First posted 12/2/2015
Embarking on a weight loss journey
God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though He is not far from any one of us, Acts 17:27
Weight loss is a journey. What happens to you when you realized the reason you are overweight physically and underweight spiritually? You do something about it. About 4 months ago, I got fed up with my physical appearance and embarked on a weight loss journey. The first month was easy mentally. I hired a virtual trainer, I was seeing results and was happy to find something that worked. Then, the next month came and that beginning puppy love started to wear off. I had more than being physically overweight to deal with; which is often the case when losing weight. I had the easy part handled what, when, who and where to do it. It was the why, that I need to work on.
What is my Why?
That’s when personal reflection came in. If I was to lose the ideal weight and achieve the body I wanted. What would it be for? There comes a point in your life especially when you’re on a spiritual journey that you need more than just outward appearances to fulfill you. What do you do, when you’re overweight physically and underweight spiritually? You tear down walls and rebuild from the foundation. I achieved this by figuring out my why?
To submit to such people and to everyone who joins in the work and labors at it. 1 Corinthians 16:11
There are the obvious, family and faith? I have 3 little girls that I have the responsibility of teaching how to be women and they are watching my every move. I want to teach them to honor their temple and be different in this world; Honoring and serving God. I am also trying to be the best that I can be for my husband as God says to do.
Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God. 1 Chronicles 22:19a
Underweight Spiritually
I needed to rebuild my foundation so, my second month I took time out daily to Honor My temple through prayer and challenge myself. Every day, this prayer challenge created a relationship with God and His word when it pertained to my issues with, exercise, nutrition and faith. It was an amazing opportunity that helped me clearly define my why? The Bible is the most detailed instruction manual for life. When women look into God’s word they often go to Proverbs 31 description of a worthy women. So, after 30 days of personal reflection I went to trusty old Proverbs 31 to see if my why aligned with “Women of Noble Character.”
She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:28-30
3 Reasons: Why my weight loss is more than appearance
These verses encompass everything I care about. My faith, my husband, and my children. Breaking these verses down gives me the definition I was looking for in my why, much like my workout plan and nutrition.
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31:30
- My faith
I interpret this verse as: A loving admiration for God that includes obedience to God and the commands His word.” As a Christian women that is something that I want to be synonymous with me.
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
Proverbs 31:28b-29
- My husband
Her husband also, and he praises her: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”
Her children arise and call her blessed;
- My Children
My daughter’s ages right now are pivotal in their own right. I have an 11 year old, who is on the cusp of teenage years and womanhood. A seven year old, who is starting to come into her own. A 16 month old, who is discovering this world and picking up on social cues. All of them no matter what they’re age continues to look to me to shape their ideas and role as a woman in this world. I strive to teach them how to be a light for God and noble.
Tapping to my why gives me more than the motivation that I need to achieve my weight loss goal. It also gives me a satisfaction that is better than any adrenaline high and keeps me committed to my faith, husband and children. Some days I may be tired, have nutritional blunders but at the beginning and end of each day. I am praising God for giving me a temple to honor and doing my best to do just that. How are you honoring your temple?
48 replies on “Overweight Physically & Underweight Spiritually”
beautiful post my faithful sister…..
Thank you
I love that you took time to really pray and think about the why of weight loss. Pointing out the why in what we’re doing really exposes a lot of the true motivations. Thanks for sharing your inspiration and faith with us!
“Exposes a lot of true motivation” sometimes more than we really know. Thanks for stopping by!
Weight loss is definitely a journey. It took me a while to find my why too. I have three boys, and want to be healthy for them, but for myself too.
An up a mountain journey haha Yes, we have to be the best we can be for our children and the people we love!
Nice post De!
Thanks Toni! Glad you enjoyed it!
This is so true of my journey as well! It was easy for me to get the food and exercise under control. What I realized I really had to work on was my motivations and submitting it all to God. Thanks for sharing this. It really blessed me today!
Praise God, that you found him for motivation and that this blessed you! Thank you for stopping by!
This is such a great post. God cares about every area of our lives including our weight loss journeys! You can do this!
Thank you so much for your encouragement! Yes He does and Yes I can!
Amen! I love your reasoning. Health, husband, kids! Thats why its so important to stay or work to be healthy. Great post!
Amen it is very important. Thank you for stopping by!
Love that you went to God to uncover the motivation for weight loss. Love your heart which shined through this post. I too want to glorify God in all that I do and say.
We are to be the salt and the light, right? Thank you so much for your kind words.
This would be a great article my sisters from church should read..They set out goals to lose weight this year. Adding scripture to their journey is perfect
It is so helpful! Even to meditate on while working out has helped me tremendously.
Wow great read! After 2 babies 18 months apart I realized I had to prioritize my own healthy before things like laundry and dishes. Finding your why is so important! I really needed that reminder
God bless you 18 months apart. The energy you need. I am so glad this post could remind you how important you are.
I too am on a weight loss journey. Those are great reasons- your faith, your husband and your children. For me personally, I am tired of feeling enslaved by food. Galatians 5:1 “It was for freedom that Christ set us free, therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” I’ve subjected myself to the yoke of sugar and overeating. May the Lord bless you and grant you success, as we know, we can do all things through strength who strengthens us. May we not serve an idol, but the the Lord!
First you have to get fed up and then you show up. Amen, we do not serve idols!
Omg yes! Love this. Nothing more important to me than my little family :):)
Our families are one of our best gifts! Thank you for stopping by!
What great goals and motivation. I’m also seeking to grow in a number of areas this year, including my faith and better time management skills, for both my wife and children. May God continue to bless you on this journey!
The “Why” is always challenging, I believe. I have started to realize that “getting a new/better/healthier body” isn’t enough of a reason, because I still have this same old, flabby, post-5-babies body that I am unhappy with. BUT learning that it is my faith that fuels my fitness, that it takes discipline to present my body as a living sacrifice to our Creator, that fitness is an act of obedience and worship as it causes us to rely heavily on His strength and comfort when we are pushed beyond our “limit”… that is something beautiful that I am grateful I GET to do. Thank you for this reminder!
This is so encouraging! You are so welcomed!
This is a very encourageng post. I need to lose physical weight and gain spiritual weight too. I have never read Proverbs 31, because I can in some ways never be like a woman should be (for one thing, I won’t have children). However, I like the other two reasons you got from Proverbs 31 to lose weight. I have a husband and I have my faith.
Praise God l for both (your husband and faith) and that I could be encouraging to you.
So excited for you! I love reading your whys and you have 3 great reasons. I agree, it’s so much more than just appearance!
Thank you for your encouragement
I’m definitely struggling as to what my “why” is lately. I hope I can I find it soon.
I hope you do too and you are freed.
I really enjoyed your points in this post! I am trying to lose weight as I write this comment! Prayerfully, gaining spiritual weight will aid me in losing physical weight! God bless!
Thank you so much! It’s so much easier to lose when you put it in His hand and gain His strength.
Amen to that!
This is wonderful! It is so much more than physical reasons….everything is all connected! My husband and I were just talking about this (today, actually), about how when we take care of ourselves, spiritually we grow as well! When we feel great and are healthy, we have more energy for the people we love, and become disciplined in other areas of life that reap good fruit that is beneficial for the Kingdom! Love following along your journey and I feel honored to be part of what the Lord is teaching you (and all of us) in the process! Thanks for sharing 🙂
So, true it means so much more than just weight loss to me now. It feels like strength gained. Thank you for stopping by and your encouragement!
Absolutely!!! You are amazing!
Your whys are going to get you through the tough days! And you can even get very specific with those why’s..try things like…my children is a why and my goal is to win a race against one of them…something like that! Keep it up!
Yes, it does just have to keep reminding myself. Thank you for the encouragement
This is so good! I have recently been re-reading Made to Crave and am reminded that my own weaknesses are a result of not seeking God and relying on His strength.
Such a good book and great reminder of where to place our strength. Prayers of success for your journey.
Thank you so much for your encouragement and it is all for His glory!
This is great. I am so sad to say that I have regained all the weight I lost a couple years ago through made to crave. Partly because of weakness, laziness, but also circumstance. Keep going on your journey. I need to regain my footing in this area desperately.
I pray that you find your way.
Great post. Loved your title and your from-the-heart content surrounded and backed-up by Scripture. 🙂 Keep up the awesome work of letting God use your life and testimonies for His glory!
Thank you so much!