Why is "healthy" important?

For a long time this verse has described my battle with food without me even realizing it. "For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate" - Romans 7:15. I have come to realize that I have to put up safe guards in order to do the thing I want: to live a healthy life, reliant on God's strength and not the emotional power of food. Food is a great gift from God, but Satan can use those things in powerful ways to keep us from relying on God.

For me, I have had to commit to a new reliance on God's strength the fight those tempting and unhealthy choices. When I do, I feel better and have a stronger relationship with Christ. Part of my progress has been using Beachbody programs. I am definitely a work in progress and have had to find what works for me and can help provide me those safe guards. That means accountability, and a lot of it, for me. By participating in a challenge group I realized I wasn't alone in my journey and had others encouraging me to keep going. I also had the accountability of my coach checking in on me. As someone that values being home with my kids and making sure that we can swing it financially, being careful in my spending is important to me.  I have made the choice to invest in Shakeology. Beyond the fact that it is awesome nutrition and helps me feel better in so many ways, it is an investment. If I am going to spend the money, I am going to USE IT! I invested in my 21 Day Fix, so I am going to stick with it and USE IT! I have tried it on my own, purchased the cheap DVD at Meijer on clearance… and I don’t use it. First, it was usually on clearance for a reason. Second, I didn’t have the group accountability to go with it. I am a person that needs both. To continue pushing myself I became a coach. I often need the added accountability of people relying on me. Paul says, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” 1 Corinthians 10:13-14. These verses hit me in so many ways. God gives us a way out, flee idols. For me, food often can become an idol. Happy? Celebrate with food! Stressed or tired? Eat. Again, eating itself isn’t a problem, but when we use it to fill emotional voids or turn to it instead of God, we have a problem. I would often turn to eat that extra snack instead of turning to God and the way He provides a way out. I had been stuck in a cycle of trying to “get healthy” on my own. When I took that first step of getting my first program, I realized that God made us to thrive in community. He then pushed me to step out of my comfort zone and rely fully on Him in becoming a coach.

This is a hard journey. It is not one of comfort, but asking God to push us and show us what we need to work on. Then turning and relying on Him to provide the way out.  My “way out” has been the support of the Beachbody community. If you are looking for the “way out” that God has provided for you and think this might be it, I would love to talk to you more. If this isn’t your “way out”, I would still love to join you on the journey. We all need that support.