By Marty Copeland
My story is probably typical for most people with a chronic weight problem. For many years, I mistakenly believed my value was completely dependent on how I looked. Fulfillment of my every goal and dream hinged on being able to lose weight. Convinced I could not be overweight and enjoy life, a bondage to weight loss set in.
There is no telling how much money I wasted on fad-diet books, magazines, professional weight-loss centers, liquid protein diets, workout videos and fitness equipment. Although I knew exercise was crucial to losing weight and changing my body, none of those wonderful workout videos did me any good while they sat on the shelf! I kept looking for a workout that would somehow compel me to exercise. I dare say that workout does not exist.
It was the same with diets. I thought, If I could just find a diet that I really liked, I could stick with it. Yet when I found a reasonable diet I could handle, I would lose weight so slowly I would become discouraged and quit. I had no staying power. When I found a diet that offered faster results, it would so tax me, both physically and emotionally, that I would either quit or get physically ill from stress.
Perhaps you can relate to how I felt. Maybe you find yourself distraught because you are not experiencing the results you are hoping for. Are you bouncing from one quick-weight-loss diet to another, rapidly losing weight, quickly gaining it back, then pursuing another diet? Believe me, I know what it’s like to fail miserably time and again. The struggle is exhausting.
Only one thing saved me from total defeat: Deep down in my heart was a belief that even though I had not yet found the answer, there had to be one. I knew my answer was in God, and I made the decision to search the Word until I found it.
That’s when my goals changed.
Before, I had always been focused on doing whatever it took to lose weight. Now, seeking God and His way to success became my goal. This was the turning point in my battle.
I can tell you from experience and from those I have counseled, there is not one single diet that works for everybody. Getting God involved, however, will help every person. His involvement in every phase of my weight-loss goals and my goals to attain a higher level of fitness, has given me permanent success. And He will do the same for you! He will give you the wisdom you need to win at weight loss.
To get started, let’s talk about how we can involve God in each phase of weight loss.
Studies reveal that successful eaters typically follow a pattern. There are basically four recognized phases in weight loss: The Critical Moment; Small Steps and Recognition of What Works; Success; and Maintenance.
PHASE 1: The Critical Moment
This first phase is when a person says, “I have to do something now!”
Researchers say two transitions bring about the critical moment of action: (1) the transition from self-delusion to self-honesty, and (2) the transition from depending on others to independence. When the critical decision is made, change begins to take place primarily in the brain tissue—not the fat tissue.
For me, the critical moment of action was the point when I knew my answer to permanent victory required getting God actively involved in my weight loss. Fighting this battle in my own ability had gotten me nowhere!
When we attempt to overcome problems in our own strength, or in our flesh—through fad diets, pills, excessive exercise, bulimia, etc.—we don’t give God anything to work with. The Bible says in James 4:7 that we are to “submit [ourselves] therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from [us].” I had been trying to resist the devil—temptation—without being submitted to God’s Word. God wanted to help me, but He couldn’t because I wasn’t playing by the rules that ensure victory—His rules.
A crucial point in winning any battle is to understand how to wage a good warfare. Scripture says that “though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds)” (2 Corinthians 10:3-4). Being overweight, overeating and leading a sedentary lifestyle are strongholds in the flesh.
Galatians 6:8 tells us, “He that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” That word corruption in this scripture means “a worsened state.” When I was sowing to the flesh, I was reaping a worsened state. But when I lined up my desires with God’s desire for me and began sowing to the spirit, God became actively involved in my weight loss. I began sowing to the spirit by digging into God’s Word and using my faith. Praying and having fellowship with the Lord was something I looked forward to every day. As I submitted everything to Him, He began to reveal His Word to me in a way that gave me complete victory. I began to present my body “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1).
My goal in life was no longer to be thin. God’s goal for my life became my goal, and that goal is: “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29, New American Standard).
As a Christian “The Critical Moment” of decision not only involves recognizing that we must change in the natural, but it also involves recognizing our way to permanent and lasting success is through God. He has given us the spiritual tools we need to win the battle. We need only understand and apply them.
PHASE 2: Small Steps and Recognition of What Works
Once you have been gut-level honest and realize you must make changes, you are ready to take action. Research shows that normally this phase of taking “small steps toward weight loss and recognition of what works” is easier than the first step. To successfully enter this phase, you must have a mind-set that lifestyle changes are in order if permanent weight loss is to occur.
According to research, big problems get solved using little steps. Rather than focusing on an immediate need—to lose a lot of weight for a 20-year high-school reunion, for instance—focus on the little steps that will get you there. For example, simply reducing fat and sugar from your diet can drastically reduce caloric intake, resulting in weight loss. And, daily aerobic activity will help burn more calories, increase muscle tissue and boost your metabolism. These are little steps that result in a “win” on the road to victory.
Big problems can be solved with small steps for a number of reasons—one is that the goal becomes attainable in our minds if it only requires a small adjustment. Another reason is that accomplishing each step brings with it a sense of considerable reward. Thirdly, a small failure is easier to cope with than a big failure. Lastly, when a person knows he or she has the ability to win, confidence is gained. Typical diet programs claim and emphasize the BIG wins. Perhaps that is why typical diet programs have a 95 percent failure rate.
In addition to small goal setting, people who successfully lose weight are reported to be willing to experiment with new ideas that might help them achieve their goals.
So here’s an idea for you that may be new: Begin “doing the dos” of what God has said is good. In other words, concentrate on the things that “do” help with weight loss. I believe if you do what is right, the don’ts will eventually fall by the wayside.
For instance, drinking six to eight glasses of water, eating two to three servings of fruit and three to seven servings of vegetables a day may be an ultimate goal—but that is not the place to start. It would be too overwhelming. So if you are drinking two glasses of water a day, bump it up to four glasses. If you are only eating one piece of fruit a day, make it two and add a vegetable serving. As you take one step at a time to do something that you are not already doing, you will be one step closer to developing a lifestyle of fitness.
The same principle applies with exercise. If you are not exercising now, begin walking for 15 minutes a day. If you are walking 30 minutes twice a week, add 30 minutes to your weekly walks. I’m sure you get the idea.
Gradually increase the “dos,” and watch the “don’ts” disappear. While you are in the process of attaining your weight-loss goals, you can stay encouraged by remembering the scripture that says, “Let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:4). Make small adjustments and be patient, recognizing you are headed toward perfection!
PHASE 3: Success
Oddly enough, research shows the “success” phase to be the hardest for permanent weight loss. Researchers have concluded that losing weight requires redefining who you are, inside and out. As you lose weight and your appearance changes, people may openly respond and give positive comments that reinforce your efforts, and further your accomplishments. But once changing turns to sustaining a goal, you must learn to maintain that accomplishment without the recognition, approval, support and encouragement previously received.
Unless you change your inner image, this creates a difficulty. However, if you are losing weight by being submitted to God, if your goal is to be conformed to the image of Christ and you are searching out the Scriptures and allowing the Holy Spirit to change you on the inside—you will not have a problem with this phase of weight loss.
Why?
Because you will not be losing weight to be accepted or gain the approval of others. You will be losing weight for the right reasons. Weight loss to you will mean being healthier and feeling better. A healthier, happier you will be a healthier, happier witness for the Lord.
As Christians we are to be like Christ. We are to be conformed to His image. Jesus laid down His life so He could raise up a race of believers who would walk this earth in His power, not only doing the same works that He Himself did, but even greater works (John 14:12)!
To accomplish this, Jesus promised we would “receive power, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon [us]” (Acts 1:8).
Being conformed into the image of Christ would be an impossible task if it were strictly up to us. But the scripture says we are predestined—meaning it’s already in us—to be conformed into His image. Thank God, as born-again believers we have the supernatural power of God on the inside of us, helping us be conformed.
The same power that was on Jesus is available to you and me by the Holy Spirit. Our focus must be one of seeking and pleasing God. If we submit everything we do—including our eating and exercising—to God, we will be positioned to win. Success will be a joy—not a problem!
PHASE 4: Maintenance
Researchers have determined that “maintenance” is very difficult for most dieters. That is partially due to the fact that most dieters are seeking some shortcut that promises miracles overnight. They haven’t lost the weight gradually and committed to lifestyle changes.
For people who have lost weight by doing the right things for the right reasons, in the right order, this phase is the easy one! They will be winners at weight loss. By submitting unto God, winners are able to resist temptation. By doing the dos, the don’ts fall away. By allowing the Word of God and the Holy Spirit to change their character, winners are being conformed to the image of Christ—they are well able to maintain success!
Certified by the Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research in Dallas, Texas, Marty Copeland is a personal trainer, nutritional counselor, author and minister of the gospel.
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