From The Melanin Man:

If you’ve been following this blog since its inception, you know that I was very big on the eating aspect of the oppression Black Melanin-Dominant people, well the majority of the world’s population for that matter, are subjected to.

Also, I mentioned how I myself lost a ton of weight (actually over 100 pounds!) due in large part of changing my eating lifestyle. I gave up meat entirely and have not touched it once for the better part of two years. Although I dibbled and dabbled with a little egg and cheese every so often, it’s not habitual and I could see myself one day (probably very soon) kicking it to curb just like I have with animal flesh.  I’ve cut down on a tremendous amount of processed foods in favor for more fresh organic fruits and vegetables. I still have a back and forth with sweets and sugar in general, especially around the “holiday season” and birthday celebrations. But on most occasions, I don’t let my sweet tooth get the best of me.

(To be honest, I don’t know if I’ll ever give up sugar entirely. But if I had to choose which  I could live without, sugar or sex, I would definitely NOT be choosing sex!!)

The change was definitely worth it. I was inspired to create a garden and grow some of my own food. I had the audacity to run 5ks, 10ks, and even did a half-marathon! I was wearing medium-sized clothes for crying out loud! I didn’t imagine being that small when I first began my journey. I mean, I had gotten so small I had loved ones thinking I had an illness. Smh. Nevertheless I felt great on the outside as well as on inside, physically and spiritually.

Well, over the last year I have accumulated a fair amount of weight. The new medium sized clothing I only had for a little over a year’s time was getting a little snug around my chest and midsection (lol!); recently I had to buy some large-sized clothes so I wouldn’t be looking a hot mess.  I have not ran like I did since the beginning of 2017. In fact I could count on one hand how many times I’ve ran since September.

I still maintain the same vegetarian/ half-the-time vegan lifestyle, although I have to admit I may be eating a little more than I did when I was losing weight. Granted when I was losing weight there were days when I would eat basically nuts and berries (I’m being sarcastic, but you get the picture) or go without eating entirely (I was “fasting.”) Also, I begin to incorporate some weight training exercises in my daily routine, so some muscle increase was only natural (while looking back at pictures I took when I was  at “stick” size, I lost way more muscle mass than I intended to.) Working at a desk job has had an effect obviously of course, especially on my running activities (add the ridiculous winter weather to that list as well.  If you live in Georgia, you know the fall and winter seasons here is usually pretty mild. Not this year for some reason.)

Thankfully I’ve matured intellectually and spiritually over that same time to realize that simply “eating right and staying in shape” will not cure all of my ills and the alleged shortcomings I may have as a person. I credit that to my desire to learn and acquire knowledge concerning the true nature of this world and its inhabitants, specifically my Black kinfolk. I now over-stand that the benefit and responsibility of consuming real, nutritious food is only a tool to attain and maintain knowledge of self, which I truly believe I have at this very moment that I’m typing this. 

In my opinion, anything else that does not involve reaching that goal is an exercise in ego-boasting.

Don’t get me wrong.  I’m proud that I lost over 100 pounds.

I’m thrilled to say that I ran a half-marathon in my lifetime.

I’m ecstatic that I’ve not eaten any animal flesh longer than most people would think to try.  Yet at the end of the day I value more that those accomplishments aided me in strengthening the love, appreciation, and respect that have for myself, my brothas and sistas, and especially my ancestors.

That is the accomplishment that I’m most proud of.

So ask yourself this question, Black Man and Black Woman:

What’s the point in living a long life in this repetitious, parasitic, sadistic paradigm and you can’t fully be the UNIQUE BEING that you were designed and destined to be?

Let’s strive for more than simple vain achievements we were told were worth celebrating.

That’s where I’m am at the moment.

 

Peace and Love to my melanated family,

The Melanin Man