Fixing My Broken Relationship with Food
How I have lost over 50lbs since the start of 2024
For the last ten years, I have known I have a problem: my relationship with food is unhealthy. I have been at an unhealthy weight for a long time, but I’ve largely avoided addressing it. This issue has been a constant burden, weighing me down. My desire to avoid it led me to neglect necessary actions. I dreaded stepping on the scale to see my weight gain. Each increase in size felt soul-crushing, leaving me feeling trapped. I actively avoided visiting the doctor out of embarrassment, not wanting to hear once more that I needed to lose weight and eat healthier. I steered clear of articles or videos promoting healthy eating or exercise. As a Christian, I have struggled immensely because I cannot ignore the command to eat and drink for the glory of God, as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:31: "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."
This avoidance and denial have characterized my unhealthy relationship with food. However, recognizing these issues was the first step toward making positive changes. Below, I describe my unhealthy relationship with food in more detail and share the steps I have taken to change.
Picky Eater
I am picky. While I always felt this was a character flaw or weakness, as an adult, I have come to find peace with it. I like what I like, and I don’t like everything. However, I must not allow this to prevent me from experiencing the blessings of trying new things. Being a picky eater does not mean you cannot make healthy choices, you just have to pick foods that you like that are good for you as well.
Binge Eating
Often, I have approached food with a binge mindset. I have only felt happy if I have eaten enough to fill the void. While feeling full is good and a blessing from God, it cannot fix all your problems. It won’t heal what is causing your anxiety or depression. If you find yourself in this situation, as I often did, my first piece of advice is to address the underlying problem. Talk to a trusted friend or counselor, and consistently turn your worries and anxieties over to the Lord in prayer.
Careless Eating
Like most Americans, I enjoy the blessing of abundance. Today, there are over 4,000 calories a day available for each person in America, while the average individual only needs around 1,500-2,500 calories to maintain a healthy lifestyle. In simple terms, food availability is about twice the necessary amount. This surplus has created a significant economic problem. Companies have tried to counteract this overabundance by creating a system where you don't think about what you consume. Leading consumers like me and you to eat carelessly.
Guilt
As you can tell from my attitudes above, this has led not only to unhealthy eating habits but also to feelings of incompleteness and unfulfillment when I tried to eat healthily. I would feel worse then because I was not only hungry, but if I ate something that was not in my plan or that caused me to exceed my calorie limit, I felt guilty.
How I Am Changing
Tracking My Intake with Thanksgiving
The biggest and easiest change I have made is tracking everything that goes into my body. I use an app called MyFitnessPal, but you can use a simple journal or any method, really, as long as you are honest. When you track, you become conscious of what you are eating. However, watch out for a common pitfall--don’t believe the guilt or shame as you get started. Every calorie is a gift from God. Every flavor is a blessing from heaven. There is no such thing as bad food. I mean this seriously. There is a common phrase: “the dose makes the poison.” For example, did you know that bananas are radioactive? However, it would take eating over 10,000,000 bananas to feel the effects of this radiation. Everything must be eaten in moderation. A donut is not guilty pleasure food; it's just food. Even the Bible encourages seasonal feasting, which, when read clearly, implies what we would call overeating. It also calls for fasting and moderation. God did this to break both types of common bondages that food can hold over us.
Simple Healthy Choices
The second step in my journey has been tracking the things that actually fuel my body. I have begun by tracking my protein and fiber intake. You can do this simply without inserting foods that you don’t like. Just check the label to see if it is high in protein, and there are many suggestions and resources available to find lists of high-fiber or high-protein foods. The interesting thing is that as you eat these, they are naturally healthy and provide other vitamins and minerals while keeping your carbs or fat low. This is a simple way to ensure that you are getting what your body needs. Your body needs protein to rebuild and repair and fiber to keep everything flowing. This also helps you feel more satisfied at every meal. You do not need any major supplements or diet pills to do this. As of this writing, I have lost over 50 pounds, and this time it feels like it can be maintained.
This is what has worked for me. It doesn’t mean that it will work for you, and your ultimate goal should be to glorify God with your body, not just to drop weight on the scale. He has given you this body to steward for His glory. He gives you everything you eat, with one of the goals being to "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8).