Confessions of an Obese Christian
I have struggled with my weight most of my adult life. Like many dieters, I have lost hundreds of pounds, only to gain them back again. Being overweight has been one of the most disheartening parts of my life, a life that has been blessed in so many other ways.
It would be too embarrassing for me to tell you all the different ways I have tried to lose weight. I will confess that I have been susceptible to the latest fad diet on more than one occasion. And I have increased my exercising for a season, only to revert back to my more sedentary lifestyle.
I am a meat and potatoes guy. I really don’t like any green food unless it is lime sherbet. I have eaten poorly. I have eaten too much. And I have exercised too little. My obesity is but one indicator of the bad choices I have made with food and exercise.
A Point of Reckoning
About two months ago I was playing with one of my grandchildren. I was exhausted. I had no reason to be so tired. Well I did have one reason. I am obese. My lack of energy was the result of my terrible lifestyle. So I looked into the eyes of my grandchild. I wondered if I would be able to keep up with all of my grandchildren. Indeed I wondered if I would live to see them grow up.
I needed help. I needed God’s strength. So I made a decision then that my life had to change. Not with a fad diet. Not with a flurry-and-done exercise regime. But with prayer, obedience, and a reasonable diet and lifestyle.
A Point of Conviction
I am a Christian. Some may say I am a Christian leader. Some people look to me as an example. Frankly, I have been a poor example, a poor witness. I have had a lifestyle of sin of gluttony and slothfulness. I have no right to be a leader, if I am one, with the awful model that I am and have been.
Something had to change. So almost two months ago, I gave up. At least I gave up trying by myself. I needed God’s strength, His conviction, and His path. Indeed the path I travel is very slow for a goal-oriented person like me. It involves reasonable and healthy eating. It involves reasonable exercise. And it means that I am making a lifestyle change, not going on yet another crazy diet.
The progress is slow. I am still obese, but I am making progress. In God’s strength, and by giving myself to Him daily on this matter, I feel for the first time that there is really hope for change. It’s ironic. I say I trust Him in all matters, yet I have never really given him my sins of gluttony and slothfulness.
Until now.
A Point of Clarification
Allow me to be clear. I am not turning this blog into “Thom’s daily weight and health progress,” though you are free to ask me how I’m doing. You are free to hold me accountable. But I won’t bore you to death with the details of my health.
No, the reason I wrote this post is because some of you say you look to me as an example. I’m not sure why you do, but that’s what you tell me. Hear me clearly: I have been a lousy example in this key area of my life.
Obesity has become one of the leading contributing killers in America. And, at least by example, I have contributed to the malady. And, even more importantly, my Christian witness has been compromised by my selfish indulgences.
I must change. In God’s power, I must change.
And I am sufficiently selfish to tell you that I would greatly appreciate your prayers.
image via mykitchencapers.com
