I threw out my scale today!

Yes you read it right – I threw out my scale today.  I also deleted My Fitness Pal from my phone.  Gasp!!  You may be thinking “You are a Beachbody coach, how could you throw out the scale?”

Let me tell you why – the Lord has really been laying on my heart how my value does not depend on a number on the scale or how many calories I eat.  My value is not in what I do or do not eat.  My value is in what He says about me.  He loves me.  He loves me with an everlasting love that does not depend on what I do.  I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  The boundary lines for me fall in pleasant places.  I am made for a plan and purpose.  He has paid the price so I can live in freedom not bondage.

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery

Galatians 5:1

 

For me that yoke of slavery is the scale.

It goes back to high school, when I was on drill team.  We had a very strict weight requirement to be on the team.  Every week during football season, we had to weigh in to see if we were the correct weight to perform.  I did not make those requirements.  It made me feel shamed and worthless.  There was one week I was 3 lbs away from that number and on the sheet for everyone to see it was written “Only 3 lbs to go!”  I was embarrassed.  Not encouraged.

I look back at my drill team pictures and see that I was not fat but I was made to feel like I was a cow.

For many years after that I did not get on a scale.  It wasn’t until about 6 or 7 years ago I bought a scale. But it has become a yoke around my neck.  I would measure my worth based on that number on the scale.  If I lost weight, I felt awesome.  If it was not the loss I was expecting, I was frustrated.  If I did not lose anything or gained, I saw myself as a failure.  My emotions and self worth were dictated by that number on that machine.

The same thing goes with calorie counting.  It drives me insane and it is a yoke around my neck.  I am sooo tired of beating myself up if I mess up.  Instead of calorie counting, I focus on the nutrition I am putting in my body.  That is why I drink Shakeology every day.  I also go to the Lord to see what small step I need to take this week and follow what He wants me to do.

Does that mean you have to throw out your scale and stop calorie counting?  I don’t know.  It depends on your story.  Is your life dictated by that number or by what you do or do not eat?  It is something that you have to go to the Lord with.  For me, it was necessary.  And I tell you for me, there was a weight lifted after I did it.

Does that mean I will eat whatever I want and not care what I put in my body?  No!

What it means is that whatever I eat, I do it for God.  I go to Him and have Him direct my path.  I have done that a lot this week and it has been a great freedom for me.  But in order to do this, you have to believe that God is good and He is for you.  You have to trust Him with leading your life.

I truly believe that we are to be good stewards of the body that the Lord gave us.  That is why I workout.  When I workout, I truly feel His pleasure.  Now when I allow Him to direct my eating and drinking, I feel His pleasure.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:17

So when you ask me how much weight I have lost, I will tell you I don’t know.  It is the truth.  I haven’t stepped on a scale in at least a month.  My glory is not in how many pounds I have lost, my glory is in God, my Heavenly Father, who loves me for who I am but also loves me soooo much that He wants the best for me, which means relying on Him through my health and fitness journey.

Does that mean I will judge someone for saying how many pounds they have lost?  Heck no!!  I will rejoice with you!!!  I will celebrate with you!!!

Please know this is what God has for me.  This is my story.  Your story is different.

I love being a Beachbody Coach.  I love helping others with their health and fitness.  It is so fun to walk along side you and be your biggest cheerleader in your journey.  I love hearing your stories and helping you reach your goals.

But the Lord has shown me, that for me, success lies in seeking Him and letting Him guide me in this journey.  My day is successful when I am tempted and I turn to Him and let Him show me the escape route.  It doesn’t mean I will never eat sweets again.  No, I guarantee you that I will be eating something sweet tomorrow but that falls in the guidelines He has for me at this time.

So what I am saying is my victory is in Christ.  I cannot be successful in my health and fitness journey without Him.  Seek Him and see what He wants you to do.  It might mean that you need to use a scale or count calories, eliminate something from your diet for a time, or follow a certain nutrition plan.  But let HIM tell you what you should do.  Let HIM guide you in your journey.

And if there is anything I can ever do to help, please do not hesitate to go to my FB page and send me a message.  I will pray with you, I will help you, I will encourage you.

Please see yourself as an amazing person.  I do!  I truly do!

 

P.S. – Sorry about the awful first pic.  It was too dark this morning when I left to get a good pic.  But that is my scale in my garbage can.

Motivation for your Day – LOVE Yourself!!

Here is a very short video I posted on Saturday.  I hope it encourages you.

What I have been learning….

It has been a while since I have posted.  It has been a pretty busy summer.  One of the things I have been doing is leading a Bible Study at my church.  We are going through Brave by Angela Thomas.  The Lord has really been using this study in my life.  I have really loved it.

This Bible Study has brought up so much in my life.  Especially in the area of my health and fitness.  I plan on doing several posts on what I have been learning and processing.

I have also been going through the Crave 60 day devotional by Lysa Terkuerst.  This has been an amazing resource for me in my health and fitness journey.

One thing she discusses in her devotional and her book of the same title is that the goal of our health and fitness journey should not be a hot body or to fit in a smaller size but it should be having peace with God and ourselves.

I get so tired of beating up myself or listening to all the voices of guilt and shame that constantly try to derail me.  I want peace.  I want to glorify God with my life.  When I glorify God, I am at peace.

So how does this fit into my journey of health and fitness?

I need to seek Him first.

There are so many resources and programs available for us but it can be so overwhelming and discouraging.  So I need to seek the Lord and have Him direct my footsteps in this journey.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  – Matthew 6:33

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  – James 1:5

I must do what He says

But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord being a double -minded man, unstable in all his ways. – James 1:6-8

Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land you will possess.  – Deut 5:33

I must rely on His strength.

He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might, He increases power. – Isaiah 40:29

Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest fro your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.  – Matthew 11:28-30

I must praise Him along the way.

Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day.  Declare His glory among the nations; His marvelous deeds among all peoples.  – Psalm 96:2-3

If I am faithful in doing these things, I will be glorifying the Lord and I will have peace in my inmost being.

How about you?  Do you think peace is more important than a great body or a smaller clothing size?