8 Best Ways to Lose and Keep Off Weight

My Weight Loss Story

I got chubby in the fifth grade and was teased about my weight. That experience led me to start dieting and exercising. I’ve been an unofficial practitioner of nutrition and exercise for several decades now due to my concern about my weight. Though it has resulted in me paying attention to my weight to keep it in check and maintain my health, my motivation to lose weight started as a response to the pain of being called fat as a kid.

Throughout the years, my weight has ebbed and flowed. Even when slim, I’ve always still had that mentality of a chubby kid from the emotional scars from being teased. To this day, I consistently weigh my food, track my calories, and workout. Although my waistline is not always where I want it to be, I am generally healthy.

I had my first mammogram this past week and the technician was complimenting my pectoral muscles during the exam; she said she could tell I workout! Though I liked her compliment and was flattered, I had to remind myself that I do not need approval from others about my body and weight. I have allowed what others think about my image to have an impact on me for too long. I am transforming to intentionally be more focused on what God says about me, all of me, than people! He has created me uniquely in His image!

From my experience, I can testify to this:

-What works for others, may not work for me! I have to love how God created me and do the work to figure out what works for my unique self.

-Lifestyle changes are required for sustainable results! Following fads will lead to yo-yoing.

-My physical state is connected to where I am mentally and spiritually! The mind, body and soul must all be healthy. I can look at pictures and see the highs and lows based on my appearance.

As I continue to mature, God has shown me the emphasis on my physical weight should not be my top priority. Losing and keeping off the weight of sin should be my goal to produce the best version of myself that God intended!

Based on God’s revelation in my life, these are the 8 Best Ways to Lose and Keep Off Weight, by focusing on stripping off the sin that is weighing down every area of our lives, resulting in physical, mental and spiritual fitness!

1. Decide to make a change! Jesus is the Only Way!

“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NLT

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.” Romans 10:9-10 NLT

2. Drink your water! Jesus provides the Living Water!

“But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” John 4:14 NLT

3. Eat wisely! Jesus is the Bread of Life!

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” John 6:47-51 NLT

4. Get rest! The Lord Jesus is a Refuge!

“Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him.” Psalm 91:1-2 NLT

“Then Jesus said, ‘Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

5. Meditate! Jesus is the Word! Be enlightened by the Word!

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1:1-5 NLT

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” Joshua 1:8 NLT

6. Be prepared for temptation! Stand strong on the Rock!

“Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” Matthew 26:41 NLT

“The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

7. Ask for help! Jesus is the vine!

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” John 15:5-7 NLT

8. Run your race! Keep your eye on Jesus to do what He has called you to do!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2 NLT

“But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 NLT

Change the Narrative

Let’s use these 8 ways to strip off the weight of sin to be able to remove physical, mental and spiritual weight forever! The more weight we strip off, the more we can endure in this race God has set before us!

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” Galatians 5:19-23 NLT

What gods are you running to, instead of God through His Son Jesus Christ, that are weighing you down? Promiscuous sex? Approval and praise from people? Over indulgence of food or alcohol? Drugs? Something else? Turn to God to lose the weight of enslaving and stifling sin! 

Losing and keeping off weight can be hard alone! But, we are not alone! Remember, as Christians, we have the Holy Spirit, dunamis power, inside of us! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead! That’s a lot of strength, renewed daily when we seek Him!

Let’s commit to use these methods to lose the weight and keep it off, now and forever! In return, we gain the freedom to be our true selves! Unconditionally love the skin you are in every step of the way! In the name of Jesus, Amen!

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