Losing weight for a woman is hard.
Really hard.
But why?
I mean, I really want to lose the weight, so why do I struggle with actually doing it?
I think I might know why now. God has been really working in my heart about my own weight and He has also been helping me to understand some things a bit better.
I believe it's hard for us woman to lose weight because we don't want to admit that it really is a sin that we struggle with - not just a few extra pounds.
We come up with all kinds of excuses...
"It's been such a hard day! An extra scoop of ice cream won't hurt."
"It's only 30 pounds! I've had 3 kids....it's just part of life."
"I'm okay with my body so it doesn't really matter."
"I keep trying and it's just not working."
But it is true...over eating is a sin. God wants us to be controlled by the Holy Spirit not by other things. (Galatians 5:22-26, Ephesians 5:18) And yes, food is one of those "other things".
If I admit to myself and to God that I am sinning in my eating habits then I will have to change. And this is where it gets really tough. I don't want to give up my extra large bowl of chocolate peanut butter ice cream after a long day of clingy kids! Change is not easy. Change is best done when you have help - from God, first and foremost, and from others.
This is where I have been sitting on the spin cycle for quite some time. I didn't want to admit to any other human being that I was sinning in my eating. I know that they know that I sin, but I didn't want them to know how I sin! What would they think of me?! So without even realizing it I was sinning in 2 ways: my eating habits and being worried about what others would think of me. And then on top of all that, if I tell someone, I have to actually be careful of what I'm eating when I am out and about. No more extra cookies because my friend might see me and she may say something to me!
So here I am. Admitting that I struggle with the sin of overeating - which is also called {gasp!} gluttony. I know that this battle isn't one to be won quickly. This will be a battle I will most likely fight the rest of my life. But God has me at a spot in my life that I'm ready to fight. He also has me at a point where I have gathered a few real-life-friends and told them my struggle. While I pray for my own victory over this sin I also pray for my friends to have the courage to say something to me if they need to. I may get mad at first, but I'll calm down and eventually thank them for their loving support.
I don't mind the 30 extra pounds so much, but I do mind that food at times controls me. So I am turning to God to fill my heart with His peace and not to food for a few moments of pleasure.
I'm sure I'm going to fall. Maybe more often that not. For a perfectionist like myself that alone is hard to handle! But even if it's 3 steps forward and 2 steps back, I will still have gotten farther along than I am right now. And I'm doing it through the strength of God with a little help from my friends.
From the trenches of motherhood...where losing weight is hard work...
Mandy
Mandy many times I have thought about writing U. I'm Jessica's Dad @ farm fresh. I love the fact that U are seeking God's help in all that U do and HE will Help. I too as a man struggle with gluttony , it is so hard to admit but admitting is the first step. Go Girl!!!!!!!!!! I will pray too
ReplyDeleteYour brother in Christ.
Love Leroy
I am right there with you Mandy. I have a huge sweet tooth and over indulge way too ofter. My mindset has changed a lot lately but I need to pray for a spiritual change too. Too often I think of the bowl of ice cream or the hot chocolate or something else that I want to have while I do my bible study or other thing first. It is definatly a sin and good for you for admiting it here. You can do it!
ReplyDeleteGod's been working on me in this area, too, for waaay too long. I know what I have to do, but I'm too lazy. I'm thinking of borrowing Nike's motto, "Just do it!" lol I always say this is my "thorn in my flesh", like Paul, keeping me on my knees before the Lord. Isn't it amazing how many lies/excuses we can find to not do what we don't want to do? I know I've dealt with this for far too long, but I'm amazed how many other people struggle with this very thing. My only victory will be in Jesus, as always, but I will pray for you, too. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteThat was well said and the truth. And the truth is hard to swallow sometimes....unlike that second helping of ice cream. But I, like you, am a prefectionist and so i am overwhelmed 99% of the time thinking about not just overcoming but STAYING victorious for hte rest of my life. Seems so hard....i figure that is why I procrastinate about starting at it in the first place....good stuff my friend. :)
ReplyDeleteit IS hard work! it's a battle indeed! it's not like other addictions, where you can just step away (which is VERY difficult) but you CAN just stop doing it/not buy cigarettes etc... but with food- it is SUCH a dicipline! we need to eat, and we're meant for it to be fuel that can also bring us joy...but not rule over us! such a unique battle!
ReplyDeleteMegan