In His Image - Lesson 1: Why Are You Overweight?

Lesson 1: Self-discovery - Why are you overweight?

In all the books, articles, pamphlets, videos, and tapes we have listened to, they all tell us that one of the most harmful things we can do to ourselves is be overweight, and even more harmful is to do the yo-yo thing, lose weight, gain it back, lose it, and continue the cycle.

Most of us know why we want to lose our excess weight: to look nice, to please our spouses, to find clothes that will fit, and won't cost us extra due to the plus sizes (I'd love to fit into a size 10, and just be overjoyed to be in a size 6!!!), because we embarrass our kids, ourselves, from doctor's orders, tired of being tired, and even more. There are no wrong reasons, just a lot of them.

To lose the weight, we must first find out why we have it on and why we can't get it off. Do we have a medical problem, or is it deeper than that? For years, we have been trying to control our weight and fought a losing battle. WHY?? Because we did not start at the root of the problem; we did not find the reason why we have it to begin with.

Is it a hidden fear that no one wants/likes you, so you can use your weight as an excuse? Is it because you dislike yourself, so you are subconsciously destroying yourself? Is it to get back at your family, husband, or parents for some real or imagined wrong? Is it a form of withdrawal from some past hurt, that you don't want to FACE, so your weight is a shield? Are there other reasons?

One of the many reasons is to have control. Your life is going crazy (we parents of special needs kids know that!!) so you need to be in charge of something, or your spouse is abusive, and you want to state, non-verbally that you do have some control in one area of your life. Another reason is a sense of inadequacy, of being a failure. When we feel a failure, a sense of uselessness, or depression, we do many things: we sit down and just give up, we become moody, we cry a lot, we withdraw from the world, and we turn to something else to comfort us. One of the most common things we turn to is food. It has been proven by the experts that this emotional state will set off or trigger inside a person the desire to want food, to eat, eat, and eat more. So what can we do?

First--look at ourselves, and accept ourselves the way we are. Overweight, stressed out, spiritually and emotionally drained people. And NOT feel any shame about it. Romans 8:1,2 tells us that we who are in Christ are no longer condemned, for we have been set free!!!!! PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We will not be able to do this in one week, or two, or even three. But if you truly desire to be free from all that has kept you in bondage, the chains that have held you down--for that is what our weight is, chains that bind us , so we can not be part of our families; we can't play ball, because we are so out of breath we can't run. We can't go swimming, because we look like a beached whale (or at least that is what I feel like), we can't go on hikes, because we don't have the stamina to last the walk, or can't climb the hill--know that the Lord can set you free.

Second--learn new habits, how to eat nutritionally, what to eat and what not to eat. How to fix foods so that they are good tasting, and yet healthy. When to eat them, find out when you are craving certain foods, and see if there is an emotional reason, and substitute something else for it.

Third--and I have saved the best for last--realize that you are not alone, that you have someone with you, going through this with you and who will be there to help and guide you all the way. And that is not just us on this list, although we will be here also, but that person is GOD, our Heavenly Father, who knows what is going on, and why. And HE wants to help you get through this. He wants to change you not destroy you, heal you not hurt you. We will have a unity of all three, the body in eating habits, the spirit in letting GOD have His way, and the soul in accepting ourselves as not perfect, and learning to like ourselves. See the good in ourselves.

So let us join together, as we do this first lesson, and begin the re-creation of ourselves, but not in doing it on our own, but with the leadership of the Holy Spirit, and the love and support from the Most High GOD. Remember, Phil. 4:13 tells us that we can do ALL things through HIM (Christ Jesus) who gives us strength.

I will no longer look on my outer shell as a short, fat, ugly person, who has never accomplished anything, always been a failure, messed up her life, been a lousy mother and wife, but instead see myself as a beautiful creature, a being created by GOD, made in His Image, being remolded to be what HE sees, not as I see myself.

And as I climb that mountain called Self-will and Pride, I will realize that GOD is using this to make me into something special. A new creature in Christ.