Last time we talked about the average woman’s obsession with weight, which many of us allow to define our self-image. We talked about the importance of focusing on the heart – where the Lord’s focus is – instead of stubbornly clinging to our flesh as the source of our identity.
And last time I promised you we would talk next about how all that doesn’t give us carte blanche to neglect ourselves. Last time I served up the warm and fuzzy; this time I serve up the hard reality.
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.
– 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I attend a Baptist church. Baptists eat. I truly believe that when Baptists show up for the Lord’s supper in heaven, they’ll bring a covered dish. But the tendency to overindulge isn’t isolated to the Baptist church, as science now shows.
Multiple studies confirm what most church-attenders already know: that many who call themselves Christians are fat. Fundamentalist Christians – with Baptists taking the lead – are the heaviest of all religious groups. Another study churchgoers are more likely to be 20 percent overweight with commensurate blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Also, young adults who attend church regularly are 50 percent more likely to become obese by middle age. If you want to see how the world views us, do a search on the term “Christians are fat.” It’s pretty depressing stuff.. . . and put a knife to your throat if you are given to gluttony.
– Proverbs 23:2
How do you find balance between vanity and self-neglect? I haven’t perfected the balancing act by any means, but I try to incorporate some healthy practices into my day-to-day life. And because I’m nice like that, I’ll share:
- Don’t eat if you’re not hungry. In other words, eat to satisfy your hunger, and then stop eating. If we eat slowly, our brains will send us a signal when our bodies have what they need.
- Keep it basic. Processed foods are calorie-dense and often nutritionally lacking. Eat foods that are closest to the source – fresh produce, fresh meats, whole grains.
- Incorporate exercise into your routine. My time, like yours, is limited, so I walk several miles a day while praying through memorized prayer lists. In inclement weather, I use my treadmill. This guarantees me 30 minutes to an hour of uninterrupted prayer time daily, and the exercise keeps me focused.
- Allow yourself indulgences. Let yourself have a Dove® chocolate, a few M&Ms®, a small scoop of ice cream, or an occasional piece of cake. If you don’t allow yourself an indulgence, you’ll be more prone to gorging yourself.
- Be reasonable in your expectations. Time and gravity will cause your parts to shift. As I said last time, things won’t be where you left them. You’re likely to gain a few pounds. And that’s okay. Someday – if you’re trusting Jesus as your Savior and Lord – God will glorify your temple, and that will be glorious. In the meantime, do your best, and stop beating yourself up, especially if medical conditions create a hurdle in your weight-loss efforts.
- Limit sugar and other worthless calories. Yes, I did say to allow yourself indulgences, but that doesn’t justify a candy bar or soda fix. Studies show that even diet sodas can cause us to pack on pounds, so stick mostly with water. (I’ll sometimes stir in some lemon juice and stevia for a healthy lemonade. Do I know how to live it up or what?)
- Don’t get all sanctimonious about health. I’ve had friends judge me because I don’t eat organic or I’m not a vegan or because I eat white stuff or because I eat red meat. Don’t allow food to become your God.
- Make good choices all around. Want something sweet? Eat an apple, and even allow yourself a little caramel sauce. Want something savory? Try some baby carrots and hummus. Want chocolate? Smear some chocolate hazelnut spread on celery. And keep drinking water. All day.
Let’s become inside-out Christians – people who, on the outside, show the Jesus who is inside. And feel free to share with me your stories of the restoration of your own Temple of Doom.
Hey Cheri! Great thoughts here. 🙂 I’m featuring this post in FaithVillage, but I wanted to remind you to go ahead and register, so you can set up your profile and your picture/author bio will display at the end of the article. Also, do you have a Twitter?
Thanks!
Amber
Hey, Amber! Yes, I need to do all that! I’ve been on a book deadline in addition to my other regular writing/editing gigs, so I’m just beginning to come up for air. I’ll try to get to that in the next day. As far as Twitter goes, I’ve been thinking that I need to do that too. Maybe you can call or email me to give me tips on how to tweet most effectively. I’m also about to set up a FB page because I’m nearly at 10,000 hits 🙂