Why Do You Want to Lose Weight?
It seems that everyone is talking about losing weight at the beginning of the year. If you are one who doesn’t need to lose weight, you might wonder if you should since that is all anyone talks about. We are a weight-obsessed community. We talk about how to lose weight at church, work, over the phone with our moms, and even with strangers. We have become experts at what to eat, how to exercise, and what supplements will increase fat burning. All this information leaves us worse for the knowing.
It’s because we rarely ask ourselves the most important question. No oneasks, “Why do you want to lose weight?” I think the answer to thisquestion will determine the success of any weight loss plan you attempt.
There are a variety of reasons people want to lose weight. You may have a highschool reunion this year. Perhaps you can’t fit into your clothes and youdon’t have the money to invest in bigger ones. Maybe you have had a healthscare. You can add your own reasons to this list.
All of these reasons we have to lose weight fall into one of two categories.We either want to lose weight because we love ourselves or because we hate ourselves.The category your reason falls into will determine if you will lose weight thisyear and maintain it for years to come.
The only reason that will help you be successful in your plan is to lose weightbecause you love yourself. That may seem a little vain, but it is the motivationbehind any positive change. In fact, that is how God motivates us for salvation.He approaches us in love. First He opens our eyes to how much He loves us, thenHe shows us that our sins separate us from His love. We want to repent of oursins (a disciplined action) because we want to be loved more than we want tostay in denial of our hopeless sinful state of being.
If you are thinking of losing weight this year, ask yourself Why? Make a listof all the reasons that are motivating you. Work through them one by one untilyou face the reality of how foolish all your reasons are. Honestly accept thatthe end result of these reasons will leave you empty and hungry for more of something.Embrace the reality that you are a loved person and that God’s love foryou makes you worthy of love. Love Him back by beginning to love yourself. Decidenot to have the brownie and choose the fruit instead because it is more lovingfor your insides.
King David said, “I praise you God forI am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Don’t tryto lose weight until you have meditated on this truth and have come to a stateof being that you honestly accept and believe that you too are fearfully andwonderfully made.
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