Pizza and Apathy

As a child, I could eat whatever I wanted and not gain an ounce. On a steady diet of boxed mashed potatoes and Tuna Helper (those were honestly my two favorite foods!) I remained a twig. As a young adult, I never had to worry about what I ate affecting my weight or digestion…Prilosec was a foreign word to me. Granted, I stayed active and had bouts of consistent healthy eating plans, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that my body did a total 180 and apparently decided to start storing all the foods I had previously burned off without effort. What is THAT about?

My life has changed significantly in the past few years, and there is no doubt my habits have changed as well. Stress has more readily led to an apathetic approach to dieting and working out. I just don’t feel like it…I exercise way less and emotionally eat way more (although I have replaced Tuna Helper and mashed potatoes with pizza and donuts). But I have been obsessed with working out and healthy eating in the past, and I don’t want to go back to that. A friend reminded me that I may have “looked good” on the outside, but was I happy? No, I was not.

Quite honestly, my motivation here is somewhat prideful. I want to fit into my clothes (and my wedding dress!) and be viewed as an attractive woman. But it’s also about wanting to be healthy and enjoy life to the fullest extent. Perhaps there’s a balance there. I am blessed to have several amazing friends who motivate me to run on a weekly basis and an incredible fiancé who cooks healthy meals and supports me in making good choices. And, most importantly, the people in my life love me no matter what the scale says. So maybe I need to keep things in perspective and give myself some grace. My happiness should not be measured by the snugness of my pants.

I have a feeling there may be something in your life that you feel unhappy about—maybe it’s your appearance, a personality trait or a habit…so I encourage you to take a step back and ask yourself a few questions:

• Is this thing truly unhealthy for me?

• Why do I want to change this thing? Is it for myself or others?

• What might be causing/motivating this thing?

• How can I make moves to change this thing without feeling guilty or defeated?

• Who in my life can encourage me and hold me accountable as I strive to make this change?

• Where am I looking for my value?

Be careful of “quick fixes” that social media bombards us with daily. Change usually requires dedication and hard work, but just be sure you are making that change for the right reason. If it’s to find happiness, be careful. Because the bottom line is this: no matter what happens with (insert issue here), you will never achieve complete joy without recognizing that God designed you perfectly and He loves you. That will never change and it means everything. I can (and should) strive to be healthy and make good choices in my life, but the results of those actions will not bring lasting joy. I must start with acceptance of God’s love for me and cling to that alone for my confidence and security. If I allow Him to guide my thoughts and decisions, then I am much more confident that the work is necessary. And only possible with His help.

Pants that fit? Bonus.