The first question people ask me when they find out I’ve lost more than 260 pounds is, “How did you lose all that weight?” In reality they don’t want the answer I give them. Yep, I’m gonna make you wait for it.
Doctors will tell you what they always used to tell me, eat less and move more. Let me tell you, when I had over one-eighth of a ton of weight to lose that sounds like Charlie Brown’s teacher. Wah Wah Wah!
It is true on a very basic level, but it doesn’t get at the core of why we eat. Without going to that deep place we will always eat more than we should and gain continue to gain weight.
We Are Complex
Changing our mindsets is vital. However, in order to do that we have to go to the root of why we eat when we are not physically hungry. It is head hunger plain and simple. Part of it is physical if I eat foods which are addictive to me, but the reason I eat those foods is out of an emotional need.
We are very complex human beings. We know we need to change. We have good intentions and then something goes haywire when we try to implement it. There are many layers to this, but it starts with acknowledging we have a problem that goes deeper than sticking to an eating plan.
Stress from working long hours, stress from bills, stress from relationships, stress from not eating right, stress from not working out, stress from not being spiritual enough, stress from giving into temptation, stress from not doing our daily devotions, stress, stress, stress is a major culprit. We eat to stave off stress and then we get more stressed because it shows on the scale.
Live Freely and Lightly
Here’s what God has to say about that. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”1
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Wouldn’t that be awesome to live freely and lightly? These verses tell us it is possible to stop the spinning for a minute and let God lead. I’m not saying to do forced Bible study, though studying the Bible is great.
Let God Minister To You
I’m saying to allow God to minister to you as only He can. Running to food when we are stressed does not hold a candle to running to the only One who can really comfort us, the precious Holy Spirit, the Comforter Himself.
When is the last time you took even five minutes to soak in His presence, focusing only on Him and asking Him, “Holy Spirit, what do You want me to know today? I invite You to lead me every step of the way today. I invite You fully into each moment. Speak to me.”
We do not have to worry. His yoke is “easy”2 because He is fighting this battle for us and with us. We don’t have to pull alone. He’s pulling with us. As long as we are going His direction “the yoke is easy to bear, and the burden is light.”2 It’s when we stop trusting, when we begin trying to pulling the other way that the yoke is strained.
Picture two horses yoked together pulling a wagon. Now, picture one wanting to go left and one wanting to go right. What happens? Not much of anything.
I Am Weak
It’s OK that I am weak. God delights it my weakness. Losing 260 pounds has been the easiest hard thing I’ve ever done because I surrendered my weakness to Him.
He says, “My grace is enough. It’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.”3 His grace is all the power I need to take the next step out of overwhelming difficulty and heaviness into living freely and lightly.
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The answer to the question of how I lost so much weight is an easy one. I stopped eating sugar and flour and I started listening to God. My coaching clients recognize this as a stop-start, a way to change any habit. Stopping something is great. But a stop without a start is a only a diet. Because if you don’t start something in place of the bad habit, you will go back to the bad habit. Replace it with a good habit.
Are You Weak?
Surrendering my will to God was definitely the key to losing an extreme amount of weight. God has our answers. Many times, though, we just don’t want to do things His way. So it’s surrender to Him or keep digging yourself in deeper and deeper.
We also have this idea that we are too weak to surrender because we crave this food or that food. Being weak is really good, though. It’s when you are weak and let Christ take over that things begin to turn around. Paul would tell you, “the weaker you get, the stronger you become.”4
Stop doing this journey in your own strength. Stop trying to bear your burdens alone. He’s ready to shoulder them if you just take your hands off, listen and follow.
Just imagine a life full of energy, clarity, vitality and purpose! It is possible for dreams to come true. Discover it all at #KickWeight. Learn more about how God wants to lead you to total transformation. Just click HERE for more information and to register. Do it today.
1 Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
2 Matthew 11:28-20 NLT
3 2 Cor. 12:9 MSG
4 2 Cor. 12:10 MSG
Teresa Shields Parker is a Christian weight loss author, coach, podcaster, and speaker, who has lost 250 pounds and kept it off since 2013. Her books include: “Reconnecting Jayne: Her Sister’s Support,” “Rebuilding Jayne: Her Father’s Protection,” “Sweet Grace: How I Lost 250 Pounds and Stopped Trying to Earn God’s Favor,” “Sweet Grace Study Guide,” “Sweet Victory: Winning the Battle,” “Sweet Surrender: Breaking Strongholds,” “Sweet Journey to Transformation: Practical Steps to Lose Weight and Live Healthy”, “Sweet Freedom: Losing Weight and Keeping It Off With God’s Help,” “Sweet Freedom Study Guide,” “Sweet Change: True Stories of Transformation,” “Sweet Hunger: Developing an Appetite for God,” and “Sweet Excuses: Stop Lying to Yourself & Start Losing Weight.” She also offers Overcomers Christian Weight Loss Academy and VIP intensive coaching. Don’t miss her weekly podcast, Sweet Grace for Your Journey, where she shares tips from her personal journey of losing weight and discovering healthy living. Contact her at [email protected].
How do you get the pastors to teach these principles to the local churches? Dave Ramsey has local teaching for finances, and their are marriage teachings but very little on the root why he body of christ is as sick as unchurched as spending a lot on health care.
Peter, it’s why I coach and write books. It’s why I accept every TV or radio interview that speaks to Christian folks. Pastors won’t teach this because they like their food as well as the next person. I’m writing a Bible study next called Hungry: Developing An Appetite for God. It will be about eight lessons to do as a small group. I realize my study guides are all long and difficult to do as a small group Bible study. So I’m stepping into that next phase.
I believe this is an issue we must teach. We are being systematically destroyed by a wiley scheme of the enemy. He just tempts us with stuff the church never speaks against. However gluttony is all through the Bible and the Catholic Church calls it one of seven deadly sins, but even they don’t talk about it I don’t think. I’m not Catholic but I see alot of overweight priests and nuns. We have to get a handle on this. It’s become the sanctified sin, the one the church never speaks about. Oh I’m so going to write a blog post on this topic. You got me going!
You are SPOT ON!! Thank you for using your own struggle to help people like me! I feel totally out of control. I’ve indulged/ turned to food instead of Jesus on a regular basis and am heavier than EVER! I always feel more determined AFTER indulging because of my feelings of despair/guilt that I “did it again”, only to turn again to food for the next celebration, stress, boredom, poor planning, etc(more excuses). It’s such a terrible cycle that will continue to try to pull me down UNLESS I allow the Lord to help me (just like you said). I cannot participate in your program at this time, but I’m still benefiting from the truth in your emails. Quite honestly, I sometimes ignore your emails out of my own willfulness to do what *I* want instead of what I know is right. If you have a prayer team, could you pray for me? I need courage to step out of the boat in this area. Thank you for your time
Hey, Marika, be sure to opt in to #KickSugar the 10-video course. Save the url and the password and go back as often as you like. It will help. Also get my books. There are several free chapters under the FREE tab on this website. You can find #KickSugar and the Sugar addiction quiz there as well. The #KickWeight program is not expensive. Ask yourself how many times do I go out to eat a month or buy soda or candy bars or junk food? That easily adds up to $50 or more and #KickWeight is only $47 a month. It’s not just a thing you’d like to do sometime, this is for your future AND your life. Pray about it. I already know what His answer will be. :)