Ok so this is my first post in the Health section. I feel that I am fairly informed on health information. I am no expert but I find health issues very interesting along with how food works to help or harm our body. Now all that being said, I have not followed everything I know. As I stated in my first blog post, Justin and I had lost a lot of weight last summer. I started April 5th and by the half marathon in September, had lost 26 pounds. I loved the way I felt and how I enjoyed wearing clothes and all around just felt better. Well, winter came and all the emotions about baby stuff took over and I became pretty blue so my drug of choice was food (as it always is). I am so sad to say I gained most of my weight back. So now I am here on April 25th ready to start again. I learned a lot about myself this past year and I know, entering this healthy lifestyle this time, it will stick. (or at least it better since I am putting it all out there for the world to read. lol) I have always lost weight with the goal to look great! I mean that is a great benefit, but that is not what it is about. God gives us so much and we are very blessed as a nation. So much that we have to worry about not eating too much rather than starving and wondering where our next meal is coming from. God tells us to be good stewards of our blessings, and I believe that our bodies are included in that. I have not been a good steward of my body and I feel the effects of that. I am tired a lot more than I used to be. I get winded walking the laundry up the stairs. And, none of my clothes fit great now. :-( I think this is one of Satan’s best tools; this weight makes us so much less productive, feel bad about ourselves, and mostly cuts our life short and doesn’t allow us to accomplish everything God has planned for us. Our body is God’s temple. God did not use this analogy on accident. If you look in the Old Testament you can see how sacred the temple was treated, and that is what God wants us to do with our bodies. I am pretty sure they would not allow Taco Bell and McDonald’s into the temple and my temple has been filled with this kind of junk! So I am ready for a change! It was funny when I found out I was not pregnant this month I thought “well, instead of obsessing over whether I am pregnant or not I am going to pour myself into weight loss”. Then, God brought something to my attention. Instead of pouring myself into a baby or weight loss or whatever, I need to pour myself into GOD. In doing that I am going to take the many wonderful foods that God gave us and enjoy those. I am going to make exercise a regular part of my life. (The May Challenge will have something to do with that!) I am not going to make it about a number on the scale but about being a good steward with what God has blessed me with! I know there are going to be occasions when I don’t eat as healthy as others but I have to learn to make better choices when I do eat differently and watch portions! I have read a book that really helped in the past and I am going to start it again. It is called “Made to Crave” by Lysa Terkeurst. It talks about the spiritual aspect of eating and I need to keep that in mind! So I will keep all of you updated on how it is going. I would love your input and help! Is this something anyone else struggles with? How do you deal with it? Good luck to anyone else on your weight loss journey. I would love to hear your input and your struggles and how you cope!
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body! --- I Corinthians 6:19-20
