Healthy Me

Welcome to the Healthy Me section of The Fabulous Fishbowl.  It's all about being healthy, but from a Christian perspective of a woman who has a lot of weight to lose. I struggle with how transparent to be sometimes. I value my privacy, and yet I want to be real and share areas of my life where I struggle. This is definitely scary transparency for me. Let me give you a little background....

From the time I was a young girl I have always struggled with my weight.  I wasn't very overweight back then, I was way too active to be so.  But I always compared myself to my sister who was a real "skinny minny".  I can remember having a friend who was tall with long legs that seemed to stretch on forever.  I, on the otherhand, had more of a body that split in half at the hips with a not so cute pot belly.  I recall one day overhearing two neighborhood mom's commenting on my belly and comparing my shape to the long lean shape of my friend.  They never meant for me to hear it, I'm sure.  That was in 6th grade... and I've never forgotten.

Throughout my teen years I struggled with feeling overweight.  Back then it was only about 10 lbs, (what I would give for that today!) Diet soda became my drink of choice, and I followed many ridiculous diets, one after another. Even though I was involved in sports and other activities in high school and college, my weight was always on my mind.

Then I got married and had kids. My activity level slowed dramatically from what my body was used to, and my weight began another season of yo-yo-ing up and down. In 2002 I was also diagnosed with Hashimoto's Hypothyroidism - an autoimmune disease, that basically took what was left of my metabolism and ground it to a halt. Despite these factors, I truly believe eating has become a coping mechanism for “feelings” in my life.  I am now waaayyyy overweight.  Actually, I'd call myself obese and my Body Mass Index (BMI) chart would agree with that statement.

I am learning a lot about this area of my life. I'd like to blog about it here, as this is the one place where I write stuff down.

I'd like to lose a lot of weight.

How much? 

Over 100 lbs.

Yep, that's right... that much.

For the average person losing 10 pounds is difficult, but 100 lbs can seem overwhelming.  Just the sheer battle to exercise a body this heavy is daunting.  I often feel defeated even before I begin.

This journey for me is about learning to purposefully submit this area of my life before the Lord. I want to learn to be disciplined and obedient, in all aspects regarding food in my life. But it isn't only about the weight loss, it's about who I am in Christ, despite what my outward body is showing.  I want to be transformed by the renewing of my mind as stated in Romans 12:2. I want to be able to see myself as God sees me... as a child of His; not the dejected overweight woman that I see when I look in the mirror. A few verses I cling to are:  

I can do all things through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.  James 1:22
 
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual[a] act of worship. 2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:1-3

Here's a quote from Pastor James MacDonald Harvest Christian Fellowship-  spoken at the True Woman Conference in context of explaining trials in James 1.

"You can't come to the joyful conclusion about trials by filling your face with food to dull your pain."

Besides the biblical insights that I am learning, I hope to post practical ideas that are helping me too. There also will be some healthy recipes, and links to outside support sites. Finally I'll be sharing my progress along the way.

I truly hope to encourage anyone else who struggles in this area of their lives. I pray to find freedom in Christ and that one day this battle might be a testimony. 

If you would like to write me about your own battle with healthy living or drop me a note of encouragement - please feel free to email me via my Contact Page. I would love to hear from you!

- MamaFish


All Healthy Me Titles

My Progress