Are You Worth It?

So you want to lose weight but don’t think you’re worth the effort? First, stop that negative stinkin’-thinkin’! Start turning your thoughts into positive affirmations.  If you don’t, then you’re only setting yourself up for failure right from the start.  You must love yourself as God loves you and start seeing yourself through God’s eyes. Wouldn’t it be a boring world if we all looked like Cindy Crawford or Tom Cruise? No two people are exactly alike and amazingly, God has known each one of us since we were in our mother’s womb.

Psalm 139: 13-14.

 For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

In order to succeed in your health quest, you must discover who you are, how you grew up and why you do what you do. The perfect mind,body, spirit connection! God formed us in His very image and then declared, “it was very good”! So first you must convince yourself that you are, faults and all, worth it.  Remember, just as parents love their children, God loves you and desires what’s best for you.  We aren’t perfect, but we’re not junk either!

So what’s the first step? The first step is a mind-set ready for change.  Embrace the fact that you’re unique!

Galatians 6:4 “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself without comparing himself to anyone else.”

1. Have the right attitude.  Strive to change for the right reasons. As much as I wanted my patients to be healthy (and health is more important than weight loss) they had to want it more! As a counselor it is so frustrating to have truth at your fingertips and yet it’s rejected.  Probably similar to pastors who offer a sermon invitation knowing that Christ has the Salvation answer, but is rejected.
2. No food is good or bad, it’s simply food. “All things are permissible but not all things are beneficial.” I Corinthians 10:23.  Now please don’t throw away all the food in your cupboard that some people consider “bad”. That would be wasteful and against God’s principles.  A small change would be to resolve not to purchase any more processed foods or foods laden with chemicals and preservatives and bring it into your house. Because if it’s in your house, it’s eventually going to be in your mouth.
3. You must start to understand why you do what you do.  Sometimes a cookie isn’t just a cookie. Sometimes a cookie represents warmth, comfort, memories of home, love, security . . . It’s not wrong to eat a cookie if you are in control but if the desire for a cookie is controlling you, then you need to discover why you need it.
4. Be truthful. I mean, it’s your choice, so why lie to yourself? If you defiantly or covertly eat that cookie, then own that decision! So you failed .  . failure’s only an opportunity for learning.  Start to recognize your challenges so you can be aware of them and begin taking steps to change those  habits. Develop strategies as you continue along.
5. Keep a food diary for  two weeks. But be honest! No one is going to see it but you so write everything down. You’ll also want to write the time of day and how you are feeling. Discover patterns/correlations and you’ll  begin to improve.

Strive toward excellence, not perfection!  Remember, God doesn’t make junk! You’re Special!