalms 119:93)