Thoughtfully explore the basic problem you have with food:
I am an emotional eater. Whether I'm bored, upset, happy, I will eat. Definitely have more of a problem when I'm upset, depressed, or stressed. Somehow, food provides a temporary comfort - I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I feel like I'm giving myself something that is "good", which is, of course, better than "bad" when I'm not in a good mood for whatever reason.
I should offer my time of exercise as a physical expression of thanksgiving and surrender. Thankful because I am capable of exercising when some are not. Surrendering to God knowing that this is the right thing for me to do in order to help me become healthy, stay healthy, stay mobile, and feel better in my body. I can definitely tell when I haven't exercised - my body feels creaky and uncomfortable.
Paraphrase Romans 7:15-25, putting in the specifics of your own life as it relates to your decision to lose weight:
"15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature[d] a slave to the law of sin."
What I want to do, (exercise, eat healthy, pay attention, overcome laziness), I do not do. I hate being lazy, eating junk, and forgetting what's important - yet these are the things that I do. I am a sinful person, and on my own, these types of things are in my nature to do - to be. I want to do things that are good for me. I want to be productive and take care of myself. I want so badly to do these kinds of things. But the flesh wins when I use my own will power. I love Jesus. I love God. But I fight with myself. In my mind is a war between what I desire to do and what I give in to do. I am a sinner, and I am wretched. But thankfully I am saved! I am God's child. However, I will always have this war in my mind.
My surrender list:
My need to be perfect.
My negativity.
My fears.
My desire to do things my way.
My desire to give up when things are too hard.
My health.
Week 2
Write a list of all the positive aspects about adopting moderate and healthy eating and exercise habits as they relate to you. State them in the present tense.
- My body feels better after I exercise - even when it hurts, it's a good hurt.
- When I pay attention to what I eat, rather than mindlessly eating, I feel very good about myself and I know I'm trying to take better care of myself.
- I feel good about myself when I'm at a healthy weight for my body.
- When I see my body shrinking because of the good choices I am making, it makes me want to continue making good choices.
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